Chapter XV: 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!"