I heard the Bhutteara bustling about in the interior of his house for
a while, and was gratified to see that he so evidently exerted himself
to please me. In a short time more the sherbet was prepared, and its
grateful coolness, with the rose-water which had been mingled with it,
allayed the irritation of my mouth, and enabled me to enjoy a hookah,
which, if served in a less costly apparatus than that the Nuwab had
offered me, was as good in flavour: its pleasing fumes composed me, and
quieted the feverish excitement I had hitherto been in.
"You appear comfortable," said Bhudrinath.
"I am so," I replied; "and I doubt not you envy me, in spite of your
Brahminical belief."
"Perhaps I do," said he; "yet having never tasted the luxuries of
meat and other things you set such value upon, I cannot estimate them
sufficiently, and I care not about them: nay more, the very idea
of meat, the sight of it in its raw state, the blood, the garbage
accompanying it, are loathsome to me; and I very much question, were
I to become a Mahomedan, whether I could ever bring myself to eat it.
Pah! the idea is horrible."
I could not help laughing heartily at his disgust, and he was not
angry. "But," said I, "how are we to wake at the proper time? an hour
too soon or too late, and our enterprise is ruined."
"I was thinking of the same thing," he replied; and turning to the
Bhutteara, he asked him how late he remained up: "For," he continued,
"my friend and I have a small matter on our hands about midnight. Can
we trust to you to awaken us if we sleep?"
"Certainly," said the man; "I never shut up my shop till after
midnight, for sometimes travellers drop in, and, poor hungry souls,
the first place they seek is the Bhutteara's shop, and were there not
something hot for them woe be to me!"
"Here is a trifle over and above the price of the kabobs," said I,
throwing him a few rupees, "to keep you awake."
He picked up the money with many salams and good wishes, and my hookah
being smoked out, and feeling drowsy, I laid myself down and slept,
but not long. As is often the case, excitement overpowered sleep, and
I awoke in alarm lest I had overslept the time; I had not however done
so. Looking round me, I saw the Bhutteara busily employed in cooking
cakes, while his little daughter was turning some kabobs on the fire;
he observed me, and said, "You are soon awake, Sahib, it wants a good
hour yet of your time; you had better go to sleep again; you see I
have work in hand which will keep me up beyond that time, for some
travellers have arrived, and it is as much as I can do to satisfy their
hungry stomachs."
"I cannot sleep again," said I; "I am refreshed, and another hookah or
two will keep me awake till it is time to go."
"I understand you," said he; "you young men are hot-blooded, and are
always seeking adventures; but it is only as it ought to be: I would
not give a couree for a young fellow who had not the spirit you appear
to possess."
"May you prosper," said I; "but let me have another hookah, for truly
the first has left a grateful flavour in my mouth."
He disappeared into the interior of his house for a short time, and
returned with it. "Now," said he, "if the first pleased you, you cannot
but be gratified with this; it is prepared from a choice receipt, and
it is only persons of rank and taste like yourself to whom I ever give
it: it would be lost on the multitude."
It was, as he said, delicious; and my pipe had been refilled several
times to my great satisfaction, when he told me the time I desired
was come. "Yonder star," said he, "rises over the houses a short time
before midnight, so rouse your companion; you will be expected."
I did so; Bhudrinath was soon awake, and ready to accompany me. We
took leave of our host, and directed our way through the now deserted
streets to the place of assignation. "We are wonderfully like two
thieves," said he to me; "what if the village watch should catch us? we
should look very foolish."
"I see no danger of it," said I: but hardly were the words out of my
mouth, when we saw the patrol coming down the street before us. There
was an open gate close to us, and stepping inside, we hid ourselves
behind the large doors. We had however been observed, and as the men
passed, one said he was sure he had seen two men lurking there.
"Nonsense," said another fellow, "you are always seeing men in the
dark. Come along! it is just midnight, and I am sleepy; we will go a
little further, and then beat the duphra; if there are any thieves
about they will run away."
A loud yawn was a pretty good proof of the truth of his assertion, and
they passed on. Just as we emerged from our hiding-place the duphra and
horns were sounded, and answered from the other sides of the town; and
then all was again as still as death, save when a village dog howled
his wild cry to the moon. "There is now no danger," said I; "come on,
we are near the place."
A few paces further brought us to the corner where the old woman said
she would await our coming, and there, to our great joy, we found her.
"My blessings on ye that ye are come," said she; "I thought the night
would never wear away, and I have been waiting here for some hours."
"Is all prepared?" said I: "Is she ready?"
"Ay, that she is; I warrant the hours have gone as slowly with her as
with me; and listen," said the old woman, "she has hit upon a rare
device, which will mislead suspicion:" and she laughed heartily.
"For the love of Alla be quiet!" said I; "were we heard or seen we are
undone."
"For that matter there is not much to apprehend, for this house on one
side is deserted, and inside the wall, on the other, is nothing but the
nuwab's garden, where no one stays at night."
"Tell me then what her plan is; can we assist it?"
"Oh no," said the woman; "it is her own invention, and a rare one it
is. I had just come to her, when she sent me out to get a bladder full
of blood. I could not make out what she wanted it for, but I went and
bought it, though I had to get a kid killed on the pretence that the
meat was suddenly required. Well, no sooner had I returned, than she
poured some of it on her bed, rumpled and daubed the sheets, tore off
pieces of her dress, and scattered them about the room, also some of
the beautiful hair from her head, which she also threw about, and in
short made the place look as if she had been wounded, and there had
been a scuffle to get her out. Ah, it was a rare device! and the best
of it is, that a nuwab who lives at a distance, and who has been trying
to get this one to give her up (and there has been much quarrelling
between them on the subject), will be suspected, and it will never be
thought that she has run off of her own accord."
"'Tis wonderful," said I; "and, proverbial as is woman's wit, yet, by
Alla! this is an instance which ought to be written in a book; but we
are delaying here to no purpose."
"Come, then," said the old woman; "it is but a few steps further." We
stationed ourselves under the window, in which there was a strong light
burning; and the old woman giving a sharp but low cough, a figure was
seen at the casement; it opened; it was she!
"Is he here?" said a low, sweet voice, which thrilled through me.
"Yes, lady, the humblest of your slaves is here, and prays you to be
quick, for the sake of Alla; there is no time to lose."
"I will be with you instantly," replied she.
"Do so," said I; "but be quick, or we are lost."
She withdrew from the window, and a few instants after reappeared,
and let down a box and bundle. I unfastened them, and she drew up the
sheet. "Now," said she, "I come; but what is to be done with the sheet?
I must fasten it inside ere I descend."
"Leave that to me," said I, "only come down."
A few instants more were occupied in fastening the cloth, and she then
stepped out on the ledge. My heart beat audibly lest she should fall
and hurt herself, and we should be observed; but I and Bhudrinath
placed ourselves underneath, to catch her if she fell. It was however
unnecessary, for she was on the ground in an instant, and I had pressed
her to my heart! "The rest must not be left undone," said I; and
ascending by the sheet, I entered the window. The room was a small one,
and, by the hasty glance I threw around it, it appeared, indeed, as
though there had been a scene of violence and bloodshed. Clothes were
strewn about, the floor and bed were stained with blood, and pieces of
torn apparel, lying here and there, gave to the whole the appearance of
what was intended. I did not stay a moment, but unfastening the sheet,
threw it down, and getting outside the window, dropped to the ground.
The shock hurt me considerably, but it was not the time for complaint.
We held a hurried consultation as to which gate we should go out by,
Bhudrinath again preferring the one by which we entered. This, however,
was overruled by all of us, and guided by the old woman we took our
way to the other. We met not a soul in the lonely streets, and, by the
blessing of Alla, on reaching the gate we found the wicket open, and
the man who should have guarded it fast asleep, with his shield under
his head and his sword by his side. Stealthily and slowly we passed by
him, lest our footfall should awake him; and gaining the outside, we
hurried along under the shadow of the walls until we gained the plain
on which was our encampment.
When fairly within our guards, who were stationed round the spot, the
fair being, who had hitherto clung to me, suddenly sunk down. To fetch
water for her was the work of a moment, and after forcing some into
her mouth she recovered. "I was overcome with joy," said she, throwing
herself at my feet; "and indeed, if you knew the anxious suspense I
have been in ever since last afternoon, you would believe me. At one
time I was overjoyed at the prospect of deliverance from my hateful
servitude, and again, as the night wore on, and I tried to count the
hours, I sometimes thought that the time had passed, and that my
preparations had been but a mockery. And now to find myself free and
with you, ah! my lord, it is too much joy--my heart is like to burst."
I raised her up and caressed her, and seating her under a tree, put
my arm around her, and we sat in the lovely moonlight in silence; she
could not speak, and I would not break the current of her thoughts,
whatever they might be. How long we sat there I cannot tell; we were
interrupted by the old woman. "This is no time for dalliance," said
she; "my lady requires rest; and methinks, sir, were you to find means
of getting us on before morning breaks, we should elude pursuit, and
you could follow us."
"You say truly," said I, "and it shall be cared for."
Fortunately the cart of the Sahoukar had not been sold, and though it
was still laden with his effects, there was plenty of room in it for
the two females. I went to Bhudrinath, whom I found fast asleep after
his night's work; when he was fully awakened, he seemed to comprehend
that his services were again required.
"What, more work!" said he. "Well, Meer Sahib, I am ready; what is it?"
"It is too bad for me to rouse you so soon," said I, "and to require
you to go on with this matter; for Alla, who sees my heart, alone knows
how grateful it is to you for your assistance this night."
"Do not say so, my young friend," cried he laughing; "I would do
anything for a little fun and excitement."
"Why," I rejoined, "you must know the old woman has advised instant
flight from hence; so you and some of the men must be ready to be
off before daylight; and as I have prepared the old Sahoukar's cart
for her, you will be easily able to get eight or ten coss from hence
to-morrow, and the same the next day, when you must halt till we
come up. Remember you are a Moosulman for the time, and she must be
protected and screened as though she were the wife of one."
"I understand," said he, "and will do my trust faithfully."
"I believe you," I replied; "and now for the road,--which to take I am
undecided. I have heard that two branch off from this to Hyderabad."
"Stay," said Bhudrinath; "I think Peer Khan knows both. I will go and
bring him; you know he is one of my set."
He went, and returned with the man. "I have explained all to him," said
he, "and now hear what he has to say."
"I beg to represent," said Peer Khan, "that I know both roads, but
not perfectly; still I should think what the Meer Sahib counsels the
best, for the other is a sad lonely one, and few travellers go by it.
As to the chance of being pursued, we must trust to our good Tukdeer
(destiny), which has brought us thus far without an accident, and
Inshalla! will carry us on."
"Well, Peer Khan," said I, "you must be the guide; you are the only
person who knows anything about the road, and I can only say that if
you are steady and faithful I will make you a handsome present when I
overtake you at Nirmul."
"May your condescension increase, Meer Sahib," said he; "but putting
the enam out of the question, you know very well that there is not a
man among us who would not give his blood to-morrow, or any time he
might be called upon, for you. But come, Bhudrinath, as we are to start
soon, I had better get the men together, and be ready."
I returned to the tent, where I found Zora and the old woman sitting
covered up in their sheets, and warming themselves over a fire they had
lighted. In a few words I told them of the necessity of flight, and
added, "Alas! I do not accompany you now; we have had a consultation on
the subject, and have determined that, for the sake of mutual safety,
we must for the present separate. Alla, who sees my heart, knows that
it will burn with anxiety and care while I am absent from you; for
know, lady, that from the time I first beheld you in the durbar, my
soul hath been consumed by your beauty, and as then I was plunged into
despair at the thought that you never could be mine, so now is the
excess of grief that I must part with you."
She was silent for some time; but at last throwing back her veil, and
again displaying her beautiful face to me, she put her hand into mine.
"I trust you," said she; "I have no fear now except for you; I will go
without a murmur, for I see how necessary it is for us to separate;
yet assure me, my beloved, that you will not be long away, and I am
content."
"I repeat," said I, "only two days at the furthest; we shall follow you
to-morrow evening, or the next morning; and once that we are in motion,
I will push on till I overtake you, where we will wait for my father
and the rest."
"By what road do we travel?" asked the old woman.
"By Nirmul," said I; "it is out of the way, and we have therefore
chosen it; it is not probable that the Nuwab's people, if he sends any
out, will take that direction."
"You are right," she replied; "they will not. But I would give much to
see him to-morrow, when the flight of this pretty bird is known."
"What shall we care," said I, "except to laugh at his old beard? I will
go into the town as soon as the alarm has spread, and you shall have
all the news when we meet again."
"Now bid me start," said Bhudrinath, who then entered the tent, "and I
am off. For the present I am Jumal Khan, by which name inquire for me
on the road."
"May God protect you all! You have a precious charge, my friend," said
I, "and would that I could even now take your place."
The women were soon ready, and I saw them comfortably settled in their
vehicle. "Now I am off," cried Bhudrinath: "drive on the cart; and do
some of you fellows keep about it, as though it were a decent man's
zenana."
"Alla Hafiz!" said I, "and may the Prophet guide you safely!" They
went on; I stood watching them, until a turn in the road hid them from
my sight, and I betook myself to my tent, where throwing myself down,
sleep soon came over me.
I was awakened by my father, who came into the tent where I was lying;
he seemed angry with me for having been out all night, as he said, on
some unprofitable if not unworthy business; "but," said he, "it is time
for the morning prayer, and after that I will hear what you have been
about." I accompanied him to the skirts of our camp, where, spreading
our carpets, we watched for the blush of dawn to go through the usual
forms; when they were over, he seated himself and desired to hear what
I had done: "I fear me no good," said he, "but tell me." So I recounted
the events of the night, and was prepared for a severe lecture,
and a great deal of advice and reproof. I was for once agreeably
disappointed; instead of being angry, he laughed heartily at the whole
affair, and applauded our arrangements in having sent Zora out of the
way.
The sun was barely risen, when there arose a noise from the town, and
it was plain enough to us that the discovery had taken place. The
whole place was in a ferment; people hurried out of the gates and
collected into groups, and by the pointing to our camp, and their
gesticulations, we were obviously the suspected persons; and, as we had
anticipated, about twenty horse and some foot soldiers issued from the
gate nearest to us, and came directly towards us. They surrounded our
little camp, and one or two who appeared the leaders of the party rode
up, and in an authoritative manner demanded to see our leader. I had
previously arranged with my father that he was to continue to support
his character as a merchant and to put me forward as the jemadar of
the party; and as he knew that I had appeared in the character at the
Nuwab's durbar, and supported it well, he had readily acceded to my
request.
"You see the leader," said I, "in my poor person. And what may be the
demands of the Nuwab Sahib so early? Is there anything his poor servant
can do to prove how much he is impressed with the kind treatment he has
received?"
"You must be content to be our prisoner," said the man, haughtily,
"until your camp is searched; a strange event has happened, and you are
suspected."
"Of what?" said I, appearing thunderstruck; "of what can I be
suspected? But the camp is before you, sirs, by all means search it.
Perhaps," said I, bitterly, "your town has been robbed, and it is not
wonderful that persons of respectability should be suspected in this
unmannerly country."
"Peace!" cried the man, "we must do our duty; and I for one, for the
sake of appearances, should be glad to find you had not requited the
Nuwab's hospitality with treachery."
"I am dumb," said I, "notwithstanding that I am in utter astonishment
at your words; but by all means search the place, and afterwards
perhaps you will in kindness unravel this mystery to me."
He rode with me to my tent, and, dismounting, entered it with me,
followed by two or three of his men. There was nothing in it but the
carpet and mattress on which I had slept, a few cooking utensils, and
some of the bales of plunder piled up at the farther end. "She is not
here," said Azim Khan, the leader of the Nuwab's party, "let us go to
the other tent."
I accompanied them, and, making a salam to my father, told him that the
Nuwab's people wished to search his tent, as they had done mine, and
added, "Do not oppose them, lest the Nuwab should in truth see reason
to suspect us."
"Certainly not," said my father; "here is the tent, and I am the
Nuwab's slave; it is not likely that an old man like me should have
women concealed here."
So his tent was searched as mine had been, and afterwards the temporary
screens of the men, but nothing was found, and the party were evidently
disappointed. "We are on the wrong track, and I told you so," said Azim
Khan to the leader: "depend upon it, as I told the Nuwab, it is that
rascal Sheffee Khan's work; we all know him to be in the employ of the
Hakim of Nursee, who wanted to get the girl; and we had better be after
him than wasting our time here."
"A girl!" cried I; "truly this is most wonderful. For the sake of Alla
satisfy my curiosity--what is all this about? By your head," said I to
the leader, "but that it seems a serious matter, I feel much tempted
to laugh at the idea of my poor camp being searched for a girl,--some
slave, I presume, who has run away or been carried off by her lover;
say, sahib, what has happened?"
"Why, it is no laughing matter to us, whatever it may be to you," said
the leader; "send your men out of hearing, and you shall have the whole
story."
"Away with you!" cried I to our men, who had crowded round; "this is no
tale for your ears."
"The affair is this," said the man: "Until last night, there was
in the zenana of the Nuwab a dancing-girl of surpassing beauty and
accomplishments; but early this morning her apartment was found empty,
marks of violence everywhere about it, blood on the sheets of her bed,
and some of her hair and portions of her clothes strewn about the room.
There was no alarm in the night, the gates of the town were closed and
guarded as usual; and it seems some work of the Shitan that this should
have taken place, and that we should have had dirt thrown on our beards
without knowing by whom. There is the Nuwab raving and swearing like a
madman; his zenana is all in confusion; and, what is worst of all, he
threatens to discharge every one of us, without we either bring back
the girl or get him intelligence of her within three days."
"Protection of Alla!" cried both I and my father; "this is most
extraordinary. And have you no suspicion who has insulted you in this
manner?"
"Why," said the man, "you were first suspected, as being strangers
and a large party, and we were desired to search your camp; but here
we find nothing but bales of goods,--and, indeed, you are not likely
persons to have carried her off, for I question whether you ever saw
her."
"I dare say," said I, "she was one of the women who were in the durbar
the other night, when I paid a visit to the Nuwab."
"Very likely," he returned; "were those you saw good-looking?"
"They were both so," said I; "one was tall and fair, the other was
shorter and not so fair, but very handsome."
"That was the girl," said the man; "I have seen her myself once or
twice, when I could get inside of a night. But I am wasting my time
here, and must return; you may depend upon my fully exonerating you
from any suspicion in the matter."
"Your favourable opinion," said I, "will no doubt, have its due weight;
and I pray you to carry our condolence to the Nuwab, and say that if we
have permission we will wait on him to express it."
"I will deliver your message," said he; "but I think you will not
be admitted, as really he is in great grief, more on account of the
insult, perhaps, than the loss of the girl. I take my leave."
He saluted us and rode off; and, not long after, a servant of the
Nuwab came with a civil message and some fruit, to say that his master
regretted he could not see us, and was sorry that he had been under the
necessity of searching our camp. We dismissed him with a present, and
reiterated our condolences, which he promised to deliver. "And now,"
said I to my father, "this is no place for us longer; we must be off.
What say you to a march in the afternoon?"
"It is good," said he; "we will go. Tell the men to be prepared."