Chapter IX
Next morning Swinton again rode alone, Lord Victor declaring he would have enough exercise in the hunt that day.
As Shabaz came out of his loping canter and steadied to a leisurely gait up the palace hill, Rada, the groom, overtook his master.
"Put a hand on the stirrup," Swinton commanded, "for the hill is long and your legs are the legs of experience."
"As the sahib wishes; but I know little of her who rides the grey stallion," Rada replied, grasping the iron. Swinton chuckled at the naïve admission that the servant took it for granted he was to talk, being thus favoured.
"It is the way of my people," Rada resumed, when his breath came easier, "that when we make speech with a sahib we watch his eyes for a sign, and if it is one of displeasure we then tell lies to avert his anger; but with the captain sahib this may not be done."
"Why, Rada?"
"Sahib knows the karait—the snake with an eye that is all red?"
"Deadly as a cobra."