“Can he groom a horse?”
“So he says, sahib, and so say others.”
“Can he fight?”
“He slew the man with his bare hands who pricked his eye out with a sword.”
“Oh! What payment does he ask?”
“He leaves that matter to your honor's pleasure.”
“Good. Instruct him, then. Set him to cleaning my horse and then return here.”
The squire was back again within five minutes and stood before Mahommed Gunga in silent expectation.
“I shall miss thee,” said Mahommed Gunga after five minutes' reflection. “It is well that I have other servants in the north.”
“In what have I offended, sahib?”