"Sahib, it is for me to obey you," said the zamindar. The three refugees walked their horses to the side of the conveyances, from behind whose curtains veiled faces were already peeping in anxious bewilderment; and presently an elderly dame and three younger ones descended and were led by the elder son--a married man--into the shelter of the bushes. Sikhs and Dogras began to peer inside the vehicles, and two of the former jumped in. But Govind Singh was too quick for them. "Outside, dogs!" he shrilled. "Put back that which ye have stolen. Are there not enough enemies from whom to steal that ye must rob friends, and one who has served with Larens Sahib? Outside, I say!" Inside the carts was strewn in confusion as much of the old Mohammedan's portable property as could be put together in their haste. Abashed, the Sikhs dropped the few ornaments they had seized, and came out with sullen, crest-fallen expressions. "Ho, zamindar!" called the risaldar. "Wilt thou or one of thy sons go in this cart to see that naught is stolen? Our men are thieves; they are but recruits who know no better." "Nay," replied the old man, with simple dignity. "Ye are my friends. If they save my honour, I do not grudge them my goods." "If so much as the value of an anna is taken," said Ted sternly, "the thief shall answer it. Let three or four of the Dogras get in each cart; they ate smaller than ye Sikhs, and will have more room to aim. Tumble in!" "Hide, you rascals, hide!" broke in Govind Singh abruptly. He pointed eastward, whence the scout was running towards them, in and out among the tree-trunks, gesticulating as he ran. "He is signalling us to take cover," continued the risaldar. "Sons of owls, disappear among the bushes before ye are seen! Inside the carts, ye Dogras! Quick!" The Dogras squeezed inside and drew the curtains across; and in a moment all the troopers had disappeared, leaving Ted, Govind Singh, and the two Mohammedans beside the carts to await the scout. "They are within sight from up there," he informed them. "I climbed a tree and saw the dust they raised. They come at a trot, and will soon be here." "What shall we do, sahib?" asked the zamindar. "We obey thy orders." "Go forward as before, thou and thy sons," said Ted. "We shall hide on both sides of the road. When the budmashes come close, fire at them, and then set spurs to your steeds, keeping straight along the road, not into the bushes where we hide. We can see to the rest, can we not, risaldar?" Govind Singh grunted acquiescence, and with Ted left the glaring road for the shade of the trees, and the little caravan went on. "Will they not mark the track of our horses?" Ted asked, being apprehensive lest the plot should fail. "Once they see their prey they will take no further heed to the trail. Dismount here, sahib; we can see without being seen."