"Is it shady where you have placed it?"
He shook his head.
"What!" I cried angrily. "You have put it in the sun?"
"No, my lord; it is under a great tree."
"Why, I asked you if it was shady," I cried; and then it occurred to me
that, in spite of my studies at Brandscombe and out here, my Hindustani
was very imperfect, for the man smiled in a deprecatory way which seemed
to mean that he hoped my lord would not be angry with him for not
understanding his words.
"Take me out now," I said.
Salaman clapped his hands softly, and the two men I knew by sight
entered at once, followed by two more whom I had not previously seen.
These four, at a word from my attendant, advanced to stand two at the
head, two at the foot of my couch.
"Tell them to be very careful how they lift me," I said; "and have some
water ready in case I turn faint."
For I had a painful recollection of the horrible sensation of sickness
which attacked me sometimes when the doctor was moving me a little in
dressing my wounded arm; and, eager as I was to go out in the open air,
I could not help shrinking at the thought of being moved, so as the four
men stooped I involuntarily set my teeth and shut my eyes, with a
determination not to show the pain I should be in.
To my astonishment and delight, instead of taking hold of me, the four
men at a word softly rolled over the sides of the rug upon which my
couch was made, until it was pretty close to my side, when they seized
the firm roll, lifted together, and I was borne out through the open
side of the tent, so lightly and with such elasticity of arm and hand,
that instead of being a pain it was a pleasure, and I opened my eyes at
once.
I was very eager to see where I was, and what the country was like all
round. In fact, I had a slight hope that I should be able to recognise
some point or another, even if it were only one of the mountains.
But my hopes sank at once, for as we passed from out of the shadow of
the tent and into the beautiful morning sunshine I could see trees, and
trees only, shutting me in on every side, the tents being pitched partly
under a small banyan, or baobab tree, and standing in an irregular
opening of about a couple of acres in extent, while the dense verdure
rose like a wall all around.
I could not help sighing with disappointment; and, at a sign from
Salaman, the bearers stopped while he held the cup he had taken from a
stand to my lips.
"No, no," I said; "not now. Let them go on."
He signed to the bearers, and they stepped off again all together, and
the next moment almost they stopped in a delightful spot beneath the
spreading boughs of a tree, where carpets were spread and pillows
already so arranged that the men had only to lower down the rug they
bore, and I was reclining where the soft wind blew, and flowers and
fresh fruits were waiting ready to my hand.
In spite of my disappointment, there was a delightful feeling of
satisfaction in resting down there on the soft cushions, able to see the
bright sky and drink in the fresh air which seemed a hundred times
better than that which floated in through the side of the tent; and when
Salaman bent over me anxiously with the cup of cool water in his hand,
the smile I gave him quieted his dread lest I should faint.
The four men glided away into the shadow of the trees, but after a
minute I saw them reappear in front and glide silently into a long, low
tent, standing at a little distance from the one I had left, and beyond
which I could see another.
But my eyes did not rest long on the tents, for there were the
glistening leaves of the trees and the clustering flowers which hung in
wreaths and tangles of vines from their spreading boughs, all giving me
plenty of objects of attraction without counting the brightly plumaged
birds, which flitted here and there at will; while just then a flock of
brilliant little parrots flew into the largest tree, and began climbing
and hanging about the twigs, as if for my special recreation.
I had seen such places scores of times, but they never attracted my
attention so before, neither had I given much consideration to the
brilliant scarlet passion flowers that dotted the edge of the forest, or
the beautiful soft lilac-pink cloud of blossoms, where a bougainvillea
draped a low tree.
So lovely everything seemed that I felt my eyes grow moist and then half
close in a dreamy ecstasy, so delicious was that silence, only broken by
the cries of the birds.
I must have lain there for some time, drinking in strength from the soft
air, now rapidly growing warmer, when I started out of my dreamy state,
for I heard a familiar sound which set my heart beating, bringing me
back as it did to my position--that of a prisoner of a war so horrible
that I shuddered as I recalled all I had seen and heard.
The sound was coming closer fast, and hope rose like a bright gleam to
chase away the clouds, as I thought it possible that the trampling I
heard might be from the horses of friends; but as quickly came a sense
of dread lest it might be a squadron of bloodthirsty sowars, and if so
my minutes were numbered.
"What folly!" I said to myself, with a sigh; "it is the rajah's
escort." And a few minutes later the advance rode in through an opening
among the trees at the far end, bringing the blood rushing to my heart
as I recognised the long white dress of a native cavalry regiment, one
that had joined the mutineers, and, as I fancied then, that which had
been stationed at Rajgunge. Immediately after, as they drew off to
right and left, the rajah himself rode in, turning his horse toward the
tent, dismounting and throwing the rein to one of his escort, he was
about to enter, but Salaman and the four bearers stepped up salaaming
profoundly, and the chief turned in my direction, to stride across the
opening, with the sun flashing from the jewels and brilliant arms he
wore.
By the time he reached my couch, the men, horse and foot, had withdrawn,
so that we were alone as he bent down, offering his hand, but without
any response from me, and the smile on his handsome face died out to
give way to a frown.
That passed away as quickly, and with his countenance quite calm, he
said in excellent English--
"Not to the enemy, but to your host."
"I beg your pardon, rajah," I said; and I could feel the colour coming
into my cheeks as I felt how ungrateful I was to the man who had saved
my life, and was sparing nothing to restore me to health.
My hand was stretched out as I spoke, but it remained untouched for a
few moments.
"It will not be a friendly grasp," he said coldly.
"Indeed it will," I cried; "for you have saved those who love me from a
terrible time of sorrow."
"Those who love you?" he said, taking my hand and holding it.
"Yes; mother, father, sister."
"Ah, yes," he said; "of course. You have friends at home in England?"
"No: here," I said.
He did not speak for a few moments, and still retaining my hand, sank
down cross-legged on the carpet close to my pillow, gazing at me
thoughtfully.
Then, with the smile coming back to light up his face in a way which
made me forget he was a deadly enemy, he said cheerfully--
"I am glad to see this. I knew you were better, and now you must grow
strong quickly."
He held my hand still, and let the other glide on my arm, shaking his
head the while.
"This will not do," he continued. "You always were slight and boyish,
but the strength has gone from your arm, and your cheeks are all sunken
and white."
"Yes, I am very weak," I said faintly, and with a bitter feeling of
misery at my helplessness.
"Of course. Such wounds as yours would have killed many strong men. It
was a terribly keen cut. The wonder is that it did not take off your
arm. As it is, you nearly bled to death."
"Don't talk about it," I said, with a slight shudder; "it is healing
now, and after lying so long thinking, I want to forget my wounds."
"Of course. Let us talk about something else. Tell me," he said
gently, "do your servants attend you well?"
"Yes; they do everything I could wish for."
"Is there anything you want? I have been a long time without coming."
"Yes," I said; but hesitated to make the request that rose to my lips,
and deferred it for the moment; "where have you been?"