‘Mashalla! thou art a sharp fellow; what do they call thee?’
‘Nursingha is my name; I am the nephew of the Patél.’
‘Good! Then what sayest thou, Nursingha, to accompanying our party for a few days, until we are well past the hills, or indeed to Balapoor; thou shalt have a rupee a-day and thy food, and six of thy men half, if thou wilt.’
‘What say you, brothers?’ cried Nursingha to the rest; ‘what say you to the stranger’s offer? They seem men of substance, and they are the Government servants—we can hardly refuse.’
‘What are we to do?’ asked one.
‘Fight, if there is necessity,’ said Kasim; ‘canst thou do that?’
‘There is not a better shot in the Carnatic that Lingoo yonder,’ said the Naik.
‘He may shoot well and not fight well,’ returned Kasim.
‘I never feared Moosulman or Mahratta yet!’ said Lingoo.
‘Crowed like a good cock!’ cried Kasim; ‘but thou art on thine own dunghill.’