ON THE THRESHOLD.
Who can be so welcome as the cherished one that comes to us from the
jaws of death? The arrival of Baird Avery turned all the gloom into
radiance, and lifted for the moment the shadow that hung over the
doomed household. He paused only long enough to hold Marian for a
moment in rapturous embrace, when he turned and warmly greeted her
father and mother, trying in the meanwhile to answer the questions
that each one rained upon him.
It took but a few minutes to give all the information at command, and
then, as he was dusty, sun-burned and tired, he was glad to plunge
into the house and into the bath. That refreshing luxury over, it
was dark, and shortly after the evening meal was eaten. Emerging
once more upon the veranda, Avery occupied one of the cane lounging
chairs that were at the command of any one who chose to use them.
"Ah," he sighed, puffing at his cheroot and stretching out in the
delightful support, "this is what I call luxury and no mistake. I
walked all of last night, up to sunrise this morning. I was so tired
that I thought I never would become rested, but now the feeling is so
delicious that it is worth all the labor that produces it. I fancy I
could spend a week here without wanting to change my position."
"Where is your luggage, doctor?"
"All the property subject to my control is resting in this chair.
When Luchman told me that the palanquin bearers meant to kill me, of
course I was careful of my movements. I did not give him any hint of
my intention, but tried to mislead him, for he was strongly set
against any effort on my part to join you. After he had gone, I went
out of the bungalow with the intention of taking the most valuable
things from the palanquin. I looked for the khansaman, but he was
invisible. While trying to find him, I came upon two of the natives
lurking near the corner of the bungalow, and no doubt on the watch
for a chance to bury their knives in me. When I saw them, the
cowardly scamps broke and ran in such terror that they were off
before I could get any kind of aim."
"Did you have trouble on the road?" asked the missionary.
"None at all, though I think it was due to the pains I took not to
attract attention. There is no molestation at present of foreigners,
and until there is, a little care will take you through many places
where in a few days it will be certain death to show your face. I
called on General Graves at the cantonment and told him that a revolt
of the sepoys was sure to come before the first of next month."
"How did he receive your information?"
"He thanked me like the gentleman he is, but I saw that he thought
very little of what I said. He remarked that the same thing had been
told him again and again within the past few weeks, and added with a
laugh that the dog that barks the most bites the least. I tell you,"
added the surgeon, rising to an upright sitting posture and speaking
with great emphasis, "one of two things is certain--this impending
mutiny is the most prodigious hoax of the nineteenth century, or it
will be the most appalling massacre of modern times: I am inclined to
believe it will prove the latter."
"So am I," added the missionary impressively. "We are standing on
the threshold of judgment, and naught but the hand of God can save us
from a terrible fate."
"But He will save only those who try to save themselves," ventured
Marian, both she and her mother awed by the dreadful shadow that
darkened their hearthstone.
"We will do all that lies within our power, but we are worms
encircled by a ring of fire. Where the revolt is so widespread there
is no safety this side of Calcutta, almost a thousand miles away."
"Delhi will be the headquarters of the sepoys," said Dr. Avery, "and
the very hour they occupy the city the massacre of the Europeans will
begin. They will assail them like tigers. Can you not hide
yourselves in the house of some faithful native where no one will
think of looking for you? There you can stay until the flurry is
over and our soldiers retake the city as they will soon do."
"Your proposal has been in my mind ever since Luchman told us of our
danger; but I have misgivings that many of the converts will find
themselves unable to stem the whirlwind of fanatical excitement. If
so, they will be the fiercest of our enemies. Even if faithful, they
will be suspected and are likely to be destroyed by the Mohammedans."
"What about Luchman?"
"I ought to feel sure of him, for we shall be at his mercy. But he
was a high caste Brahmin, and he may become the most venomous Hindoo
when caught in the swirl. I hope differently, however, but we shall
soon know the worst."
When the night had advanced, the little group knelt around the family
altar, while the missionary poured out his supplication to the
Heavenly Father who had been so merciful to them in the past. He was
one of the most devoted laborers that went forth in his master's
vineyard, and he was ready at all times to answer the summons: "Come
home," but he loved those who were kneeling with him, and he pleaded
for their care with an earnestness and faith that it would seem must
prevail.
The lovers lingered after the departure of the parents. Many months
had passed since they met, and these sweet minutes could not but be
happy ones, despite the overpowering gloom outside. Could the
moonlight have stolen through the tattie it would have seen them
seated side by side on the cane settee, her hand folded in his, while
the murmur of their voices was so soft and low that no listener could
have caught the syllables that fell from their lips.
This was the hour for which both had sighed during the weeks and
months that were past. The belief that such blissful communion
awaited him cheered Dr. Avery during that long, dusty, laborious
journey up the valley of the Ganges. It was her picture which
haunted his dreams, when fitfully slumbering in the palanquin or
watching for the treacherous tiger in the fever smitten jungles.
And now after all these perils the dream was realized. He knew the
sacred thrill as he pressed the small white hand and touched his lips
to the smooth, warm cheek, and drew the willowy form still closer to
his own. Ah, if it could but last! But such meetings were too
blissful to continue long. Again the sweet vows were repeated, and
Avery felt that if he could but hold that dear form by his side
forever he would care not for storm or sorrow.
They were still talking in their soft low tones, when Marian raised
her head.
"It seems to me that a great many people are going along the roads
tonight."
"I have noticed the same thing," replied Avery. "Delhi has no
pavements, and few of the people have shoes, so they make mighty
little noise on the soft cunka of the road, but when it is so still
around us we can hear the sweep of the myriads of feet--_Sh!_"
While the two were listening to the faint but unmistakable noise made
by the multitudinous tramping, some one entered the compound and
walked rapidly to the bungalow. Dr. Avery instinctively rose to his
feet, grasped his revolver, and drew aside the tattle, just as
Luchman stopped in front of it.
The native showed no surprise on seeing the surgeon, from whom he
supposed he had parted forever, but respectfully saluted him and the
young lady, who had also risen and stood by his side.
"What news do you bring?" asked the doctor.
"Bad news, sahib,--bad news; the natives are so impatient that they
will not wait for the day fixed by their leaders. The streets are
full of people; I have heard threats made against this house; they
are afraid to make the attack, but before long they will gain the
courage to do so."
"Then it is unsafe to stay here."
"Every hour increases the danger, sahib."
The native spoke the truth.