No man in his senses would have dared to ride a horse at more than foot-pace down the path.

Was there another path?
he wondered.

At least, if eight men were about to charge into eight hundred, it would be best to keep his good friend Mahommed Gunga out of it, he decided.
"Risaldar!" The veteran was always most amenable to reason when addressed by his military title.

"Who of us two is senior--thou or I ?" "By Allah, not I, sahib! I am thy servant!" "I accept your service, and I order you to stay with your men up here with me!" Mahommed Gunga saluted and dismounted, and his six followed suit, looking as disappointed as children just deprived of a vacation.

Alwa wheeled his horse in front of Cunningham and saluted too.
"For that service, sahib, I am thy friend!" he muttered.