He made the home road miles beyond the point where Jaimihr waited for him--drew rein into the long-striding amble that desert-taught horses love--and led on, laughing.
"Ho!" He laughed.

"Ho-ho! Here, then, is the end of Mahommed Gunga's scheming! Now, when he comes with arguments to make me fight on the British side, what a tale I have for him! Ho! What a swearing there will be! I will give him his missionary people, and say, 'There, Mahommed Gunga, cousin mine, there is my word redeemed--there is thy man into the bargain--there are three horses for thee--and I--I am at Howrah's beck and call!' Allah! What a swearing there will be!" There was swearing, viler and more blasphemous than any of which Mahommed Gunga might be capable, where Jaimihr waited in the dark.

He waited until the yellow dawn broke up the first dim streaks of violet before he realized that Alwa had given him the slip; and he cursed even the high priest of Siva when that worthy accosted him and asked what tidings.
"Another trick!" swore Jaimihr.

"So, thou and thy temple rats saw fit to send me packing for the night! What devils' tricks have been hatched out in my absence ?" The high priest started to protest, but Jaimihr silenced him with coarse-mouthed threats.
"I, too, can play double when occasion calls for it!" he swore.

And with that hint at coming trouble he clattered on home to his palace.
To begin with, when he reached home, he had the guard beaten all but unconscious for having dared let raiders in during the night before; then he sent them, waterless and thirsty, back to the dungeon.