THE STAR OF INDIA.
"Back with you into the grove!" added the guide, showing more
excitement than at any time since leaving Delhi.
His first command was for the fugitives to make ready to fight, and
Dr. Avery and the missionary drew their revolvers and placed
themselves in front of the ladies.
Now when he changed his order, they were equally quick to obey, their
promptness increased by the sound of the hoofs of galloping horses.
"Quick!" repeated the missionary to his wife and daughter, shoving
them before him into the deep shade among the trees, while Avery came
last, the native remaining in the path to confront the Ghoojurs.
The latter came in sight an instant later. They were Thug-like
looking wretches, whom any man would dread to meet on a lonely road.
There were six, all well mounted on small tough ponies, and armed
with knives, pistols and guns, two of the latter being in plain view.
Their costume was as varied as their arms. One or two wore muslin
coats, while others had only the waist cloth, being bare from their
waists up. Their turbans were of different colors and shapes, from
the gorgeous pile of muslin which decorated the head of the leader to
a few yards of dirty rag that wound around the brow and crown of the
poorest. One or two wore wooden shoes, with the soles curved and
pointed upward in front. Some of the steeds were without saddles,
and all the riders had jet black hair and eyes, savage mustaches, and
scanty beards.
Luchman would have been glad had they gone by without stopping, for
he knew their villainous nature only too well. The quickest way to
arouse suspicion would have been to try to avoid them.
He therefore threw up his hand as a signal that he wanted to exchange
a few words. They brought their ponies down from their brisk trot,
and drew up close to him.
The parties who thus met were utter strangers to each other, but a
glance at Luchman showed he was a native, and the presumption,
therefore, was that he was a supporter of the revolt.
The fugitives crouching in the grove (with the exception of Avery)
understood the conversation, which may be liberally translated:
"Ram, Ram, bhai (In Ram's name, brother); whence come you?" asked the
leading Ghoojur.
"From Delhi."
"Why do you flee when there is so much loot to be gathered?"
"I have all I want; I leave the rest for my brothers."
"What have you done with your share?"
"Placed it where no thief can find it," was the daring answer of
Luchman, who looked straight in the eye of the leading brigand.
"Is there plenty of loot left in the city?" asked the latter, his
eyes flickering like those of a serpent.
"Enough to make tens of thousands rich, but the people from the
country are flocking in so fast that it will soon be gone."
This remark of the guide, I need hardly say, was intended to increase
the eagerness of the Ghoojurs to reach the city.
"Where are the Feringhees?"
"They are all killed; the Mogul Empire is restored; the Emperor has
issued his proclamation giving all good wages, and not one Feringhee
shall be left in Hindostan."
Luchman seemed to feel no compunction in drawing a lengthy bow.
"A great deal of the loot must be gone," continued the leading
Ghoojur, who, it was evident, had some suspicion respecting the tall
sinewy native who stood so defiantly in the path before him; "many of
the Feringhees and wealthy sahibs are fleeing from the city; they are
hiding in the groves; they have money and jewels with them; 'tis
better that we should find them."
This was an alarming declaration, and the fugitives who heard and
understood it believed the brigands knew they were hiding near.
Luchman himself was suspicious, but he did not let it be seen.
"There are many," he said in his ordinary voice, "but they are harder
to find than those in Delhi, and they fight better."
"But there must be more loot to take from those on the road and in
the groves."
"It may be, but there is plenty left in the city for those who do not
loiter on the way. If you wish to search the grove, do so."
The ruffians looked in each other's faces and muttered something.
Then they seemed to conclude that the best thing to do was to move on
toward Delhi. The leader gave Luchman a parting salutation, and the
half dozen horsemen resumed their journey on a slow walk.
The little party hiding in the luxuriant vegetation stealthily
watched every movement of the brigands, and breathed freely when they
started forward again.
They had advanced only a few paces, however, when the leader uttered
an exclamation and checked his horse. Luchman turned his head, and
the Ghoojur beckoned him to approach.
"What is that?" he asked, pointing to the side of the path.
Luchman, to his dismay, saw a shred from the dress of Marian Hildreth
that had been torn off in her hurried flight, and was fluttering from
a bush as if the bright signal was meant to show every one who passed
whither she had gone.
The texture of the shred, and the peculiar circumstances, spoke the
nationality of the young lady too plainly for Luchman to attempt to
mislead the scoundrels. He stood looking at the tell tale piece as
though he was as much astounded as were the Ghoojurs themselves.
Then he scanned the ground with the keen scrutiny of an American
Indian.
"Yes," he said, as if he had at last solved the problem; "a party of
Feringhees have been this way; there were a good many, and," looking
up abruptly in the face of the leader, "do you want to attack them?"
"That I will decide for myself," was the answer of the ruffian, as he
sprang from his pony and began examining the ground for himself. He
was as shrewd as Luchman, and it took him only a few minutes to learn
that the fugitives were four in number, and that two of them were
females. No more tempting prize could offer itself.
"We will follow them----"
The words of the Ghoojur leader were broken off by the crack of
Luchman's pistol, and the miscreant, who was facing about and
addressing his men, threw up his arms half way to his head and
toppled to the ground, his skull bored clean through by the bullet
that was fired within ten feet of him.
Luchman let fly with the remaining chambers at the wretches, who were
just beyond the fallen leader. Fortunately, Avery and Mr. Hildreth
were quick to realize the evil, and each of them fired his rifle into
the group.
The attack on the Ghoojurs was so sudden that they wheeled their
horses about, and, throwing themselves forward on their necks,
galloped off on a dead run. None of them fell to the ground, but
several must have been hit hard. They were desperate men, and
Luchman knew they would soon be back. He therefore ran toward his
friends.
"Don't lose a minute, sahibs," said he; "they will soon return; I
hear them now!"
The last remark was rather premature, but allowance must be made for
the excitement of the occasion.
The grove was dense, and Luchman as usual led the way. At the outer
edge they saw cultivated fields, and observing no one was in sight,
the guide moved rapidly across the open space toward the welcome
shade of another large grove at the north. Fairly within the shelter
of this, Luchman told his friends to seat themselves on the ground
and rest from their hurried flight, while he moved back to learn what
had become of the Ghoojurs.
The guide soon returned, saying he had discovered no sign of them.
It might be that their repulse was so severe that they would not
attempt to revenge themselves unless they should be joined by others
of their class.
"Night is at hand," added their guide, "and we may as well stay here,
for if we venture out we are more likely to be seen. While we wait
let us load our weapons."
This sensible suggestion was acted upon without delay. Then, as the
start would not be made for an hour or more, Luchman again went back
to the edge of the grove. In the gathering gloom he saw three
shadowy figures moving along the edge of the cultivated fields. He
suspected they were his enemies, who were trying to trace the
fugitives to their hiding place, but the darkness was too great for
them to follow with certainty and they soon disappeared.
The weather was frightfully hot. The air in the grove was even more
suffocating than the flaming atmosphere of the plains. Indeed the
natural query of a foreigner when he is so unfortunate as to be
caught during the hot season in that paradise of poisonous serpents,
fierce wild animals and furnace-like temperature, is "What is this
infernal country good for?"
Furthermore, it must be borne in mind that the fugitives had not
eaten anything for a long time, and despite the mental worry and
intense heat, they were in need of food. Marian stated the case to
Luchman, who said he could easily get them something. He cautioned
all to stay where they were, to avoid loud talking, and to keep their
ears and eyes open.
This was the first genuine rest since their hurried flight from Delhi
the night before. Of course they had to cease travel during the heat
of the day, but their anxiety to get away from the imperiled capital
was so intense that the mere cessation from walking gave them little
rest. Now, when there was cause for feeling that they were safe from
molestation, the pause was of the most refreshing nature.
Luchman being absent, Dr. Avery drew the missionary aside and
questioned him concerning a matter which had been in his mind for
some time. The young man did this in the most indifferent manner he
could assume.
"Mr. Hildreth," said he, carelessly whittling a stick, "it seems to
me that somewhere, since coming into this part of the world, I have
heard about 'The Star of India:' can you tell me to what the
expression refers?"
The good man looked at him with a smile and said:
"Of course I can; and so can almost any one who has spent much time
in Delhi or Lucknow or Cawnpore, and I should say in Calcutta, but
you seem ignorant. The Star of India is a famous diamond."
"And why famous?"
"It is very large--weighing nearly fifty carats, is of the first
water, and like all such stones has a history."
"Let me hear it."
"The Star of India I believe was first heard of about seven hundred
years ago. When Cootub, the Afghan conqueror, made Delhi the capital
of Hindostan, he slew the queen, who had received it from some
unknown source, and he placed the diamond in the hilt of his sword.
He vauntingly said his sword hilt was the safest place, inasmuch as
the man was not born of woman who could take it from him. But
despite all his boasts, one of his soldiers stole it at midnight, and
succeeded in reaching Persia, where he sold it to the Shah. It was
stolen in turn from him by a daring eunuch whom Cootub sent thither,
and the servant brought it back to Hindostan. It remained with the
Afghan line until the great Baber appeared upon the scene in 1525,
and slew the last Afghan monarch and took the prodigious gem from
him. It continued in the possession of the Moguls until the
beginning of this century, when it was lost."
"How?"
"Among the strange facts connected with this diamond is that its
modern history is more dim and shadowy than its ancient annals. Like
the Koh-i-noor and all such great gems, it has been the cause of many
wars, murders, and all manner of crimes. A half century ago, when it
was reposing in the most secure hiding place in the Mogul's palace,
where it was believed an army could hardly capture it, it vanished as
though it had been destroyed by spontaneous combustion."
"Stolen again, of course?"
"Yes; but by whom no one ever seemed to know. I have been told that
it has been seen in Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, and other points within
the last ten years. There is good reason to believe that it has
passed over the Himalayas twice, carried once by the chieftain of one
of the wild tribes of that section. This chieftain, like many other
owners of the Star of India, was killed, and the marvelous gem taken
from him."
"Where is it supposed to be at this time?"
"Immense rewards have been offered for its recovery, but it flits
about the country like an _ignis fatuus_. The last rumor which I
heard was that it had fallen into the possession of a converted
Brahmin, who carried it with him wherever he went."
Dr. Avery, who was convinced that he knew the truth, looked at the
missionary with a smile; but the calm expression of the good man's
face showed that he had not the faintest suspicion that the Brahmin
to whom he referred was Luchman their guide.
"No," thought the surgeon; "it has never entered his head. Did you
ever hear how it was, Mr. Hildreth, that this converted Brahmin got
possession of the diamond?"
"I believe he became involved in a quarrel with the chief of some
Himalaya savages. The chief and one of his warriors tried to take
the life of the Brahmin, who slew both and brought back the gem over
the loftiest range of mountains on the globe."
"Did you ever meet this converted Brahmin?"
"Not that I am aware of."
"I have."
"When? Where?" demanded the amazed missionary.
"The Brahmin who owns the Star of India is Luchman, one of your own
converts and our guide."
The surgeon enjoyed the emotion he caused. The missionary, who had
been reclining on the ground, shot to an upright posture as suddenly
as if he had felt a cobra moving under his body. He stared at his
companion for several seconds absolutely speechless. Then he gasped:
"No; impossible!"
"It is the truth; he showed me the diamond when we were near
Cawnpore; he has it in his turban this very minute."
"Well, well," muttered Mr. Hildreth, relapsing to his reclining
position; "it is strange that I never suspected it. I can see now
that many of the rumors which reached me fit Luchman exactly; and do
you know, doctor, that the cunning rascal has talked with me many
times about the diamond? He asked me to give him its history. So I
posted myself, and you see that I have it at my tongue's end, that is
the ancient history. That reminds me," added the missionary, rising
on his elbow and laughing, "that he too once asked me whether I had
ever heard the name of the Brahmin who captured the diamond from the
Himalaya chieftain. What a blockhead I was never to feel any
suspicion of him! And you have really seen the Star of India?"
"While we were resting in the bungalow, he unfolded his turban and
unwrapped a piece of thick soft paper from which he took the gem
larger than the end of my thumb. When he held it up a ray of
sunlight struck it, and its brilliancy almost blinded me."
"Did you take it in your hand?"
"No; he did not offer me the privilege, and I hadn't the courage to
ask it. He rewrapped it with paper, and put that and the letter of
mine to Marian in the turban. It has often struck me since as a very
strange thing for him to do: why did he show the Star of India to me?
I might have revealed the secret to those--and there are thousands
such--who would murder him for it."
"He considered you as good as dead: he did not believe you would live
twenty four hours, and he knew you were interested in the gem, as
indeed every person must be. I presume that if our lives are spared,
Luchman some time or other will tell me the whole story, though it's
strange he has not done so before."
Dr. Avery thought it best to say nothing to Mr. Hildreth about the
native's declaration that he intended to present the diamond to
Marian. It might awaken hopes that never could be fulfilled. If
Luchman meant to give the prize to the young lady, it would be
specially appropriate that the announcement should come from the
giver.
"I have no longer any doubts about him," added Avery a minute later.
"Nor have I," said the missionary; "the suspicion of Luchman's
loyalty was the most horrible feeling that I ever had: it was worse
than death itself."
"His actions have proven his loyalty," was the hearty declaration of
the surgeon. "After his course toward the Ghoojurs, no one can fail
to admit that he is pure gold tried with fire."
"Here he comes!"