He wrote it in Greek characters for fear lest it might fall into the enemy's hands and be too well understood.
"I can be with you in one week, sir, and perhaps sooner.

Unless we are all killed in the meantime we should number more than fifteen hundred when we come.

Expect either all or none of us.

The situation here is critical, but our course seems clear, and we ought to pull through.
Mahommed Gunga sends salaams.

Your obedient servant, "RALPH CUNNINGHAM." "Would God I could see the clear course!" laughed Alwa.
"Call the Sikh, please." The Sikh came running, and Cunningham gave him the folded note.
"Have you a horse for him, Alwa-sahib ?" "That has been attended to, sahib," the Sikh answered.