The scout was right, the rivulet he mentioned was scarcely as far as he had said, and we reached it after a few minutes' riding; and sure enough there were my men sitting unconcernedly by the edge of the water, busily discussing a hasty meal of some cakes they had brought with them. "Bhillmanjeh, have you cleaned the hole?" I eagerly inquired of the Belha.
"Manjeh," he replied.
"What did you ask?" said the Sahoukar; "if they have not a clean vessel for you to drink out of, you can have one of mine."
"Thanks for your kindness," I replied, "but my good fellow here tells me that he has brought one, and cleaned it ready for me."
We all dismounted; the men rushed into the water, and were each and all busily engaged in washing their mouths and teeth, and drinking of the pure element which murmured over its pebbly bed beneath their feet; but none of them quitted their stations, and only awaited the signal to do their work. "Is the bhil far distant?" I asked of the Belha who presented me with a lota of water for the purposes of ablution.
"About an arrow's flight," said he, "down yonder in that thicket; it is a good place, and a well-known one; it was on this spot that Ganesha Jemadar had a rare bunij last year. But do not delay for the sun is high, and travellers may be coming from the stage before us; this is the only running water on the road, and all hasten to it to refresh themselves."
"Then I am ready," said I; "and when you see me close to the Sahoukar, I will give the signal; I see the men are all prepared." And I walked towards him.
"Why don't you give the jhirnee?" said Motee-ram to me as I passed him, "we are all waiting for it."
"Now," said I, "be ready; I go to my station." The fellow near whom he was standing turned round, hearing us converse in a strange language; but he immediately afterwards sat down and resumed the operation of cleaning his teeth with great assiduity: there were two men behind him who would shortly save him the trouble!
"Why, Séthjee," said I, "I wonder you do not go up higher; here you have the water muddied by all the fellows above you. Come with me, and I will show you a deep place where I have just washed, and where the water is clear."