MUSTAD.
The East Indian who stood before Jack Everson, thoroughly cowed and
submissive, was unusually tall, dark, and thin to emaciation. He wore
a turban, a light linen jacket which encompassed his chest to below the
waist, with a sash or girdle, loose flapping trousers and sandals. In
the girdle at his waist was a long, formidable knife or yataghan, which
he would have been glad to bury in the heart of the man who had thus
brought him to his knees.
When Jack Everson demanded to know his identity the fellow replied in a
low voice that was not lacking in a certain musical quality:
"Mustad!"
The young man half expected the answer.
"What business brings you here?"
"He is my master; I work for him. I have been to see my aged mother,
who is very ill. I have just returned to serve my master."
"That is not true! You went away to bring some of your people to kill
the doctor and his family."
"Sahib does Mustad great wrong," replied that individual in a grieved
voice. "I love my master and my mistress. I am not ungrateful. I
would give my life sooner than harm a hair of their heads. Where have
they gone?"
It was the last question that removed all lingering doubt of the
native's treachery. He had returned to bring about their overthrow,
but knew not where to look for them. When he could ascertain whither
they had fled he and his brother miscreants would be at their heels.
"Suppose I should tell you that they had gone to Meerut or Delhi?"
"Allah be praised!" exclaimed the other devoutly; "for then they will
be safe."
"Is there no trouble in Meerut or Delhi?"
"What trouble can there be!" asked Mustad, with well-feigned
simplicity. "It is in those cities that the missionaries and many of
the Inglese live. They have lived there many years. What harm could
befall them?"
By this time Jack Everson had lost all doubt of the perfidy of the man.
He could not fail to know what had taken place within the preceding
twenty-four hours in the cities named, and he lacked his usual cunning
when he tried to deceive his questioner.
The young man saw that it was a waste of time to question Mustad. No
reliance could be placed on anything he said.
"You will wait here, then, until Dr. Marlowe comes back?"
Mustad vigorously nodded his head and replied:
"I shall wait, and my eyes will be filled with tears until I see the
good man and his child again. When will they come to their home?"
"Well, the best thing you can do is to wait here until you see them
again."
As Jack made this remark he took a quick step forward and picked up the
revolver. He did not pause to examine it, but was sure that none of
the chambers had been discharged. Slipping the weapon into his coat
pocket, and still grasping his own, he said:
"I think I shall go out on the veranda and await the return of the
doctor."
As he made this remark he committed a mistake for which there was no
excuse. Instead of backing out of the room he turned about and started
through the open door into the hall. The walking cane against which he
had once struck his foot still lay where he had kicked it, and he
tripped over it a second time. The mishap, slight as it was, saved his
life. As he stumbled in the gloom something whizzed like the rush of a
cobra's head past his temple, nipping his hat and striking the opposite
wall with force enough to kill two or three men. It was the yataghan
of Mustad, who had drawn and hurled it with inconceivable quickness and
with an aim so unerring that it would have brained the unsuspecting
American but for his fortunate stumble.
The furious Jack whirled around with the purpose of sending a bullet
through the brain of the wretch, but something like a shadow flitted
through the lamplight while Jack was in the act of turning and, before
he could secure any aim, the scoundrel had vanished. Determined not to
be balked the young man let fly, and then, bounding across the room,
snapped back the door, meaning to repeat the shot at the first glimpse
of Mustad. But the latter was familiar with all the turnings of the
house, while Jack knew nothing of that portion of the building. He
could neither see nor hear anything, and did not deem it prudent to use
the lamp to help in the search, though it was hard to retire from the
field and leave the miscreant unpunished.
To do so, however, was the wiser course, and again he moved into the
hall. This time he backed thither, though, since Mustad had no weapon,
it was impossible that the attempt upon the young man's life should be
repeated. The outer door was opened, and once more he stood on the
veranda.
Before venturing across the lawn in the direction of the river he spent
a minute or two in peering into the surrounding gloom and listening.
He may have been mistaken, but he fancied he heard more than one person
moving stealthily about in the house. Once he was sure he caught the
sound of whispered words, so that the astounding fact was established
that during the few minutes occupied in talking with Mustad he had a
friend within instant call.
"All of which goes to prove that these people are cowards at heart,"
was the sage conclusion of Jack Everson. "They will throw away their
lives for the sake of Islamism, and they will fight like wildcats if a
man turns his back upon them; but when he stands face to face they are
whipped curs."
Since there was no doubt that Mustad and his companions would be on the
alert to note the course taken by Everson, so as to learn what had
become of his friends, the young man saw the need of misleading them.
He took care not to return to the river over his own trail. Instead of
doing so he moved to the right, as if on his way to the nearby town of
Akwar. When satisfied he was beyond range of the keen vision of those
in the house of Dr. Marlowe he made an abrupt change, which led him
toward the Ganges, forgetting, when he did so, that there might be
natives in the vicinity who were not in the building at all.