Chapter IV: On the Threshold

Who can be so welcome as the cherished one that comes to us from the jaws of death? The arrival of Baird Avery turned all the gloom into radiance, and lifted for the moment the shadow that hung over the doomed household. He paused only long enough to hold Marian for a moment in rapturous embrace, when he turned and warmly greeted her father and mother, trying in the meanwhile to answer the questions that each one rained upon him.

It took but a few minutes to give all the information at command, and then, as he was dusty, sun-burned and tired, he was glad to plunge into the house and into the bath. That refreshing luxury over, it was dark, and shortly after the evening meal was eaten. Emerging once more upon the veranda, Avery occupied one of the cane lounging chairs that were at the command of any one who chose to use them.

"Ah," he sighed, puffing at his cheroot and stretching out in the delightful support, "this is what I call luxury and no mistake. I walked all of last night, up to sunrise this morning. I was so tired that I thought I never would become rested, but now the feeling is so delicious that it is worth all the labor that produces it. I fancy I could spend a week here without wanting to change my position."

"Where is your luggage, doctor?"

"All the property subject to my control is resting in this chair. When Luchman told me that the palanquin bearers meant to kill me, of course I was careful of my movements. I did not give him any hint of my intention, but tried to mislead him, for he was strongly set against any effort on my part to join you. After he had gone, I went out of the bungalow with the intention of taking the most valuable things from the palanquin. I looked for the khansaman, but he was invisible. While trying to find him, I came upon two of the natives lurking near the corner of the bungalow, and no doubt on the watch for a chance to bury their knives in me. When I saw them, the cowardly scamps broke and ran in such terror that they were off before I could get any kind of aim."

"Did you have trouble on the road?" asked the missionary.

"None at all, though I think it was due to the pains I took not to attract attention. There is no molestation at present of foreigners, and until there is, a little care will take you through many places where in a few days it will be certain death to show your face. I called on General Graves at the cantonment and told him that a revolt of the sepoys was sure to come before the first of next month."

"How did he receive your information?"

"He thanked me like the gentleman he is, but I saw that he thought very little of what I said. He remarked that the same thing had been told him again and again within the past few weeks, and added with a laugh that the dog that barks the most bites the least. I tell you," added the surgeon, rising to an upright sitting posture and speaking with great emphasis, "one of two things is certain--this impending mutiny is the most prodigious hoax of the nineteenth century, or it will be the most appalling massacre of modern times: I am inclined to believe it will prove the latter."

"So am I," added the missionary impressively. "We are standing on the threshold of judgment, and naught but the hand of God can save us from a terrible fate."

"But He will save only those who try to save themselves," ventured Marian, both she and her mother awed by the dreadful shadow that darkened their hearthstone.

"We will do all that lies within our power, but we are worms encircled by a ring of fire. Where the revolt is so widespread there is no safety this side of Calcutta, almost a thousand miles away."

"Delhi will be the headquarters of the sepoys," said Dr. Avery, "and the very hour they occupy the city the massacre of the Europeans will begin. They will assail them like tigers. Can you not hide yourselves in the house of some faithful native where no one will think of looking for you? There you can stay until the flurry is over and our soldiers retake the city as they will soon do."

"Your proposal has been in my mind ever since Luchman told us of our danger; but I have misgivings that many of the converts will find themselves unable to stem the whirlwind of fanatical excitement. If so, they will be the fiercest of our enemies. Even if faithful, they will be suspected and are likely to be destroyed by the Mohammedans."

"What about Luchman?"

"I ought to feel sure of him, for we shall be at his mercy. But he was a high caste Brahmin, and he may become the most venomous Hindoo when caught in the swirl. I hope differently, however, but we shall soon know the worst."

When the night had advanced, the little group knelt around the family altar, while the missionary poured out his supplication to the Heavenly Father who had been so merciful to them in the past. He was one of the most devoted laborers that went forth in his master's vineyard, and he was ready at all times to answer the summons: "Come home," but he loved those who were kneeling with him, and he pleaded for their care with an earnestness and faith that it would seem must prevail.

The lovers lingered after the departure of the parents. Many months had passed since they met, and these sweet minutes could not but be happy ones, despite the overpowering gloom outside. Could the moonlight have stolen through the tattie it would have seen them seated side by side on the cane settee, her hand folded in his, while the murmur of their voices was so soft and low that no listener could have caught the syllables that fell from their lips.

This was the hour for which both had sighed during the weeks and months that were past. The belief that such blissful communion awaited him cheered Dr. Avery during that long, dusty, laborious journey up the valley of the Ganges. It was her picture which haunted his dreams, when fitfully slumbering in the palanquin or watching for the treacherous tiger in the fever smitten jungles.

And now after all these perils the dream was realized. He knew the sacred thrill as he pressed the small white hand and touched his lips to the smooth, warm cheek, and drew the willowy form still closer to his own. Ah, if it could but last! But such meetings were too blissful to continue long. Again the sweet vows were repeated, and Avery felt that if he could but hold that dear form by his side forever he would care not for storm or sorrow.

They were still talking in their soft low tones, when Marian raised her head.

"It seems to me that a great many people are going along the roads tonight."

"I have noticed the same thing," replied Avery. "Delhi has no pavements, and few of the people have shoes, so they make mighty little noise on the soft cunka of the road, but when it is so still around us we can hear the sweep of the myriads of feet--_Sh!_"

While the two were listening to the faint but unmistakable noise made by the multitudinous tramping, some one entered the compound and walked rapidly to the bungalow. Dr. Avery instinctively rose to his feet, grasped his revolver, and drew aside the tattle, just as Luchman stopped in front of it.

The native showed no surprise on seeing the surgeon, from whom he supposed he had parted forever, but respectfully saluted him and the young lady, who had also risen and stood by his side.

"What news do you bring?" asked the doctor.

"Bad news, sahib,--bad news; the natives are so impatient that they will not wait for the day fixed by their leaders. The streets are full of people; I have heard threats made against this house; they are afraid to make the attack, but before long they will gain the courage to do so."

"Then it is unsafe to stay here."

"Every hour increases the danger, sahib."

The native spoke the truth.