Chapter XXI: One Incident of Many

From what has been told, it will be readily believed that Harkins and Dr. Avery had been taken much further from their friends than they suspected; and as is too often the case the actors were not the only sufferers from the wild prank.

The missionary, wife and daughter took up their quarters in the bungalow to await the return of their guide, as well as of those who had gone on the little excursion of their own.

The building, as will be recalled, was but a single story in height, and was provided with two rooms, containing beds, tables and chairs. The general purpose of such structures, built by the East India Company, is that travelers may stop with their attendants, and be furnished meals and lodging for the night.

A khansaman or native cook is in charge to look after the wants of wayfarers, but from some cause or other none showed himself to the fugitives, who were therefore left to their own resources.

The parents were fatigued, and the wife especially felt the need of an extended rest, but her meek, uncomplaining disposition led her to repress all complaint. Indeed there was no need of any, for her companions saw her distress.

It was Marian's intention to tell Luchman on his return that some means of conveyance must be found for her mother. They had considerable money with them, and, despite the confusion and peril, it ought not to be a difficult matter to buy a horse.

The little party were soon joined by others. A carriage stopped in front of the bungalow, and, looking out, they saw that it was a covered one, such as the wealthy use in India, drawn by a single horse that must have been driven hard, judging by the steaming foam on his flanks; he was almost knocked up.

The native driver sprang down from his seat in front, and, advancing to the side, drew open the door.

Within were two women and a child. In the expectation of finding servants at the bungalow, they sent the driver to announce their wants. He made inquiry in broken English of the figures he indistinctly saw within.

Mr. Hildreth answered in Hindustani, and, walking to the side of the carriage, greeted the ladies, and asked whether he could do anything for them. They said they were in want of food, having been on the road the entire day. They had come from Delhi, and like all those who had escaped so far, had passed through many perils. They were extremely anxious to go on, but their horse was jaded, and they had eaten but a few mouthfuls since leaving the Cashmere Gate. They had no trouble in finding water, but the little child with them was nearly famished.

Nothing in the way of food was immediately obtained, but the missionary assured them that a servant of their own was absent in quest of some, and was momentarily expected back. He urged them to wait and partake with them.

The ladies consulted as to what was best to do. Mr. Hildreth could see no reason why they should decline, and he did not expect them to do so. To his surprise, however, they returned their grateful acknowledgments, and said they thought it best to press on toward Kurnal. The driver climbed back to his seat, and the weary horse once more resumed his dragging course.

The missionary might well wonder at this, for he could not understand what reason the ladies had for forcing the exhausted animal, when a brief rest would be as beneficial to one as the other.

And yet the refusal of the strangers to stop was the means of saving the lives of those left in the bungalow. Had they entered the rude structure and remained for a few minutes, every one of the party would have been massacred.

The rattle of wheels had hardly died out down the dusty highway, when those in the bungalow caught the sound of hurrying footsteps. They proved to be those of Luchman, who was running in great excitement. He carried something under his arm, but without referring to it, he asked,

"Did a carriage go by, sahib, a few minutes ago--drawn by one horse?"

Mr. Hildreth replied in the affirmative, and was about to ask him to run ahead and give them a part of the food which he carried under his arm, when Luchman, in great anguish, said,

"Too late! too late, sahib; do you hear that?"

All heard the sounds made by the hoofs of swiftly galloping horses.

"Look out of the door," he added; "but be careful they do not see you."

They were just in time to catch a glimpse of eight or ten horsemen as they rode by, partly hidden by the dust. They were mutineers or Ghoojurs pursuing the carriage.

The faces of the fugitives blanched as they drew near each other in the darkness of the bungalow. They knew the meaning of what they saw, without any explanation from Luchman.

The rattling discharge of guns followed: there could be no mistake either as to what that signified.

A few minutes before the three craved food, but they wanted none now. To a certain extent they had become accustomed to massacre and crime, but there was something unspeakably horrifying in the thought that the two ladies, whose voices still echoed in the ears of the missionary, and the track of whose wheels had not been obliterated by the hoofs of the horses, were no more of earth.

Even Luchman was affected by the awful fate of the party, for there could be no doubt that they were dead. He was silent for a brief space, and then looked around as though he missed Harkins and Avery. They had not spoken, and seeing nothing of them in the gloom, he asked where they were. When told they had been gone for a considerable time, he was impatient.

"They have done wrong--very wrong," he said, as if speaking to himself; "they should have known better; the time has come when we must leave the highway and take to the jungle again."

"What new trouble has arisen?" asked Mr. Hildreth.

"You heard the guns a few minutes ago, sahib; there are hundreds of mutineers and natives mounted on horses, and hunting everywhere for fugitives."

"What has caused such increased activity?"

"There is a wide belief, sahib, that the Europeans fleeing from Delhi carry a large amount of money and valuables with them. There being little left to plunder in the city, the robbers are hunting through the country for victims."

"I thought from the fair progress we made, and from certain other evidences, that we were far enough ahead of the fellows to be safe."

"We are not; it was said that those ladies in the carriage carried many diamonds, and it was because of that, sahib, that they were killed. We ran much more risk than I thought, when we left the jungle and took to the highway. I wonder that we have escaped so long, for we have been seen of many.

"You know we are fairly disguised."

"Yes, sahib, but so are many other fugitives; the natives know that, and therefore they scrutinize the faces more closely than ever before."

"Harkins and the doctor should have been back before this," said the missionary with growing uneasiness.

"They may not be back for hours, sahib; the danger is so great that we cannot wait for them--don't speak!"

Again the sound of horses' hoofs fell upon their ears, and the fugitives were terrified. They moved quickly to the rear of the bungalow, for they had little time to seek other shelter.

There was no jungle or grove within sight of the building into which to flee. The structure stood alone, with the exception of the cook house, where the servants lived. Luchman knew the bungalow would be visited by their enemies, and it would not do, therefore, to stay where they were. The Europeans hastily withdrew through the small door at the rear of the room they occupied, and, crossing a narrow space, found a hiding place in the abandoned kitchen.

Luchman sauntered to the front to be ready for the horsemen in the road. There were four of them, galloping two abreast, and the dismay of the Europeans may be imagined when the sudden cessation of the sound of the hoofs showed that they had reined up in front of the bungalow. There could be no doubt that they were looking for victims, and there was hope of finding them in the neighborhood.

Luchman did not hesitate to show himself where he was sure to attract the notice of the miscreants.

Suspecting him to be the khansaman, they addressed him in their native tongue and asked whether he had seen any of the Feringhees pass that way lately. Luchman replied that a carriage containing two ladies and a child had gone by but a few minutes before. They eagerly inquired the direction, and were instantly off again. The guide did not inform them that the unfortunates were already beyond their reach.

The horsemen having gone, the Europeans once more breathed freely. But the occurrences of the last half hour gave them a vivid idea of their peril. They had come to think themselves almost clear of danger from mutineers and budmashes, only to learn that they were threatened on every side.

The guide by his coolness had averted the danger for the moment, but it may be said it was only for the moment. They had chosen the worst place to await his coming, since the bungalow was of no account as a means of defense.

It was necessary that they should leave at once. It was desirable indeed that they should have the company of Harkins and Avery, but it would not do to wait for them. Luchman, therefore, called to them to follow him.

As he left the bungalow they were close behind him. He moved northward, and had not far to go before catching sight of the jungle on their left.

Luchman hastened toward this refuge, and though its malarious depths might contain the terrible tiger, the leopard, the bear, the lion, the wolf, the jackal, the hyena, the jungle cat, the boar, and deadly serpents, yet it was better than the open country, through which the merciless natives were prowling for victims.

Again Luchman turned aside from the highway, and again his quick ear caught the sound of hoofs. He thought it more than likely that the mutineers had heard of the party of Feringhees on foot, and were hunting for them. Too much risk had already been run, and the guide resolved to do all he could for those with him, leaving the young men to look out for themselves.

It took but a brief while to reach the jungle, in whose shelter the fugitives once more hoped they were safe. Telling them to keep quiet and stay where they were, the guide left them to make what might be called a reconnaissance of their position. He found it satisfactory, and expressed the hope that they would not be disturbed, so long as they were vigilant and prudent.

Having done his best, he set down the food he had brought and urged them to eat. Their appetites had returned and they partook thankfully of the nourishment.

The solicitude of the party was now for the absent friends who had left them in the bungalow. There was no means by which they could find the party in the jungle, and Luchman was asked to go in search of them. He consented, though with the muttered complaint that by the time he found them, some one would have to hunt for the missionary and his family, but the good man assured him that they would stay where they were unless driven away by the approach of danger.