"Good, we are; and if I can help you, say so."
"In no wise," said he, "but to give us room among ye for the night: we will be off early, if you do not go the same road."
"Room ye shall have, Khan, till the moon rises, and food too; but after that we are off; we travel northwards."
"Then it cannot be helped," he replied; "we will stay here till you go, and occupy your ground afterwards; we shall not be suspected."
"And where are you going?" I asked.
"To Hyderabad," said the man. "No one suspects Dacoos to be out at this time of the year, and we shall have the whole road to ourselves; we shall return after the rains, about the Dussera, by the Nagpoor road. Now we are going by Bhopal and Boorhanpoor."
"And your luck?" said I; "have you had good bunij?" (for this word was understood by them, and is common to all classes of people who do their work on the roads).
"Middling," said he, "neither good nor bad. We have had a few affairs, but nothing to boast of."
"Well," said I, "you have taken a good line; the road from Boorhanpoor to Hyderabad is a good one, and you will be in Sikundur Jah's country, where no one asks questions about the people who are left on the highways. I wish you good luck, and my friend will look after your comforts: you must excuse me, as I am in pain from a swelled face and toothache."