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THE BOW OF FATE 
 
THE BOW OF FATE 
 
 BY 
 
 SURGEON-MAJOR H. M. GREEN HOW 
 
 LONDON 
 
 W. H. ALLEN & CO., LIMITED 
 
 13, WATERLOO PLACE, S.W. 
 1893 
 
PRINTED AT THE ATHEN/EUM WORKS, REDHILL. 
 
 Uii^-tY MOK&t ;>l»£rHEfcl« 
 
TO THE MEMORY 
 
 A DEAR SISTER 
 
 I DEDICATE THIS STORY. 
 
 5! 4945 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2007 with funding from 
 
 IVIicrosoft Corporation 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/bowoffateOOgreerich 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 Ot'iekin(;ton Granc;k ... ... ... ... i 
 
 CHAPTER n 
 
 Gardkn Re.^ch 15 
 
 CHAPTER III 
 Jahmere 30 
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 A Polo Match 45 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 Ten Seconds with a TinER ... ... ... 58 
 
 CHAPTER Vl 
 
 A Proposal ... ... ... ... ... 79 
 
 CHAPTER Vn 
 The Nautch ... ... ... ... ... 92 
 
 CHAPTER Vni 
 An EvENiNc; Drive ... ... ... ... no 
 
viii CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 Condemned 125 
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 A Parade ... 141 
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 The Ferry 156 
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 A Ride for Life ... ... ... ... 174 
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 The Brahmin's Temple ... .. 188 
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 The House in the City 207 
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 Seasoning for a Curry 226 
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 The Storm Bursts 249 
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 Lilian 278 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 A Ruined Home 299 
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 At the Treasury ... 323 
 
THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 OTTERINGTON GRANGE. 
 
 It was a merry party that assembled that autumn 
 at Otterington, and not the least merry amongst 
 them was Sir George Spencer himself. The old 
 Baronet seemed never so happy as when he had 
 round him a circle of young people, and since his 
 wife's death, some years ago, he had been careful 
 to have always a girl friend to stay with his 
 daughter Edith, who would otherwise have found 
 life almost insupportable in that remote corner of 
 Northumberland, where hunting and shooting were 
 almost the only amusements during the dull 
 season of the year. 
 
THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 The afternoon was drawing to a close, yet the 
 gentlemen had not returned from a beat of some 
 far-distant covers, and it was evident the two girls 
 sitting in the drawing-room were wondering at 
 their prolonged absence. 
 
 " What a day they must have had, Edith ! " said 
 the younger, leaving her chair and going to the 
 window. " Rain all the morning, and then this 
 terrible mist, which envelops everything." 
 
 " Yes, indeed, they have been unlucky ; and I 
 am so sorry, because it is about the last day they 
 will have," answered Edith Spencer. " Oh, Lily, I 
 begin to feel terribly sad ! " 
 
 " Poor dear ! " cried the other girl, whose name 
 was Lilian Langford, coming back and throwing 
 her arms round her cousin. " One can't wonder at 
 that, but then these jolly times could not last for 
 ever." 
 
 " But to lose you all at one fell swoop is too 
 dreadful to contemplate." 
 
 Lilian laughed. 
 
 " You had better come with us," she said, " and 
 
OTTERINGTON GRANGE. 3 
 
 try what a dose of sunshine would do for you. 
 The more I see of this climate of yours the less I 
 like its damp and fogs and snows." 
 
 *' And what would become of my dear father if 
 I were to leave him, and of the people here, oh, 
 cousin of mine?" demanded Edith Spencer, 
 stroking the girl's dark and glossy hair affection- 
 ately. " We are not all so free as you are, nor so 
 completely our own mistresses." 
 
 " I don't know about that," murmured Lilian, 
 shrugging her shoulders ; "I'm not altogether 
 sure " 
 
 A curious figure at this moment stole silently/ 
 into the room, and, bowing low, stood with hands 
 joined together in an attitude of the utfnost 
 deference. Of a li ght brown colour, this man's 
 features were decidedly handsome, and there was 
 the mark of the high caste of a Brahmin on his 
 forehead. He wore clothes of the purest white^ 
 with a turban wound round his head after the 
 fashion of the natives of India. 
 
 " Protector_of^_the_20or, all is ready in the large ] 
 
4 THE BOH^ OF FATE. 
 
 chamber," he said in a strange tongue, which 
 however was understood by Lilian. 
 
 " Very good, Bhagut ; Miss Spencer and I will 
 come presently," returned she, in the same 
 mysterious jargon. 
 
 As the man, again salaaming low, retired, Edith 
 said, smiling — 
 
 " Really, Lily, that bearer of yours is a trying 
 person. Just as one fancies one is in the deepest 
 privacy and free from interruption, he enters in the 
 most insinuating manner, and stands statue-like, 
 evidently taking in every detail of the situation ! " 
 
 " Poor Bhagut 1 " answered the girl. " He is the 
 most excellent old creature imaginable, and has 
 the utmost admiration for you, Edith." 
 
 " I suppose it's only his way, and means nothing; 
 but I'm sure I could never get to like it — or to like 
 him, for the matter of that." 
 
 1 " Now there you are prejudiced, Edith," the girl 
 iteplied with some warmth. " Did you not notice 
 how respectfully he waited till I signed to him to 
 speak ? " 
 
OTTERINGTON GRANGE. 
 
 " That, to me, makes it only the worse, for one 
 feels disarmed by his humility, and yet all the 
 while angry at his intrusion," rejoined Edith, with 
 tenacity. 
 
 " His way is not your way — that is all, my dear. 
 What^~5h(5uT3 I have done — what would have 
 happened to me, if it had not been for old Bhagut i^ 
 When my father and mother both died during 
 that terrible cholera time in the Punjab, it was he 
 who took care of me and preserved me, carrying 
 me off to his own country, where cholera was un- 
 known." 
 
 " Well, that was really good of him, Lily, and of 
 course we all feel deeply indebted to him," said 
 Edith, gravely. " You were a little thing in those 
 days, and perhaps on some accounts it might have 
 been better for you to have come home at once. 
 I rather wonder they did not send you over." 
 
 " I have always understood my dear mother V 
 friends, most of them of the purest Rajpoot blood, 
 rather wished to maintain some hold over me,'' 
 replied Lilian. " And, besides, though we talk oi 
 
6 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 I 
 home, Edith, and, from your point of view mean 
 
 England, I can hardly think of mine otherwise than 
 
 as in India." 
 
 " And yet you call yourself an Englishwoman ! " 
 returned her cousin. " But there," seeing how the 
 poor girl's colour rose, " I meant nothing, and beg 
 your pardon, darling, for I'm more annoyed with 
 myself than I can tell for speaking so." 
 
 She turned and caressed Lilian affectionately, 
 but it was evident the taunt, unintentional as it 
 was, had told. 
 
 " My father, you know, was an English officer," 
 said the girl quietly, though her dark eyes flashed 
 beneath their long lashes, " and of that I am proud, 
 as I am bound to be ; moreover, had it not been 
 for him I should not have owned your cousinship, 
 I Edith, nor have had the happiness of looking on 
 Otterington as my English home." 
 
 " Now, that was sweetly said," cried Edith 
 Spencer, " and makes me feel all the more 
 ashamed of myself!" 
 
 "And yet," continued Lilian, "my mother's 
 
OTTERINGTON GRANGE. 
 
 people were, I have heard, terribly troubled at her f 
 marriage, and of course made her an outcast from 
 among them. None are prouder of their blood 
 than the sun-descended Rajpoots, nor, indeed, 
 have the right to be." 
 
 " I have often heard that said, and suppose it 
 may be true, but we in the West know so little 
 really of their feelings and prejudices," rejoined 
 Edith. 
 
 " That is perfectly true," said her cousin, with an 
 amused smile ; " and it is not to be expected that 
 you should enter into such small matters as these 
 which after all concern only some few millions ol 
 people thousands of miles away." 
 
 " Bravo ! my gentle cousin, that is a very fair 
 retort, and one that I fully deserve," cried Edith, 
 in her turn laughing good-humouredly. " But 
 now, won't Bhagut be growing impatient ? for I 
 gathered he came just now to summon us to the 
 music-room." 
 
 " Yes," said Lilian, " I had almost forgotten ; let 
 us go at once ! " 
 
X 
 
 8 THE BOW OF FATE, 
 
 They passed out together, as beautiful a pair of 
 
 girls as you could wish to see, though totally 
 
 differing from each other in nearly every respect — 
 
 ( Edith, golden-haired, voilet-eyed, with that fluctu- 
 
 lating blush on her fair cheek which comes and 
 
 ■goes one hardly knows why ; her figure tall, but 
 
 slight and lithe ; her every movement graceful ; 
 
 , Lilian, a decided brunette, with splendid soft black 
 
 ; eyes and rather markedly aquiline features, a 
 
 ^ \noble carriage, and a wonderfully low voice and 
 ipngaging manner. 
 
 The music-room had evidently been completely 
 transformed, for a stage had been erected at the 
 further end furnished with footlights and a cur- 
 tain ; and the carpenter was now only waiting for 
 final orders from his young mistress, which she 
 was giving in a few words, having turned to Lilian 
 to ask her advice about the drawing back of the 
 curtain, when a noise in the hall announced the 
 return of the sportsmen. 
 
 " Why, bless my soul, Edith, you have indeed 
 made a change here ! " cried Sir George, standing 
 
OTTERINGTON GRANGE. • 9 
 
 in the doorway and looking critically towards the 
 stage, over the rows of chairs ; " one would think 
 you were going to act some elaborate play, instead 
 of having only a few tableaux to amuse our 
 friends." 
 
 " Well, papa, I thought we might as well have 
 the thing complete, and the stage and curtain will 
 be useful some other time." 
 
 " I wonder when you next will have an enter- 
 tainment here. Miss Spencer?" said a good-looking 
 young fellow at Sir George's side, who carried his 
 gun over his arm ; " I fear Walter and Miss Lang- 
 ford and I may not have the pleasure of being 
 present at one for many a long day." 
 
 " Ah ! Captain Slingsby," said the girl, colouring 
 faintly, " that is, indeed, too true." 
 
 "Just a repetition of what Edith has been say- 
 ing to me in the drawing-room," exclaimed Lilian. 
 " How odd that you two should be thinking of the 
 same thing just at this time ! " 
 
 Edith looked almost distressed, and perhaps it 
 was to conceal a feeling of embarrassment on his 
 
lo - THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 part that Slingsby, muttering something about its 
 being necessary for him to see after his tableau- 
 dress, effected his retreat, and was followed by the 
 rest of the party, for dinner was to be early, as 
 the guests from outside were to arrive in good 
 time. 
 
 Several gentlemen were staying at The Grange, 
 of whom the principal was this Captain Edward 
 Slingsby, of the Lucknow Lancers, a close friend 
 of Walter Spencer, Edith's brother and Sir 
 George's heir. Both young men being in the 
 Army, were on the point of going out to India, 
 where Slingsby had already spent several years. 
 Lilian Langford's passage had been taken by the 
 same ship, for she was to be under the charge of 
 Mrs. Davis, an old friend about to rejoin her 
 husband, General Davis, in Bengal. 
 
 Most of the tableaux had been exhibited with 
 great success. Douglas had kissed Queen Mary's 
 hand, Raleigh had thrown down his cloak for 
 Elizabeth to tread on, Edith Spencer, as Juliet, had 
 
OTTERINGTON GRANGE. n 
 
 smiled sweetly from her window on Slingsby, who 
 looked an ideal Romeo ; Nelson had died in 
 Hardy's arms, the ghost of Hamlet's father hadi 
 stood upon the stage, " while one with moderate 
 haste might tell a hundred" — when the curtain 
 rose upon a curious scene. In the centre sat a\ 
 man of brown complexion, dressed as a native of I 
 India, with his hands extended before him, while 
 on his right, also sitting, was placed a woman of a 
 lighter hue, covered for the most part by a white 
 sari, which hung in picturesque folds over her, and 
 on his other side a boj^_ofa darker colour and 
 roguish expres5i©ft--of--feee. The audience was! 
 evidently puzzled by this group, for whispers were 
 heard on every hand — "What is this scene?" 
 " Who are they ? " " What does it mean ? " Nor 
 were they much the wiser when the woman and \ 
 the boy, breaking through the hitherto strictly 
 tableau programme of the evening, commenced to 
 play, the former on a stringed sitar, the latter on a 
 native drum, with which instruments they appeared 
 to be thoroughly familiar. 
 
12 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 j But now there really took place an interesting 
 
 episode, for from out of the bare floor in front of 
 
 the man, whose arms and hands were moving over 
 
 it, arose by an almost imperceptible growth a plant 
 
 which, as the music became faster and the motions 
 
 of the conjuror more and more determined, 
 
 ! gradually attained the height of between three and 
 
 j four feet, spreading out to the fulness of a com- 
 
 j plete tree, with numerous branches and a close 
 
 j covering of fresh leaves, amid which a fine crop of 
 
 jrich yellow fruit could be discerned. 
 
 \ " Mangoes, and no mistake about them ! " cried 
 
 jSir George, in a stage whisper which could be 
 
 heard all over the room. 
 
 j "Wonderful — most wonderful ! " said Lady 
 Pigby, sitting next him. " I have heard of this, 
 ^ut of course never saw it before." 
 " Is it a real tree ? " asked someone behind. 
 " I will soon prove that," said Walter Spencer, 
 Stepping on to the stage and plucking half-a-dozen 
 bf the luscious fruit, and handing them round. 
 '*'You see, ladies and gentlemen, there is no 
 
OTTERINGTON GRANGE. 13 
 
 deception, and the crop of mangoes is perpetually 
 growing ! " 
 
 The applause was warm as the curtain presently 
 fell on this unexpected scene, there being a loud 
 and general call for the actors in it ; and when 
 Lilian Langford — for it was she who had per- 
 sonated the woman in native dress — and old 
 Bhagut, and the boy Kulloo, another servant of 
 Lilian, appeared to make their bow, they were 
 received with a general and prolonged clapping of 
 hands. This may, indeed, be said to have been the 
 success of the evening, and many were the com- 
 pliments that reached Miss Langford on the part 
 she had borne in it. 
 
 " Nay," she said, deprecatingly, " I did nothing 
 but play an instrument I have been accus- 
 tomed to since I was a child. It is Bhagut, who 
 brought his knowledge of jugglery into play 
 with such good effect, that you must thank ; 
 Kulloo and I were mere subordinates." 
 
 It did not seem that the boy, who was now 
 gravely handing round ices to the company, was 
 
14 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 quite of the same opinion, for his pugaree had 
 assumed a more jaunty air than usual, and his ears 
 and eyes were evidently open to the notice that 
 he excited. It was, indeed, a proud night for 
 Kulloo ! 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 GARDEN REACH. 
 
 " There, Lily, you win the sweep ! " exclaimed 
 Walter Spencer, as the anchor dropped, and the 
 good ship Indus was brought to her moorings off 
 Champaul Ghaut. 
 
 " How lucky ! " said Lilian ; " but there could 
 not have been much time to spare ? " 
 
 " Why, no, of course not ; but that is in the 
 nature of the thing. You see one counts," con- 
 tinued he, " from the moment they let go the 
 anchor, and in this case you have won by a good 
 half-minute." 
 
 " I'm so glad, Miss Langford, to have to make 
 over your winnings to you," said Edward Slingsby, 
 coming up with a bag of rupees in his hand, " and 
 
i6 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 feel sure, from what I hear, all the subscribers to 
 the sweep are pleased also." 
 
 " It is very kind of you to say so," answered she, 
 taking possession of the bag ; " but I really hardly 
 know what to do with so much money." 
 
 " Oh, your man Bhagut will relieve you of it ; 
 and now we really are at Calcutta you will soon 
 fall into your old ways of making him your purse- 
 bearer," replied the young officer. 
 
 " And what a comfort," said she, laughing, " that 
 will be. No danger of having one's pocket picked 
 /now, and perfect confidence that Bhagut can at 
 any moment produce any required sum from his 
 I cummerbund, or whatever mysterious receptacle 
 he uses as a cash-box." 
 
 So saying, she gave the bag into the bearer's 
 
 keeping, while the mischievous Kulloo, laden with 
 
 a variety of Hindoo cooking-utensils, lotahs, and 
 
 other things, stood by, smiling and showing his 
 
 -^wonderful teeth. 
 
 The morning was a bright and beautiful one, 
 and as th6y had passed the charming villas and 
 
GARDEN REACH. 17 
 
 lovely lawns and shrubberies of Garden Reach, 
 and had noted the feathery bamboos and tamarind 
 trees which grew there, the passengers, exiles 
 though they might consider themselves, had in- 
 voluntarily confessed that their first impressions of 
 the " City of Palaces " were of the happiest. Now, 
 there was all the excitement of the meeting with 
 friends who were waiting for them, and who came 
 on board to greet and carry them off on shore ; 
 not, however, before they had said regretful " good- 
 byes " to the officers of the good ship which had 
 brought them so safely to port, and to many a 
 pleasant acquaintance they might never see again. 
 
 As Lilian waited on the deck she was amused 
 at the noise and confusion around, the jabbering of 
 Hindostani and Bengali, the shouts of the boat- 
 men anxious for passengers by their frail-looking 
 dinghies, the frantic gesticulations of the drivers of 
 gharries and carriages of all sorts, standing on the 
 bank hoping to secure fares to the city. 
 
 " You expect Colonel Scott to meet you ? " 
 asked Slingsby, who had been getting together 
 
 C 
 
i8 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 his baggage and chartering a boat to take him 
 off. 
 
 " Yes," answered she, " and he does not seem to 
 be here at present. But I have told Mrs. Davis I 
 am all right, so she is going on shore with the 
 General at once." 
 
 " The Colonel is certain to turn up directly, as he 
 is a most punctual man, that I can answer for, having 
 been so many years in his regiment," said he. 
 
 " Ah, here he is ! " cried Lilian, moving forward, 
 as a slight but active-looking figure, with a white 
 head and bronzed complexion, hurried towards 
 her. " How do you do, dear uncle ; perhaps you 
 hardly know me again ? " 
 
 "To be sure I do, my child ; to be sure I do! 
 Why, you are grown in these three years, and I 
 need not ask about health, for the voyage has 
 evidently suited you well." 
 
 He kissed her affectionately, then turned, ex- 
 claiming — 
 
 ''How are you, Slingsby? I'm very glad you 
 are back, for we want you with the regiment." 
 
GARDEN REACH. 19 
 
 " Thank you, sir ; I shall not be sorry to rejoin. 
 I hope you are all well in the Lancers ? " 
 
 " Yes, flourishing. Ah, there is that bearer of 
 yours, Lily — what's his name ? brother of our 
 Russaldar, Ram Dyall." 
 
 " Old Bhagut ! " she said, smiling, as the man 
 silently salaamed low. 
 
 " He is looking thin, having, no doubt, lived on 
 parched grain and water since your voyage began. 
 Well," speaking in Hindostani, " you can have a 
 full meal to-day, Bhagut, and a good hookah after 
 it!" 
 
 Again the bearer gravely bent low, while 
 Kulloo, just behind, grinned from ear to ear. 
 
 " This is my cousin, Walter Spencer, who has 
 come out to join his regiment," said Lilian, pre- 
 senting Spencer to the Colonel. 
 
 " I'm delighted to see you, sir, as your father's 
 
 son. Welcome to India, which you won't find 
 
 such a bad place after all. And how is Sir 
 
 George ? — well, I hope, and as cheery as he used 
 
 to be years ago when I knew him ? " 
 
 C 2 
 
20 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " Yes, sir," answered Walter, " my father wears 
 well, and has, I hope, many a long year before him 
 yet." 
 
 " I hope so, I hope so. Now, Lily, are you 
 ready for shore ? If so we'll go off at once, and 
 then I hope you'll be able to start to-morrow for 
 Jahmere." 
 
 i " There is not much to be done in Calcutta, I 
 
 ydare say, uncle ? " said she, smiling. 
 
 I " No, nothing at all ; a most stupid place," 
 
 / answered the Colonel, impatiently. "The only 
 
 sight is * the course ' of an evening, when people 
 
 are all out driving and riding ; but there are just 
 
 now no horses worth seeing, and as to the people 
 
 themselves — well, the less said the better." 
 
 They all laughed, especially Slinsgby, who had 
 a question to ask. 
 
 " Well, Colonel, you won't object to my remain- 
 ing here a few days, as I want to see some 
 friends, and also to show Spencer what there is to 
 be looked at in the capital of India ? " 
 
 " Oh, of course not, Slingsby ; take as long as 
 
GARDEN REACH. 21 
 
 you please, only don't ask me to keep you com- 
 pany." 
 
 " Or even Miss Langforcf," suggested Slingsby, 
 looking slily at Lilian. 
 
 " I have seen all the sights here," said she, " and 
 really agree very much with my uncle." 
 
 " Then we shall meet you both before long, 
 gentlemen, for I understand Mr. Spencer's regiment 
 is the Red Dirks, now, as you know, at Jahmere." 
 
 By the smiles which greeted this speech of the 
 Colonel it was evidently an agreeable one to his 
 hearers, and they parted with anticipations of soon 
 meeting happily again at the distant station for 
 which they were bound. 
 
 ...It 
 
 In those days the travelling up the Grand Trunk 
 road from Calcutta was performed in carriages 
 drawn by small country horses, each stage being 
 about six miles long. The gharry was generally 
 arranged so that the passenger could lie flat in it, 
 his light bedding forming a useful buffer against 
 the jolting that was invariably experienced, while in 
 
22 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 the well below the seats was stowed away whatever 
 might be useful on the journey in the way of 
 clothing, a few books and writing materials, or any 
 of the hundred-and-one articles that are necessary 
 to an Englishman's comfort. On the top were 
 packed the portmanteaus and trunks, containing 
 the heavier possessions of the traveller, together 
 with a servant or two, and now and then, when for 
 instance a young child required fresh milk at short 
 notice, a goat may have been quartered there, and 
 have made the journey with much equanimity. 
 The degree of comfort of this mode of travelling 
 depended very much on the quality of the horses 
 supplied, and sometimes a long trip was accom- 
 plished quite easily, while, at others, if unbroken 
 and restive animals were used, the start might 
 be delayed, the carriage might be turned round 
 on its own axis two or three times, the coach- 
 man whipping, the syce hallooing and gesti- 
 culating fiercely, till, after a violent jerk, the 
 traveller felt himself carried on with a swaying 
 motion at a break-neck speed and without a check 
 
GARDEN REACH. 23 
 
 to the end of the stage, the only sounds to be 
 heard being the rattling of the gharry, and the 
 triumphant too-tooing of the driver's horn. Occa- 
 sionally such a thing has been known as to light 
 some straw under a very obstinate horse, the effect 
 being to startle him off, however unwilling he might 
 be to move ; but no such expedients were necessary 
 with the animals which took Lilian Langford and 
 her uncle and their servants rapidly towards the 
 Upper Provinces for which they were bound. 
 
 Once, indeed, the girl had a fright. They 
 wished to reach a particular dak-bungalow, cele- 
 brated for its comfortable rooms and accommoda- 
 tion, and therefore travelled late. Darkness had 
 fallen when Lilian, roused on a sudden from her 
 nap, felt as if the earth had given way below her, 
 and was not reassured by hearing Bhagut crying 
 out in piteous tones for mercy, and that he might 
 be saved from a miserable death. Looking out 
 hastily she perceived that her carriage was lying 
 overturned close to the steep edge of a large pond 
 or tank at the side of the road, and that her unfor- 
 
24 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 tunate bearer had had a rude awakening by being 
 suddenly cast from his warm bed on the roof into 
 the unknown depths of the gloomy waters below. 
 Just at this moment Colonel Scott, whose gharry 
 was close behind, drove up, and, taking in the 
 situation with the promptitude of a soldier, flashed 
 the lantern, without which he never travelled, on to 
 the surface of the tank, showing the head of the 
 unfortunate Bhagut, who was struggling desper- 
 ately among the thick weeds. The boy KuUoo 
 now proved an invaluable help, for, standing on 
 the bank, he rapidly divested himself of his. long 
 pugaree, and having tied a stick to one end, threw 
 it to the bearer, who, catching it, was presently 
 drawn ashore by the united efforts of the Colonel 
 and the boy. 
 
 " Well done, my lad ! " cried the former, as they 
 dragged poor Bhagut up the bank. "That was 
 smart and ready of you, for there was not much 
 time to lose." 
 
 " Hah, sahib," smiled the youth, " by your favour 
 the poor man has been saved." 
 
GARDEN REACH. 25 
 
 " Deuce a bit by my favour ! " returned the 
 Colonel. " But, now, just give him a good rubbing, 
 while I get a drink ready for him which he must 
 take as medicine." 
 
 Within three minutes the Colonel was back, 
 bringing with him the draught he had prepared. 
 
 " Friend of the poor ! " gasped out the shivering 
 bearer, who now, supported by the boy, was sitting 
 up. " Pray assure my young mem-sahib that I 
 will come to her presently." 
 
 " All right, my good fellow ; just gulp this down, 
 and you'll come round all the quicker." 
 
 So saying, he administered his potion, greatly to 
 the satisfaction of both the servants, the patient 
 himself expressing his thanks warmly. 
 
 Meantime Lilian's coachman and syce had 
 righted her gharry, whose interior arrangements 
 she soon set straight when reassured of her bearer's 
 safety ; and presently Bhagut, wrapped in his 
 warmest clothing, betook himself to his bed on the 
 roof, while KuUoo quite unconcernedly settled into 
 his old corner. The Colonel gave the word, and 
 
26 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 off they started again, the coachman winding his 
 horn cheerily, the syce yelling at the top of his 
 voice, and the few villagers who had by this time 
 collected to look on stolidly at the sahib-logue and 
 their incomprehensible proceedings, salaaming 
 respectfully. 
 
 They now passed through a range of low hills 
 amid very pretty scenery, and presently came to a 
 country totally different from the moist and green 
 Bengal, the surface of the plain becoming brown 
 and arid though still dotted with trees and strips 
 of jungle ; whilst the air was warm and dry, not- 
 withstanding that in the early morning it often 
 blew fresh and even cold. Instead of tanks at the 
 side of the road there were wells sunk, wherefrom 
 the water was slowly drawn in skinfuls by lazy 
 bullocks, which, yoked in couples, and urged down 
 an inclined plane, pulled the rope to which the 
 skins were attached. Round about each well 
 might be seen a crowd of men, women, and 
 children ; the men washing and drinking or smoking 
 their hookahs, the women filling their red and 
 
GARDEN REACH. 27 
 
 yellow vessels and carrying them away care- 
 fully poised upon their heads to the village ; the 
 children entirely devoid of clothing, except, per- 
 haps, a cord or strip of calico round the loins, 
 playing happily together and constructing mud- 
 pies from the water and dust in which they were 
 delightedly grovelling. Often, too, on the en- 
 camping grounds near the wells, under the shade 
 of the fine topes of mangoe and babul trees, or of 
 some magnificently-spreading peepul, might be 
 remarked a party of travellers, cooking their food 
 or resting after eating, their horses and bullocks 
 and camels tethered near, and finding what 
 grazing they could in the bushes and undergrowth 
 around. Now and again a picturesque train of 
 horsemen was encountered, armed to the teeth 
 with tulwars and daggers of the most varied 
 patterns, and wearing, suspended often from the/ 
 shoulder, long-barrelled jezails and other varieties 
 of firearms, their gaily-coloured pugarees and 
 variegated coats of warm cloth, or poshteens of 
 sheepskin, giving them a wild and outlandish look 
 
28 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 as they rode along. Then, perhaps, followed on 
 horseback, or mounted high on an elephant hand- 
 somely caparisoned, some native chief, travelling 
 through the country for pleasure, or on his way to 
 visit a distant and celebrated shrine, accompanied 
 frequently by his women, borne in palkis or in low 
 carts, drawn by majestic Deccani bullocks, and 
 closely veiled and curtained from the vulgar gaze ; 
 the procession closing with a long line of baggage 
 hackeries, or a string of camels patiently treading 
 in each other's steps, and guarded by more weird 
 figures, some on foot, some bestriding their small 
 and wiry steeds. Such brilliant cavalcades, with 
 their wild music, the cries of their camel-drivers 
 and palki bearers, the jingling and flashing of their 
 arms and accoutrements, together with the long 
 trains of bullock-carts and of ekkas and other 
 native conveyances of all sorts constantly traversing 
 it, made the trunk road an amusing and animated 
 scene ; yet Lilian and her uncle were not sorry 
 /when their long and dusty journey came to an 
 lend, and they entered at a gallop the well-known 
 
GARDEN REACH. 29 
 
 cantonment of Jahmere, with its green and watered \ 
 gardens, its trim bungalows, its shady roads, its 
 neat church, its racquet-court, and its handsome 
 barracks and mess-houses. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 JAHMERE. 
 
 " Welcome to my poor quarters ! " cried Colonel 
 Scott, as he handed his niece out of her gharry into 
 the broad verandah which shaded the approach to 
 the inner rooms of the bungalow. " You will find 
 your own apartments through here, Lily, and I 
 have engaged an ayah for you who will, I hope 
 do." This with a sly twinkle in his eye. 
 
 " It seems so like coming home, dear uncle," said 
 she ; " though of course this house is new to me. 
 The guard, too, saluting as we arrive, is another 
 thing that recalls old days very forcibly." 
 
 " Aye, aye, said he, " and you will find much 
 more." 
 
 " Why, Chahni, is that really you ? " exclaimed 
 Lilian, as a veiled figure came forward, and after a 
 
JAHMERE. 31 
 
 profound salaam began kissing her feet. " Only to 
 think of your being here ! Oh, what a kind uncle 
 I have, to bring my old ayah back again just when- 
 I wanted her so much ! But, then, I never dreamt 
 of her being at liberty just now." 
 
 " I thought you would like to have her," said the 
 Colonel, smiling, " and she was quite ready to 
 come ; so here, you see, she is." 
 
 " Missy-baba looks fresh and well after her visit 
 to Belaat!" exclaimed the ayah, gazing affection- 
 ately at her young mistress, " and she is quite the 
 mem-sahib now, after only three years too ! " 
 
 "Three years is a long time, Chahni, especially 
 at my age, but I don't suppose you will find me 
 much changed, though I seem a bit taller than you 
 now," said the girl, comparing her height with the 
 ayah's as she spoke. 
 
 By this time the united efforts of Bhagut and 
 Kulloo, and the host of servants at the bungalow 
 had succeeded in transferring Lilian's baggage to 
 the inner apartments, and thither she and Chahni 
 betook themselves for a time. Like the bearer, 
 
32 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 Chahni had been in the service of Lilian's mother 
 when she died, and since she had remained con- 
 stantly with the child, till she had gone to England 
 to finish her education and see something of her 
 relatives there. Her influence over her young 
 charge for good or for ill had been almost as con- 
 siderable as Bhagut's, and it was but a natural 
 consequence of their constant companionship that 
 the girl's character should have been moulded 
 and formed very much by the ruling and practice 
 of these two servants. Kind and yielding though 
 they were in many ways, there were some points 
 where their teaching and example could not but be 
 prejudicial and baneful ; yet such was the art they 
 practised that her kind uncle and guardian, ab- 
 sorbed in providing for his niece's external welfare 
 and happiness, remained in total ignorance of the 
 I deeper springs which had come to move her inner 
 i mind and heart. Lilian's visit to Europe might 
 1 have been expected to modify some of the super- 
 \stitions she had imbibed thus early in her child- 
 'hood, but either they had unwittingly laid too firm 
 
k 
 
 /AHMERE. 33 
 
 a hold on her imagination, or had assimilated tooA 
 
 \ 
 perfectly with the native blood that coursed 
 
 through her veins, to be affected by her brief 
 
 sojourn amid the happier influences of English 
 
 life ; for certain it is that this beautiful girl, the 
 
 centre of attraction wherever she moved, remained 
 
 practically in the border-land which separates the 
 
 religion she professed from the ancient faith of her \ 
 
 I 
 mother, with all its myths and legends, its my-/ 
 
 sterious rites and fearful idolatries. Now that she y 
 
 was back in the sunny land of her birth and oncel 
 
 more under the influences that had formerly/ 
 
 affected her, it was only natural she should revert 
 
 to her ancient ways, and relapse in some degree 
 
 under the spell of what had so attracted her during 
 
 her early years. 
 
 The afternoon was drawing on when Colonel 
 Scott called to his niece from the verandah, for she 
 was busy in her room unpacking and arranging 
 her many possessions. 
 
 " Here come the native officers, Lily, to make 
 
 their salaams : I hope you will appear just to 
 
 D 
 
34 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 greet them for a moment, or they will be dis- 
 appointed." 
 
 A singular group of well-dressed natives ap- 
 i proached as he spoke. First came the Russaldar, 
 Ram Dyall, a most striking figure, tall and hand- 
 some, his long, dark-blue coat worked over with gold 
 braid and lace, his head covered by a rich crim- 
 son p^iigaree^ his breast adorned with war 
 medals and Orders conferred for conspicuous 
 bravery in the field. Next in order was the old 
 Seikh, Heera Singh, chiefly remarkable for his long 
 white beard, his high cheek-bones and restless eyes ; 
 ,but a man well able to hold his own where knocks 
 w^ere hardest and a cool head indispensable. Then 
 followed the young and good-looking Mahomedan, 
 Secunder Khan, a splendid rider, and so good at 
 neza-bazi that he seldom missed the tent peg, 
 generally carrying it off in triumph on his spear 
 point ; while to him succeeded a wild and savage 
 Pathan, one Ghoolam Ali Khan, celebrated for 
 his feats with the sword, among which was that of 
 cutting in two a live sheep at a single blow. 
 
JAHMERE. 35 
 
 These and many more, as they came up, presented 
 the hilts of their swords to their Colonel with 
 every demonstration of respect, expressing in no/ 
 measured terms their delight at his return, saying 
 repeatedly — 
 
 " We live anew in the light of your countenance , 
 Protector of the poor, father of us all ! " 
 
 " Your honour's health is good, I trust ? " said 
 Ram Dyall, as he took the chair on the Colonel's 
 right hand, while the others ranged themselves in 
 due order of rank, the officers sitting while those 
 of the lower grade stood round. 
 
 "Excellent, thank you," replied the Colonel; "but 
 I am right glad to be back again amongst you, for 
 the life is freer here than in the city on the 
 Hooghly." 
 
 A murmur of satisfaction greeted this remark. 
 
 " And we hope the Missy-baba has made a good 
 
 passage over the black water ? " said the old Seikh. 
 
 " She was very brave to go off by herself in that 
 
 way, and when she was so young too ! " 
 
 " She had the bearer, Bhagut, with her, you 
 
 D 2 
 
36 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 know, so she was well taken care of," answered 
 
 the Colonel, smiling. 
 
 ^ " And you sahib-logue think nothing of the sea 
 
 /which to us is so terrible," said the handsome 
 
 jSecunder Khan ; "that is a thing I marvel greatly 
 
 I at." 
 
 \ " Staff of the world," put in the Pathan, " if 
 
 your honour ever goes to your Belaat, I pray you 
 
 let me accompany you there." 
 
 " Very well, Ghoolam Ali, I will not forget ; but 
 here comes the Missy-baba to speak to you herself." 
 / All rose as Lilian came amongst them, and re- 
 spectfully submitted their swords' hilts for her to 
 \ touch. 
 
 "Your devoted slaves salute you," cried Ram 
 Dyall, gallantly. " There is, indeed, no necessity to 
 ask how you have borne the voyage." 
 
 " No," said she, laughing, " none at all ; but I 
 fear poor Bhagut may not have enjoyed it so 
 much ! '* 
 
 " My brother is thin," replied the Russaldar, 
 gravely ; " but with the good air and water of 
 
JAHMERE. 37 
 
 Jahmere, and by your favour, he will soon grow 
 stout again.'* 
 
 " Ravisher of hearts !" exclaimed Ghoolam Ali,\ 
 " we have been told the ice and snow in your Belaat / 
 have been nearly equal to those in Cabul. Is that 
 so?" 
 
 " I daresay it is," answered she, " for we had a 
 foot of snow last winter upon the ground, and the 
 ice on the river bore a coach and four horses." 
 
 " Wah ! wah ! " echoed they all ; " what terrible 
 cold that must be ! " 
 
 " It is very pleasant, and healthy too, and braces 
 one up for the hot weather," said Lilian, much 
 amused at their unaffected horror of the rigours of 
 winter. 
 
 " Incomparable lady," ventured the Seikh, " can\ 
 you tell me about the quality of the opium in the j 
 far-distant Belaat, and whether it is to be preferred / 
 to that of Behar ? " 
 
 This question provoked a general smile, but 
 Lilian was equal to the occasion. 
 
 " I am not such a judge as you, Heera Singh," 
 
38 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 for he was a well-known opium eater ; " but there 
 is, I was told, a superior kind carried to England 
 from Roum, and, besides that from Turkey, one 
 hears of the Smyrna opium, which is highly 
 thought of" 
 
 I How wonderful is her knowledge ! " remarked 
 Secunder Khan to the Colonel, who seemed amused 
 at his niece's readiness ; " she is indeed the Sun of 
 women ! " 
 
 h " It grows late," said Ram Dyall, looking towards 
 jT) /the west, " and your honour's dinner-hour ap- 
 ^ proaches. Have your humble servants leave to 
 
 depart ? " 
 
 " Yes, you have my permission to go," replied the 
 Colonel ; and, rising, they all made their respectful 
 salutations, renewing, at the same time, their pro- 
 fessions of friendship and fidelity. 
 / Yet, even then, one at least among them had 
 within him a heart black with treachery. 
 
 Warm and frequent were the greetings that met 
 Colonel Scott and his niece next evening as they 
 
JAHMERE. 39 
 
 drove up to the band-stand in the centre of the 
 public garden, and many the enquiries of Lilian as 
 to her voyage and experiences. 
 
 " We are very glad to see you, Miss Langford," 
 said Major Moody, of the Red Dirks, after the 
 first handshakings were over ; " for we want some- 
 thing new to enliven us and shake us up." 
 
 " Are things so dull then, at Jahmere," laughed 
 Lilian, " that you expect assistance from me ?" 
 
 " Certainly ; we have been looking forward to 
 your coming with eagerness, and now shall be able 
 to start our regular season." 
 
 " Well, Major Moody," rejoined she, " I think we 
 shall have capital assistance when Captain Slingsby 
 arrives ; and then, there is my cousin, Walter 
 Spencer, a very good help at most things, and a 
 first-rate rider and cricketer." 
 
 " Ah, I am delighted to hear that," said he, with 
 considerable interest, " for you know he is coming 
 to join us. Your cousin. Miss Langford, is he ? " 
 
 " Well, yes, he is my second cousin, and I have 
 seen a great deal of him while at home." 
 
40 THE BOW OF FATE, 
 
 " Indeed ! I should not have thought — I had 
 no idea " 
 
 " That I had relations in England ? " cried 
 Lilian, her colour rising. " Oh, dear, yes ; on my 
 father's side, you know, there are several." 
 
 " I see," he replied, eyeing her closely ; " I can 
 understand now." 
 
 It was evident that Lilian was becoming more 
 and more uncomfortable under his gaze, for she 
 turned quickly to her uncle, who was speaking to 
 1 Mrs. Davis in the next carriage, and asked if he 
 \knew who the particularly handsome man was 
 that had just cantered past in civilian's dress. 
 
 " Indeed, I do not, Lily, but possibly Mrs. Davis 
 can inform us, though she, too, is only just back at 
 Jahmere." 
 
 " I can't say I know him," responded the lady 
 appealed to, " but I can tell you something about 
 him. His name is Denjs Delmar, and he is at 
 the Calcutta bar, where I understand he is just 
 commencing practice. So much I heard down 
 there." 
 
JAHMERE. 41 
 
 " What is his object, then," asked the Colonel, 
 " in being at Jahmere ? " 
 
 " Well," continued Mrs. Davis, " they say that at 
 Oxford, where he took a wonderful degree in law, he 
 particularly qualified himself to advise on property, 
 and the succession to it. Now you know the Be- 
 gum of Lodhpore died last year, leaving enormous 
 estates and something like fifty lakhs of rupees." 
 
 " Yes, I have of course heard of that," said the 
 Colonel, becoming interested ; " and have, in fact, 
 been to her successor's shooting-box only a few 
 miles off, and had capital sport there." 
 
 " Mr. Delmar was offered a good fee by the 
 Begum's heir to take up his defence against some 
 other claimant, and he thought the case so im- 
 portant as to require his presence on the spot ; so 
 here he is>" 
 
 " Then he will be staying some time, no doubt, 
 in the neighbourhood ? " asked Lilian. 
 
 " Probably. The case is to be argued in the 
 High Court before long, and he will remain for 
 that, of course." 
 
42 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 At this moment the subject of their conversation 
 rode slowly past, and Colonel Scott and his niece 
 y^had a full view of the young barrister, whose dark 
 complexion and hair gave to his well-cut features 
 an older look than perhaps they deserved. 
 
 " He may be seven or eight and twenty," re- 
 marked the Colonel, presently ; " not more, I 
 should say." 
 
 " Not so much, uncle, in my opinion," said 
 Lilian, quietly. 
 / "I hear there is no Mrs. Delmar, and his idea is 
 to work hard for a few years and then retire to 
 England with a fortune," said Mrs. Davis. 
 
 " That is the dream of so many who come out 
 here," laughed the Colonel. " I believe it was 
 mine once, but I have outlived it this many 
 a day." 
 
 " And would not go even if you could now, 
 uncle, dear ? " asked his niece. 
 
 " I'm really not sure, Lily ; but at any rate I 
 have no choice in the matter, for my debt to the 
 bank does not grow less, I can tell you." 
 
JAHMERE. 43 
 
 " Now, is that partly my fault, I wonder ? " in- 
 quired Lilian, as, wishing Mrs. Davis good evening, 
 they drove on. 
 
 " No, no, my dear child. Your fault, indeed ! 
 What could put such an idea into your head ? " 
 asked he, perceiving he had gone too far. 
 
 " You see," she answered, " I know so little of 
 these tilings, and yet there have been all the ex- 
 penses on my account in England during these 
 three years. Oh, uncle, I have never thanked you 
 half enough for all you have done for me ! " 
 
 " Nonsense, nonsense, dear ! " exclaimed he, 
 hastily. And then, changing the subject com- 
 pletely, " That Mr. Delmar, Lily ; what do you 
 think of him from the glimpse we had just now?" 
 
 " Well," said she, " I really don't know exactly ; 
 but when he passed us the second time I felt 
 almost startled." 
 
 " Why was that, I wonder ? " asked the Colonel. 
 " Had you seen him before ? " 
 
 " Oh, dear no ; never before," answered she, with 
 certainty ; " and yet there was something about 
 
44 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 him — but it's too absurd an idea — and one often 
 fancies one sees likenesses between the most 
 impossible people, you know." 
 
 " That is true, Lily ; but I should like to hear 
 who it is that you have in your mind as being like 
 this Delmar." 
 
 " No, uncle dear, it's so ridiculous I really can't 
 tell you — at present, at all events," said she, 
 laughing. " Besides, you could not understand 
 it— yet." 
 
 " Very well, very well, my child. I dare say we 
 shall see something more of this young barrister, 
 and then I may be able to draw my own con- 
 clusions," replied the Colonel, as they turned into 
 the drive under the long avenue of acacias that led 
 up to the door. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A POLO MATCH. 
 
 "I SAY, Walter," cried Edward Slingsby one 
 morning after parade, as he rode up to the former's 
 bungalow in the lines of the Red Dirks, " I want 
 to settle about this polo match for next week. 
 Will you be ready with your team on Thursday ? " 
 
 "Certainly, old fellow," answered Spencer, 
 coming out and speaking with interest. " We 
 shall have had enough practice by that time, and 
 I will at once warn Davis and the other two of the 
 arrangement." 
 
 " Then we'll say Thursday at four o'clock ; 
 and may God defend the right ! " said Slingsby 
 smiling. 
 
 It was more than a month since these two had 
 arrived at J ah mere, and the usual cold weather 
 
46 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 parades had largly engrossed their time. Now, 
 however, there being a slight break, Lilian Lang- 
 ford, in her anxiety to see a really good contest, 
 had offered a silver cup as a prize to the best team, 
 and Slingsby and Edward Spencer had arranged 
 to captain the strongest players they could find, 
 the former choosing the young Mahomedan, 
 Secunder Khan, and two other native officers 
 of his own Lancers, while Spencer selected young 
 Frank Davis and a couple of friends from the 
 Red Dirks. 
 
 Though long well known, especially amongst the 
 hill countries bordering India, polo had only quite 
 lately come to be practised by the English there, 
 and it was not surprising that, on the afternoon of 
 the great contest, the whole of Jahmere was 
 •assembled on the ground, anxious to watch the 
 game. As the two teams, headed by their leaders, 
 took up their stations, there was a buzz of excite- 
 ment, and glasses were in great request to watch 
 the coming struggle. 
 
 " Now we owe this interesting match, the first of 
 
A POLO MATCH. 47 
 
 the kind ever played at Jahmere, to you, Miss 
 Langford," said Major Moody, as he rode up to 
 where Lilian sat with her uncle ; " and I wonder 
 who is to win ? " 
 
 " Really," laughed Lilian, " I cannot tell, the 
 uncertainties of the game are so great." 
 
 " Well, but I venture to ask which you wish to 
 see victorious ? I think I can guess, though," 
 added he, looking at her attentively. 
 
 " Why you should speak so I do not know, 
 Major Moody," said Lilian, beginning to feel as 
 uncomfortable as she had done before when he had 
 questioned her. " All I care for is that the best ^^a«* v*'' 
 side should win." ^ 
 
 " Is that really all ? " he asked incredulously. 
 
 But his question remained unanswered, for play 
 had begun in earnest, and the game was already 
 as lively as the most exacting could require. 
 At first the dash of the Slingsby side was not to 
 be resisted, and Secunder Khan, by most admir- 
 able and gallant forward play, secured a goal ; but 
 then the Red Dirks pulled themselves together. 
 
 y 
 
48 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 and, fighting in the most determined manner, 
 forced their adversaries back, their leader Walter 
 Spencer just getting the ball home. 
 
 " That was well done of the boy ! " cried the 
 Major, with animation. " He really will be a fine 
 player with a little more practice, Miss Lang- 
 ford." 
 
 Lilian's cheeks were burning, and her delight at 
 this fine rally was apparent. 
 
 " They all seem to me to play well, but Walter 
 and that young native officer, whose face I know, 
 are the hardest riders," she said. 
 
 At this moment, either by accident or design, 
 Secunder Khan came by at a canter, bowing 
 slightly as he passed. 
 
 " He certainly is determined you shall not forget 
 him," muttered the Major. " I don't much like that 
 look of his ; an insolent fellow, I should say." 
 
 " Oh, no," said she, " you are mistaken there ; he 
 is one of my uncle's greatest favourites." 
 
 There now ensued some desperate rallies, during 
 which the defensive tactics of Slingsby proved 
 
A POLO MATCH. 49 
 
 admirable, though eventually the Red Dirks 
 seemed on the point of scoring, for Spencer with a 
 brilliant run was carrying all before him, when 
 Secunder Khan, leading a furious onslaught at top 
 speed, cannoned against him with great force. Both 
 were dismounted in a moment, but, while the native 
 rose appearing none the worse, the young Red 
 Dirk lay motionless on the plain, his face turned 
 up unconsciously to the sky. 
 
 " Ah — h — h — ! " shrieked a voice in agony — a 
 voice that was heard to the furthest limit of the 
 ground ; and as Slingsby, who had instantly flung 
 himself off his pony and come to his friend's 
 assistance, was raising him up, he encountered the 
 scared look in Lilian Langford's eyes, for, regard- 
 less of appearances, she had run to the spot, 
 carried away by intense anxiety for her cousin's 
 safety. 
 
 " Is he dead ? " she asked, despair painted in her 
 face. " Is he dead. Captain Slingsby ? " 
 
 " No, no. Miss Langford ; I trust not. But here 
 comes Dalrymple ; make way for him." 
 
so THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 The surgeon made a hasty examination, and 
 then the hospital dooly carried off the young 
 fellow to his quarters, Slingsby and Dalrymple 
 walking on either side. Of course all play was 
 over for the day, and the assemblage slowly dis- 
 persed. 
 
 " My poor Lily ! " exclaimed the Colonel, as he 
 drove his niece off the ground, " you must be more 
 careful in future, for, do you know, that shriek of 
 yours still rings in my ears ! Accidents will 
 happen at this game, and I trust young Spencer 
 is not so very badly injured after all." 
 
 " Oh, uncle, I don't know what to do. It was I 
 who brought all this about by my insane wish to 
 see the game well played, and here is poor 
 Walter killed perhaps in consequence ! If I had 
 only known — if I had only thought " 
 
 She stopped, for at this moment they were met 
 by Delmar, who came riding up from the other 
 direction. 
 
 " I am very glad to say, Miss Langford," cried 
 he, " that Spencer shows signs of coming round ; 
 
A POLO MATCH. 51 
 
 he has opened his eyes and recognised Slingsby, 
 and there is great hope for him." 
 
 "Oh, thank you so much, Mr. Delmar," said 
 Lilian, smiling very graciously on him ; " you 
 have taken a terrible load off my mind by your 
 news." 
 
 " I felt sure it would please you," he said, " and 
 am very glad to be the bearer of it. Now, good 
 afternoon." 
 
 And he was off ere more could be said. 
 
 " He is a nice fellow, Lily, so far as I see," ex- 
 claimed the Colonel. 
 
 Lilian shook her head. 
 
 " It seems ungracious, but I can't agree with 
 you, uncle ; it's hard to say why." 
 
 The Colonel appeared astonished, and laughed 
 as he replied — 
 
 " Well, my child, there's something in his look 
 that reminds me of — of a person that I know you 
 think a good fellow, to say the least of it." 
 
 It was Lilian's turn to be surprised, but she 
 
 hardly seemed so as she answered him. 
 
 E 3 
 
52 THE BOW OF FATE, 
 
 "Ah, at last you know what I meant weeks 
 ago when we spoke of this, and yet there is no 
 comparison between the two men — at least in my 
 opinion." 
 
 " You are hardly a fair judge in the matter, dear 
 Lily," said the Colonel, affectionately, " for there 
 can be no doubt, after what has happened to-day, 
 of your feelings towards young Spencer." 
 
 " Dearest uncle," murmured she, " I have come to 
 know this afternoon, in a moment as it were, what 
 Walter Spencer is to me. Oh, if he dies, what will 
 5 become of me ? " 
 
 •^ " Well, well, Lily, there is no need to speak so. 
 
 We must hope for the best, my child," he said, in a 
 reassuring tone. 
 
 "Meantime," continued Lilian, "you will keep 
 my secret faithfully, will you not ? " 
 
 "Of course I shall, dear child. Not a soul 
 shall know it so far as I am concerned." 
 
 And so their talk ended for the time, for stand- 
 ing in the verandah of the bungalow they found 
 the native officer, Secunder Khan, anxiously wait- 
 
A POLO MATCH. 53 
 
 ing for them, and no sooner had they descended 
 than he came forward beseeching their pardon for 
 the sad catastrophe that had occurred. 
 
 " Not at all," cried the Colonel, " you were not 
 to blame in the least, and there is no pardon 
 required, Secunder Khan." 
 
 " Will the Missy-sahib say the same?" murmured 
 the young fellow turning his handsome eyes on 
 Lilian. " Will she forgive her humble slave for his 
 fault ? " 
 
 " Of course I know it was a pure accident," 
 answered she, simply. " But why should you ask 
 my forgiveness after receiving my uncle's ?" 
 
 " Because — because — " stammered he, " there is 
 friendship between the Missy-sahib and the young 
 Captain Spencer." 
 
 As he spoke, the words of Major Moody came 
 back into Lilian's mind, and she fancied, in spite of 
 the respectful, almost cringing attitude of the 
 native officer, that a tinge of sarcasm pervaded his 
 manner. 
 
 " Yes, we are friends," said she proudly, as she 
 
54 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 [passed on into the bungalow ; " and he is, you 
 Iknow, my cousin." 
 
 The sun had long since set on that eventful day, 
 and Edward Slingsby was sitting by the bedside of 
 his friend Spencer, watching him as he slept. The 
 room was dark, save that the rays of a full moon 
 fell slanting into the verandah, lighting up one 
 corner of it, and revealing outside the beds and 
 paths of the garden in all their straight and formal 
 regularity. At a short distance beyond the usual 
 murmur of the bazaar could be heard, its monoto- 
 nous tones every now and then interrupted by the 
 loud beating of a tum-tum, or the hideous screech- 
 ing of a pack of jackals quarrelling over their prey. 
 A faint odour of burning fuel from many cooking 
 fires mingling with the sickly scent of the numerous 
 acacia trees and flowering shrubs around, made the 
 air feel heavy and oppressive, and it was with some 
 difficulty that the watcher, fatigued as he was, kept 
 himself awake. He had just reapplied the bag of ice 
 to the sleeper's forehead, and taken his scat for 
 
A POLO MATCH. 55 
 
 another period of quiet observation, when he 
 became aware that a palki, which was being borne 
 rapidly past the bungalow, had stopped at the 
 corner, and that a man who had run up from it, as if 
 with a message, was at that moment speaking to 
 Spencer's bearer. 
 
 *^ My mistress is dying tQ -know how the sahib is 
 now," Slingsby heard him say. 
 
 '* Is that she in the palki ? " asked the man 
 addressed. 
 
 " Yes, of course, but she is not stopping here — 
 only passing by — so I have run in to ask." 
 
 " Well, the sahib is better, and is now sleeping. 
 The order is for us all to be very quiet." 
 
 " Then there is good hope that he will not die ? " 
 said the first man, whom Slingsby had recognised 
 by his voice to be no other than the bearer 
 Bhagut. " Ah, she will be glad to hear that." 
 
 " It is too late for dinner ; where is your mem 
 going to now ? " enquired the other. 
 
 " Oh, she has some distance to travel ; to the 
 other side of the city in fact," was the reply. 
 
56 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 "Now, what can be the reason of that? Tell 
 ^me, ai^^_brother^ for I am dying- to hear." 
 
 " You know the Brahmin of the temple by the 
 river, my friend ? " whispered Bhagut, so low that 
 ' Slingsby could scarcely catch his words ; " him 
 she sees occasionally, and the old man is gaining 
 an influence over her which may be of benefit 
 hereafter — who knows ? " 
 
 There was a pause ; then the other's voice 
 spoke. 
 
 " He is a very holy man, but I understand 
 nothing of your meaning — if your words have a 
 meaning, that is." 
 
 " Perhaps not, brother," returned Bhagut, shortly, 
 and I have no time now to explain ; so good- 
 night, for I dare not stay." 
 
 He returned quickly to the palki, but ere he 
 reached it Slingsby had seen by the bright moon- 
 light the outline of the face of Lilian Langford 
 very distinctly revealed, and could even catch a 
 word or two of her eager enquiries after the young 
 fellow whose life and safety were so dear to her. 
 
A POLO MATCH. 57 
 
 Satisfied, apparently, with the intelligence she 
 received, she lay back and closed the door, and 
 next moment was being carried in the direction of 
 the city, which lay some distance off". 
 
A, 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 TEN SECONDS WITH A TIGER. 
 
 The weather had begun to grow warm, and 
 Walter Spencer had quite got over the effects of 
 his fall when news was brought to Jahmere of the 
 depredations committed by a man-eating tiger in 
 the neighbourhood of Hingoli, a village between 
 fifteen and twenty miles distant ; and, as this was 
 arj opportjanity__nDt_iie--mi«sed, a party was organ- 
 ised in the course of a few hours by Colonel Scott, 
 who determined, in spite of their unhealthiness, 
 that the jungles of Hingoli should become his 
 hunting-ground. 
 
 / " I have got Mrs. Davis to promise to be of our 
 -^ party," said he one day to Lilian, "so, my dear, 
 Wou can come with us on this trip after all, instead 
 
TEN SECONDS WITH A TIGER. 59 
 
 of going off at once to the hills, as I had in- 
 tended." 
 
 " Oh, uncle, how good of you ! " cried she, " and 
 how kind of Mrs. Davis." 
 
 " Well, I expect you to obey orders in all 
 respects, and to make yourself both useful and 
 agreeable," he said, smiling. 
 
 " I will try," laughed she, " and I think we are 
 sure to have a thoroughly enjoyable time." 
 
 " I hope so, and I don't see why we should not 
 have good sport too, for I know Slingsby is very 
 keen and a capital shot, while Moody is of course 
 a steady old shikari. About your cousin Walter, 
 Lily," continued the Colonel, with a sly look at his 
 niece, "it is impossible to say anything, while 
 Delmar also is an uncertain quantity." 
 
 " Uncle, dear, have you asked Mr. Delmar ? I 
 thought he was going back to Calcutta soon," said 
 Lilian, in a tone of disappointment. 
 
 " He almost gave himself an invitation, my child, 
 by expressing his intense desire to be in at the 
 death of this man-eater that we hope to secure." 
 
6o THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 Lilian shrugged her shoulders. 
 
 " And Major Moody, too ; somehow I cannot 
 understand your liking for him," she said. 
 
 " Oh, Moody is such a very old friend, and such 
 a thorough sportsman. Besides, you know he is a 
 great man among the Red Dirks, and has taken up 
 young Spencer." 
 
 These last words were a master-stroke on the 
 part of the Colonel, and Lilian, having no further 
 criticism to offer, proceeded to make the necessary 
 arrangements for the party, so far as the cuisine, a 
 department always under her particular charge, 
 was concerned. For the transport and commis- 
 sariat her uncle was answerable, and the train of 
 elephants and baggage-ponies which wended its 
 way towards Hingoli on the morning of their 
 departure showed the excellent forethought that 
 had led him to provide for every possible want. 
 
 " What a charming spot ! " cried Mrs. Davis, as 
 she alighted from her howdah in the centre of the 
 little camp at Hingoli. "Really, Colonel Scott, 
 your people have a true eye for the picturesque. 
 
TEN SECONDS WITH A TIGER. 6i 
 
 since they have fixed on so lovely a site for the 
 tents." 
 
 " We have been here before, you know," replied 
 he, " so I was able to give my native officer a 
 tolerably distinct idea of my wishes." 
 
 " I should think there may be fishing in the 
 nullah," said Lilian, as she rode to the bank and 
 looked into the clear pool below. " Do you know, 
 Captain Slingsby, anything of its capabilities ? " 
 
 " Well, no. Miss Langford, not much ; but Moody 
 can tell you all about it, for he is a great fisherman, 
 as you may have heard," replied he. 
 
 Lilian looked at the Major, who had dismounted 
 and followed them, for a confirmation of this state- 
 ment. 
 
 " Yes," he said, " I have always loved the sport, 
 and many a good mahseer have I captured in that 
 stream. You must get to know where they lie, and 
 then with your hook smeared with the right scent 
 you cannot fail to be successful." 
 
 " But do you mean," asked Lilian, " that fish 
 possess the sense of smell ? " 
 
62 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " Certainly," he replied, " and 1 think this very 
 thing is a sure proof of it. I shall be delighted to 
 initiate you in the mysteries of the sport. Miss 
 Langford — if you will allow me, that is." 
 
 " Oh, thank you," she said, turning round her 
 horse's head, " I do not much think I shall care 
 about it. And, besides " 
 
 " Breakfast ! " shouted the Colonel from the 
 shamiana under which he was seated. " Surely 
 you are ready for it after our long ride ! " 
 
 It was Walter Spencer who helped Lilian down 
 and sat next her at the table, and, though Moody's 
 bearing was as calm and undisturbed as usual, it 
 was apparent, at any rate to Slingsby, that he was 
 not altogether at ease. Yet the party was a merry 
 one, no discordant element being apparent on the 
 surface. 
 
 The camp made quite a pretty object on the 
 level sward just above the stream, the white tents 
 relieved by the background of dark mangoes, 
 amongst which the flocks of bright green parrots 
 fluttered and shrieked, and the little black and 
 
TEN SECONDS WITH A TIGER. 63 
 
 yellow striped squirrels, disturbed in their accus- 
 tomed haunts, ran about here and there looking 
 very roguish and chasing each other from tree to 
 tree, while now and again the grinning face of 
 some old lungoor showed itself between the 
 branches, as the hideous monkey swung from 
 bough to bough by the aid of its powerful tail. 
 At one side, under a shady peepul tree, was estab- 
 lished the kitchen, and here it was that during the 
 afternoon Lilian passed some time in preparing the 
 particular curry that her uncle said she alone 
 possessed the secret of, and which he had named 
 " The Langford " in her honour ; moreover, know 
 ing well what often went on in the establishments 
 of Anglo-Indians, she was not satisfied to leave 
 the cooking arrangements in the hands of even the 
 highly-competent man employed by Colonel Scott 
 without an occasional close inspection. In the 
 rear, and at some distance, was picketed the long 
 line of horses and elephants, the former secured by 
 their head and heel ropes, the latter generally by 
 one foot only, while in close proximity to the 
 
 Y- 
 
64 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 animals were their attendants, who as a rule slept 
 on the ground beside them. It was pretty to see 
 the horses of an evening greedily chewing the 
 sweet carrots that the syces gave them, or the 
 elephants consuming with satisfaction the huge 
 u chu2£aties or the succulent lengths of sugar-cane 
 purveyed to them by their mahouts, all the while 
 flapping their huge ears to and fro to keep off the 
 troublesome flies. 
 
 " I find," said the. Colonel during dinner, " the 
 tiger killed a villager last night within four miles 
 of where we are sitting, and I propose that we 
 should beat the jungle where he has been marked 
 down to-morrow morning." 
 
 " Very good, sir, remarked Moody ; " but do 
 they know he has not moved during to-day ? " 
 
 " Well, Secunder Khan has had a couple of men 
 watching, and the head shikari assures me we 
 have a very good chance of finding him at home." 
 
 " May I go, uncle dear ? " asked Lilian eagerly. 
 I should so like to see this tiger shot, and with you 
 there would be no fear of accident." 
 
TEN SECONDS WITH A TIGER. 65 
 
 " No, no, Lily ; this is too dangerous a beast to 
 run any risk with, and I could not feel comfortable 
 if you were present. Another day perhaps you 
 might venture — we shall see." 
 
 " Lily and I must make ourselves happy in 
 camp," said Mrs. Davis, coming to the rescue, for 
 she saw how disappointed the girl was ; " and as 
 the English mail will be here in the afternoon 
 we shall have plenty to think of" > 4^^ I (aj^W 
 
 Next morning early a long line of strange-look- 
 ing beings was crouched on the ground at the edge 
 of the mangoe tope, patiently waiting for the order 
 to move. In one respect, and in one only, was 
 there agreement amongst them ; they were desti- 
 tute of clothing except for the slight garment worn 
 round the loins. Most were armed with long sticks, 
 frequently shod with iron, with which to beat the 
 jungles, for this was the body of beaters on whose 
 exertions the sport of the day in a great measure 
 depended ; but many carried small drums, others 
 bows and arrows and spears, and a few quaint old- 
 fashioned firearms, with belts from which depended 
 
 F 
 
66 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 powder-horns of the most original patterns. They 
 had their leader, who duly reported to the native 
 officer Secunder Khan their number, and those on 
 whom he might place the greatest reliance. 
 
 And now, the elephants coming round, the 
 party took their seats on them in pairs as pre- 
 viously arranged — Colonel Scott and Secunder 
 Khan, Slingsby and Delmar, Moody and Walter 
 Spencer ; and an hour later, on reaching the 
 jungle the Colonel, assuming the centre of the 
 line, directed the advance, which was conducted 
 with steadiness and method. On the further side 
 of the densest strip of the jungle, at a distance of a 
 quarter of a mile perhaps, was a large jheel fre- 
 quented by the animals which came down there by 
 night for water, and it was not till the beat 
 approached this that anything more important 
 than pig or hog-deer was disturbed. Suddenly 
 the shout arose, " Bagh ! bagh ! " from the beaters on 
 the right, and at that instant a waving of the long 
 grass in front of Moody's elephant proved that 
 some large animal was stealing away. 
 
TEN SECONDS WITH A TIGER, 67 
 
 Spencer fired. 
 
 " Unless you had a better view than I you did 
 wrong, young man," said Moody quietly to his 
 companion. " Look what a rumpus there is all 
 along the line there ! " 
 
 " I didn't like to lose the chance ; perhaps I 
 wounded him, too," cried Spencer, apologetically. 
 
 The shouts and drumming and excitement were 
 now so general that no other sounds could be 
 heard ; but, though the tiger was seen, as they 
 declared, by two or three of the beaters, he effected 
 his escape successfully, and not all the strenuous 
 efforts of the party could induce him again to show 
 himself. There being, indeed, little doubt that he 
 had made his way rapidly into some adjacent and 
 extensive cover where it was hopeless at this 
 moment to follow him, the Colonel, after con- 
 sulting Moody, gave the word to return to the 
 camp, and presently the long train was wending its 
 way back under the scorching and pitiless sun. 
 
 The English mail came in that afternoon, as was 
 
 expected, and for a time everyone was absorbed in 
 
 F 2 
 
68 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 their own correspondence. Whether it was that 
 Lilian was less interested in the event than the 
 rest, or that her epistle from Edith Spencer was 
 soon read through, certain it is that, as she sat 
 quietly while the others were conning over their 
 letters, she was much surprised to see how deeply 
 moved Delmar appeared to be by his intelligence. 
 All colour left his face, the expression of which 
 showed how deeply he was pained, and, crushing 
 the ill-starred sheet in his hand, he rose for a 
 moment, and then quickly fell back into his 
 chair. 
 
 ' You are not well, Mr. Delmar ! " Lilian ex- 
 claimed, her kindlier feelings at once aroused ; 
 "let me get you a glass of sherry before you 
 move." 
 
 " No, no, you are too kind, Miss Langford," he 
 said, in a low tone ; " I shall be all right in a 
 minute or two." 
 
 "Why, what is it, Delmar?" cried the Colonel. 
 " No bad news from home, I hope ? " 
 
 The question was an unfortunate one, and it was 
 
TEN SECONDS WITH A TIGER. 69 
 
 only after drinking the wine, most opportunely 
 presented him by Lilian, that he could answer it. 
 
 " Well," he said, with an effort, " that is just it ; 
 I have heard something dreadfully sad, of a do- 
 mestic character — so sad that I can hardly believe 
 it to be true." 
 
 There was a general expression of sympathy 
 from those around. 
 
 "Thank you," he murmured, "thank you all 
 sincerely. I must consider matters, and at any 
 rate must return to Jahmere to-morrow." 
 
 Then, without giving any more definite hint of 
 the nature of his trouble, he retired to his tent, not 
 to reappear till dinner-time. 
 
 " The Langford " curry and the other courses 
 had been duly discussed, and the Colonel was^ 
 inhaling the cool fumes of his hookah whilst the 
 other gentlemen were enjoying their less orthodox 
 cheroots and pipes, when Slingsby started the 
 question of the tiger, by asking what was to be the / 
 plan of action next. 
 
 " Naturally, I have considered that," said the 
 
70 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 Colonel, "and have arranged for a bullock to be 
 tethered in the thick cover near the jheel." 
 
 " To-night, sir ? " asked Major Moody. 
 
 " Yes, we shall have the shikari's report in the 
 morning, you know." 
 
 The Major considered a few seconds. 
 
 " Now, I have something to propose. Colonel," 
 he said, "that I hope you'll agree to. This is a 
 chance I've often wished for, and I hope you 
 won't consider me selfish in what I'm going to 
 ask." 
 
 " What is it ? " inquired the Colonel, wondering. 
 
 " That I take the place of the bullock to-night, 
 and see what account it may be possible to give of 
 his majesty the tiger." 
 
 There was a chorus of dissent as Moody quietly 
 said these words, and from the ladies especially 
 came exclamations about the rashness and folly of 
 such a course. 
 
 " I don't see that at all," rejoined he, calmly 
 knocking the ash off his cheroot. " There is a 
 very fair light, everything will be quiet, and one's 
 
TEN SECONDS WITH A TIGER. 71 
 
 aim consequently undisturbed : it is exactly the 
 opportunity that is so enticing." 
 
 The Colonel smiled to himself, and smoked on. 
 
 "The only thing I feel is," continued the 
 Major, "that perhaps I am in a manner spoiling 
 sport ; but, if anyone else would prefer to try 
 conclusions with the brute, I will give way at 
 once." 
 
 A general laugh greeted this offer, and as it 
 remained unaccepted, Moody, looking at the 
 Colonel, said he would be ready in five minutes for 
 the jungle. 
 
 " Well, you have my best wishes," said the latter, 
 heartily, as the Major reappeared, dressed in his 
 shooting costume. " But what have you there," 
 pointing to what he carried in one hand, "that 
 looks so like a bell ? " 
 
 "It is a bell — one of those worn by the bullocks 
 in these parts," replied Moody ; " and my idea is 
 to sound it occasionally, so as to let the beast 
 know whereabouts his prey is to be found." 
 
 " A capital idea, truly ! " laughed the Colonel , 
 
7i THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " but you must be careful not to nap during yOur 
 vigil, or it might go hard with you." 
 
 " You may trust me for that, I think," rejoined 
 Moody, gravely. " Now, good-night, for I must be 
 off, and I see everything is ready for action." 
 
 So saying, he waved his adieux to the party, and 
 next moment was gone. 
 
 The shikari was not a little surprised, on 
 Moody's arrival at the spot, to be ordered to 
 remove the bullock, as he was going to remain in 
 its place. 
 
 " Is my master mad ! " he cried, " and does he 
 value his life as nothing, that he should ask me to 
 do this ? " 
 
 " I have the Colonel-sahib's permission, and that 
 is enough for you," replied the Major quietly, " so 
 the sooner you release the animal the better." 
 
 " And am I to bear you company, sahib, in this 
 adventure ? " asked the man, evidently in some 
 perturbation. 
 
 " No, no, my friend," was the reply ; " I don't 
 want you or any man to be near. This is my 
 
TEN SECONDS WITH A tiGEk. 73 
 
 affair entirely, and no one else is to be involved 
 in it." 
 
 "Incomparable lord!" returned the fellow, deeply 
 struck by the calm determination of the Major, 
 yet evidently relieved by this announcement ; 
 " your slave has but one duty to perform, but it is 
 truly a sad one." 
 
 With these words he removed the fastenings by 
 which the bullock had been bound, the animal's 
 joy at being released from his thraldom manifesting 
 how strong a suspicion he must have entertained 
 of the object of his detention. 
 
 It was, indeed, a wild and gloomy spot, the tall 
 jungle-grass hiding any objects more than a few 
 yards distant, the ground below dry and parched, 
 the moon overhead, though near the full, frequently 
 obscured by light clouds, the appearance of which 
 caused some anxiety to the Major as he now 
 noticed them for the first time. As the shikari, 
 with a low salaam, departed in silence, leaving 
 him alone, he slung over his shoulder the bullock- 
 bell he ha^ brought, and then placing his rifles 
 
74 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 ready to his hand waited calmly for what might 
 happen. 
 
 Why had he undertaken this needless task ? 
 What was really at the bottom of this mad ad- 
 venture that he professed he had long had in his 
 mind ? He, cautious and self-possessed as he was, 
 knew it to be nothing but the desire to stir 
 the admiration, perhaps gain the love, of Lilian 
 Langford ; and this he was forced to confess to 
 himself — he a man of well-nigh forty years — as he 
 commenced his solitary vigil that night. He had 
 known something years ago of Lilian's parents ; he 
 remembered the intense admiration he had felt as 
 a boy for her father, and when looking at the girl 
 now the noble face and fine expression of her 
 naother came vividly back to him. As a matter of 
 purse, he was aware of the mixture of blood that 
 ran in her veins, but he knew also that not the 
 purest and bluest Norman strain could compare 
 for antiquity with that of the high-caste Rajpoots 
 from whom she was descended through her 
 mother — those heroes whose noble deeds were for 
 
TEN SECONDS WITH A TIGER. 75 
 
 ever enshrined in the history of their romantic 
 country. Yes ; James Moody acknowledged that 
 by this half-Rajpoot girl he, who was almost a 
 veteran, had as if by magic been captivated ; that 
 for her dear sake and to move her heart he would 
 venture more, infinitely more, than was involved in 
 his present adventure, desperate as that might 
 seem. 
 
 Close beside where he stood the decaying trunk 
 of a stately teak-tree spread abroad its bare arms 
 to the sky, as if waving them silently to the moon 
 above ; in the distance the faint yelp of a jackal 
 could now and then be heard, the only sound, save 
 the occasional tinkle of the bell he controlled, that 
 broke the silence of the night, for no air was 
 moving to disturb the perfect repose of all around. 
 Yet, as Moody looked upwards, he became aware 
 that a huge vulture had settled on a branch over 
 his head, poised there a minute as it seemed for 
 some purpose of its own, then with a circling 
 movement .flying high above him, and becoming 
 lost as mysteriously as it had appeared. Perhaps 
 
76 THE 'BOW OF FATE. 
 
 the unclean bird had been attracted by the bell ; 
 if so, no doubt it met with disappointment, which 
 it perhaps communicated to others of its tribe, 
 waiting in the upper air to descend upon their 
 prey. At any rate the watcher remained undis- 
 turbed for a long and irksome period — so long 
 that weariness was fast overcoming him, and he 
 began to despair of success. The clouds that for a 
 time had obscured the moon had all cleared away, 
 and her silvery light shone full upon the gaunt 
 branches above and the tangled jungle -grass 
 below. 
 
 What was that that broke the stillness close to 
 Moody's ear ? 
 
 Then again, a decided crackle within a few 
 yards of his left hand ! 
 
 In an instant he had his rifle ready, and was 
 peering into what looked like an impenetrable 
 mixture of bushes and coarse grass. 
 
 Suddenly a long, low growl struck his ear, and 
 by keeping his eyes steadily on the suspected 
 place he could discern a pair of greenish-yellow 
 
TEN SECONDS WITH A TIGER. y-j 
 
 lights directed on him as if from the ground, while 
 ;a subdued crackling could be heard proceeding 
 jfrom the same spot. 
 
 Then Moody knew himself to be face to face 
 with the man-eater — knew he was looking straight 
 into those cruel eyes, and that the pendulum-like 
 rattling of the tail amongst the bushes surely 
 heralded the fatal spring that would bring death 
 to him the next instant. As he gazed intently, 
 hoping to get a better and more distinct view of 
 his foe, he could see the huge lips retracting con- 
 vulsively, revealing the white fangs behind ; yet 
 the brute seemed puzzled and baffled, and doubt- 
 less the sight before him was far different from the 
 helpless bullock he had expected to find, while the 
 cold glint 'that came from Moody's rifle barrel, as 
 he slowly raised it to his shoulder, acted still 
 further as a check upon his advance. 
 
 It was by this movement that, involuntarily on 
 Moody's part, the bell gave a tinkle that resolved 
 all the tiger's doubts, for with a deafening and 
 hideous roar he sprang high into the air, and fell 
 
78 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 with open mouth and paws extended to their 
 utmost, full upon his unprotected assailant. There 
 was a flash in the air, a shivering among the 
 jungle-grass and bushes, a deep groan as of some 
 creature's death agony ; then silence, and, as the 
 clouds again began to obscure the moon, a darker 
 shadow on the earth than had yet fallen over it. 
 
 Why was it that the first sound to break the 
 stillness of this scene was the flap-flap of the wings 
 of the great unclean bird that had so lately visited 
 it ? Why did the air above suddenly become alive 
 with other creatures of the same ill-omened aspect, 
 which, after perching for a moment on the old tree, 
 descended one by one cautiously to gloat over the 
 prey to which an unerring instinct had conducted 
 them ? 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 A PROPOSAL. 
 
 But the foul-winged crew that flopped and flut- 
 tered and fought over what lay helpless at its feet 
 was not to have a time of uninterrupted enjoy- 
 ment of its carrion, for soon the strange laugh of 
 the hideous hyaena could be heard, and the shrill 
 shrieks of the assembling jackals echoed far and 
 wide through the still night air. It was marvel- 
 lous, the change from its previous solitude that had 
 come over that secluded spot within so short a 
 space. Marvellous, too, was what next took place, 
 for a sudden movement among the birds and 
 beasts that clustered closest round the prey proved 
 the advent of some superior power ; and when, 
 glancing carefully to right and left, the face of the 
 
8o THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 native shikari was seen, and a moment later his 
 strangely-accoutred figure revealed itself at the 
 foot of the withered teak-tree, a general stampede 
 took place, though many of the animals remained 
 close by, unwilling to relinquish their hopes of a 
 meal. 
 
 Bang ! bang ! 
 
 The shikari, far too experienced to leave any 
 doubt as to the tiger's death, fired point blank 
 into him as he lay there, thus making full 
 assurance of his harmlessness. He might have 
 spared himself the trouble, for the shell from 
 Moody's rifle had blown his huge head to pieces, 
 having been aimed at him unerringly as he rose in 
 his final leap to strike down his prey. 
 
 By this time three or four others had gathered 
 round, and were examining Moody, who was 
 lying face downwards with the tiger's fore-paw as 
 if it had just released hold of his shoulder, which 
 had evidently been terribly mauled. Even as they 
 disengaged him from the embrace of the dead 
 monster, and raised him in their arms, a sigh 
 
A PROPOSAL. 8i 
 
 escaped him, and presently he opened his eyes, 
 looking wonderingly at them, 
 
 " My rifle," he murmured in a low tone, instinc- 
 tively reaching out for his weapon with the un- 
 wounded arm. 
 
 " Major-sahib, you have killed the tiger," cried 
 the shikari with delight, " and we shall soon get 
 you back to the camp." 
 
 He remembered at once all the circumstances, 
 for he looked round, and seeing the animal close 
 by, muttered — 
 
 " Yes, it was a near thing, a very near thing. 
 But this is the right one, the man-eater ? " 
 
 " Oh yes. Friend of the poor, there is no mistake 
 about that. His face has been blown away by 
 your admirable shell, but the marks on his skin are 
 well known to your slaves. Is it not so ? " he 
 asked, turning to the others, who had been exam- 
 ining the beast carefully. 
 
 "Without doubt it is," they eagerly agreed. 
 " Wah 1 wah ! but the sahib is a mighty shikari, an 
 incomparable hunter." 
 
82 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " His name will never be forgotten in these 
 jungles, will it ? " asked the head man. 
 
 " Never, never ! " replied they in chorus. 
 
 " Can you give me water ? " cried poor Moody, 
 faintly, " I am dying for want of it, and this 
 shoulder — ah, it aches abominably." 
 / They brought him water to drink, and he re- 
 mved presently. Then the shikari, who knew 
 /something of wounds, having himself been clawed 
 in many an encounter, carefully washed the place, 
 allowing a gentle stream to flow over it, which 
 soothed the aching, and gave much comfort to the 
 sufferer. Meantime a litter had been constructed 
 from branches and grass, on which Moody was 
 carefully laid, and the men set off to carry him to 
 the camp, followed by others staggering along 
 under the weight of the dead tiger, whose appear- 
 ance in the few villages through which they passed 
 was greeted with " Wah ! wahs ! " of surprise and 
 delight. 
 
 The morning-star was beginning to fade in the 
 brighter light that was dawning, and the air blew 
 
A PROPOSAL. 83 
 
 fresh and cool over the plain, as the little proces- 
 sion entered the camp with their living and dead 
 burdens. The Colonel, early as it was, noted their 
 approach as he was dressing, and without a 
 minute's delay was by Moody's side. A few words 
 sufficed to inform him of the state of affairs, and 
 he decided promptly that the wounded man, who 
 declared he was really comfortable and could bear 
 the journey, should that very evening be carried 
 into Jahmere. 
 
 " It will be best so," he said, " and of course our 
 party will all return, for we should have no heart 
 to remain out here." 
 
 " I think that a pity," said Moody. " I shall 
 be all right soon, and my last wish would be to 
 cut short your pleasure." 
 
 "Delmar is to return to-day," rejoined the 
 Colonel, " and I shall be much surprised if the rest 
 do not desire the same thing." 
 
 And so it turned out, for with one voice it was 
 
 declared that till they knew the Major to be safe 
 
 there could be no enjoyment for them. 
 
 G 2 
 
84 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 During the morning first one and then another 
 visited him, and it may be doubted if he did not 
 consider himself fortunate to be so injured that he 
 could receive Lilian for a few minutes, and have 
 his pillow smoothed by her as he lay helpless in 
 his tent. 
 
 " It is a monster, Major Moody ! " she said, ad- 
 miringly, " but, oh, it was wrong of you to run 
 such a terrible risk ! " 
 
 " Now don't say so. Miss Langford ; it will be too 
 bad if you blame me," he replied, looking up at 
 her imploringly. 
 
 " I cannot help it," answered she, simply. " Would 
 you not call such conduct madness in another — in 
 my cousin Walter, for instance ? " 
 
 "Well," regarding her earnestly, "yes, I should 
 in him ; but then he is so very inexperienced — 
 such a mere boy." 
 
 A smile of amusement crossed Lilian's face. 
 
 " He is a capital young fellow, though," con- 
 tinued Moody, " and will make a first-rate shikari 
 in time, because he is so very keen." 
 
A PROPOSAL. 8S 
 
 She was plainly gratified by this compliment to 
 her cousin. 
 
 "Yes," she said, "I know he is as popular 
 among the Red Dirks as he was with everyone 
 at home." 
 
 " Miss Langford," said Moody, in a low tone, " I 
 am an old fellow ; I can well remember your 
 parents years ago — I can recollect your being 
 born. It is perhaps madness, and yet I am not 
 without hope — not altogether without the persua- 
 sion that you have some regard, even some affec- 
 tion for me." 
 
 " Of course I have a great regard for you," she 
 murmured, "and — and — and admiration for your 
 courage and daring.'' 
 
 " That is nothing," he went on more rapidly. 
 " May I not hope that some far deeper feeling may 
 be stirred within you, and that you, Lilian Lang- 
 ford, who are, God knows, all in all to me, will 
 consent to give me your affection — your love — 
 yourself?" 
 
 He just touched her hand, looking pleadingly up 
 
86 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 in her face, whilst she drew back a step in evident 
 astonishment at this revelation. 
 
 " Major Moody !" she said, "it is impossible." 
 
 " Stop ! " cried he. " Speak not hurriedly, but 
 consider for a moment that to me your answer 
 carries with it the sentence of happiness or of 
 misery for life ! Ah, think of that, and be merci- 
 ful ! " 
 
 " Would that I had never," began the girl in a 
 tone of distress ; " but that is useless now ! I must 
 leave you. Major Moody ; I must go." 
 
 " But you will not reject me ? you will let me 
 hope?" he murmured, a faint smile coming over 
 his face. 
 
 " Oh, no ! " she exclaimed ; " do not suppose 
 that for a moment ! I cannot explain —I dare 
 not." 
 
 " Is it that your heart is not your own, Lilian 
 Langford — that some other has stolen it, that you, 
 so young, have already given away. Heaven knows 
 to whom, that which " 
 
 " Ah, speak not so ! " interrupted she. "You are 
 
A PROPOSAL, 87 
 
 good and kind, but 'tis impossible for me ; I am 
 bound " 
 
 " I see," he answered ; " I can understand how 
 it is. Fool that I was ! " 
 
 Lilian stood aghast. 
 
 " See — understand ! " she exclaimed in terror. 
 "What is it you think you see? what is it you 
 understand ? " 
 
 " Nay," he replied, astonished in his turn at her 
 vehemence ; " the explanation seems simple, and 
 yet — well, I am not so sure after all." 
 
 He looked searchingly at her ; she quailed be- 
 fore him. 
 
 " Then, perhaps, I was wrong," he continued ; 
 " perhaps, after all, there is not the very sufficient 
 reason I had supposed — perhaps even yet " 
 
 There he stopped, evidently considering some 
 new idea that had struck him, while Lilian's dis- 
 tress became more apparent every moment. 
 
 " Far be it from me," he went on sadly, " to urge 
 you in any way — to treat you, my own darling, 
 whom I love, ah, how dearly, with anything save 
 
88 THE BOW OF FATE, 
 
 the deepest and truest consideration. I see there 
 is something which prevents your speaking out. 
 Well, be it so ! I only pray that to you no harm 
 may come, that this secret purpose of yours " 
 
 " Stay ! " cried she, burying her face in her 
 hands. " Spare me, ah, spare me ! You know not 
 what you imply by saying that ; you are in igno- 
 rance of — of " 
 
 She paused there ; then continued as if to 
 herself — 
 
 " 'Tis surely so — surely so ; yes, I may feel 
 certain of it, quite certain ! " 
 
 Moody could not but look surprised, yet he 
 spoke still with the restraint that he had striven so 
 carefully to put upon himself. 
 
 " I know not — I ask not to know — your mean- 
 ing," he said. " Enough for me that, for the 
 present, there is some insuperable obstacle, some 
 bar to my happiness that cannot be removed. Yet 
 circumstances may change, things may happen 
 that we know not of ; and if ever, dear Lilian, you 
 require advice or assistance, remember you may 
 
A PROPOSAL. 89 
 
 reckon on James Moody for the deepest sympathy 
 and the truest service." 
 
 " Thank you, thank you ! " she murmured, 
 deeply affected. " I have been ungrateful, incon- 
 siderate ; I know it too well. But, if you only 
 understood my " 
 
 " May I come in ? " cried the Colonel, present- 
 ing himself at the door of the tent. " Oh, you 
 here, Lily ! Well, and how is the wounded 
 man ? " 
 
 " Better, Colonel," answered Moody, relieving 
 Lilian for a moment. " I have quite forgotten the 
 wound in the interesting talk Miss Langford and I 
 have been having." 
 
 Lilian looked thankfully at him, and the Colonel 
 smiled. 
 
 " Everything is arranged for our departure this 
 evening," he said, "but I thought 1 would just 
 look in and tell you so." 
 
 " You will have a good rest first, Major Moody," 
 said Lilian, now quite herself again. " And so 
 good-bye for the present." 
 
90 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 As she left the tent with the Colonel they en- 
 countered the young Mahomedan, Secunder Khan, 
 who appeared suddenly from under the kunaut in 
 a manner that startled Lilian, whose nerves at 
 the moment were highly strung, while even the 
 Colonel was surprised and slightly annoyed. 
 
 " Why, where have you sprung from ? " asked he, 
 sharply. 
 
 " Cherisher of the poor, I have come to inquire 
 after the Major-sahib," was the reply, " and I trust 
 by the favour of God that he is better." 
 
 "Yes, yes," said the Colonel, "but he cannot 
 see you of course, so you may return to your 
 tent. He shall know of your kind enquiry for 
 him." 
 
 " May your honour live for ever ! " replied the 
 man, salaaming respectfully. 
 
 And yet the look of his eyes, and the sidelong 
 smile he cast at Lilian, gave her more serious mis- 
 giving than she cared to own at the moment, even 
 to herself. Could it be, she wondered, that be- 
 neath that suave and pliant manner there lurked 
 
A PROPOSAL, 91 
 
 some plot of mischief, some secret design, with 
 which she herself was in a mysterious way con- 
 nected? The idea seemed too absurd for con- 
 sideration, and yet Lilian's fancy kept recurring to 
 it again and again in the course of that long 
 afternoon. 
 
i 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE NAUTCH. 
 
 SOxME days had elapsed, and the shadow of events 
 that were ere long to happen had begun to manifest 
 itself to those who, unblinded by a false sense of 
 security, could look beyond the narrow circle in 
 which they moved. Regiment after regiment re- 
 Ivolted, station after station was treacherously 
 burned, the English had to fly for their lives, and 
 in many cases were murdered, men, women, and 
 children, as they fled from their blazing bungalows, 
 or made their hurried retreat, often on foot, through 
 the trackless and inhospitable jungles. Here and 
 there a friendly raja protected them, here and 
 there the fort or the strong house of some native 
 chief was opened to them ; but, as time went on 
 
THE NAUrCH, 93 
 
 and the authority of the paramount power became . 
 more and more shaken, the seeming friend became/ 
 lukewarm and sometimes thoroughly hostile, ana 
 the poor fugitives had again, frequently withoujt 
 resources of any kind, without food or even suffi- 
 cient clothing, to sally forth and brave the fearful 
 heat and terrible privations of all sorts that besjet 
 
 them, and that, in many instances, made de^th 
 
 I 
 appear a welcome relief. 
 
 The native officers of the regiments at Jahmere 
 had invited all the ladies and gentlemen of the 
 station to a nautch, which was expected to be a 
 great success, for some beautiful Cashmere girls 
 who happened to be passing through had been 
 engaged, while a wonderful singer from Agra 
 had been brought over specially, at considerable 
 expense. 
 
 The moving spirit in this entertainment was 
 Secunder Khan, and it was with much pride and 
 satisfaction that, when the principal guests had 
 been ceremoniously welcomed by the body of 
 native officers, with Russaldar Ram Dyall at their 
 
94 THE BOW OF FATE 
 
 head, the young Mahomedan led Colonel Scott 
 and his niece to the chairs, near the centre, reserved 
 for them under the lofty shamiana. 
 
 Before them lay an expanse of carpet, round the 
 edge of which stood a crowd of natives, handsome 
 Brahmins, Mahomedans of the Punjab, sharp- 
 featured Seikhs, whiskered Rajpoots, and light- 
 skinned Mahrattas, most of them soldiers, with 
 here and there an effeminate-looking clerk or 
 Bengali baboo, all waiting patiently for the 
 ; dancing to begin. On one side were the nautch 
 girls, beautifully dressed and covered with orna- 
 iments, noserings and earrings, and oblong plates of 
 (gold inserted in their foreheads, necklaces and 
 bracelets and anklets — strung, in fact, from head 
 to foot with every invention that the fertile brains 
 of the native jewellers could produce ; while beside 
 them crouched the low-browed musicians, to whose 
 accompaniment of tum-tum and sitar their dancing 
 was to be performed. 
 
 " Now, I have not seen a nautch for years," cried 
 Lilian, as they took their places, " and I daresay I 
 
THE NAUTCH. 95 
 
 shall not care much for it ; it always used to appear 
 so monotonous." 
 
 " And so it is — dull and stupid as ever, I should 
 say," whispered Slingsby, who sat next her ; " but 
 of course we must not say so here." 
 
 " Oh, no ; I intend to be interested if I can," said 
 Lilian, after a slight pause and in a more discreet 
 tone, " and I only hope we shall not have to sit 
 long exposed to the gaze of all that crowd of 
 people." 
 
 Perhaps she had observed without being aware 
 of it some signs on the faces opposite that struck 
 her as not altogether agreeable, and yet that could 
 hardly be, seeing the obsequious politeness of their 
 entertainers, which was even now again being 
 exercised towards a party of officers of the Red 
 Dirks that had just arrived. 
 
 But the word was at length given, and the weird 
 and bizarre music commenced, while two of the 
 women, balancing their figures in the manner that 
 is so characteristic and so greatly admired, ad- 
 vanced and retreated, making an occasional rapid 
 
96 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 and complete gyration while extending their arms 
 and moving their hands in rhythmic unison with 
 the air that was played, their feet all the time 
 beating the floor with a constant motion of toe or 
 heel, though never wholly leaving it even for an 
 instant. 
 
 " It seems to be hard work," remarked Mrs. 
 Davis to the Colonel, "judging by the state of 
 breathlessness to which they are reduced." 
 
 " That is true," he said, " and those women have 
 not spared themselves. See how glad they are to 
 rest a bit while the next pair comes forward." 
 
 These girls were really handsome, and as in 
 their incessant whirling their splendid musHn-and- 
 gold dresses stood out stiffly and brushed the faces 
 of the front row of natives as they squatted 
 round, there rose a chorus of applause from 
 many throats. These were the houris from Cash- 
 mere, and certainly the bright colour that rose in 
 their cheeks, as the measure quickening in pace 
 ended abruptly in a rapid twist worthy of a 
 ballet-dancer, proclaimed their origin to be different 
 
THE NAUTCH. 97 
 
 from that of the sallow-skinned races around 
 them. 
 
 "What do you think of that, Lily?" asked 
 Spencer, who being new to this dancing, was 
 evidently deeply interested in it. 
 
 " Well," replied she, " it is good in its way, and 
 I can well understand the natives applauding it. 
 Those girls put a deal of spirit into it, and the 
 spectators enjoy that intensely ; they like to see 
 those who are hired to dance before them exert 
 themselves, while they sit by at their ease and 
 criticise." 
 
 " Now, who is this ? " said Spencer, as a short, 
 ill-looking native came forward, very fantastically 
 attired, and having a curiously-formed stringed in- 
 strument suspended from his shoulder. 
 
 " This is the sweet singer from Agra," answered 
 
 the Colonel, for Lilian's attention had been 
 
 suddenly drawn away from the young officer by a 
 
 strange head and face in the crowd, from which 
 
 object indeed she seemed unable to divert it. The 
 
 lips and jaws of this face were ashen pale, the hair 
 
 II 
 
98 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 hung over the ears in elf-locks, while on the fore- 
 head were painted the sacred marks which dis- 
 tinguish the Brahmins. It was not a prepos- 
 sessing sight, yet, being a common enough one 
 in India, there seemed no reason for the agitation 
 it produced in Colonel Scott's niece. Moreover, 
 her own devoted servant, Bhagut, sat next this 
 strange-looking creature, and Lilian could see how 
 they exchanged words at short intervals, apparently 
 referring to some subject which deeply interested 
 them both. 
 
 Even as she watched, gazing intently at the 
 spot, the hideous visage disappeared as if by 
 magic, and the crowd closed in so as to hear better 
 the song for which they were waiting. 
 
 But no song was to be sung that night, for as 
 the first low notes were heard a loud cry startled 
 the whole company — a cry that burst upon their 
 ears like a clap of thunder, producing an excite- 
 ment and alarm almost indescribable. 
 
 /"The Time is at hand — the long-looked for Day ! 
 
 Tjhe sacred cakes have been passed round — the 
 J 
 
THE NAUTCH. 99 
 
 arrow of Death is about to be shot from the bow of 
 Providence ! Everything is in readiness ! And 
 shall the polluters of the holy places be spared — I 
 those who have used the fat of the sacred animal / 
 for their vile purposes ? The Time is at hand — the/ 
 long looked-for Day has come ! " 
 
 In an instant the older officers and those who 
 understood the full meaning of this invocation 
 were on the alert, and swords were quickly loosed 
 in their scabbards, and pistols felt for in their belts 
 by the more wary ones. Yet, strangely enough, i 
 those alone who betrayed real agitation and alarm 
 were the native officers of the various regiments, 
 and it certainly seemed as if their feelings were 
 genuine and their conduct above suspicion. 
 
 " A pestilent fanatic ! " exclaimed Russaldar 
 Ram Dyall, in a loud tone. " Arrest him there, 
 Secunder Khan, and he shall soon have his 
 deserts ! " 
 
 " I cannot see him, Russaldar-sahib. There was 
 
 a man by that tree a moment ago, but he is gone 
 
 into the darkness, where we can never find him." 
 
 H 2 
 
loo THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " Can you describe him ? What was he Hke ? 
 Instantly order out half a troop to search well the 
 plain there. He may be hiding close by." 
 
 It was indeed a wild-goose chase, for the moon 
 not having risen the only light was that of the 
 torches blazing round the shamiana ; outside that 
 was but the utter and impenetrable darkness of the 
 night. 
 
 Whether or not Secunder Khan had really seen 
 the unwelcome disturber of the entertainment may 
 be doubted, but there was no question that one 
 person sitting there among the upper seats knew 
 him only too well, and had recognised his voice as 
 that of a friend whom she was in the habit of 
 meeting and consulting, the sacred Brahmin of the 
 temple to which she paid frequent visits. This 
 person was Lilian Langford. 
 
 It was evident to her uncle, and to Spencer and 
 others near, how intense was her agitation, but 
 they little knew the real state of the case, and 
 attributed the excitement which overcame her to 
 the fear that might naturally be raised by the wild 
 
THE NAUTCH. loi 
 
 invocation they had all just heard. At the first 
 words Lilian had risen from her chair, striving to 
 pierce the darkness and to trace where the well- 
 known visage of the holy man had escaped to ; 
 but, as his terrible words rose upon the air, and 
 she, though only darkly and imperfectly, took in 
 something of their significance, a number of con- 
 tending emotions overcame her, and she fell back, 
 fainting in her seat. 
 
 There was indescribable confusion on every 
 hand, and the Colonel and Mrs. Davis were not 
 sorry when Bhagut, who, from his place on the 
 other side, had witnessed what had occurred, came 
 round to render his mistress all necessary help. 
 
 " Where am I ? " cried Lilian presently, opening 
 her eyes and looking up. 
 
 "x\ll right, my child," said the Colonel, sooth- 
 ingly ; " here is Mrs. Davis close by you, and 
 Bhagut has most opportunely come." 
 
 " Bhagut! " exclaimed the girl ; " Bhagut ! — and 
 they were sitting close to each other. Where, then, 
 has " 
 
I02 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 "There, Missy-baba, there," interrupted the 
 bearer, " the palki is coming for you, and you will 
 soon be at home again." 
 
 She looked at him in astonishment. 
 
 " But you must know, Bhagut — you must have 
 seen " 
 
 " Nothing," answered the man, stolidly, " I 
 heard what all heard, but I saw — nothing." 
 
 "Then I must have been dreaming," she said, 
 wearily. "Dreaming! no never! I know the face 
 too well ! It was not dreaming — it was reality ! " 
 
 " What does she mean ? ". asked the Colonel, 
 looking at Bhagut, and half-suspecting his niece's 
 mind was unhinged. " Is there any reason for 
 this ? " 
 
 " Reason, sahib ! How can there be any rea- 
 son for it? " replied he. " She is frightened, that 
 is all." 
 
 At this moment the palki arrived, and Lilian 
 was carried off, surrounded by the crowd of bearers, 
 and accompanied by Bhagut, who soon made her 
 over to her faithful ayah's care. 
 
THE NAUTCH. 103 
 
 Nor was the evening's entertainment continued, 
 for even those whose nerves were of the strongest 
 could not but feel that, though all seemed so secure, 
 there might too surely exist sources of danger 
 hitherto unsuspected, and how it was more than 
 necessary, while maintaining an unruffled front, to 
 be ready to meet a sudden crisis with boldness and 
 promptitude. 
 
 Naturally Edward Slingsby had been one of the 
 first to assist Lilian in her distress, and so it 
 happened that involuntarily on his part he had 
 caught some of the strange words she had spoken, 
 and the unsatisfactory replies of her servant. 
 Coupling these with what he had seen and listened 
 to on the night of his vigil at Spencer's bungalow, 
 Slingsby came to suspect there might be some con- 
 nection between the disturbance that had just taken 
 place and the bearer Bhagut ; and, if this were so, 
 might it not go further ? Might not Bhagut's 
 brother, the Russaldar, be implicated, and, if he, 
 why not others still ? 
 
 And then— Lilian herself? Bhagut, as Slingsby 
 
I04 THE BO W OF FA TE. 
 
 remembered, had said she visited a Brahmin ; that 
 the holy man was influencing her, and that good 
 might come of it. What did all that mean ? Was 
 it possible that this beautiful girl was not her own 
 mistress ? that she was yielding to the influence of 
 her servant, who, as Slingsby was aware, came of a 
 high-caste race ; and was the bearer abusing his 
 trust ? 
 
 Remembering the more than cousinly relations 
 that subsisted between this girl and her whom he 
 acknowledged to himself that he loved — Edith 
 Spencer — Slingsby considered how he had best act, 
 or whether there were at present any grounds 
 whatever for action on his part; and he was forced 
 to acknowledge there were none. All was sus- 
 picion ; of certainty there was nothing ; a false 
 step might do infinite harm, and he therefore felt 
 his course must be one of simple watchfulness. 
 • • • • • 
 
 It was several hours past midnight, and Slingsby 
 lay awake uneasily in his bed, ready to spring up 
 at a moment's notice. Everything was quiet 
 
THE NAUTCH. 105 
 
 except that the usual wild shrieking of the jackals 
 rent the air as they prowled round in search of 
 their prey, and now and again the challenge of the 
 sentries could be heard as they kept their guard 
 round the lines of the cantonment. 
 
 Was it a dream or a veritable reality? Certainly 
 something was there, rising out of the floor, and 
 growing higher and higher, till it had the semblance 
 of a superhuman height. Yes, it was a man, his 
 head swathed in a white pugaree, his eyes small 
 and restless, his beard long and venerable ; and 
 when at length this mysterious apparition silently 
 gave the military salute Slingsby recognised the 
 Seikh native officer Heera Singh. 
 
 Before he could speak the old man had knelt 
 down beside him, placing his finger on his lip as a 
 sign of caution. 
 
 " What does this mean, Heera Singh ? " asked 
 the young officer in surprise. "It is late for you 
 to visit me." 
 
 " Sahib, I have come to warn you," answered 
 the Seikh, hardly above his breath. " Enemies are 
 
io6 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 near us where you least would expect to find them, 
 and men whom your honours think faithful are plot- 
 ting against you, and seeking to destroy your raj." 
 
 " But this is quite new ; we have heard nothing 
 of it before." 
 
 " No, sahib, it has not gone on long, or I should 
 have told you," replied the Seikh. 
 
 " Then why is it, and what can be the reason of 
 it ? " asked Slingsby, still incredulous. 
 
 " Well," whispered the old man, " you know, 
 sahib, the extraordinary reports that have been 
 arriving from different parts of the country, the 
 terrible news that comes every morning of mutinies, 
 and revolts, and burnings, and murders ? " 
 
 " I do, indeed, Heera Singh ; but I trust we shall 
 be spared." 
 
 The old Seikh shook his head. 
 
 " The voice that spoke to-night at the nautch, 
 the invocation that was uttered by that inspired 
 being, has had a great effect." 
 
 " Have they found him — is it known who he is ? " 
 asked Slingsby, with interest. 
 
THE NAUTCH. 107 
 
 " No, sahib ; he was too quick for them." Then 
 in a lower voice, " Perhaps they were not anxious 
 to stop him — hah ? " 
 
 " I see your meaning too well ; there was 
 treachery then, and connivance on the part of 
 some of our men ? " 
 
 " Sahib, they are arming even now, and saddling 
 their horses. Let me counsel you to fly while 
 there is yet time." He spoke with an earnestness 
 there was no mistaking. 
 
 " Never, Heera Singh ! that is impossible, 
 though my horse stands saddled in the stable. 
 I must away instantly to the lines, for when I 
 call on them I know the men will be faithful, 
 and will obey my commands. Syce, bring my 
 horse." 
 
 " Dear master, the men are mad, and know not 
 what they do ! " cried the old man, in great distress. 
 " Even my five-and-twenty Seikh friends are dis- 
 turbed, and, though true to the core, dare hardly 
 show themselves so." 
 
 " Now, let us go ! " cried Slingsby, buckling on 
 
io8 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 his sword, and mounting and riding off. " There 
 is not a moment to spare." 
 
 The old Seikh followed, as he would have done 
 to the death, murmuring, "Ah, these are sad 
 times — sad times indeed ! " 
 
 In two minutes Slingsby was amongst the men. 
 
 " What means all this ? " he cried, as he found 
 them hurrying to and fro, armed to the teeth, the 
 horses many of them saddled, and every prepara- 
 tion being made for action. 
 
 " We are to be attacked ; it is said the enemy 
 will be on us in an hour ; but we have sworn to 
 protect the officers and ladies, sahib." 
 
 So spoke Secunder Khan as he saluted Slingsby, 
 while the troopers stood round casting significant 
 glances at each other and frowning, and feeling 
 their sword-blades in an ominous fashion. 
 
 "Attacked ! — by whom ? Enemy ! — what enemy ? " 
 cried Slingsby ; " there is no enemy, and that you 
 know right well, Secunder Khan. Where is 
 Russaldar Ram Dyall ? " 
 
 " He is out to-night, sahib, with the Colonel's 
 
THE NAUTCH. 109 
 
 leave," replied the native officer without hesita- 
 tion. 
 
 "Then I command you all instantly to disarm! " 
 thundered out Slingsby. "There is no enemy near; 
 when one comes you shall fight him, I promise 
 you. The first man to disobey shall be brought 
 before the Colonel and summarily tried." 
 
 " Back, brothers ! To your lines without a 
 word ! " exclaimed Secunder Khan. " You hear 
 the words of the Captan-sahib, and know that he 
 speaks truth." 
 
 They fell back, cowed ; the crisis was over, and 
 soon all was quiet again in the lines, the personal 
 influence of Slingsby over his men being extraor- 
 dinary. But a time was at hand when personal 
 and private influences were to be swept aside by 
 the rush of events that far transcended the wildest 
 anticipations of those who were to be actors in 
 them. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 AN EVENING DRIVE. 
 
 " The scoundrels!" exclaimed Colonel Scott, when 
 he had heard the alarming intelligence Slingsby 
 brought. " How dare they say such things, even if 
 they are fools enough to think them ? " 
 
 "Their minds are being poisoned. Colonel, in 
 some way, for their demeanour is utterly changed 
 — I am certain of it," said Slingsby, with em- 
 phasis. 
 
 " Well, you have done good service by crushing 
 the thing at once ; there was no time to lose, 
 Slingsby." 
 
 " No, sir ; but I had only to order, and they 
 obeyed." 
 
 " Quite so ; you can make them do anything," 
 
AN EVENING DRIVE. iii 
 
 observed the Colonel. "They are like children in 
 many ways." 
 
 " But remember, they are really men, armed 
 and trained as soldiers," rejoined Slingsby ; " a 
 dangerous machine to be led or misled after the 
 manner of children." 
 
 This remark made an evident impression on the 
 Colonel, for he looked very grave. 
 
 "It is my duty, much as I regret it, to report 
 this occurrence to the General. You must accom- 
 pany me, Slingsby, to his quarters." 
 
 " Yes, sir ; of course." 
 
 " There is a point that puzzles me, about Ram 
 Dyall. He was reported absent, with my leave, 
 you say ? " 
 
 "Secunder Khan declared so, sir," answered 
 Slingsby. 
 
 " Then it is a lie ! " exclaimed the Colonel, 
 abruptly. "I never gave the Russaldar this 
 permission. Is it likely that I should, when 
 affairs are in such a condition as they are in 
 now?" 
 
112 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 "Certainly it did seem odd to me," said Slingsby, 
 " but I had no time to think." 
 
 " No, no ; but I have had time to think, and 
 have decided to try Ram Dyall by court-martial 
 unless he can explain his absence to my complete 
 satisfaction." 
 
 " I was informed on my way here that he had 
 gone to visit his priest, a holy Brahmin, not far 
 off," put in Slingsby, cautiously. 
 
 " Priest or no priest, Brahmin or no Brahmin, he 
 must render an account of his doings last night," 
 said the Colonel, decisively, as he put the final 
 touch to his dressing and went out into the 
 verandah. " 'Tis early yet, and the General will 
 not have gone out for his ride ; we shall just catch 
 him." 
 
 There was considerable bustle at the General's, 
 for already a report had reached him of the dis- 
 turbance among the Lancers, and he welcomed 
 Colonel Scott's appearance with warmth. There 
 was a rapid consultation among the officers 
 present, for all the principal ones at the station 
 
AN EVENING DRIVE. 113 
 
 had now assembled, and, when Slingsby had given 
 his account of what had occurred, it was felt that 
 the suspicious absence of the Russaldar, and the 
 apparently unreasonable agitation among the 
 troopers, pointed to a danger not the less real 
 because it could not be traced to any specific 
 source. 
 
 " Yes, Colonel Scott, your Russaldar will find it 
 difficult to excuse himself," said General Davis ; 
 "but of course you must hear his explanation 
 before judging him." 
 
 " He is a man I have trusted implicitly," replied 
 the Colonel, " and his influence is great in the 
 regiment." 
 
 " I know that well, but this is no time for dallying. 
 Moreover," continued the General, " I regret to say 
 the deepest suspicion rests on your men generally, 
 and I shall have to take decided measures in con- 
 sequence." 
 
 All assembled wondered what was coming, for it 
 
 was evident the General's mind was made up. 
 
 " The Artillery will move into a position op- 
 
 I 
 
114 THE BOW OF FATE 
 
 posite to and commanding the Lancers' lines, 
 guarded by a company of the Red Dirks, and will 
 remain encamped there till further orders ; the 
 guns to be kept loaded and ready for action. You 
 will immediately see to this, Captain Bryce, and 
 take care that the necessary orders are issued," 
 said the General, turning to his staff-officer. 
 
 " Yes, sir, it shall be done instantly," replied 
 the latter. 
 
 "You understand your orders, Major Annesley?" 
 asked the General, looking at the Artillery officer. 
 
 " Perfectly, sir, and within half-an-hour w^e shall 
 be in the position you indicate." And he galloped 
 off to turn out his battery. 
 
 " Now, Scott, I am very sorry for this," said 
 General Davis presently, when they were left alone 
 together ; " but it's the only thing to do to ensure 
 the safety of the cantonment and of all that de- 
 pends on it." 
 
 " It may be so, I admit," replied the Colonel, 
 sorrowfully ; " but 'tis hard for me to acknowledge 
 the justice of it, thinking as I do of my men, and 
 
AN EVENING DRIVE. 115 
 
 trusting them as I have done for twenty years and 
 more." 
 
 " I know all that, my friend," said the General, 
 kindly, " and I feel for you deeply ; but it is neces- 
 sary to think for all, to consider what is best for 
 all, and in doing so to cast aside every private 
 sentiment one may have." 
 
 " Yes, I see, of course," responded the Colonel ; 
 " and yet to think of these men, whom I have led 
 through three campaigns, who have fought under 
 me in the swamps of Burmah and the snows of 
 Cabul, being under such terrible suspicion as this." 
 
 " Good morning. Colonel Scott, you are here 
 early ! " exclaimed Mrs. Davis, coming round from 
 the other side of the bungalow. " But I have 
 noticed a great bustle this morning, while dressing, 
 and you and the General look grave. There is 
 nothing wrong, I hope ? " 
 
 " I will explain it to her quietly, Scott," inter- 
 posed the General ; " but everything must go on 
 as usual, you know. Keep the men at work with 
 
 parades and all the regular routine." 
 
 I 2 
 
ii6 THE BOW OF FA TE. 
 
 " Certainly, sir," answered the Colonel ; " but 
 there is one request I would make. Should any- 
 thing happen, may I send Lilian over to you? 
 You have the European soldiers of the Red 
 Dirks close by, so that it may be safer here." 
 
 " Of course, of course," the General said, kindly ; 
 " send her to us at any time ; we shall always be 
 delighted to have her, and will take the greatest 
 care of her, for you know how my wife loves her." 
 
 " Thank you, thank you deeply ! " exclaimed the 
 poor Colonel. " Now, good morning, for I must 
 be off to see how matters are getting on." 
 
 So saying, and after shaking hands with Mrs. 
 Davis, he was gone. 
 
 The day passed quietly, the movements ordered 
 by the General being effected with a decisive 
 promptitude which disarmed criticism. Russaldar 
 Pvam Dyall had full opportunity of making an 
 explanation of his unauthorised absence at this 
 critical time, but, as it was deemed highly unsatis- 
 factory, he was placed under arrest with a view of 
 his being tried next day. 
 
AN EVENING DRIVE. 117 
 
 The time of the evening drive had come, and 
 Colonel Scott took his niece in the buggy by the 
 long road which led towards the city, and then 
 made a considerable round into the country be- 
 yond. They had come back to within half-a-mile 
 of the cantonment, and were allowing the horse to 
 walk quietly along, when, in approaching a grove 
 of mango trees close to the road, Lilian fancied 
 she saw the flutter of a white garment among the 
 trunks. It was but for a moment, yet she was sur- 
 prised, as there was no village near, and the place 
 generally was deserted. 
 
 " Who can it be in the tope there ? " she said to 
 her uncle. " I certainly caught sight of someone 
 moving among the trees." 
 
 " Very unlikely, my child," observed the Colonel, 
 "for I don't know that I ever noticed a human 
 being at that spot. There is no well, so people 
 never encamp there, and it's only in the mango 
 season, when the fruit is ripe, that the natives care 
 to go near it." 
 
 But the Colonel was wrong, for the next instant 
 
ii8 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 there was the crack of a shot, and a bullet passed 
 through the cover of the buggy so close to him as 
 to graze his cheek, and this was followed by the 
 sharp discharge of two other pieces, though with- 
 out result, as the balls flew harmlessly overhead. 
 
 *' The villains ! they want to murder us ! " cried 
 the Colonel, excitedly. " Take the reins, darling, 
 and drive on, while I arrest them on the spot. 
 Lucky I came out armed." 
 
 So saying, he drew the revolver from his belt, 
 and was about to jump down, when Lilian, now 
 fully alive to the danger, held him fast. 
 
 " No, dear uncle, no ! " she exclaimed ; " you 
 shall not commit such madness. They would cer- 
 tainly murder you — you shall not throw your life 
 away so ! " 
 
 " But I insist — child, let go, I say " 
 
 Another bullet now struck the step on Lilian's 
 side and glanced off, and immediately after a man 
 could be seen running on in front in a direction 
 parallel to the road, as if to head them. 
 
 Why, that's that fellow Buldeo, Ram Dyall's 
 
AN EVENING DRIVE. 119 
 
 nephew ! " cried the Colonel, still struggling to be 
 free. " And, my God ! Lily," looking out hastily, 
 " the others are his two cousins ; and they seem 
 bent on getting our lives." 
 
 There was not an instant to lose, for with drawn 
 sabres the men were on them, cutting furiously at 
 the Colonel, who, however, dropped the foremost 
 with a shot from his pistol. The reins were in 
 Lilian's hands, and she, keeping her head admira- 
 bly, urged the horse into a gallop, leaving behind 
 the other disappointed trooper, who contented him- 
 self with firing an ineffectual shot after them at 
 long range. 
 
 As they approached the man named Buldeo they 
 saw him drop on one knee and take steady aim. 
 
 " Do you know whom you are attempting to 
 murder, you budmash?" shouted the Colonel at 
 him. " Do you not see who it is, and that the 
 Missy-baba is beside me ? " 
 
 The answer came in the ball which only too 
 truly found its billet in the body of the poor horse. 
 Down he went with a crash, while the Colonel and 
 
I20 THE BOW OF FATE, 
 
 Lilian were rudely shaken from their seats and 
 precipitated on to the road, where the former lay 
 stunned and helpless, while his niece, luckily 
 escaping with a bruised shoulder, ran round to 
 his assistance. The murdering villains now had 
 it all their own way, for seeing the effect of the 
 last shot they came with exulting leaps towards 
 their victims, and, disdaining to fire, flourished 
 their cruel tulwars in the air, already triumphing 
 by anticipation in the massacre of the Europeans. 
 Hark ! what was that ? 
 
 A clatter upon the road, a cloud of dust in 
 front, the rapid gallop of a couple of horsemen, 
 and Slingsby and Walter Spencer, while out for 
 their evening ride, having seen from a distance the 
 fall of the horse, made all on a sudden their appear- 
 ance on the spot of the supposed accident to 
 render what help they could. 
 
 " Why, Lily ! " cried her cousin, throwing himself 
 off hastily, " what an unlucky mishap. I hope the 
 Colonel is not much hurt, or you either, for the 
 matter of that" 
 
AN EVENING DRIVE, 121 
 
 " I — no," she said, looking scared and white ; 
 "but I am afraid my uncle — oh, those men, 
 where are they ? they will kill us ! " 
 
 " Nonsense ! what do you mean ? " he exclaimed. 
 " By Jove ! what is Slingsby about ? I saw a man 
 running up, and fancied he was coming to help 
 you." 
 
 " No, indeed, Walter ; he was going to murder 
 us ! " cried the poor girl in an agony of horror and 
 alarm, yet thankful beyond measure at the unex- 
 pected turn matters had taken. " They shot the 
 
 poor horse from a distance, and then " 
 
 " Oh — h — h ! Lily, are you there ? " exclaimed 
 the Colonel, opening his eyes feebly. 
 
 " Here, uncle — yes, look at me, dear. You will 
 soon be better, will not you ? " she asked, bending 
 over him tenderly. 
 
 "My pistol — at once! Where is it? That 
 villain Buldeo, he will be on us in a moment," 
 murmured the Colonel, sitting up and looking 
 round. 
 
 " No, no fear of him now ; make yourself easy," 
 
122 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 she said. " He has run off, and will find it hard to 
 escape Captain Slingsby, who is after him. And 
 here is Walter come to help us ; is it not 
 lucky?" 
 
 " You are not much hurt, sir, I hope ? " asked 
 Spencer, who now began to understand something 
 of the true state of things. " Only shaken, I hope, 
 not wounded ? *' 
 
 "No, no, I'm all right — all right now. But 
 how was it you came at that moment? I don't 
 understand." 
 
 " Well, sir, Slingsby and I were out rather late 
 for a gallop, and, perceiving an accident, naturally 
 came to see if we could be of use. Here I am, but 
 Slingsby is off across country after that fellow, who 
 seems a fine runner, and is showing him a clean 
 pair of heels ; but then he had a good start." 
 
 " Buldeo ! one of our greatest athletes. To 
 think he should be such a ruffian. And where is 
 the other, Lily?" asked the Colonel, standing Up 
 and looking back along the road. 
 
 " He also has disappeared, uncle.. Now what is 
 
AN EVENING DRIVE. 123 
 
 to be done ? " said the girl, anxiously. " Oh, 
 Walter, we must get home, and the poor horse is 
 done for, I fear." 
 
 And indeed it was so, for after a few convulsive 
 kicks the animal lay dead before them. 
 
 " Never mind, Lily," cried Spencer, cheeringly ; 
 " my nag goes well in harness, so do you and the 
 Colonel just lend a hand, and we'll soon put him 
 between the shafts, which luckily don't seem much 
 the worse for the fall." 
 
 So saying, he set to work to unloose the dead 
 horse and replace him with the living, a matter in 
 which the others gladly assisted ; and in a few 
 minutes, all being ready, the three took their seats 
 in the buggy, having at their feet Spencer's saddle 
 and bridle. The drive home was. one that to Lilian 
 at any rate was the most delightful in her remem- 
 brance, for to the sense of thankfulness at having 
 been preserved from a cruel death was added the 
 ineffable joy of knowing that that preservation was 
 in a great measure due to the man who of all was 
 dearest to her heart. As she sat there, in that 
 
124 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 narrow space between her uncle and her young 
 cousin, what wonder that she asked herself if he 
 could possibly be ignorant of her devotion to him — 
 if he were really blind to the deep affection she 
 bore him ? 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 CONDEMNED. 
 
 The court-martial assembled early on the morning 
 fixed for the trial of Russaldar Ram Dyall, whose 
 case, in consequence of the attempt on Colonel 
 Scott's life by the three relatives of the native 
 officer, had assumed a very serious aspect. Indeed 
 Buldeo and his cousins, who had been easily 
 captured, the former by Slingsby, who overtook 
 him just as he had reached the cavalry lines, were, 
 it was finally decided, to be put upon their defence 
 at the same time. One of them had been wounded, 
 it was true, by the shot from Colonel Scott's pistol, 
 but the injury was only a flesh-wound in the leg, 
 and he was able without difficulty to take his place 
 with the others before the Court. 
 
 The prisoners having been charged and pleaded 
 
126 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 not guilty, proceedings were carried on with the 
 greatest deliberation and fairness towards the 
 accused ; but the proofs of guilty knowledge on 
 the part of the Russaldar of the plot to assassinate 
 the Colonel, even if he had not been the prompter 
 of it, were so overwhelming that the minor charge 
 respecting his suspicious absence without leave on 
 the night of the disturbance in the lines was not 
 pressed. At first, assuming a bold and defiant air, 
 he denied all cognizance of the intended crime ; but 
 when the old Seikh, Heera Singh, and another 
 trusty man of his troop had given the details of a 
 most compromising conversation they had by 
 chance overheard between Ram Dyall and his 
 nephew Buldeo, his aspect changed, and, casting 
 fierce looks of hatred at the hostile witnesses, he 
 seemed to despair of making an adequate confuta- 
 tion of the weight of evidence that was brought 
 against him. In vain did his defender attempt to 
 shake the credibility of the witnesses, in vain did 
 he try to show that their statements were mis- 
 leading and false, in vain did he appeal to the long 
 
CONDEMNED. 127 
 
 service and gallant deeds of the Russaldar, who 
 from a simple trooper had risen in the course of 
 his thirty years' service to the position he now 
 occupied, as showing how impossible it was he 
 could have so disgraced himself. The Court heard 
 with the utmost patience every word that could be 
 urged either in defence or in extenuation, but those 
 present all felt that the crime had been proved to 
 the hilt, and that the issue was not for a moment 
 doubtful. 
 
 Then came the turn of the trooper Buldeo and 
 his two companions ; but this was a simpler 
 matter, the evidence of Colonel Scott, of Slingsby, 
 and of Spencer being direct and unshakable. The 
 men seemed indeed to glory in their treacherous 
 intention, Buldeo averring in a loud and insolent 
 tone that their religion was threatened, and they 
 had only to regret their failure to strike a blow for 
 it with the success which had crowned the efforts 
 of their friends in other quarters. Yet one circum- 
 stance struck a jarring note on the ear of the 
 court. These men, though not denying for a 
 
128 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 moment their own guilt, solemnly and unanimously 
 declared the Russaldar Ram Dyall to be no par- 
 ticipator in it, and, while scowling fiercely at the 
 Seikhs who had borne the strongest and most 
 scathing testimony against him, implored the 
 members to visit the punishment of their crime on 
 them, and on them alone. 
 
 Having sat for several hours the Court adjourned 
 for a short interval ; then, meeting again for a 
 time before evening, it sent its judgment in for 
 confirmation. This was given the following day 
 by the General, the sentence being promulgated in 
 the evening orders and read at the head of every 
 regiment of the garrison of Jahmere : — " That 
 Russaldar Ram Dyall, and the troopers Buldeo, 
 Purtab, and Kasi, of the Lucknow Lancers, having 
 been found guilty of the attempt to murder 
 Colonel Scott and his niece while out driving, on 
 the 2 1st June, 1857, near the cantonment of 
 Jahmere, be executed at a general parade of all 
 the troops, to be held the next morning, by being 
 blown from guns." 
 
CONDEMNED. 129 
 
 " Missy Lily," cried the voice of the bearer 
 Bhagut, as he presented himself to his mistress 
 that evening, trembling and miserably unhinged, 
 "you have heard the dreadful news, and know 
 what is to happen ? " 
 
 " No, Bhagut, I have not ; but of course these 
 men have been found guilty," she answered, not 
 caring to name them on account of their near 
 connection with the old man." 
 
 " Oh, the three who turned traitors, and would 
 have committed murder — yes, they were bound 
 to die, and right well they deserve it!" he 
 replied. 
 
 " Well," said Lilian, " I am glad you see that." 
 
 " Dear Missy, it is not their fate that I think of ; 
 it is that Ram Dyall, my own innocent brother, has 
 been condemned." 
 
 " Ram Dyall, the Russaldar ? " interrupted Lilian. 
 
 " Yes, indeed, it is too true, too dreadfully true," 
 
 cried the wretched man, throwing himself at her 
 
 feet and sobbing like a child. 
 
 " Bhagut, this is indeed terrible," she murmured. 
 
 K 
 
I30 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " My poor old friend, what do they accuse him of? 
 I know, of course, that he was absent one night with- 
 out permission, but we beHeved he had only gone to 
 visit the reverend father, the Brahmin, in his abode at 
 the temple. Where was the harm of that if the holy 
 one had called him ? " 
 
 " Where, indeed. Missy?" echoed Bhagut, who 
 probably was not fully aware of the course matters 
 had finally taken at the trial. 
 
 " Then they blame him and condemn him for 
 it ? " asked she. 
 
 " Ah, dear Missy, worse, far worse than that 
 They have found him equally guilty with Buldeo 
 
 and the others of — of " 
 
 " What, Bhagut ? They think he wished to mur- 
 der " 
 
 " Yes, indeed ; that is their decision," said he 
 under his breath ; " that he knew what Buldeo 
 intended, and approved of it." 
 Lilian shuddered. 
 
 " Have you seen your brother?" she asked, after 
 a pause, looking anxiously at the bearer. 
 
CONDEMNED. 131 
 
 " No," he answered sadly, " I have not tried to see 
 him, but I must do so to-night^'' 
 
 " Why to-night?" said she, noting the strange in- 
 flection of his voice. 
 
 " Because to-morrow morning he is to die, to be 
 blown into the air ; he, a Brahmin, to be made carrion 
 of, for the jackals and the dogs to pick up." 
 
 Again Lilian trembled, for she well knew the 
 significance of these words. 
 
 "How horrible!" she murmured; then, after a 
 moment, " But he is guiltless, absolutely guiltless. 
 They dare never commit such an atrocity as 
 this ; they shall not carry out such a sentence ! " 
 
 " Alas ! dear Missy, who is to prevent them ? The 
 General-sahib alone has full power, and he is clearly 
 against my brother," said the bearer, sorrowfully. • 
 
 " I will go to the General myself," cried the girl, 
 " and will plead for the Russaldar's life. Quick I 
 Order the palki, and I will start at once." 
 
 While hurrying off to obey this command, 
 
 Bhagut encountered the Colonel, returning after 
 
 his melancholy day's work. 
 
 K 2 
 
132 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " Hallo ! " exclaimed the latter ; " what now, 
 Bhagut, is the excitement ? " 
 
 The bearer salaamed low, and then stood with 
 his head sunk on his breast in an attitude of the 
 deepest despair. 
 
 " Ah, I see, you know what has occurred. No 
 one regrets it more than I — no one. There, take 
 my sword. It has been a sad day for us all, a miser- 
 able day." And the Colonel divested himself of his 
 belts and cap, and threw himself into an easy chair 
 in the verandah. " Where is your young mistress ? 
 I must see her," he continued. 
 
 Silently the old servant pointed to the inner 
 rooms, and at that moment Lilian appeared, 
 dressed to go out. 
 
 " Dearest uncle," she cried, moving quickly to 
 his side, " can this be true ? Is it possible you 
 will allow Ram Dyall " 
 
 "Hush, Lily; hush, darling!" exclaimed the 
 Colonel rapidly, while motioning to the bearer to 
 leave them alone together; "we miist be cautious 
 how we speak — danger is round us on every hand." 
 
CONDEMNED. 133 
 
 " But my own old servant and friend, Bhagut," 
 said she reproachfully, "surely you do not suspect 
 him of betraying us?" 
 
 " Bhagut is the brother of Ram Dyall, and Ram 
 Dyall is a traitor !" rejoined the Colonel, shortly. 
 
 " 'Tis impossible !" cried the girl, recoiling from 
 him in amazement. " And that you, uncle, should 
 say this." 
 
 " I say what I know, Lily, and what has been 
 proved beyond a shadow of doubt," said the 
 Colonel, gravely. " Ram Dyall's complicity is 
 absolutely certain, and of course his fate is as 
 certain. You know what it is to be ? " 
 
 " I have heard the dreadful decision," murmured 
 Lilian, faintly ; " but I hoped by intercession with 
 the General that something might be done." 
 
 " Useless, utterly useless, my child ! " the Colonel 
 exclaimed. "The General's mind is thoroughly 
 made up, the orders are issued, the arrangements 
 made. There is more, far more in this than I can 
 tell you, and your interference might bring trouble 
 on others." 
 
134 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 She looked at him with a dazed expression. 
 " I know not what your suggestion is," she said 
 slowly, "and cannot divine the General's motives; 
 but this I can tell — that if Ram Dyall is shame- 
 fully sacrificed great harm will befall." 
 
 " What do you mean, Lily, by saying that ? " 
 asked the Colonel, regarding her with anxiety ; 
 " and how dare you speak so of what you do not 
 understand ? " 
 
 " Uncle," answered she after a moment's con- 
 sideration, " I am but a girl, that is true ; yet I 
 have means of knowing more perhaps than you 
 think, and my sympathies lead me to appreciate 
 in a higher and intenser degree the motives of 
 those around us than either you or General Davis 
 can do." 
 
 It was the Colonel's turn to express himself 
 with decision. 
 
 " Here," said he, " have been a fair trial and a 
 perfectly impartial judgment, and it is not for you 
 or me, deeply as we regret it, to interfere. If those 
 there are who sympathise with the Russaldar, let 
 
CONDEMNED. 135 
 
 them beware. His death should be a warning to 
 them ; may they take it to heart and profit by it." 
 
 Lilian was struck dumb for some seconds by 
 this speech. 
 
 " Am I, then," she asked despairingly, " really to 
 take off my things — may I not go to the General, 
 as I have promised Bhagut to do ? " 
 
 " It would be useless, my child, to undertake 
 such an errand," answered the Colonel, soothingly, 
 "however natural on your part. No, there are 
 deeper considerations involved than I can explain. 
 Hah ! what is that behind yonder pillar ? " 
 
 As he spoke a figure stole towards them with a 
 wary tread ; it was that of the young Mahomedan 
 officer Secunder Khan, who now, seeing he was 
 noticed, stood forward more boldly and saluted. 
 
 " Well ! " exclaimed the Colonel, apparently not 
 over pleased at his visit, " what now, Secunder 
 Khan?" 
 
 " All is well in the lines, Protector of the poor. 
 I thought you would like to have a report from 
 me, your humble slave, at this time." 
 
136 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 "Good," answered the Colonel, but with some 
 impatience in his tone ; then added, " 1 do not 
 remember ordering you to come here this evening." 
 
 " Incomparable lord ! " replied the man, glancing 
 at Lilian, who stood apparently lost in a fit of 
 abstraction beside her uncle, " knowing as I do 
 the anxiety you must feel, I have ventured to 
 approach in order to renew my protestations of 
 fidelity, sworn on the holy Koran, towards both 
 you and the Missy-sahib, whom God protect ! " 
 
 He bowed low at these words. The Colonel 
 frowned, yet spoke gently in reply. 
 
 " You mean well, Secunder, and I thank you. 
 These are times when one likes to know one's true 
 friends from the false." 
 
 Again the Mahomedan glanced at Lilian, who, 
 becoming aware of the attention he was paying 
 her, was about to leave the verandah. 
 
 " Should anything happen — should things go 
 wrong, which God forbid" — began the young man, 
 speaking rapidly, " I pray you. Protector of your 
 men, to remember me. Especially should danger 
 
CONDEMNED. 137 
 
 threaten the Missy-sahib, I would ask you to trust 
 me ; 1 have means at hand which will ensure her 
 safety. Oh ! let your and her devoted slave know 
 that his humble services will be acceptable." 
 
 The Colonel looked at him in some astonish- 
 ment, and even Lilian paused ; but at that moment 
 the palki was rapidly brought up by the bearers, 
 and further conversation was at an end. 
 
 " You have permission to go," said the Colonel to 
 Secunder Khan. Then, with emphasis, " I shall con- 
 sider your offer, strange though it sounds at this 
 moment, and meantime I thank you for whatever 
 good towards me and mine your intentions contain." 
 
 " Salaam, sahib, salaam," was the respectful reply, 
 and, after another salute to Lilian, the Mahomedan 
 was gone. 
 
 " What do you think of him ? " asked Lilian as 
 her uncle rose to pass into his room. 
 
 " I am not sure, child, what to think," said the 
 Colonel gravely ; " his words are fair, and yet " 
 
 " Trust him not, dear uncle," she interrupted ; 
 " he is false for all his fair words ! I know it. ! " 
 
138 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 Frowning, the Colonel left her ; and she, turning 
 to Bhagut, spoke with sorrow in her voice. 
 
 " No," she said, " I cannot go ; I am not per- 
 mitted to go to-night. Take away the palki, and 
 send Chahni to me if she is back yet from the 
 bazaar." 
 
 The bearer bowed submissively, but could not 
 help giving a look of deep reproach at his mis- 
 tress. 
 
 " I will explain it all to-morrow," she continued 
 under her breath ; " but interference is out of the 
 question I find, deeply to my regret." 
 
 The poor man seemed stunned at this intelli- 
 gence, knowing it to be a death-blow to any hope 
 he might have entertained for his brother ; yet he 
 gave in a calm voice the order to the palki bearers 
 to depart, and summoned the ayah from within. 
 
 " You have returned, Chahni," exclaimed Lilian, 
 as the white figure stood before her ; " take my 
 bonnet and gloves, I shall not require them just 
 now." 
 
 " No, Missy-baba, you must not go out to-night, 
 
CONDEMNED. 139 
 
 for they are saying strange things in the bazaar — 
 things that make one tremble to think of," 
 murmured the ayah. 
 
 " What things, Chahni, can they be that have 
 frightened you so?" asked Lilian in a pitying tone. 
 " My poor old ayah, you are indeed unhinged." 
 
 " They say," she whispered, shudderingly, " that 
 the British raj is coming to an end, that not a 
 European will be left in the country, for all will be 
 killed or driven out of it." 
 
 " And you believe such nonsense as that ? " said 
 Lilian, unable to avoid smiling. " Really by this 
 time I should have expected you understood the 
 Company-Bahadoor better, though you are but a 
 woman." 
 
 " Ah," continued the faithful creature, shaking 
 her head ominously, " the English are few and their 
 enemies are many. What if a second Cabul were 
 at hand ? " 
 
 These words, forced out as they seemed to be by 
 the fears that had been excited in Chahni's breast, 
 made an instant impression on Lilian, for she well 
 
I40 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 understood their import, but with admirable tact 
 she strove to allay the old ayah's alarm. 
 
 " The bazaar is a sad place for gossip, Chahni, 
 and if I were you I would be more careful of whom 
 I spoke to there," she said ; "and as to Cabul, the 
 circumstances are entirely changed in every way. 
 Surely you must see this." 
 
 But Chahni only moaned while moving uneasily 
 away, and it was no wonder that her mistress, 
 deeply impressed by her warning, resolved to find 
 out for herself from sources she deemed infallible, 
 the truth or falsehood of these bazaar reports. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 A PARADE. 
 
 The grey light of dawn had hardly begun to 
 appear when the preparations for the parade of 
 the whole garrison of Jahmere were in full swing, 
 regiment after regiment taking up its appointed 
 position so as to form three sides of a hollow 
 square, in the centre of which was the battery, the 
 guns pointing outwards into the open plain beyond. 
 The Red Dirks were drawn up close to the guns, 
 the Lucknow Lancers being disposed at some 
 distance on the flank, while the other corps were 
 aligned in the space between, which had been duly 
 allotted them. A dead silence prevailed for some 
 minutes, broken only by the occasional movement 
 
142 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 of a horse, or the direction of an officer to close 
 the ranks where his critical eye detected some 
 irregularity of formation. 
 
 Suddenly in the distance could be seen a little 
 cloud of dust, and, as the gongs were sounding the 
 hour, the party of horsemen that emerged from it 
 proved to be the General and his staff, who rode 
 up at a gallop and took their places in rear of the 
 battery, the troops giving a general salute. This 
 over, and the four prisoners having been marched 
 out in front of him, the General made a short and 
 stirring address in the following words : — 
 " Soldiers of the Jahmere division, — 
 " I need not tell you the reason of your being 
 paraded here this morning. You are aware of it 
 already ; you know it as well as I do. After a 
 full and patient trial the prisoners have been 
 unanimously found guilty of the most heinous 
 crime that soldiers can commit, and for that crime 
 there is but one punishment — death. But so 
 aggravated were the circumstances in this case 
 that the Court has ordered the execution to be per- 
 
A PARADE. 143 
 
 formed by blowing from guns, and I have confirmed 
 the sentence. 
 
 "It may be that these unhappy men were misled 
 by some of the disaffected and traitorous agitators 
 who are at present seeking, in many parts of the 
 country, to corrupt the mind of the Army ; if so, 
 let others take warning from their fate, and 
 remember that the Government, ready and willing 
 as it is to reward those who serve it loyally and 
 well, is equally determined to crush with a relent- 
 less hand all who violate their oaths and betray 
 their trust. 
 
 " May a death such as this overtake every traitor 
 to the Company-Bahadoor, and every soldier who 
 is untrue to his salt." 
 
 He ceased, but his words, spoken in a clear and 
 manly voice, had penetrated to the furthest man in 
 the ranks before him, and the calm that prevailed 
 showed the intense interest they had excited in the 
 minds of those to whom they were addressed. 
 
 At a sign from the staff-officer the prisoners 
 were led forward and placed each of them in front 
 
144 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 of a gun, while their war medals and decorations 
 were torn from their breasts, so that all might see 
 the degradation and disgrace that had befallen 
 them. At this juncture each was seized by a 
 couple of sturdy gunners, who with strong cords 
 bound him across the muzzle of the piece, which 
 had just previously been charged ; and then it was 
 in that last look round on the familiar scene before 
 him, and ere taking the imminent plunge into the 
 vast unknown, that Russaldar Ram Dyall, forgetful 
 somewhat of his previous oaths and protestations, 
 shouted out in a loud voice — 
 
 " I die a victim to the usurpers, my brethren ! I 
 die that you all may be free ! I, a Brahmin, a holy 
 man, die this foul and disgraceful death, but 'tis in 
 the name and for the sake of religion, and my fate 
 shall be avenged." 
 
 " Number one — ready ! Number one — fire ! " in- 
 terrupted a voice with decision. 
 
 The flash of the port-fire was seen over the gun, 
 a rapid boom was heard, and next moment all that 
 remained of Russaldar Ram Dyall was a few 
 
A PARADE. 145 
 
 fragments of flesh and bone whistling through 
 the air. 
 
 " Number two — ready ! Number two — fire ! '* 
 again was the command ; and, without a word, the 
 trooper Buldeo had passed amid smoke and flame 
 to his account. 
 
 And so with the others. 
 
 Then there was silence, amid which the General 
 rode ofl" the ground, wisely leaving the lesson that 
 had been read to them to sink fresh and undiluted 
 into the minds of the soldiery. The parade was 
 at an end, and next minute the regimental bands 
 were playing their respective corps back to their 
 barracks and lines, the guns of the Artillery being 
 again placed in a position to rake those of the 
 Lancers. 
 
 But though everything had passed ofl" so smoothly 
 
 that morning, the mind of General Davis was ill 
 
 at ease. Later than in many parts of the country, 
 
 yet none the less inevitably, the wave of 
 
 mutiny and rebellion was spreading to Jahmere; 
 
 alarming reports were brought in daily from the 
 
 L 
 
146 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 districts around ; outpost after outpost had fallen, 
 several parties of hard-pressed fugitives had 
 reached the shelter of the cantonment and had 
 been distributed among the residents there and at 
 the neighbouring civil station, while terribly sad 
 accounts came in of others who had been less 
 fortunate and had fallen miserably by the wa}% 
 almost within sight of the shelter they had striven 
 to reach. 
 
 " There is one thing I must have done," said the 
 General, as the usual council of the senior mem- 
 bers of the community, both civil and militar}% 
 met at his bungalow that morning. " The post 
 has ceased to run for a week, and I have a most 
 important despatch to send to Ahtabad. Of 
 course the country is all up, and it would be a 
 dangerous mission." 
 
 "Will you entrust it to me, sir?" exclaimed 
 Moody of the Red Dirks, now quite recovered 
 from his wound. "With a good horse I could 
 compass the distance in twenty-four hours, and 
 might be back here on the third day." 
 
A PARADE. 147 
 
 The General considered a few moments, and 
 then took Moody quietly apart. 
 
 " It would be better for you to have a com- 
 panion," he said, " that is if I agree to your going 
 at all, Moody. You see it is a service of danger, 
 and if anything happened to you " 
 
 " Yes, sir, you are right ; it would not do to risk 
 the safety of the errand on one life," remarked the 
 Major, contemplatively. 
 
 " Well, as you offer to undertake this matter, 
 and I know no one who could perform it so well, 
 you shall choose your friend ; that, I think, is only 
 fair." 
 
 Moody smiled at this consideration on the 
 General's part. 
 
 " Then may I select young Walter Spencer of 
 my regiment, sir?" he asked. "He is brave, a 
 first-rate rider, and will be charmed, I know, to 
 have such an adventure." 
 
 " Very well. Moody, take the boy, and take 
 
 care of him!" exclaimed the General, kindly. 
 
 "'Tis a grand opportunity for him to prove the 
 
 L 2 
 
14^ THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 stuff he is made of. You have no need to give 
 any such proof of courage and devotion." 
 
 '' Then I will warn him for the duty, and we 
 shall start this morning, sir ? " enquired Moody. 
 
 " No, this afternoon will do, and then you will 
 have the cool night before you," was the reply. 
 ** You have yet to inform Spencer, and he will 
 have preparations to make, poor lad." 
 
 " Very good, sir ; then I go at once to his 
 quarters to communicate your orders?" 
 
 " Yes, and not a word of your actual destination 
 to any but Spencer, remember. Good morning, 
 and good luck." 
 
 " Good morning, sir." And with an unconcerned 
 air Moody cantered off. 
 
 " I've come to say good-bye for a few days, 
 Lily," exclaimed Walter Spencer, cheerily, as he 
 shook hands in her drawing-room with his cousin 
 that forenoon. " I don't like to go without seeing 
 you and the Colonel first, but I haven't much time." 
 
 " Why, where are you going ? " asked Lilian in 
 surprise. " My uncle had not told me of this." 
 
A PARADE. 149 
 
 " No, it's only just arranged, and he knows 
 nothing about it perhaps. Indeed, you must not 
 speak of it to any of the natives, or at all, in fact, 
 though people will — Why," cried he, " what's the 
 matter, Lily ? You look very ill." 
 
 " It's the heat, I think," she said quickly ; " but 
 tell me, Walter, what all this nieans." 
 
 " It means that Moody and I are going on 
 a secret mission — I may not say where — and 
 you won't see us again just yet awhile. I 
 may confide to you that Moody picked me out 
 to accompany him," answered the young man, 
 proudly. 
 
 " Ah, I see ; this is a dangerous errand you are 
 bent upon for all you speak so lightly of it," she 
 returned, gravely. 
 
 " Well, it's just a longish ride, Lily, which we 
 shall both enjoy," replied he, gaily ; " far better 
 than being cooped up here, and having to attend 
 parades like this morning's." 
 
 " Walter, pray don't speak so. It is too sad — 
 too terrible ! " she cried. 
 
I50 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " Wretched ! " responded he. " Wretched ! May 
 I never see it again." 
 
 She looked at him with gratitude in her eyes — 
 gratitude, and perhaps something more than grati- 
 tude. 
 
 "You are my own cousin," she said, "and Edith's 
 brother — Edith, who is to me as a dear sister." 
 
 " Yes, Lily, that is true," answered he, wonder- 
 ingly, for Lilian had never spoken so before. 
 
 " Is it not natural then," she asked, " that I 
 should feel as — as — Edith would feel were she 
 with us here ? " 
 
 " Well," he said, his surprise increasing as she 
 went on, " you are not exactly a sister, though as 
 a cousin, of course " 
 
 " Ah, Walter," she interrupted, " I know the 
 daring spirit of Major Moody, and feel satisfied 
 this is a desperate enterprise in which he has 
 engaged you. Think of Edith and of your father, 
 and — and — of us all." 
 
 She half rose ftom the sofa as she spoke, and it 
 was while the sweet appealing accents of her last 
 
A PARADE. 151 
 
 words rang in his ear that the sense of what this 
 girl's affection for him amounted to was borne in 
 upon Walter Spencer's mind. 
 
 " Lily ! " he exclaimed, almost breathlessly, for a 
 flood of passionate emotion urging him this way 
 and that had suddenly broken over him, " Lily, 
 you do not know what you are insensibly asking 
 from me. The circumstances are such — but that 
 will never do." 
 
 " No, Walter," she murmured faintly, sinking 
 back on to the sofa, " I could not wish — I should 
 not dare — for a moment to interpose. Forgive 
 me, if I have been wrong. Say you forgive me — 
 that you will think of me kindly." 
 
 "Of course, of course," he answered quickly, 
 rising as if to go. " There is nothing to forgive, 
 only — your — anxiety about me, just like what 
 Edith's would be." 
 
 With an effort she rose too, but there was a 
 deadly pallor in her face that shocked him. 
 
 *' Edith's ? " she whispered, hoarsely ; " ah, yes, 
 Edith's." 
 
152 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " Besides," continued he, " I shall return ; 'tis 
 really nothing but a long ride." 
 
 " Nothing but a long ride," she said, mechani- 
 cally. " Nothing more ? Nothing more than a 
 ride?" 
 
 "Well, I expect not. Of course one can't be 
 sure of what may happen ; but you will give us 
 your good wishes, Lily, in our enterprise ? " 
 
 This was spoken almost with gaiety, and indeed 
 his heart had been high within him but a moment 
 ago, and he strove to set aside the despair of the 
 girl before him — a despair that was now only too 
 evident to him in every movement and in every 
 word of hers, 
 
 " Nay," she murmured, more to herself as it 
 seemed than to him, " 'tis no right of mine to 
 object, and perhaps ere long my duty may call 
 me, too, to make some sacrifice — to incur some 
 danger." 
 
 "Danger is round us on every hand, Lily," 
 whispered Spencer, not wholly understanding her 
 
A PARADE. 153 
 
 meaning, but catching at her last words. " It's 
 useless to deny it ; you have already had some 
 proof of this ; but if what I hear is true, and this 
 is a religious movement, there may be much more 
 behind." 
 
 " What is it you would suggest ? " she asked 
 looking dreadfully scared. " Ah, Walter, some- 
 thing tells me — some conviction comes over me — 
 that I shall never see you again ! And yet you 
 are so young ; it does seem hard " 
 
 " Nonsense, Lily," he interrupted ; " you really 
 must not take this view. I shall be all right, and 
 if only things are managed properly there need be 
 no trouble at all ; certainly none here, where you 
 have the Red Dirks." 
 
 " No trouble, you think," she began wildly ; then 
 relapsing into a quieter tone, "no, perhaps no trouble 
 to you, while to me — ah, what may it not signify 
 to me ! " 
 
 Speaking so she raised her hands deprecatingly, 
 as if to shut out the sight of something too 
 
154 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 horrible to contemplate, and Spencer, puzzled not 
 less by her gestures than by her words, felt there; 
 was a depth in this girl's emotions and in the 
 springs of her conduct far beyond his power to 
 fathom. 
 
 " Well, Lily," he said, after a pause, " good-bye 
 now. I must really go, though it's a little hard to 
 do so when it comes to the point. Give my fare- 
 wells to the Colonel ; I must be off." 
 
 She shook his hand without a word ; he could but 
 too readily guess the reason of that ; and next 
 moment his horse's hoofs were heard upon the 
 drive as he hurried away. 
 
 Unfortunate Lilian ! At first, stunned by her 
 utter loneliness, she stood looking at the spot he 
 had left as if in expectation that he would re- 
 appear ; then, as a sense of the truth gradually 
 came to her, and she realised what she had lost 
 her head reeled, and she would have fallen but that 
 at the moment the ever-watchful Chahni, who of 
 course had noted the young man's departure, came 
 quickly and silently to her assistance and support. 
 
A PARADE. 155 
 
 The old ayah shook her head ominously as she 
 applied her restoratives, for she knew instinctively 
 something of the reason of her young mistress's 
 distress ; yqt it may well be doubted if the deeper 
 causes of it were apparent to her. 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 THE FERRY. 
 
 The sun's rays were hot, for it was yet early in 
 the afternoon, when Major Moody and Walter 
 Spencer quietly passed out of the cantonment, 
 and, after riding through the principal street of 
 Jahmere, took the main road to Ahtabad. Peace 
 and absolute quietude reigned over everything, and 
 it seemed as if in the sultry quivering air and the 
 fierce light no living creature had the energy to 
 stir, save perhaps that here and there a squirrel 
 peeped out with glistening eyes from the leaves 
 overhead, or a pariah dog lazily left his lair in the 
 roadway, growling at the disturbance caused him 
 by their horses' hoofs. 
 
THE FERRY, i57 
 
 " The syces looked rather astonished when we 
 told them they need not follow us," remarked 
 Spencer to his companion ; " they must have fan- 
 cied we were in a hurry for our evening ride ; but 
 now, I daresay, they have a suspicion we are up 
 to something more than that." 
 
 "Well, yes," said the Major, "there's a rare 
 talkee-talkee going on at the stables, I'll be bound ; 
 but we shall be many miles off before it reaches 
 the disaffected ones, and they have so much to 
 think of just now that our presence will hardly be 
 missed." 
 
 " Then you think the plotting is still going on ? " 
 asked Walter with some anxiety. 
 
 " I've not the least doubt about it, my dear 
 fellow," replied Moody, " and everyone who is not 
 blind must see it. Of course the executions this 
 morning may have a good effect — I hope they 
 will ; but you can hardly expect them to stay the 
 tide of insurrection when it is surging up all round 
 us, and threatens to sweep us away all together." 
 
 " I quite see that," said the other, " but with 
 
1 58 THE BO W OF FA TE. 
 
 three companies of the Red Dirks and the 
 Artillery I think the General should hold his 
 own." 
 
 " Three weak companies are not enough to 
 defend the barracks if the whole of the native 
 regiments go ; and then only think of the civil 
 station, with the Treasury guarded by native police, 
 and the big disaffected city close by." 
 
 The younger man shook his head. 
 
 "It seems to me there may be more serious 
 danger for those we are leaving here than for you 
 and me," he said, speaking somewhat doubtfully. 
 
 Moody glanced searchingly at him ere he replied. 
 
 " 'Tis a choice of dangers, truly. We don't 
 know yet what is before us, and it's a far cry to 
 Ahtabad." 
 
 Spencer seemed lost in thought for a minute ; 
 then he spoke again. 
 
 " Did you see my cousin Lily, to say good-bye ? " 
 he asked. " There was but little time for that sort 
 of thing, but I managed to spare half-an-hour." 
 
 " And how did you find her ? " asked Moody, 
 
rn^ FERRY. 159 
 
 gulping down a strange feeling in his throat, and 
 looking with steadfast eyes before him ; " I had 
 not a moment, however much I should have liked 
 it, to shake her hand." 
 
 " Well, I really was almost sorry I went, for, dear 
 girl, she was terribly sad, and made such odd allusions 
 to — well — to my sister at home, and to my going 
 on this expedition, and the danger of it, and to 
 some mysterious sacrifice on her part, and — and — 
 to you. Major — and your well-known desperate 
 bravery, and " 
 
 " We'll have a bit of a trot now," interrupted 
 Moody, feeling this mode of recapitulating Lilian's 
 last-spoken words almost more than he could bear, 
 and giving his horse the rein ; yet his curiosity 
 and deepest interest having been stirred, when 
 presently they again fell into a walk — for it was 
 absolutely necessary to husband the strength of 
 their animals for any emergency that might arise, 
 — he could not resist returning to the subject of 
 Lilian. 
 
 " I have understood from Miss Langford," he 
 
i6o THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 began, " that there is an intention on her part of 
 devoting herself to some object which she would 
 not, perhaps could not, explain ; but you, Spencer, 
 who possibly have a better right than I " 
 
 " Now, really. Major, I don't know why you 
 should say that," cried Walter, in some surprise. 
 " She is my cousin, of course ; but beyond that there 
 is nothing — that is, till to-day there has been 
 
 nothing — to warrant any suggestion of — of " 
 
 He stopped suddenly. " And yet, I tell you," he 
 continued, drawing a deep breath, "if I thought 
 Delmar was my rival, that he had gained — but I 
 know that is absurd." 
 
 Moody looked at him curiously for a moment. 
 
 " From what I have gathered," he said, " there 
 must be someone who is very dear to Miss Lang- 
 ford ; it may be you, Spencer, or it may not — you 
 know that best. But beyond this personal love of 
 hers there is some absorbing interest, some deep- 
 seated passion, which fascinates and governs her in 
 all she does." 
 
 " I believe there is a good deal in what you say, 
 
THE FERRY. i6i 
 
 Major," rejoined Spencer, slowly, " for Lily is 
 changed of late — I can't say exactly how." 
 
 " Girls do change," muttered Moody in a con- 
 templative tone ; " none knows that better than I. 
 And yet there is a mystery here beyond my power 
 to unravel." 
 
 " She seemed to be under some illusion, or in 
 dread of a hidden influence of superior power, as 
 far as I could judge," remarked Walter, remem- 
 bering Lilian's attitude and gestures just the mo- 
 ment before he left her. 
 
 The Major went back some twenty years or more 
 in memory, recalling this girl's mother to his mind, 
 and as he did so a light seemed to dawn upon him, 
 and he found himself thrown into a fever of specu- 
 lation as to the possibility of her Rajpoot descent 
 being answerable for the puzzling anomalies of her 
 character. The more he thought of this, the more 
 convinced he felt that the explanation of her 
 mental condition and unwonted conduct was to be 
 found in this direction ; yet he hesitated to com- 
 municate his ideas to her cousin, at any rate till they 
 
 M 
 
i62^ THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 were more fully considered and had met with some 
 confirmation from external sources. Little did he 
 know how far matters had gone with the wretched 
 girl, or to what a terrible depth the fateful circum- 
 stances of her birth and surroundings were dragging 
 her! 
 
 They had ridden on for some time in silence, for 
 Moody's thoughts wholly engrossed him, and even 
 Spencer gave way to meditations, in the first 
 place on Lilian, and then on the chances of the 
 success of their expedition. The sun had set, and 
 in ordinary times they would have encountered 
 numbers of travellers, either passing along the road 
 or encamped near it, yet hardly a figure was to be 
 seen, save an occasional village boy driving in his 
 cattle and goats for the night amid a cloud of dust, 
 or a zameendar cultivating his land, or watering it 
 from the well by means of the creaking and pic- 
 turesque wheel that originally came from Persia. 
 From these simple people the two horsemen 
 received the salutations due to their supposed im- 
 portance, for, dressed and accoutred like the irregu- 
 
THE FERRY. 163 
 
 lar horsemen of some native chief, they commanded 
 respect by the fear they inspired. 
 
 " It can't be more than a couple of miles to the 
 dawk bungalow at Mitti," said Moody, as they 
 cleared a small village and came close to a range of 
 low hills that had been indistinctly visible for some 
 time past. 
 
 " I shan't be sorry for apiece of dinner, Major," 
 rejoined Spencer, " or at any rate a cup of tea, and 
 I suppose there is a khansamah there who can do 
 so much for us ?" 
 
 " I'm not sure about that," replied the elder 
 man, drawing out a map of the district and glanc- 
 ing over it. " The light is so faint I can hardly 
 make this out, but it's quite possible the bungalow 
 is in the hands of the rebels, whom we are certain 
 to come across on the other side of the river — at 
 least so I was warned by the General." 
 
 " Then how do you think of proceeding ? " asked 
 
 Walter, " for of course we are not to ride straight 
 
 into their camp." 
 
 " No, no ; trust me for that, young man," was the 
 
 M 2 
 
i64 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 reply ; " you won't catch an old shikari tripping so 
 foolishly ; but just keep your eyes open far ahead 
 upon the road, while I look for a bridle-path there 
 should be hereabouts.'" 
 
 After some minutes' careful riding, Walter 
 Spencer spoke again. 
 
 " There's no sign of anyone on the road, Major. 
 What do you think of that ?" he asked, as Moody, 
 after a short detour of inspection through the scrub 
 on the plain, rejoined him. 
 
 " I don't like it," he replied, shortly. " There's a 
 reason for it, you may be sure. Ah, here's what 
 I've been expecting — the pugdundi that will take 
 us round." 
 
 He struck at once into the footpath, and, followed 
 closely by Spencer, rode rapidily towards the hills to 
 the base of which it conducted them ; then, halting, 
 and letting the reins fall on his horse's neck, he 
 swept the whole region towards the river with his 
 glass, dwelling long on one particular spot. 
 
 " Lucky we didn't ride up to the bungalow," he 
 said at last, ''or it would have been all over with us, 
 
THE FERRY. 165 
 
 Spencer, for we should have been in those fellows' 
 hands by this time." 
 
 " You don't say so, Major ! " cried Walter. '' Do 
 let me see what I can make of them with your 
 glass, for it is stronger than mine." 
 
 " They are lighting their fires and cooking close 
 to the house, you observe," answered Moody, hand- 
 ing over the glass to his companion. '' See how 
 their figures stand out against the flames, for now 
 that darkness is really upon us every minute makes 
 their proceedings more clear and apparent." 
 
 "I can see the horses picketed close by them" 
 exclaimed Walter. " And now one of the troopers 
 is mounting and riding off. What does that mean, 
 I wonder ? " 
 
 " There are two ferries hereabouts," quietly re- 
 marked the Major, not noticing the other's ques- 
 tion, " and I propose to cross by the upper one — and 
 for two reasons. In the first place it's off the main 
 road, and is, in fact, little frequented except by the 
 cultivators living on the river bank ; therefore 
 there's the chance our friends over there may have 
 
i66 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 neglected it. Next, though there is a strong eddy, 
 and the water swirls and tumbles about in an 
 alarming fashion, the passage is accomplished in 
 half the time the other takes, and this of course is a 
 great advantage." 
 
 I see," said Spencer, " and entirely concur in 
 your reasoning." 
 
 " Well, then, we'll make for the ferry at Bundia, 
 and hope for luck and a good boat," cried the Major, 
 leading off at a trot 
 
 Fortune favoured them, for when they reached 
 the village of Bundia, perched on its rocky platform 
 above the river, they discovered by careful enquiry 
 that no strangers had invaded it, and were able to 
 rest under a magnificent peepul growing by the 
 roadside, while some milk was presented to them 
 by a friendly inhabitant. Meantime the ferry-boat — 
 there appeared to be but one — having been brought 
 alongside, the horses without much difficulty were 
 got on board, and amid wild yells and gesticulations 
 from the boatmen, several of whom worked in the 
 water, and shouts from a crowd of the villagers. 
 
THE FERRY. 167 
 
 whose torches threw a lurid and fitful light upon 
 the scene, they started. 
 
 At first the rapid current, eddying round and 
 round, carried them almost close along the near 
 shore, where, owing to the lofty and precipitous 
 cliffs, which hung in dark masses above them, the 
 scenery was of the wildest ; indeed, so long did 
 they continue in this course, that Moody felt un- 
 easy, and began to think that treachery was in- 
 tended, but presently noticing that, as the stream 
 widened and the boiling waters became quiescent 
 they were perceptibly moving across, his fears 
 ceased to trouble him. The boatmen, all but 
 naked, as they were, had been working literally 
 like demons, for beneath the light of a torch 
 fastened to a short mast, their glistening skins and 
 muscular limbs, and fantastic gestures and wild 
 and inarticulate utterances, lent to them rather the 
 aspect of creatures of some other sphere than of this. 
 
 " Tell me, manji,'' said Moody, presently, as the 
 leader ceased for a moment from his labour, " how 
 far it is to Mitti from here." 
 
i68 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " Three kos, great sir," replied the man, respect- 
 fully ; " we can soon run down if your honour 
 pleases." 
 
 " No, never mind about that. If you land us 
 opposite there we can hit on a bye-road that will 
 suit well enough, for we want to get on," answered 
 the Major, looking across the river. 
 
 " Pardon your slave," said the manji presently, 
 after delivering himself of a string of abuse at the 
 sudden snapping of an oar hitherto used by the 
 man at the stern as a rudder, " but if that accident 
 had occurred two or three minutes ago in the 
 current at the base of the hills we should all have 
 been in the water." 
 
 " Lucky it didn't, then," responded Moody, 
 glancing at Spencer, who had by previous ar- 
 rangement maintained silence throughout ; 
 "we should have had a scramble for our lives 
 in that case." 
 
 " Friend of the poor, we might none of us have 
 escaped, for 'tis well known that the god of the 
 stream at that point is insatiable, and devours all 
 
THE FERRY. 169 
 
 who tempt him," observed the man, speaking with 
 calm conviction. 
 
 " And is he your god, my friend ?" asked the 
 Major, somewhat incautiously. 
 
 " Certainly," replied the manji, wondering evi- 
 dently at the question, and eyeing first one and 
 then the other of his passengers more closely than 
 he had yet done ; " he is one of my gods, for have 
 I not erected his shrine at Bundia, to which I 
 bring offerings such as I can afford at the time 
 appointed by the holy one who is in charge of it?" 
 
 "•Quite right to keep him propitiated and in 
 good humour," remarked Moody, gravely. " And 
 now we are in smooth water we should soon reach 
 the shore yonder." 
 
 " Not in such a hurry, noble sir,'* said the man, 
 peering at the bank as if uncertain of the exact 
 point for which he was making. "What did you 
 tell your devoted servant was the place for which 
 you are bound ? " 
 
 Now on this point Moody had been studiously 
 silent, and he found no difficulty in parrying the 
 
I70 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 question ; but this manji's suspicions were, he half 
 feared, being excited, and, placed as they were in 
 his power, he could not but feel some anxiety. On 
 the other hand, once across the river and free to 
 pursue their ride, there was no reason to fear for 
 their safety or that of their enterprise. 
 
 " We are going towards the east " he promptly 
 answered, just loosening his revolver in its case 
 with one hand — an action not lost upon the watch- 
 ful boatman, who instantly became even more 
 lavish than ever in his epithets of respect. 
 
 "Incomparable lord!" exclaimed the man, "your 
 devoted slave has made a mistake. Will your 
 honour forgive him ? " 
 
 " What do you mean ? What mistake ? " said 
 the Major, all his suspicion aroused. 
 
 " Most noble one, you mentioned Mitti " 
 
 " Scoundrel and deceiver ! " cried Moody, now 
 thoroughly on the alert. " I said we did not desire 
 to go to Mitti, but to be landed on the other side 
 as soon as possible." 
 
 " I am a miserable man to have thus stirred the 
 
THE FERRY. 171 
 
 anger of the Chosen of Heaven ! " exclaimed the 
 wretch, as he jumped up and seized an oar with 
 which to bring the boat speedily to shore. 
 
 They were now almost touching the bank, and 
 Spencer was feeling for a rupee or two to pay their 
 fare, when unfortunately his sleeve slipped back 
 some distance above the wrist and displayed to 
 view a perfectly white arm, which he had not 
 thought it necessary to stain, as he had done his 
 hands and face and neck. The light shining down 
 revealed this to the observant manji, who, instantly 
 taking alarm, vented his surprise in some inarticu- 
 late sounds which Moody interpreted to be an in- 
 vocation to his god. 
 
 " Feringhi ! " he muttered below his breath, still 
 not allowing the boat to come to though the 
 landing looked quite favourable. Then, addressing 
 Spencer : " Protector of the poor, how is it that 
 your honour's skin varies in colour, and that in one 
 part you are pure white while in another you 
 exhibit but the dusky hue of the people of Hin- 
 dostan ? " 
 
172 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " Villain and son of a dog!" cried the Major 
 with a vehement rapidity which only just prevented 
 the younger man, taken thus suddenly, from 
 betraying himself by some words spoken in exe- 
 crable Hindostani, "have I not told you my 
 brother is dumb — that his tongue refuses to speak? 
 and, with regard to his arm, he has long suffered 
 from a leprous disease which has left certain parts of 
 his body colourless and white — a common enough, 
 occurrence, as you surely know." 
 
 An incredulous smile passed over the manji's 
 sinister face. He said nothing for a few moments 
 but his eyes seemed to gloat over the silver that 
 shone in Spencer's palm, and if there was a doubt 
 in his mind as to his conduct it was soon dissi- 
 pated. 
 
 " What is it to me, illustrious one," he said, 
 salaaming low, " whether your honours are sahibs 
 or not? I am a poor man and your humble servant 
 — command me as you will." 
 
 It is possible that Moody's attitude at this 
 moment had some influence over the manji, for he 
 
THE FKRRY. 173 
 
 had drawn his pistol, and held it threateningly at 
 the fellow's head, commanding him the while to 
 land them without delay at the most convenient 
 spot ; and, as a break in the bank where it shelved 
 to the water immediately presented itself, they 
 were soon out of the boat, and after jumping their 
 horses over the gunwale, at liberty to pursue their 
 journey to Ahtabad. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 A RIDE FOR LIFE. 
 
 " Now, will that villianous manji, having taken 
 from us four times our proper fare, allow us to 
 depart in peace ? " said the Major, wonderingly, 
 after they had remounted and taken the bridle- 
 path through the jungle in front of them, " or 
 will he quietly drop down to Mitti and giv^e the 
 news of our passage of the river to the rebels ? " 
 
 " I should not trust him for a moment," observed 
 Spencer, looking over his shoulder as if anticipating 
 pursuit. " I cannot tell you, Major, how annoyed 
 I am to have been so incautious with my sleeve-, 
 but you see it's looser than usual and slipped up 
 easily — far too easily." 
 
A RIDE FOR LIFE. 175 
 
 " Of course, Spencer, it was entirely an accident," 
 rejoined Moody, "which we must hope has done 
 no harm. If only that confounded manji will keep 
 quiet ! But the chances are he will give informa- 
 tion against us, and get a reward in that way. The 
 villain ! Perhaps I had better have shot him there 
 and then, and so made sure of his silence." 
 
 The last words were spoken more to himself 
 than to his companion, and indeed they were now 
 riding at such a pace that conversation was difficult, 
 while they both felt that the utmost vigilance and 
 circumspection were necessary. 
 
 As they advanced, the bushes and jungle de- 
 creased in thickness, the hills on their right hand 
 dwindled down into sandy undulations, and they 
 began to hope that a clearer and more open road 
 lay before them. 
 
 All on a sudden, as a dark object, which turned 
 out to to be a tope of mangoe trees, loomed in 
 front, the words, " Who come dar ? " shouted in 
 a clear voice, startled them. Next instant a shot 
 whistled by, causing them to pull up sharply, and 
 
176 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 yet neither of the horsemen could discover the 
 position of their enemy. 
 
 " Let us skirt the wood by the right," whispered 
 Moody, " keeping well away from the main road 
 which can't be far off in the other direction." And 
 he rode cautiously round, maintaining a keen look- 
 out, especially on the spot that seemed most 
 favourable to an ambush. But it immediately be- 
 came evident that the danger was not confined to 
 the mangoe-tope or its close vicinity, for on both 
 sides men's voices could be heard encouraging 
 each other to seize the Englishmen, whom they ap- 
 parently knew to be only two in number. 
 
 " Now, each for himself ! " exclaimed the Major, 
 as some half-dozen horsemen appeared barring the 
 road right in front of them. " Dash through, 
 Spencer, and if we are separated, meet me straight 
 on as soon as may be, for that is our direction and 
 we must stick to it." 
 
 So saying, and drawing his sword, he charged 
 full at the troopers, one of whom, unable to stand 
 against his headlong assault, went down to rise 
 
A RIDE FOR LIFE. 177 
 
 no more, while a second fell before the impetuous 
 onset of Walter Spencer. For a moment there 
 was a rapid and sharp discharge of pistols at close 
 quarters, and then the two Englishmen rode off 
 at speed together, leaving far in their rear their 
 astonished enemy, whose cries they could hear for 
 a time but soon lost altogether, so that it seemed 
 they really had shaken off their numerous assail- 
 ants. Yet as they reached a less open tract the 
 Major checked his horse, and then on a sudden 
 Carrie to an absolute halt. 
 
 " Spencer!" he cried, " we are through them now, 
 but I can't longer conceal that I am badly hit, and, 
 in fact, practically done for, I fear!" 
 
 " You don't say so, Major ! I am grieved beyond 
 measure ; I had no idea of this ! " exclaimed his 
 companion, dreadfully shocked to perceive the 
 wounded man's agony, now only too apparent. 
 
 " Yes, a pistol shot in the side — ah, 'tis too 
 much ! Spencer — take the despatch and ride on. 
 Here " 
 
 As he was feeling in his breast he fainted and 
 
 N 
 
178 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 fell from his horse, but in a moment the young man 
 was down by his side, supporting his head, loosen- 
 ing his belts, rubbing his hands, and speaking 
 cheerful words to him. His efforts were rewarded, 
 for presently the stricken officer revived and spoke 
 again. 
 
 *' Leave me now, Spencer — I am done for. Take 
 this," with trembling hands giving him the small 
 roll that was so precious, "and bear it on to 
 Ahtabad." 
 
 " But I cannot desert you thus," cried the young 
 fellow in terrible distress, " and let you die in the 
 jungle like a dog. No, no ; do not ask me to do 
 this ! " 
 
 "As your superior officer I command you to 
 hurry on and deliver the despatch at all hazards," 
 
 muttered Moody. " These villains " There he 
 
 stopped owing to a paroxysm of pain, but in a 
 moment continued, " they are sure to pursue us, so 
 ride on, ride on ! But ah, Spencer, look well 
 after Lilian. She loves you, Walter, she loves 
 you. Yes, yes, better so, better so ! Tell her, I 
 
A RIDE FOR LIFE. 179 
 
 thought of her to the last ; I could not help loving 
 her." 
 
 " Oh, my friend ! " exclaimed Spencer, not more 
 surprised than distressed at these utterances, " I 
 will do all you ask if I ever see Lily again ; 
 yes, I promise you that. But to leave you here 
 thus, helpless, I cannot do it, and yet, and 
 yet " 
 
 " Surrender yourselves instantly ! " cried several 
 voices as if in chorus ; and Spencer found himself 
 seized by strong arms and in a moment thrown on 
 his back, while the bare blade of a tulwar was held 
 perilously close at his throat ; yet his only thought 
 at the moment was for Moody, whom the fellows 
 now crowding round them in their ignorance were 
 treating in the same rough fashion. 
 
 " Villains and sons of dogs ! " he ejaculated, as 
 he Jay half-strangled and breathless at their mercy. 
 " Know ye who it is ye are attacking, and that the 
 Major-sahib is wounded to death ? " 
 
 " Be careful," said one in authority among them, 
 as he sat quietly on his horse evidently taking 
 
 N 2 
 
i8o THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 the command, "and brin^ the sahibs along with 
 caution. The young one can ride, but first just 
 deprive him of his sword and pistol, and tie a rope 
 round his neck so that you can pull him up with a 
 jerk should he prove restive. For the other, as he 
 looks ill, four of you can carry him to the camp by 
 slinging him on your pugarees between a couple of 
 'your lances ; it is not far, luckily." 
 
 Before many minutes had elapsed the mournful 
 procession was on its way, and, following the 
 orders of the leader, proceeding towards the tope 
 of mangoes which Moody a few minutes ago had 
 so carefully avoided. Here, it turned out, was the 
 encampment of a troop of the Lucknow Lancers, 
 the men of which, having openly thrown off their 
 allegiance and sworn to serve the Emperor at 
 Delhi, were doing their best before presenting 
 themselves to him at the Imperial city to wiw a 
 reputation for zeal and devotion, by intercepting 
 on the road close by as many of the Feringhis as 
 possible, and giving them a short and bloody 
 passage to the next world. There was under the 
 
A RIDE FOR LIFE. i8i 
 
 trees here a mud-hut, formerly used by a fakir, but 
 now vacant, and into this miserable dwelling the 
 two officers were thrust, without food or light or 
 bedding, and with the intimation that in the morn- 
 ing they would be brought before the commander 
 of the troop, who would not keep them long in 
 suspense as to their fate. 
 
 " But you will let us have, at any rate, a little 
 cold water ! " exclaimed Spencer to the sergeant of 
 the troop, as he was heartlessly giving his orders 
 to the sentry instantly to cut down the sahib if he 
 attempted to pass out. " See how the Major-sahib 
 is praying for it, and he is wounded so that he 
 cannot move." 
 
 The man smiled pleasantly. 
 
 " He is but tasting beforehand a little of what, 
 after the rising of to-morrow's sun, will be his for 
 evermore in the jehannum to which he and you 
 will surely go," said he. " Let him take his warn- 
 ing now, and prepare for the damnation which is 
 his destiny ! " 
 
 " Then you refuse this slight favour to a dying 
 
i82 THE BOW OF FATE, 
 
 man ! " cried Spencer ; " and yet you see the agony 
 he suffers." 
 
 " Let him suffer torment ! " laughed the fellow 
 insolently. " I love to see you sons of pigs 
 brought low ; and, as for that unbeliever, let him 
 die as all infidels deserve to die — suffering the 
 agonies of those who are in hell ! " 
 
 Sealing his cruel speech by that last mark of 
 disrespect — spitting ostentatiously close to the 
 prisoners — the ruffian left them, loudly repeating 
 to the guard the stern orders he had previously 
 given. 
 
 When Spencer turned to where his friend lay in 
 the corner of the hut he found him in the last 
 throes, insensibility having fortunately overcome 
 him, and placed him beyond all bodily suffering. 
 In vain the young officer gently strove to rouse 
 him, if only for a moment, from this state ; he 
 seemed to be sinking rapidly, and, ere half-an-hour 
 had elapsed, with a gentle sigh the brave spirit of 
 James Moody passed for ever into the unseen 
 world. 
 
A RIDE FOR LIFE. 183 
 
 For some minutes the young fellow waited and 
 watched, feeling with his hand on the heart of the 
 dead man for any movement there might be ; but, 
 perceiving nothing, and finding also that the 
 breathing sounds had ceased, he knew all was 
 over, and that he was now alone amongst his 
 enemies. With deep grief and in silence Spencer 
 covered the face that was so dear to him, not 
 knowing, indeed, how soon it might be his turn 
 to meet a fate like that of his friend, and, as he 
 looked round and perceived the only opening in 
 the wall of the miserable apartment to be the door 
 guarded by the armed trooper, he felt that indeed 
 his position was a hopeless one. 
 
 In the first place it was necessary to consider 
 the safety of the despatch which had been en- 
 trusted to him, and which, fortunately, when stripped 
 of his arms, he had so concealed as to preserve in- 
 tact beneath his cummerbund. But, of course, when 
 in a few hours he would have to meet his end, no 
 despatch must be found on him, and to make sure 
 of that he must swallow the little paper roll. 
 
i84 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 And yet, was no escape possible ? Was he to 
 give up his life without an effort, without a 
 struggle ? 
 
 The sentry passed the door, then repassed, then 
 stood a moment, striving to penetrate the gloom of 
 the hut. To his eyes all was darkness; to 
 Spencer's accustomed vision, looking as he was 
 from the depth of his miserable corner, all was 
 light. 
 
 Instantaneously his resolve was taken. He 
 gave a long, low whistle, and waited to see the 
 effect. It was the manoeuvre he had been taught 
 by Moody to practise while shooting deer when on 
 the move, in order to arrest their attention and 
 cause them to hesitate ; and the effect produced 
 on the sentry was a similar one. Perplexed by 
 the sound, he half turned his head, when Spencer 
 sprang upon him, and seizing him fiercely by the 
 throat, held him with one hand so that he could 
 not utter a sound, while with the other he drew 
 the fellow's dagger from his belt and plunged it 
 deep into his heart. The whole action passed 
 
A RIDE FOR LIFE. 185 
 
 within a few seconds, and with a faint gurgle the 
 wretched man fell to the ground, where, after 
 divesting him hastily of his sword and pistol, the 
 young Englishman, drawing a deep breath of 
 thankfulness, left him. 
 
 What next was he to do ? That was Spencer's 
 muttered question. At a short distance he could 
 see the guard, stretched on the ground and sleep- 
 ing soundly, for their discipline was loose now they 
 had become to a great extent their own masters. 
 It would be at least a couple of hours before the 
 relieving sentry would appear, therefore, to make 
 the most of this time was his grand object ; and, 
 fortunately, as he silently drew off towards the 
 outskirts of the wood, Spencer came upon the 
 horse of a superior officer, tethered close to the 
 tent of his master. The saddle and all appur- 
 tenances lay close by, and within a minute or two 
 he had, unnoticed by the slumbering syce, got the 
 animal ready and ridden quietly off, unnoticed by 
 a soul in the little camp. 
 
 All the world seemed asleep at that hour, and. 
 
i86 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 but for the eternal snarling and barking of the 
 pariah dogs in the vicinity of the villages that lay 
 in his way, he met with no obstacle during the 
 space that elapsed before dawn ; and, even after 
 the morning-star had disappeared in the brighter 
 light that succeeded, his course was unvaried 
 except now and again by the low salaam of the 
 inevitable cowboy, or the little stream of women 
 and girls passing to and from the well with their 
 pitchers nicely poised upon their heads. On he 
 rode, making steadily for the direction in which he 
 knew Ahtabad to lie, but not following any 
 definite track ; on, from one village to another by 
 the footpaths and bridle-roads pointed out to him 
 by those whom chance threw in his way, and who 
 looked at him with wonder, and listened to his 
 uncouth speech — for Hindostani was not his 
 strong point — with astonishment ; on in the 
 pleasant time just before sunrise, when all nature 
 looked fresh in the cool air, and the leaves above 
 shook in the gentle breeze ; on in the later hours, 
 when the atmosphere was becoming warm and 
 
A RIDE FOR LIFE. 187 
 
 oppressive, and the fierce rays beat down as if they 
 must irresistibly scorch and shrivel up all moisture 
 from the earth ; on in the shimmering heat of 
 noontide, when the hot blasts blew fast and furious 
 over the face of the country, raising clouds of fine 
 dust that penetrated the very pores of the skin, 
 and blinded the eyes, and caused the brain itself 
 to reel. 
 
 At length, late in the afternoon, when the 
 shadows once more began to gvjQ a grateful shade, 
 though the hot wind was still blowing with hardly 
 decreased strength, from a slight eminence in the 
 plain Spencer caught sight of the mosques and 
 minars of the city of Ahtabad, and knew that his 
 mission was all but accomplished. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE brahmin's TEMPLE. 
 
 That which might truly be called a gulistan, or 
 garden of roses, extended from the city of Jahmere 
 towards the river, and in the early weeks of spring 
 made the whole air fragrant, and the surface of the 
 ground as far as the eye could reach dazzling, with 
 a splendour of colour not to be surpassed by the 
 amaranths of Sumatra or the saffron-beds of Cash- 
 mere. Here and there this beautiful tract was 
 relieved by small clumps of mangoe trees, which 
 gave a welcome shade during the heats of the day, 
 but the space was too precious to be used otherwise 
 than for the main purpose of rose-growing, and in 
 consequence the entire plain looked like one ex- 
 
THE BRAHMIN'S TEMPLE. 189 
 
 tended garden devoted to the cultivation of the 
 fairest and sweetest of flowers, the uttah derived 
 from which bore a renown almost equal to that of 
 Persia. Through the centre of this region ran a 
 road hardly larger than a footpath, leading to the 
 high, rocky bank overhanging the river, and it was 
 here principally that the trees were met with, while 
 bordering the road was a low cactus-hedge, imper- 
 vious except at one or two points where a passage 
 had been cut through it. 
 
 It was the evening of the day when Ram Dyall 
 and his fellows had suffered for their crimes, and 
 when Moody and Spencer had started on their 
 hazardous mission. The sun had set, the last glow 
 of light had vanished from the horizon, and one by 
 one the stars were appearing, onh- faintly and 
 uncertainly as yet, when a tall figure, enshrouded in 
 a long white dress, was seen rapidly crossing the 
 rose-garden by the narrow way and making for the 
 river-bank beyond. It would have been hard to 
 say whether it were a man or woman who thus 
 unerringly moved along, except that a slight 
 
I90 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 swinging of the figure betrayed the secret, and 
 showed that the walk, notwithstanding a certain 
 length of stride, belonged to the latter. But the 
 woman was not alone, for just a step behind her 
 came the well-known form of the bearer Bhagut, 
 his handsome face wearing a dejected look, his 
 brows contracted, his head sunk upon his breast. 
 
 " Will the holy man receive us to-night, or has 
 he more serious work on hand ? " asked the girl of 
 her servant — for it was no other than Lilian Lang- 
 ford who spoke. 
 
 " Does he ever rufuse to see my mistress," replied 
 the man, " and is it likely he would do so at such a 
 time as this ? " 
 
 She was silent a few moments, for she knew 
 what was passing through his mind. 
 
 " My poor Bhagut ! " she murmured presently, in 
 a compassionate tone. " Will the revered Brahmin 
 have heard, do you think, of — of — the shame of 
 this morning ? " 
 
 " Will he have heard ? " echoed the bearer ; "will 
 he have heard! What does he not hear? What 
 
THE BRAHMINS TEMPLE. 191 
 
 does he not know ? And such a deed as this ! Oh 
 my brother — my noble Ram Dyall ! " 
 
 There was a terrible sadness, an absolute despair 
 in his voice. 
 
 They had come to the edge of a garden, where 
 the table-land was broken by deep fissures into 
 ravines, whose depths in the uncertain light ap- 
 peared fathomless, and down whose precipitous, 
 sides no path could at first be seen. 
 
 " This way, Missy Lily ; let me lead now, and 
 help you down." And passing in front of the girl 
 Bhagut gave her his hand, and conducted her by a 
 flight of steps, roughly hewn in the rock which 
 here cropped up, to a point where a narrow track 
 brought them on to a ledge commanding a fine 
 view of the eddying stream, which glimmered far 
 below at their feet. The broad-leaved sprays of a 
 water-melon fell in masses over the cliff beside 
 them, and here and there its dark green fruit could 
 be discerned hanging temptingly down ; but the 
 bearer put these aside with a rapid movement of 
 his hands, and disclosed an aperture of some size 
 
192 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 into which he drew his young mistress without 
 hesitation. 
 
 " There is no light here, but trust to me, Missy- 
 sahib, for I know every inch of the cavern." 
 
 "Not much better than I do, Bhagut," she re- 
 joined; "and yet to-night I feel strangely shy about 
 coming here. Oh, that this interview were over ; 
 I dread it more than I can tell." 
 
 The girl's fears would not have been dissipated 
 could she have seen the look her servant gave her, 
 but he spoke reassuringly. 
 
 " Nay, Missy Lily understands the sacred father 
 and how wise and beneficent he his. Let her trust 
 to him, for he will never mislead her." 
 
 " I know it, dear Bhagut, and yet — and yet — I 
 fear greatly. Oh, I cannot, I dare not meet 
 him." 
 
 She sank down on the floor as she spoke, but a 
 dim light was now seen within, and a deep voice 
 reached them from the obscurity of the cave. 
 
 " Hah ! my children, you are there ! I have felt 
 your presence close to me for some minutes ; the 
 
THE BRAHMIN'S TEMPLE. 193 
 
 air has been full of it. Approach and receive my 
 blessing. Ram ! ram ! " 
 
 Hastily the bearer prostrated himself before the 
 holy man, while Lilian, recovering from her con- 
 fusion, joined in asking for his blessing and favour. 
 
 The sight that met their gaze was a strange one. 
 A tall, gaunt figure, attenuated till the ribs stood 
 out on each side, was surmounted by a head bound 
 with a snow-white pugaree, and a face so marked 
 on the forehead and between the eyes with coloured 
 clay that it was difficult to form an idea of its 
 natural expression. Round the loins was a cum- 
 merbund of the same material as the pugaree, 
 while over the shoulders hung loosely a sheet which 
 left the light-brown arms and legs entirely exposed. 
 A powdering of ashes had apparently been given 
 to the attenuated cheeks which did not diminish 
 their ghastly look. 
 
 " This is a sad night, oh, father ! " murmured 
 Bhagut, in trembling tones. 
 
 " My son, fear not ! " replied the Brahmin ; 
 " means will be found to counteract the evil that 
 
194 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 these Christians have wrought to-day — aye, and 
 that, too, perhaps by hands Httle suspected of 
 
 them." 
 
 What mean you, holy one ? " asked the other, 
 leading forward his young mistress into the in- 
 terior of the cave. " What mean you by those 
 words ? Can you restore my brother that is dead ? 
 Can you join together his separated limbs ? " 
 
 " I do not wonder at your bitterness, my poor 
 Bhagut, nor marvel even if your faith in the gods 
 is shaken by such terrible cruelty. But, see, we 
 are nearing the temple of the holiest, and your 
 mistress may not enter there." 
 
 They had reached the door, cut in the solid 
 rock, of a huge chamber whose roof was beauti- 
 fully groined, while, at the top of the columns of 
 lotus-leaves, which rose at intervals around, the 
 heads of gigantic elephants stood out in bold relief 
 and in life-like form, the proboscis and tusks of 
 each projecting far from the cornice above. The 
 god himself sat in the centre, his multiple arms 
 spread out, hfs eyes gazing straight before him, his 
 
THE BRAHMIN'S TEMPLE, 195 
 
 legs crossed. Above him flickered a dim, un- 
 certain light. 
 
 Lilian looked at the Brahmin imploringly. 
 
 " My father," she said, " am I never to be 
 thought worthy of the notice of your gods ? Am 
 I never to be permitted to enter their presence, or 
 to have a glimpse of their mysteries ? " 
 
 The old man shook his head. 
 
 " None of the infidels are acceptable to the gods 
 of the Brahmins, my child : that you must know 
 full well. Only by strange methods, methods you 
 would shudder to contemplate, could you, or such 
 as you, be admitted to their altars." 
 
 " But if my dear mistress were willing to submit 
 herself to your commands, what then, my father ? " 
 asked the bearer. 
 
 The Brahmin's eyes flashed from under his 
 heavy brows. 
 
 " She little knows^-even you yourself have but 
 
 a faint idea of what would be required of her. 'Tis 
 
 well-nigh an impossibility." 
 
 " Nothing in this world is impossible," said 
 
 O 2 
 
196 THE BOW OF FATE 
 
 Bhagut, sententiously, while Lilian, standing there 
 at the threshold, was experiencing the strangest 
 sensations as she caught an indistinct view of the 
 wonderful carvings, the mystic designs, the huge 
 heads within, and of the unearthly figure of the 
 god which presided over all. What was it that 
 rose in her breast, stirring her deepest emotions as 
 she gazed ? What new fascination had seized her, 
 holding her fast in its meshes ? 
 
 The old Brahmin regarded her intently, and 
 made a secret sign to Bhagut. 
 
 " Her mother's blood is asserting itself," whis- 
 pered he, significantly, " and the longing for the 
 ancient faith is taking possession of her. Now is 
 the time for our purpose — delay may be fatal." 
 
 Each of the men took a hand and conducted 
 the young girl towards the centre of the temple, 
 at which point the priest, leaving her, advanced 
 close to the feet of the god, where for a short space 
 he was occupied in some jadoo, the result of which 
 magic influence was that a thin smoke presently 
 rose and enveloped the figure in such a manner as 
 
THE BRAHMIN'S TEMPLE, 197 
 
 to render it indistinct and shadowy to the eyes of 
 the onlookers. 
 
 And now a startling thing occurred. While a 
 loud and discordant beating of drums and clash- 
 ing of cymbals suddenly broke the silence which 
 had prevailed, one of the many arms of the god 
 appeared to be slowly raised, and, pointing at the 
 half-fainting girl, to distinctly beckon her forward. 
 Then all was suddenly still again. 
 
 " See ! " exclaimed the excited Bhagut, support- 
 ing his charge carefully with one hand, while with 
 the other he did obeisance with repeated and deep 
 salaams; "see. Missy, the god accepts your service, 
 and is propitious. How wonderfully fortunate 
 you are to be thus taken into his favour." 
 
 " On one condition only," a low voice was heard 
 to murmur, as if proceeding from the mysterious 
 being itself — " that the injunctions of my beloved 
 Brahmin are followed to the letter, without question 
 and without hesitation." 
 
 " Missy Lily, you hear that. The reverend 
 father must be implicitly obeyed in all things." 
 
198 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " Otherwise," continued the voice, " vengeance ! — 
 a horrible vengeance ! — will be taken. A living 
 and a breathing sacrifice will be the least punish- 
 ment in this world ! and, hereafter " 
 
 But such a crash of sound here ensued that even 
 Bhagut, accustomed as he was to the strange 
 ceremonies of the place, fell back amazed and 
 appalled. It was time for him to look to his 
 charge. Her senses had almost left her, and she 
 rested on his arm, her fair face turned upwards, 
 her hair loosened, her eyelids closed, till on a 
 sudden, roused by the din, she awoke from her 
 trance, which had indeed been of short duration, 
 and, glancing up at the god, sought with straining 
 gaze to penetrate the character and meaning ot 
 those fixed and mysterious features. To her eyes, 
 in the condition of exaltation to which she had 
 attained, there was a slight relaxation in the god's 
 expression, a faint movement of the stony lips. 
 
 " Ah ! " she cried in a tone of frenzy, " I am not 
 considered so utterly an outcast as I had feared ; 
 there is yet hope from the gods of my ancestors 
 
THE BRAHMIN'S TEMPLE. 199 
 
 that I may attain to the holy state in which I 
 would be." 
 
 "The condition — the only possible condition — 
 has been named," spoke in hollow tones the voice 
 that had been heard before. " Absolute obedience 
 to the injunctions of the holy father from the 
 penitent devotee, who may find it hard to give the 
 one great sign of her abandonment that alone can 
 ensure success and happiness." 
 
 " And, if I agree, will the commands laid upon 
 me be such as I can obey ? " she asked, in an 
 anxious tone. 
 
 " Has the reverend one ever been too exacting 
 from his servants — is he not ever a kind master?" 
 answered the voice in a persuasive tone. 
 
 " Nay," she replied, " he has always been good 
 to me. Oh ! I will trust him and obey him to the 
 uttermost; never shall he have cause to complain of 
 me — never." 
 
 For the third time the unearthly music broke 
 forth in a clangour that far surpassed the previous 
 outbursts, and the very roof of the temple seemed 
 
200 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 to vibrate with the din. LiHan, exhausted with 
 the excitement through which she had passed, was 
 now led by Bhagut back to the entrance-passage, 
 where in the fresher air she revived, and where they 
 were presently joined by the old Brahmin. 
 
 " My daughter," he said, in a kindly tone, " your 
 desires, rash though they be, may come about in 
 the end ; far be it from me to check them, but I 
 would again warn you that the sacrifice required 
 may be a great one." 
 
 " How should I know, oh, father, to what sacri- 
 fice you refer — how can I tell what your mystic 
 meaning is ? " asked she, wonderingly. 
 
 He glanced significantly at Bhagut before he 
 replied. 
 
 " The god has spoken, the conditions have been 
 named. Is it not so ? " he demanded, fixing his 
 eyes steadfastly on her. 
 
 The unfortunate girl shrank under his gaze. 
 
 " Yes," she answered, dreamily, " I know all that. 
 It is too late to go back now — too late ! — too late ! " 
 
 '' Search the inward heart, know well the inward 
 
THE BRAHMIN'S TEMPLE. 201 
 
 mind," said the old man, gravely. " Decide not in 
 haste to repent in bitterness and in sorrow." 
 
 " Whence comes this eternal longing, this pent- 
 up desire, oh, holy one, to know more of the 
 Brahmin faith, to enter more deeply into its inner 
 life than has yet been vouchsafed to me ? There 
 is a strange attraction draws me on ; oh, bear with 
 me, and satisfy me, for has not the god accepted 
 my poor service ? " 
 
 " It seems that so Fate wills it, my child, and I 
 am but the interpreter of the all-powerful god's 
 designs. Listen, then, to what I have to relate. 
 Those whom the Brahmins hold in the deepest 
 reverence, whom they have worshipped from the 
 earliest time, are to be degraded and cast down, 
 and the Brahmins themselves are to be polluted 
 and made unclean, by the very authority which 
 should protect and foster them ; of so much there 
 are already the plainest proofs." 
 
 " I have heard something of this," interrupted 
 the unfortunate Lilian, " but is it possible there is 
 any truth in it ? " 
 
202 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " My child," returned the old priest, warmly, " it 
 has been foretold these many months past, and 
 already our brothers in the army are suffering 
 cruel things because they will not disgrace them- 
 selves and their religion by this pollution which is 
 being forced upon them." 
 
 " Some I know have died cruel deaths," whis- 
 pered she, looking aside at Bhagut, who, wrapped 
 apparently in sad meditation, sat immoveable just 
 behind her. " You have heard of the terrible 
 executions of this morning? but then you are 
 aware also of the reasons for them." 
 
 " All has been reported to me ; everything has 
 been told me. Can you wonder at the horror and 
 the anger that I feel ? " murmured he. " Do you 
 think the gods of the Brahmins will not take a 
 terrible vengeance on the oppressors — that they 
 will not punish the murderers of the holy 
 Brahmins ? " 
 
 " I know not how that may be," said the poor 
 girl, bewildered at the turn matters were taking. 
 " It is sad that Ram Dyall and the others should 
 
THE BRAHMIN'S TEMPLE. 203 
 
 have been so treated, but they had a fair trial 
 and even those who condemned them did so with 
 regret." 
 
 " I see," cried the Brahmin, " how useless it is to 
 expect even you, my daughter, with all your de- 
 sires and longings for better things, to cast aside 
 your prejudices and to throw yourself unreservedly 
 into the great cause for which I had hoped to 
 prepare you. No, 'tis not to be — 'tis not to be." 
 
 " Ah ! say not that — speak not so, oh, holy one. 
 Did you not bear to me messages from my loved 
 mother, whose dear name I cherish — messages 
 which command my obedience, and which I should 
 love to obey if only I saw the way clear before 
 me ? " cried she, in deep distress. 
 
 "Have the gods of the Brahmins, the gods 
 whom your mother worshipped, spoken then in 
 vain ? Are all the promises but now made in the 
 temple to be as naught? Have they been uttered 
 only to be broken?" demanded the old man, 
 frowning angrily. 
 
 " Nay, nay," said she, bowing her head before 
 
204 THE BOW OF FATE, 
 
 him, " I will be obedient in all things that are 
 possible. What more can be expected from me ? " 
 
 The Brahmin's eyes glittered in the dim light, for 
 he saw he was gaining his object, and that her 
 resistance was now of the feeblest. 
 
 '' My own daughter, all that I, who am but a 
 servant of the god, shall ever require of you is 
 within your power, but your will is what is neces- 
 sary. Give that, and you give all." 
 
 "Then it is yours, and yours alone, my father. 
 I place it in your hands, for were you not always 
 my own mother's best counsellor, and where now 
 can I look for better advice than to the source from 
 which she sought it ? " 
 
 Bhagut arose quickly, and made for the door of 
 the cave. 
 
 " 'Tis well, my child," said the old man, " well 
 for you and the great cause that you have so 
 decided. Remain ever steadfast, and blessings 
 shall attend you ; fail or flinch from the task and 
 it dees not lie with me to say what may be the 
 issue." 
 
THE BRAHMIN'S TEMPLE. 205 
 
 " You frighten me, even now ! " cried the unfor- 
 tunate girl, " and 1 know not what to think. Have 
 I gone too far — have I promised too much ? " 
 
 " Trust me, my child. Can you not do that 
 without reserve." 
 
 She appeared to consider for a moment. 
 
 " You spoke of * the great cause*,'' she said ; 
 " what is that ? " 
 
 The Brahmin started at the question, as if unpre- 
 pared with his reply. 
 
 " Not now can I explain it," he answered, 
 hurriedly ; " the hour is late, and a few minutes 
 would not suffice for the purpose ; therefore my 
 daughter must have patience and wait. She has 
 made a high resolve to-night ; let her be obedient 
 to the command that shall be laid upon her, and all 
 will be well." 
 
 Lilian perceived by his tone that nothing more 
 could be gained from him ; indeed, it was evident 
 that a fit of abstraction even now possessed him. 
 and that his mind was wandering into some other 
 region than that around him. 
 
2o6 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " Farewell, then, my father ! " she said, bending 
 low before him ; " I shall be ready when you call 
 upon me, for my faith in you is boundless." 
 
 A faint smile overspread his face, but no word 
 passed his lips, and the girl left him standing there 
 motionless, and next moment had joined Bhagut, 
 who led the way by the flight of steps and the road 
 through the rose-garden, with which they had of 
 late become so familiar, to where her palki waited 
 ready to bear her home. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE HOUSE IN THE CITY. 
 
 The city of Jahmere consisted of a conglomeration 
 of streets as gloomy and tortuous, and was built up 
 of houses as lofty and windowless, as any to be 
 found in Upper India. Here and there a balcony 
 or outside gallery might be seen to relieve the 
 general monotony of outline, but, considering the 
 number of years that had passed since the city 
 had ceased to be a frontier town, it seemed curious 
 that its character remained so unchanged from 
 what it had been in the old days when invasion 
 and rapine were carried up to its very walls and 
 into its spacious market-place, and when every 
 man's house was literally his castle, to be defended 
 
2o8 THE HOW OF FATE, 
 
 to the last against any foes that might attack it 
 were they the wild hordes of Mahmoud of Ghuzni, 
 the devastating Mahrattas of the Deccan, or the 
 more disciplined forces of Akbar or of Aurung- 
 zebe. 
 
 It was from no external enemy now, however^ 
 that danger threatened the peace of the city. The 
 tide of war had for scores of years left it untouched 
 and undisturbed ; its commerce had prospered, its 
 market had become renowned, its trade in the 
 beautiful gold and silver work, for which it was 
 celebrated, had quadrupled ; nothing, indeed, 
 seemed wanting to enhance its position among the 
 traditionally celebrated cities of the East. The 
 close vicinity of the large cantonment of troops 
 gave it a certain distinction over neighbouring 
 towns, and no stranger would have deemed a 
 tour in India complete without visiting the vast 
 rock-cut temples and holy shrines which formed so 
 wonderful and striking a contrast to the cramped 
 and intricate turns and passages of the place itself 
 
 In a large room of one of the better houses of 
 
THE HOUSE IN THE CITY, 209 
 
 the city were assembled, on the evening succeeding 
 Lihan's visit to the mysterious temple, a number 
 of men of various aspect and age — high-caste 
 Brahmins from Oude, Mahomedans from the 
 Punjab, fair-skinned Poorbeahs, and sturdy Jats, 
 all bent apparently on some common object. They 
 had entered singly, after giving to the durwan at 
 the entrance a sign known only to themselves and 
 to him, and, while talking in low tones to each 
 other, appeared to wait anxiously the coming of 
 some person of importance. 
 
 At the upper end of the apartment a stout, yet 
 very handsome, man, by name Jemadar Roop 
 Narain, with aquiline features and an upright 
 military carriage, wearing the ordinary white dhoti 
 and jacket of a sepoy, in response to a general call 
 from those nearest him, presently stood forward 
 and addressed the assembly. 
 
 " Brothers ! " he said, " we are met to-night for 
 
 reasons which I need not detail to you, to consult 
 
 together on the crisis which has arisen. You know 
 
 the sad events that have happened, you know how 
 
 P 
 
2IO THE BOW OF FATE 
 
 the oppressors have put their foot upon our necks, 
 how they have butchered our comrades, how they 
 may perchance seize next some of us who are here 
 to-night. In that case you can guess what will 
 happen." 
 
 A murmur of assent ran through the meeting. 
 
 " And why," he continued, " could not things have 
 been let alone ? Not content with deposing the king 
 of my country, for which I could hardly blame them, 
 as he was but a bad governor, the authorities are 
 now uprooting all the settlement of the land, and 
 the great Maun Singh, formerly one of the richest 
 nobles of Oude, is, I hear, a beggar." 
 
 " Wah ! wah ! Is this true?" exclaimed two or 
 three, excitedly. 
 
 " I speak truth, and nothing but truth, my 
 brothers ; rely on me for that," continued the 
 Jemadar. " When, I would ask, is all this to end ? 
 I live on the bank of the beautiful Surjoo, where 
 for generations my fathers have cultivated their 
 land, unmolested and in peace. I look to return in 
 my old age to the well-loved spot, to end my days 
 
THE HOUSE iN THE CITY. 211 
 
 there when I shall have earned my pension and 
 retired from the army. But, if my land is taken 
 from me, what then will become of me and my 
 sons ? " 
 
 " What, indeed ! " was echoed round. 
 
 " Already, I am told, notices have been served, 
 and it is necessary that I should appear in the 
 court to defend my property ; yet, when I ask for 
 leave to go to Lucknow to instruct the vakeel, the 
 Colonel-sahib tells me I cannot have it, and that, 
 if I am a true man, I must in these times of danger 
 stick to my duty, and help to keep the regiment 
 straight." 
 
 " He is a budmash. Down with him ! " called 
 out some of the younger men. 
 
 " No, my friends and brothers, the Colonel-sahib 
 is not a bad man ; on the contrary, he has always 
 been good to me and to many of us. Is it not 
 so?" 
 
 " Hah ! hah ! It is so," assented a few. 
 
 " But he is not permitted now to be the father of 
 
 his men, as he used to be. He, too, has to obey 
 
 P 2 
 
212 THE BOW OF FATE. . 
 
 orders and is bound by regulations, as he has 
 himself told me, and it is not in his power 
 to do as he would like in these matters. Mean- 
 time, I shall lose my estate, and all my dear 
 ones will be turned adrift Is this to be borne 
 in silence?" 
 
 " Never ! never ! " was shouted on every hand. 
 
 " Then how is it to be prevented, oh, brothers — 
 can you answer me that ? " 
 
 " Down with the sahib-logue ! Let them die ! let 
 them die ! " cried a number round him. 
 
 Roop Narain shook his head sorrowfully. 
 
 " No, no," he said, " I have served for twenty 
 years, and have fought with them in many cam- 
 paigns, and I, for one, will never consent to murder 
 my masters. Far be that from me." 
 
 "Then stand aside and let me speak!" exclaimed 
 an elderly man, with a flowing grey beard, pushing 
 forward and holding up his hand ; " let them hear 
 me before they decide." 
 
 " Shabash, Mahomed Buksh, shabash ! " were the 
 cries which greeted this new orator, who in fact 
 
THE HOUSE IN THE CITY. 213 
 
 held only the low rank of sergeant in the Lucknow 
 Lancers. 
 
 " Can you have forgotten the shameful death of 
 our beloved Russaldar this morning ? " he shouted ; 
 " and do you not know he was murdered because 
 of the evidence that Slingsby-sahib gave against 
 him at the court-martial ? " 
 
 This question was received in silence by the 
 assembly, because in truth none present were 
 aware of what had passed during the trial. 
 
 " This I know for certain," continued the man ; 
 "and it is not the first time that Slingsby-sahib 
 has done harm. Who was it but he that induced 
 the Colonel-sahib to reduce me to the ranks when 
 I was a native officer — do I not owe him a bad 
 turn for that ? " 
 
 " Wah ! wah ! " cried several near him, laughing 
 and jeering, half drunk apparently with bhang and 
 excitement. 
 
 " Are we then to be so tender-hearted towards 
 those who have injured us ? " asked Mahomed 
 Buksh, warming to his task and glaring fiercely 
 
214 THE BOW OF FATE 
 
 round him. " Now that our victory is at hand, 1 
 for one say we must make the most of it, girding 
 up our loins and slaying right and left, and sparing 
 not — no, nor man nor woman nor child, of all the 
 infidels." 
 
 " Shabash ! Shabash ! " was shouted on every 
 hand, for it was evident the harangue of the 
 discontented sergeant hit the general taste much 
 better than the more moderate address that had 
 preceded it. 
 
 " To hell, then, I say, with our enemies ! " con- 
 tinued he. " Cut them off, root and branch. Spare 
 not one to pollute the earth. So shall we be left 
 masters, and, when our own Emperor reigns at 
 Delhi, shall be all officers, and rich and noble 
 gentlemen." 
 
 Again a chorus of assent arose, and it seemed as 
 if the loquacious sergeant would have succeeded in 
 rousing his audience to even greater enthusiasm, 
 but at that moment an interruption took place, 
 caused by the entrance of a couple of more im- 
 portant personages, who turned out to be no other 
 
THE HOUSE IN THE CITY. 215 
 
 than the Mahomedan officer, Secunder Khan, 
 looking, indeed, as handsome and bearing himself 
 with as gallant an air as ever, but somewhat warm 
 and out of breath, and with him a young man who 
 was an entire stranger to the assembled com- 
 pany. All waited with looks bent on the native 
 officer, who, after resting for a minute, began his 
 speech. 
 
 " Brothers ! " he said, " whether Mahomedans or 
 Hindoos, I am sorry to be late for our meeting, 
 but you will, I am sure, forgive me when I tell you 
 where I have been and what work I have had in, 
 hand. 'Tis a place well known to our Hindoo 
 brethren, a holy spot, that I have been visiting 
 and a venerable man with whom I have been 
 conferring — the Brahmin of the temple by the 
 river." 
 
 " Shabash ! Shabash, sahib ! " was shouted round 
 him, as he paused a moment to take breath. 
 
 " Yes," he continued, " the holy priest is all with 
 us, my friends, and he has powerful instruments at 
 his command, and can do great things ; but j'ou, 
 
2i6 I HE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 also, must be prepared to do your part. Govern- 
 ment has taken away our rights and privileges, 
 and now is not that which is dearer, far dearer to 
 us than aught else, at stake? Is not our holy 
 religion threatened by the nauseous cartridges, 
 greased with pigs' and cows' fat, we are being 
 forced by our infidel oppressors to bite, and b\' 
 the flour mixed with bone-dust we are given to 
 eat ? and are we not bound by all we most value 
 in this world to throw off the vile yoke that entails 
 such pollution upon us ? " 
 
 " Hah ! hah ! but he speaks truth," was the 
 general cry. 
 
 " I tell you," he went on, " the principal men, the 
 leaders among our enemies, will be cut off — I need 
 not now say in what manner. True, one insignifi- 
 cant attempt has failed — failed, perhaps, because 
 the instruments were not chosen ones of Allah. 
 But peace be with them ! They have paid the 
 penalty with their lives, and I will not judge Ram 
 Dyall and his nephews, whose wicked execution 
 we have seen to-day." 
 
THE HOUSE IN THE CITY. 217 
 
 There he paused to mark the effect of his words, 
 but though a few, Hke the Jemadar Roop Narain, 
 might take exception to them, it was evident they 
 commanded the assent of the great majority of his 
 hearers. 
 
 " Now, when the leading men, both military and 
 civilians, have been removed from our path at 
 one swoop while eating and drinking together in 
 fancied security, what can be easier than to dis- 
 pose of the remainder ? For who is it that really 
 possess the power — these Europeans who can be 
 counted by the hundred, or you, my brothers, who 
 number hundreds of thousands ? " 
 
 He asked this, speaking loudly and looking the 
 eager crowd boldly in the face. 
 
 " Shabash, sahib, shabash ! " they echoed with 
 one voice. " To hell with the Europeans ! " 
 
 " On a certain evening, at the sahib-logue's 
 dinner-hour — for that is the time, I tell you, at 
 which the blow will first fall — you must be ready 
 to rush the guns," he continued, lowering his voice 
 to a stage whisper that impressed them deeply. 
 
2i8 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " The night will be dark, yet a few of the foremost 
 may fall — fall in a holy and just cause, and, there- 
 fore, be translated into the heaven of heavens. Do 
 you dread that, my friends and brothers ? Will you 
 not sacrifice so much for your religion and for all 
 you hold dear ? " 
 
 " We will ! we will ! " they shouted, their eyes 
 glaring, their teeth flashing. 
 
 " The chiefs dead, the guns in our possession, 
 what can prevent our final victory — what can 
 stand between us and the rewards we shall have 
 earned? The whole of Jahmere will be at our 
 feet ; the fair and helpless mem-sahibs, whose 
 husbands will lie dead round the dinner-table and 
 whose children will be in our hands ; the Treasury, 
 with its hundreds of lakhs ; the houses of the 
 station and cantonment, with all their beautiful 
 contents ; the city, with its squares and streets of 
 shops and its rich merchants, who may be tortured 
 and squeezed to your hearts' content — all this and 
 much more will be yours, rightly yours, to take or 
 to leave as you choose ; for will it not be the loot 
 
THE HOUSE IN THE CITY. 219 
 
 that has fallen to your bow and to your spear in 
 this most holy of wars ? " 
 
 Again, for an instant, he ceased speaking, and 
 looked confidently round at the eager faces of the 
 crowd, whose applause was loud and apparently 
 unanimous. 
 
 " Now I have said to you nearly all that is 
 necessary at present," he went on more slowly. 
 " Yet one point remains. You know of the State 
 of Lodhpore, which is close by here, and you will 
 remember that the Begum, whom Allah has taken 
 to paradise, left great riches behind her. Now 
 these riches, together witb. her lands and estates, 
 have been seized by an intruder who has no right 
 to them, and this villain has brought up an Eng- 
 lish lawyer, named Delmar, to defend his abomina- 
 ble cause. He permits the sahib-loguc to shoot 
 over the roons he has usurped, he entertains them 
 at nautches and dinners, hoping in that way to 
 corrupt the judges and induce them to decide the 
 case in his favour. Will you allow this ? Will 
 you not rather, when the day of your triumph 
 
220 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 comes, depose this dishonest usurper, and cut off 
 his head, and the head of the EngHsh vakeel 
 Delmar, who will then be in your power ? " 
 
 " Wah ! wah ! That we will," they shouted in 
 loud tones. " None of the impious English or 
 their friends shall be spared — no, not one." 
 
 " That is well," he said, with a satisfied smile. 
 " Now it only remains for me to present to you 
 my friend, the rightful heir to the guddi of Lodh- 
 pore. He has accompanied me here to-night, and 
 is charged with a message of the deepest interest 
 to you, which he will deliver with his own lips. 
 This is the Nawab of Lodhpore. Hear him with 
 the same attention as you have given to me, and it 
 will be well, and the Prophet will reward you ! " 
 
 So saying, he took by the hand the youth who 
 had been sitting silently beside him, while those 
 nearest made respectful salaams and enquiries for 
 his Highness's health. The boy, for he was little 
 more, received these marks of favour with perfect 
 ease, having evidently been trained to play his 
 part in a good school ; and when, the next 
 
THE HOUSE IN THE CITY. 221 
 
 moment, he addressed the meeting, he spoke with 
 calmness and decision. 
 
 " Soldiers and fellow-countrymen ! " he said 
 " My friend, Secunder Khan, has explained to you 
 one reason of my meeting you all here to-night ; 
 in common with you \ suffer from the oppression 
 of the Feringhis, and long to be free from it. Are 
 we not all men, and bound to defend our rights ? 
 and is not one of those rights — for Hindoos as well 
 as Mahomedans — that which enables us to practise 
 our religion unmolested ? " 
 
 " That is our right ! " they cried. " Down with 
 those who oppose it." 
 
 " Now," continued the youth, " I have just come 
 from one who, if you will fight for him, promises 
 you complete freedom not only in this, but in all 
 other respects ; and he is not, like these accursed 
 infidels, a man of yesterday, but one of distin- 
 guished dignity, of highest honour, of noblest 
 descent ; he is, indeed, your rightful sovereign, as 
 you will with one voice acknowledge when I tell 
 you his name — Bahadoor Shah, Emperor of Delhi! " 
 
222 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " Shabash ! Shabash ! Navvab-sahib ! " came from 
 every throat. 
 
 " Yes ! " exclaimed the pretended Prince, " I 
 am charged by his Majesty — may his shadow 
 never be less ! — with this gracious message to you, 
 and he invites you, when you have made short 
 work of these detestable barbarians here, to come 
 to his Imperial city, the capital of the world, and if 
 need be to fight for him and his ancient dynasty, 
 and to receive the happiness reserved for you in 
 this world and the next." 
 
 " Wah ! wah ! " shouted his hearers, as these 
 gracious . promises fell upon their ears. " But this 
 man speaks wonders indeed." 
 
 " From every station, from every city, the perse- 
 cutors are being driven out ; and will you be back- 
 ward in the good work ? Will you not earn your 
 reward by smiting them and exterminating them 
 from the earth ? Allah has given them into your 
 hand. Will you reject his gift ? " 
 
 Again his stirring words drew forth their 
 warmest plaudits. 
 
THE HOUSE IN THE CITY. 223 
 
 " My friends ! " he continued, his voice gathering 
 strength as he perceived the manner in which he 
 was moving them ; " I seek not for myself riches, 
 or honours, or dominion. No, I have come fresh 
 from the Imperial presence to conjure you in the 
 Emperor's name and in the name of Religion, to 
 cast aside the infidel yoke, to sweep from the earth 
 all who oppose the holy cause, to lead you in 
 triumph to the marble halls of the royal palace, to 
 the very Dewan-Khass itself! But you know I 
 am the true Nawab of Lodhpore, for has not my 
 lord the Emperor personally confirmed to me my 
 rights ? " 
 
 " Hah ! hah ! Nawab-sahib ! " they loudly as- 
 sented, led in chorus by the wary Secunder Khan, 
 who was delighted at the success of the oratory of 
 his young friend. 
 
 " And if, among the disbelievers, you should 
 come upon Delmar-sahib, or any of the faction of 
 the usurpers of the guddi which is rightfully mine 
 — well, 'tis not for me to say you ' Nay,' is it now? " 
 asked he,smiling calmly and showinghis perfect teeth 
 
224 THE ROW OF FATE. 
 
 " Wah ! wah ! " they shrieked, in a storm of 
 delight. " We shall remember Delmar-sahib, and 
 we know him well, for he is a friend of Colonel 
 Scott-sahib, and is often at his bungalow." 
 
 " Now I have spoken to you all that my master, 
 whom may Allah preserve, charged me with. I 
 have been faithful to my trust. It is for you, my 
 friends and brothers, to be true to yours, to take 
 up the holy cause, to join the hosts of the faithful, 
 to seek in the great city, and at the foot of the 
 Imperial throne, the rewards which shall surely be 
 yours. In the name of Religion, then, and for the 
 honour of your Emperor, I command you to go 
 forth with fire and the sword ! Spare not the 
 heathen aud the infidels ! Slay all them that are 
 against the Imperial dynasty, and the rulers whom 
 it has set up. Fight like lions, and the Garden of 
 Paradise, the abode of everlasting peace, shall be 
 your portion for evermore !" 
 
 As the young fellow resumed his seat loud 
 applause greeted him on every side. 
 
 " Deen ! Deen ! " cried the most fanatical of his 
 
THE HOUSE IN THE CITY. 225 
 
 auditors. " To hell with the unbelievers — let them 
 die the death of the unrighteous ! " 
 
 But the din ceased when Secunder Khan, raising 
 his hand, spoke to the excited soldiers a few part- 
 ing words. 
 
 " Brothers ! hear me a moment," he said. " You 
 know what is expected from you, and under whose 
 high commands you will act. No carelessness, re- 
 member, no undue talking, but secrecy — absolute 
 secrecy — till the moment comes to strike. Then, no 
 hesitation, no drawing back from the good work, 
 no showing of pity or of mercy for those that have 
 been delivered over to you ; for their sacrifice will 
 be grateful to Allah, and to his Prophet, whose name 
 is Peace." 
 
 With these words the assemblage broke up, the 
 members, at Secunder Khan's suggestion, depart- 
 ing gradually by ones and twos so as to obviate all 
 suspicion, while the so-called Nawab passed quietly 
 out, accompanied only as far as the threshold by 
 his crafty Mahomedan friend. 
 
 Q 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 SEASONING FOR A CURRY. 
 
 '' All the guests are coming to dinner, then, 
 Lily ? " said Colonel Scott to his niece, " and you 
 will give us your celebrated curry ? " 
 
 " Of course, uncle dear," she replied, " and I 
 think the party will be as large as usual, for the 
 Commissioner and other principal civilians have 
 accepted, as well as the General and all the senior 
 officers." 
 
 " Well, I look to you to do the thing in first-rate 
 style, for in these troublous times one can't tell 
 how many more such feasts we may be spared for, 
 so 'tis as well to enjoy them while we may." 
 
 He said this with a very significant smile. 
 
 " Now, don't pray speak so ! " cried Lilian, look- 
 
SEASONING FOR A CURRY. 227 
 
 ing round as if in terror ; " my nerves seem so 
 shattered by all this anxiety, I cannot bear to 
 think of what might happen." 
 
 " My poor child ! " exclaimed the Colonel, 
 " perhaps we had best put off the party alto- 
 gether ; there is sufficient excuse to do so, I'm sure." 
 
 " Oh, no, uncle," answered she, quickly ; " every- 
 one knows, the natives as well as others, this cus- 
 tom of yours of giving an annual dinner on your 
 birthday, and the effect of foregoing it at this time 
 might be bad." 
 
 " Sensibly spoken ! " cried the Colonel, delighted 
 to hear Lilian's views, agreeing as they did so 
 completely with his own. " That, dear girl, is ex- 
 actly my own opinion — that we are bound to 
 make the best of things, and then trust in Provi- 
 dence. I shall take care to have due precautions 
 taken in the way of special guards round the house 
 that night, and the Commissioner and General will 
 both have their escorts." 
 
 " Yes," said Lilian, with a doubtful look ; " I 
 
 suppose so." 
 
 Q 2 
 
228 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 "Suppose so ! Of course — of course," muttered 
 the Colonel, impatiently. "What does the girl 
 mean ? " 
 
 " Well," she murmured, under her breath, " it 
 would be hard to say, for indeed 1 cannot explain 
 it myself; and yet there is a presentiment that 
 haunts rne." 
 
 " Nonsense, child, nonsense ! " interrupted the 
 Colonel, with decision ; "you must not give way 
 to presentiments. Why, we shall have you con- 
 sulting the astrologers next, or going to some old 
 fortune-teller, or priest, to hear " 
 
 " Don't, uncle, pray don't," cried the girl, press- 
 ing her heart and turning suddenly pale ; "you 
 have no idea how easily I am upset now, though it 
 seems so absurd." 
 
 " God bless the ^child ! What possesses her ? " 
 he said, looking at his niece with astonishment. 
 
 But Lilian, unable to bear the strain, even as he 
 spoke passed into her room, and soon afterwards 
 her uncle went out to the mess-house to dinner, it 
 being the guest-night there. 
 
SEASO/V/NG FOR A CURRY. 229 
 
 An hour later, as the Brahmin of the temple sat 
 absorbed in contemplation near the shrine which 
 he served, his head freshly covered with dust, and 
 the elf-locks which framed his ghastly face hang- 
 ing down in a wilder tangle than usual, he became 
 aware of the presence of the devoted Bhagut, who 
 announced his mistress's approach. 
 
 " I am ready for her," he said. " Oh, Bhagut," 
 rousing himself from his abstraction in an instant, 
 " if she is prepared to do her part 'tis well, if not, 
 she will fall a sacrifice ; I have sworn it before the 
 god, and escape is impossible." 
 
 The bearer salaamed to the earth, but spoke not. 
 
 " Now let her come to me — the time is ripe." 
 
 Retreating for a moment, Bhagut presently 
 returned with Lilian, who stood silent before the 
 Brahmin. 
 
 " My child," he said, " the hour is propitious for 
 your great sacrifice, and all things promise well. 
 You have considered, I trust, the declaration you 
 made when last here, and are prepared to abide 
 by it ? " 
 
230 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " I trust in you, oh, father, absolutely," she 
 answered, in a low voice. 
 
 Bhagut drew back at these words, leaving her 
 alone with the Brahmin. 
 
 " 'Tis as I hoped," murmured the latter, while 
 gradually, as before, a thin film of smoke arose, 
 enveloping the figure of the god in its fumes and 
 giving to it a marvellous aspect of life and 
 motion. 
 
 " I speak but as the servant of the god," began 
 the Brahmin, " and in what I say you will recog- 
 nise his utterance only." 
 
 " That I acknowledge," she replied, " for that is 
 why I submit myself body and soul to you, oh, 
 holy one." 
 
 " The god has been grieved that those who are 
 his most devoted worshippers have been cruelly 
 persecuted, and are now being given over to vile 
 contamination by the Feringhis. Of this you are 
 well aware ? " 
 
 Lilian only bowed in response to these words. 
 " He favours the movement that is to set them 
 
SEASONING FOR A CURRY, 231 
 
 free — the great and holy cause to which you, my 
 beloved daughter, have bound yourself." 
 
 The miserable girl started, in dread as it seemed 
 of what was to follow ; but the wily priest gave 
 her no time, and hurried on. 
 
 " Your will is mine, you know, and mine is the 
 god's ; and he bids you help as I shall direct. Is 
 it not so, my child ? Have you not received this 
 command from the god himself? " asked he. 
 
 " Yes, father, that is true," she acknowledged. 
 
 " And you know the consequences of disobedi- 
 ence — the ruin that will ensue both to your body 
 and mind — for has not the god spoken of them ? " 
 he continued. 
 
 " Truly he has, oh, reverend one ! " she said, 
 looking up with awe at the majestic figure above 
 sitting shrouded in the smoke which still rose in 
 clouds around it. 
 
 " Know, then, my daughter, he whom you are 
 regarding with the reverence due to him has for 
 untold centuries presided over an ancient religious 
 society, embracing some of the highest and most 
 
232 THE BOW OF FATE, 
 
 irreproachable persons in the land ; he is their 
 director and their god, and his commands they 
 delight to obey." 
 
 Lilian followed his words with the deepest at- 
 tention, while still gazing up at the figure above her. 
 
 " But, though many are of the supremest rank ' 
 those of lowly station are not despised ; only 
 entire devotion on the part of the members is 
 necessary, and all the rest follows." 
 
 " I understand," she murmured, hanging anx- 
 iously on his lips. 
 
 " This sacred society, ramifying as it does 
 through every grade in the country, permeating 
 families where its existence would never be sus- 
 pected, is secret as the grave — secret in its organi- 
 sation, secret in its signs, secret in its language." 
 
 " Yes," she muttered, wondering what was to 
 come next. 
 
 " I say secret in its language," he continued, " for 
 it possesses a mystic language of its own — a lan- 
 guage spoken by all its members, and by which 
 they alone can recognise each other." 
 
SEASONING FOR A CURRY. 233 
 
 " How wonderful ! " she exclaimed ; " and to 
 think I should never have heard of this holy 
 society ! " 
 
 " My daughter, listen. I have more to tell. The 
 language, the signs, the organisation are all hidden 
 — hidden from the public eye ; nay, their operation 
 is also hidden and secret, yet their effects are open 
 enough — open, indeed, to every eye." 
 
 " Extraordinary ! " whispered the girl, drawing a 
 long breath. 
 
 " Yes," went on the Brahmin ; " and what will 
 you say when I announce to you that this sacred 
 and secret societ}% this mystic company of the best 
 and the holiest in the land, now looks to a humble 
 instrument to put forth its power, to make evident 
 its all-pervading strength — and that that instru- 
 ment is yourself! " 
 
 As he spoke his eyes flashed, and he pointed 
 with his long lean finger to the god, whose arm 
 now again distinctly moved, signing, as it seemed, 
 to Lilian to come within its reach. Silently the 
 girl kept her eyes fixed on that wondrous sight 
 
234 THE BOW OF FATE, 
 
 while a mysterious shudder passed over her that 
 she strove in vain to restrain. 
 
 " If I am worthy," at length she murmured, " to 
 be chosen thus, how can I hesitate ? I have given 
 myself to you, my father — how can I withdraw ? " 
 
 " Rightly spoken, my child," rejoined the priest ; 
 " the god has accepted your service, and the holy 
 society accepts it also." 
 
 " Am I to be received into it ? " she asked, 
 simply, thinking that that was an easy matter. 
 
 " Nay, nay ! " replied he. " Not so fast, not so 
 fast as that. The society requires a proof that 
 you will use its powers — the terrible powers it will 
 confer upon you — in the only manner of which it 
 approves." 
 
 " How am I to understand that ? " she ex- 
 claimed. 
 
 " Thus, my daughter," he replied, fixing a stead- 
 fast gaze upon her. " There is to be a dinner at 
 your uncle's, at which all the great Feringhis are 
 to be assembled ; you know this, and you are 
 aware of the day that has been appointed ? " 
 
SEASONING FOR A CURRY. 235 
 
 " Yes," she said, " of course I am aware of it." 
 
 " The society has decreed that certain of these 
 Feringhis are to die, and the god approves the 
 decision." 
 
 Lilian put her hand before her eyes, for a 
 terrible fear of a coming evil dawned upon her. 
 
 " To die ! " she exclaimed. " How to die ? " 
 
 " They have deserved death a hundred times by 
 their murder of Ram Dyall, the Brahmin, the holy 
 martyr — one who was a leader in the sacred society 
 and a faithful adherent of its god." 
 
 He waited a moment to see the effect of his 
 words, then hastened on. 
 
 " The manner in which the society acts is rapid, 
 and those whom it removes suffer little, for the 
 medicine used is a powerful and a subtle one." 
 
 " Medicine ! " exclaimed Lilian, throwing down 
 her hands and staring wildly at the Brahmin, 
 " medicine, do you say? " 
 
 " My child, I call it so ; it is so spoken of among 
 the members of our holy society," he repiled, eye- 
 ing her attentively. 
 
236 THE BOW OF FATE, 
 
 " But you speak of it as acting rapidly and caus- 
 ing little suffering," she said, with suspicion. 
 " What do you mean — what is this medicine you 
 indicate ? " 
 
 " Ah, my daughter, I cannot give its name," he 
 answered evasively ; " enough for you to know 
 that the small phial which I shall entrust to you as 
 the chosen instrument of the sacred society will 
 effect its purpose, and, when that is done, all the 
 mysterious longings of your nature, all your desires 
 to enter more fully into your dead mother's holy 
 state, and to be in full communion with her soul, 
 will be satisfied. You, like her, will then be en- 
 rolled among the chosen ones, and recefved into 
 paradise by the god." 
 
 But Lilian was not to be so put off. 
 
 " I do not understand," she began, " what is 
 expected from me with regard to this medi- 
 cine. What am I to do with the phial you refer 
 to?" 
 
 " You, my child," said the Brahmin, " are to be 
 commissioned with the making of the curry for the 
 
SEASON/NG FOR A CURRY. lyj 
 
 party at your uncle's ; for is the dish not called 
 after your name?" 
 
 " Yes," she replied, " that is true ; I always make 
 the curry." 
 
 " You will," continued her instructor, looking 
 calmly at her as with a profound salaam he took 
 from the very altar of the god a small round glit- 
 tering bottle, which he handled with the utmost 
 reverence, " carefully mix with it the contents of 
 this sacred phial, and you will do this unseen and 
 unknown by any person. Do you fully compre- 
 hend my meaning ? " 
 
 The unhappy girl gazed half in wonder, half in 
 awe, as he raised before her the mysterious vessel, 
 which she perceived was carefully closed. 
 
 " Is it from the god ? " she asked at last, in a 
 trembling voice. 
 
 " Directly from the god himself," answered the 
 Brahmin, without hesitation, " and with his bless- 
 ing fresh upon it." 
 
 There was a pause, which Lilian broke. 
 
 " But you spoke of dying — that the Feringhis 
 
238 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 are to die ! " she said ; " and now you tell me I am 
 to mix this medicine with the curry ! Oh, father, 
 what is it you mean ? Why do you deal in such 
 mystery ? " 
 
 " My child, you have sworn to trust me, though 
 warned that the conditions must be hard, that the 
 sacrifice on your part may be almost more than 
 you can conceive possible. Is it not so ? " he 
 asked, glaring at her from under his shaggy brows. 
 
 " It is so," she replied, frightened by his savage 
 look ; " it is so indeed ! " 
 
 " And, lucky girl ! " continued he, softening into 
 a smile, " have you not been specially favoured, 
 inasmuch as the god, in his goodness, has entrusted 
 to you the task I am imposing on you, and placed 
 in your hand the precious means wherewith to 
 carry it out?" 
 
 Speaking so he gave her the mysterious phial, 
 which she saw was of beautiful silver filigree work, 
 with innumerable glistening facets scattered over 
 its surface. 
 
 " The god has been very kind," she murmured 
 
SEASONING FOR A CURRY. 239 
 
 overcome by sensations it were difficult to de- 
 fine ;" and — yet — I cannot — I dare not — pro- 
 mise ! " . 
 
 "Not promise ! " hissed the foul Brahmin in her 
 ear ; " not promise, after you have given yourself 
 over absolutely to the service of the god, have lost 
 your personality in his, and have taken into your 
 possession at once the holiest symbol and the most 
 sacred instrument of his will that it is possible for 
 him, in his gracious favour, to bestow ! " 
 
 As he pierced the trembling girl with his blood- 
 shot eyes she cowered beneath his gaze, and all but 
 fainted where she stood. But there was none there 
 to help her ; she was alone with the Brahmin and 
 the god. 
 
 " I think I shall go mad ! " she said, presently, 
 under her breath. 
 
 The Brahmin laughed aside at her distress. 
 
 " I am to mix this — this — medicine in the curry ; 
 and they are to eat — and to die ! " 
 
 "They will not all eat," he said, cynically. "Those 
 whom the god would preserve will not eat. Having 
 
240 THE BOW OF bAlh. 
 
 done your work, my daughter, leave the issue with 
 the god ; he will be satisfied, you may be certain, 
 with it and with you." 
 
 " And is this — this thing that you ask me to do — 
 the only possible means of satisfying the gods whom 
 I so long to please — the sole way open to me of 
 gaining the happiness I sigh for, the certainty of 
 the bliss of seeing my loved mother again ? " 
 
 As she asked this question in a tone of deepest 
 despair the Brahmin looked down triumphantly at 
 her, for his victory seemed close at hand. 
 
 " 'Tis indeed as you say, my child," he answered, 
 " the only way to secure your desires, to propitiate 
 the god and to enter through him into the hope of 
 meeting your lost mother. But there is a further 
 consideration. A terrible peril threatens one to 
 whom you have given your heart — nay, start not 
 when I tell you this — for is there aught, think 
 you, that escapes my knowledge or that of the 
 god?" 
 
 The wonder painted in the wretched Lilian's face 
 was her silent reply to this question. 
 
SEASONING FOR A CURRY. 241 
 
 " He whom you love, the young Spencer-sahib> 
 has gone on a dangerous, a desperate errand. You 
 would wish him to return from it in safety ? You 
 would not desire him to perish miserably at the 
 hands of the enemies amongst whom he is certain 
 to fall ? " 
 
 He smiled confidently as he spoke, knowing 
 what torture he was inflicting on his victim. 
 
 " I have it from the god himself that the young 
 man shall be preserved through every peril that 
 may assail him, that he shall be brought back to 
 your arms and made yours for ever, both in this 
 world and the next ; but only on the condition that 
 you do this deed which is imposed upon you. Hah ! 
 Do you now fully comprehend your position ? " 
 
 That question he put in a tone of absolute and 
 overwhelming confidence, but seeing how the miser- 
 able girl still hesitated and shrank back, he continued 
 boldly to urge her. 
 
 " You know all, my daughter, and must now 
 
 make your choice. On the one hand, eveiything 
 
 you hold dear in this world and in the long here- 
 
 R 
 
242 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 after will be yours, for the god can and will bring 
 your lover to your feet, and promises to you and to 
 him everlasting bliss ; on the other hand, you will 
 sacrifice the brave young fellow, you will give him 
 over to his foes without remorse if " 
 
 " Ah " she shrieked, unable longer to contain 
 herself; "father, speak not so if you would not 
 drive me to distraction." 
 
 But he minded her not, and hurried on with a 
 cruel satisfaction. 
 
 " He dies, and you will never see him again, never 
 hear his voice, never touch his hand ! He is lost to 
 you — his very name is accursed." 
 
 " Nay, nay ! " cried she again. " This can never — 
 must never be." 
 
 " This, and much more ! " he continued remorse- 
 lessly. " Your old uncle, the Colonel-sahib, will 
 meet with a terrible death, for those that thirst for 
 his blood — and they are many — will have him within 
 their grasp." 
 
 " Horrible ! " she murmured, a cold shiver con- 
 v^ulsincr her. 
 
SEASONING FOR A CURRY. 243 
 
 " And as for you, my child," glancing half- 
 pityingly at her, " tongue cannot speak what the 
 god's sentence will be. Partly you know it, 
 partly it has been revealed — a living and a breath- 
 ing sacrifice to one who knows no mercy, who will 
 wither your beauty and destroy your soul — aye, 
 and render both body and soul such that you 
 yourself will loathe and destest them ! What say 
 you to such a lot as that ? " 
 
 The girl gazed at him, lost in a vague dread of 
 undefined horrors. 
 
 " And yet," he continued, in a softer strain, " 'tis 
 as you will, my daughter. Specially favoured, you 
 have been chosen from among many to carry out 
 his design, because the god loves you and desires 
 only what is for your good ; but, should you fail, 
 others are at hand to do the holy behests, for the 
 decree once issued, as it has been, must be exe- 
 cuted." 
 
 A burst of the wild and deafening music that 
 
 had, at her previous visit, so startled Lilian now 
 
 again echoed through the temple, and, as the 
 
 R 2 
 
244 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 Brahmin pointed silently upwards, she perceived 
 the arm of the god graciously beckoning to her 
 with the mysterious motion he had so often 
 used. 
 
 It was a moment of deepest struggle within the 
 soul of the doomed girl, but the immediate effect 
 of the harsh clangour was to rouse the blood of her 
 Rajpoot ancestors within her, those ancestors who 
 in the last sad hour at Chittore had preferred 
 death to dishonour ; and, all unknowing, she chose 
 the part that they had chosen, and gave up for 
 ever all the longings, all the hopes, all the unutter- 
 able happiness she had fully believed might be hers, 
 whether on earth or in heaven. 
 
 " The deed the god would impose upon me," 
 
 she began faintly, in the pause that succeeded the 
 
 noise of the music, " is a hideous crime that my 
 nature revolts from — a detestable wickedness that 
 
 I spurn and reject." 
 
 She stopped, for the Brahmin's face underwent 
 such a change as appalled her, his brows contract- 
 ing fiercely, and his terrible eyes being brought 
 
SEASONING FOR A CURRY. 245 
 
 close to her face as if to startle her into terror 
 and silence. But the noble impulse of her nature 
 gained strength as she was speaking, and her tone 
 was more assured as she continued. 
 
 "Yes, I begin to see something of the danger 
 into which I have been brought — of the wicked 
 course on which I have entered ! Faintly and 
 dimly it may be, as yet," reaching out before her as 
 though to grasp some friendly hand, " but with a 
 growing certainty and a clearing vision ! " 
 
 The Brahmin, hardly even now believing in her 
 rejection of his specious promises, and only com- 
 prehending imperfectly her present attitude, here 
 interposed. 
 
 " Is my child really demented that she speaks 
 thus to those she loves ? " he said. 
 
 Lilian drew away from him in scorn. 
 
 " I am no longer the child of such as you ! " she 
 exclaimed with vehemence, " and I cast from me 
 utterly and for ever all subservience to your 
 authority and all allegiance to your god ! " 
 
 As she stood there before the altar and poured 
 
246 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 forth these noble words, her figure and attitude 
 betokening in every line her detestation of the 
 villainy that had been proposed to her, she might 
 well be thought a worthy daughter of her 
 mother's race, ready at a moment to sacrifice her 
 life and her love and to dare the vengeance of 
 the god in whom she would fain have trusted, 
 rather than commit an act from which her 
 conscience and her better self shrank in utmost 
 horror. 
 
 The Brahmin's countenance became convulsed 
 with disappointed rage, and for a moment it 
 appeared as if he would seize the unprotected girl 
 and brain her on the spot with one of the heavy 
 clubs that lay close at hand for the murderous 
 purposes to which they were sometimes put, but no 
 such good fortune was in store for her, as the 
 fellow remembered in time the diabolical plan he 
 had prepared in case of her resistance. 
 
 " And is that your final decision, and do you 
 dare to speak in language like this, to break all 
 your solemn pledges, to cast to the winds your 
 
SEASONING FOR A CURRY. 247 
 
 oft-repeated promises, and to insult the god whom 
 your mother worshipped with all the fervour of her 
 noble race ? " 
 
 His appeal was well worded, but it fell on ears 
 that had become deafened and a spirit that quailed 
 not. 
 
 " You have spoken," she cried boldly, " some- 
 thing of my meaning in those words of yours. 
 Pledges and promises to such a god as this ! I scorn 
 to buy his proferred favour at the price you have 
 named, and defy both him and you to do your 
 worst ! " 
 
 A low rumbling sound was heard within the 
 temple, the smoke rose round the altar in yet 
 thicker clouds, and Lilian, fainting and helpless, 
 felt herself jerked suddenly forward right into the 
 dense and suffocating fumes which immediately 
 rendered her senseless ; yet in that moment of 
 consternation and horror she became aware that a 
 powerful force was controlling her, and, as after an 
 interval her consciousness slowly returned and she 
 regained her sight, she perceived that, half- 
 
248 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 prostrate as she was, she was lying within the 
 close embrace of the young Mahomedan, Secunder 
 Khan, whose cruel eyes glared triumphantly and 
 pitilessly into hers ! 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE STORM BURSTS. 
 
 " What do you tell me ? " cried Colonel Scott, as 
 Bhagut, the bearer, stood before him salaaming 
 deeply and looking as miserable a creature as it 
 was possible to conceive ; " that Missy Lilian has 
 been lost, and that you know not where she has 
 gone ? " 
 
 " The sahib has spoken the truth," muttered the 
 old fellow, placing his hands together and again 
 touching the earth with his forehead. " We can- 
 not find my young mistress anywhere." 
 
 It was early on the morning after Lilian's seizure 
 at the temple, and the Colonel was drinking his 
 tea before mounting for parade Bhagut had just 
 announced to him the sad news. 
 
2SO THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " But, you old scoundrel, you know where you 
 saw her last, and can tell me so much to enable a 
 search to be instantly begun," he shouted. 
 
 " It was at her own desire she went to the 
 Brahmin's temple after nightfall," replied the 
 man, thoroughly alarmed by the Colonel's vehe- 
 mence ; "and during my temporary absence for the 
 purpose of drinking at the well, she disappeared, 
 nor could I find anywhere the palki and the 
 bearers." 
 
 " Most suspicious, you old villain ! I have heard 
 your mistress speak of that temple, just above the 
 river ; I know the place. The Brahmin there is at 
 the bottom of the affair, I'll be bound, so we'll have 
 him laid by the heels in the first instance." 
 
 "Oh, spare the holy man, sahib!" exclaimed 
 Bhagut ; " I would answer for him with my life ! 
 Touch him not, or the consequences may be very 
 serious ! ' 
 
 But his words were lost, for the Colonel, sitting 
 down, wrote a hasty line to Mr. Conway, the 
 magistrate, telling him of his niece's disappearance 
 
THE STORM BURSTS. 251 
 
 of the the story of the bearer, and of his strong 
 suspicions respecting the priest, and asking him to 
 institute an immediate search and inquiry, adding 
 that he would see him presently on the matter. As 
 his horse was brought round he gave the note to 
 Kulloo, the boy, impressing on him the necessity 
 of hastening with it at once ; but to his great sur- 
 prise, after he had left the bungalow, the lad 
 following him, touched his knee, and besought him 
 not to persist in his intention of riding to the 
 parade-ground. 
 
 " There is a terrible danger threatening. Protec- 
 tor of the poor, and I hear whispers of what is 
 expected to occur this very morning," the boy 
 persisted. 
 
 "Nonsense, Kulloo, nonsense!" cried the Colonel ; 
 " you take that note at once, and mind you bring 
 the answer to me on parade." 
 
 But though it was not fated that Colonel Scott 
 was to have an answer to that or any other note 
 in this world, on he cantered, his honest heart 
 heavy with anxiety on account of his dear niece. 
 
252 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 but harbouring no suspicion of the peril that was 
 close to himself. At the edge of the ground 
 Slingsby rode up and reported the number of men 
 on parade. 
 
 "And I am sorry to say, Colonel," continued he, 
 "that the Pathan, Ghoolam AH Khan, has this 
 moment ridden in, and reports that the troops 
 we sent off to keep the main road open has muti- 
 nied near to Ahtabad, and declared its intention of 
 marching to Delhi." 
 
 " The villains ! " cried the Colonel, " they have 
 dared to do it, have they ? " 
 
 " I'm not sure if the rest of the regiment knows 
 it yet," Slingsby went on, " but I hear talking in 
 the ranks, and fancy I see sullen looks." 
 
 " Really I can't think they would be such fools 
 now, Slingsby,or such knaves either, after all the time 
 that has passed, and the promises they have given." 
 
 " No, indeed," rejoined Slingsby, " but one of 
 those who has been most fonvard in his promises 
 is missing this morning — a very suspicious circum- 
 stance ; I mean Secunder Khan." 
 
THE STORM BURSTS. 253 
 
 The Colonel pulled up his horse sharply, for 
 they had arrived in front of the regiment, but he 
 hardly looked at the men as he replied — 
 
 " Missing ! Secunder Khan missing? " 
 
 " Yes, sir ; so Heera Singh reports. I have 
 sent " 
 
 A wild shout caught his ear, and from the ranks 
 a soldier was observed suddenly to emerge at full 
 speed, his horse apparantly being beyond his con- 
 trol, for he made directly towards the position 
 occupied by the two officers. Was it really that 
 the animal was too much for his rider, or could it be 
 possible that the Lancer was bent on a public and 
 audacious display of his horsemanship and skill, 
 inopportune as the moment appeared ? 
 
 As he came nearer he was seen to be no other 
 than the old sergeant, Mahomed Buksh, and, owing 
 partly to his knowledge of the discontented charac- 
 ter of the man, partly to the extraordinary course 
 he was following, it flashed across Slingsby that 
 this was no game that was being played, but a 
 stern reality, and that the Colonel and he stood in 
 
254 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 the greatest and most imminent danger of being 
 struck down thus treacherously and without warn- 
 ing, in the very front of their men. Instantly 
 drawing his sword he rode full tilt at the sergeant, 
 attempting to parry his charge on the Colonel ; but 
 the momentum was too great, and the well-levelled 
 lance passed clean through the old officer, who, 
 falling from his horse with a groan of agony, died 
 where he lay in a few seconds. 
 
 " Shabash ! " shouted the old sergeant, with- 
 drawing his weapon from the body of his brave 
 commander as calmly as if he had just ridden a 
 course at neza-bazi. " Shabash ! So may it be 
 with all the cursed infidels ! Now, brothers, you 
 know what to do, and I, Mahomed Buksh, call upon 
 you to do it. Make short work with the bud mash 
 Slingsby — Deen ! Deen ! Deen ! " 
 
 But with the rush of a whirlwind Slingsby was 
 upon him, and his sword clove open the sergeant's 
 chest with a clean cut from the shoulder almost be- 
 fore the words were out of his mouth. Truly a 
 swifter retribution could not have overtaken the 
 
THE STORM BURSTS. 255 
 
 traitor, who, falling on the plain close by his late 
 Colonel, gasped out his life as his blood literally 
 mingled in the pool formed by the heart's blood of 
 his victim. 
 
 Then arose a tumult beyond description — an up- 
 roar that defied all Slingsby's efforts to quell it ; a 
 din of yelling that drowned his voice, shout as 
 lustily as he might. In a moment the ranks were 
 broken, and troopers, galloping in perfect reck- 
 lessness hither and thither apparently without an 
 object and in simple devilry, fired their pieces and 
 shrieked their war-cries, and called on their gods to 
 direct them, so that to Slingsby it was plain that, 
 whatever had been the intention of the leaders, 
 their hand had been forced and the mutiny that 
 had at length come was premature. Bitter thoughts 
 welled up in his breast as the wild whirl of horse- 
 men passed by, to think that in a moment, as it 
 were, the splendid regiment he had taken such pride 
 in had melted like snow before the evil breath of 
 sedition, while its honoured commander lay treach- 
 erously murdered beside him. 
 
2S6 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 But, amid all this confusion, so many balls came 
 whistling past him that the young ofificer, feeling 
 utterly helpless, and that he was simply becoming 
 the mark of the more pitiless of his men, was 
 turning his horse to leave the ground when the old 
 Seikh, Heera Singh, rode up at the head of a body 
 of his countrymen, and, saluting hurriedly, asked 
 for his commands. 
 
 " Ah ! Heera Singh ! " he exclaimed, delighted 
 to see these faithful ones, " I guessed you would 
 not desert me, whatever might happen." 
 
 " No, no, sahib ! " cried the old Seikh, showing 
 his teeth for a moment ; then as his eye fell upon 
 the body of his old commander, pouring out a series 
 of oaths. " But you did nobly by that budmash, 
 Mahomed Buksh, and I heard men near me ad- 
 miring and praising you for it, mutineers though 
 they were." 
 
 Smiling grimly, Slingsby put himself at the head 
 of the little body of Seikhs and rode straight 
 through the raging throng around, calling on all 
 good and loyal men to follow where he should lead 
 
THE STORM BURSTS. 257 
 
 them ; nor was he entirely unsuccessful in his appeal, 
 for Ghoolan AH Khan, the Pathan, and several 
 others joined him, delighted to show their faithful- 
 ness at a moment when so few remained faithful. 
 
 " Boom ! " 
 
 Then a moment of pause, and again " Boom ! " 
 and again, and again, and again ; for the guns had 
 opened with grape upon that tumultuous crowd, 
 and already numbers were falling under the deadly 
 shower, biting the dust and writhing in agony on 
 the plain, beside the Colonel they had for years 
 adored as their best friend, yet whose barbarous 
 murder they had but now witnessed without a 
 murmur of dissent. 
 
 Not an instant too soon had Slingsby and his 
 little party ridden off ; but as they made their way 
 through the main road of the cantonment they 
 found that confusion reigned everywhere, for the 
 contagion of mutiny had spread to the Infantry, 
 bands of whom were patrolling the roads, shooting 
 any Europeans they might meet, entering the 
 houses and murdering the helpless women and 
 
2s8 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 children sheltering there, as they crouched trem- 
 blingly in the dark corners of the bath-rooms and 
 store-closets, or, perchance, concealed themselves 
 in the huts of those amongst their servants that 
 had remained true to them. On every hand 
 bungalows and buildings of all kinds were in a 
 blaze, for, after they had looted the contents, and 
 left no living Feringhis within, the maddened 
 sepoys invariably lighted the thatch, and had the 
 demoniacal satisfaction of seeing the houses of the 
 English those homes hitherto considered by them 
 inviolable, burn like tinder, and become within an 
 hour naught but blackened heaps of ashes. 
 
 A body of these men was just entering the gate 
 of General Davis's garden as Slingsby rode up, 
 and so excited were they, and so emboldened by 
 the uninterrupted success they had met with in 
 their course of murder and destruction, that they 
 did not comprehend for a moment his sharp 
 challenge to them. 
 
 " Hah ! hah ! " laughed their leader, covering the 
 young officer with his musket, "we'll have you firstj 
 
THE STORM BURSTS. 259 
 
 Captain Budmash, and then go in for the Gene- 
 ral's mem-sahib, whom 1 propose myself to bayo- 
 net." 
 
 He fired, but Heera Singh, rushing in at the 
 instant, struck his piece up with his sword, and the 
 ball passed harmlessly over the trees above, whilst 
 Slingsby, riding straight at the scoundrel, ran him 
 through with the blade that had once already done 
 him such good service that morning. 
 
 " Charge the betrayers — those who have been 
 false to their salt ! " he shouted. " Spare them not, the 
 wretches who would murder their General's wife! 
 Cut them to pieces, oh, my brothers ; let them not 
 escape the edge of your swords ! " 
 
 And the Seikhs did not spare them, and for the 
 next few minutes there was stiff work at that gate- 
 way ; but, whether because they had no real 
 stomach for fighting, or that at such close quarters 
 the swords and pistols had an advantage over the 
 bayonets — for lances and muskets could not be 
 used much on either side — certain it is that the 
 
 mutineers had all the worst of the combat, and 
 
 S 2 
 
26o THE BOW OF FATE 
 
 that, except those who effected an early escape, 
 none of the band presently remained alive to 
 spread the flame of rebellion, or contribute further 
 to the anarchy that prevailed on every hand. 
 
 " Now to the bungalow ! " exclaimed Slingsby 
 breathlessly, as he wiped his bloody blade on his 
 horse's mane, "we must rescue the mem-sahib 
 without delay, and bring her with us to the rendez- 
 vous." 
 
 " Hah, sahib ! " cried Heera Singh, "we are ready 
 for any adventure now, and will follow you to the 
 death. They have killed my young nephew, you 
 see," pointing to one of the troopers lying under the 
 tree by the gate, "and I long to have another 
 chance at them." 
 
 "That you may make sure of," said Slingsby, 
 with decision ; " and I am only sorry we must 
 leave the brave young fellow where he is, but there 
 is no help for it. Threes right — forward ! " 
 
 They trotted up to the house, where the utmost 
 confusion and consternation prevailed. A number 
 of ladies had come there from their own bungalows, 
 
THE STORM BURSTS. 261 
 
 many of which were burning brightly close by, 
 bringing with them their children and a handful of 
 valuables hastily gathered together, thinking vainly 
 to find safety where a guard of the Red Dirks was 
 as they knew on constant duty ; but, the General 
 himself being far away trying to restore order amid 
 the disorganisation around, Mrs. Davis was abso- 
 lutely at her wits' end to know what step to take 
 to save the helpless crowd that looked to her for 
 protection. 
 
 " Ah, Captain Slingsby," she said, " you have 
 come just in time to save us from those wretches. 
 How good of you. But what a fight you had at 
 the gate ! We have all watched you from the 
 verandah with what hopes — in what an agony ! " 
 
 " Yes, we have, indeed ! " joined in several of the 
 others, looking dreadfully scared. " What are we 
 to do with the children if they come again ? " 
 
 " Give me your sword, Taptain Slingsby, and I 
 will defend mamma and baby ! " exclaimed a 
 shrill little voice that proceeded from a small 
 flaxen-haired boy who was trying to cool with a 
 
262 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 punkah his little sister as she lay in her mother's 
 arms. 
 
 They all smiled, oppressed as they were with 
 anxiety, at this sally, and even the grim Seikhs 
 appeared half to understand the lad's meaning. 
 
 " Very well, Tommy," laughed Slingsby, who, 
 always a favourite with children, used often to play 
 romping games with the lad, and now and again 
 gave him a mount for a few minutes on his horse, 
 " you shall come up defore me presently, but it is 
 necesfary you ladies should all leave the canton- 
 ment at once, and you know the Treasury was 
 fixed on for the rendezvous as being the safest 
 and most defensible position." 
 
 " Is it so bad as that ? " asked Mrs. Davis, look- 
 ing round in despair at all her beautiful furniture 
 and favourite nick-nacks. " And must we leave 
 everything to be ruined by these wretches?" 
 
 "Well, that is the order," replied Slingsby, " and, 
 as there are between two and three thousand of 
 them that have broken loose, no time should be 
 lost in obeying it." 
 
THE STORM BURSTS. 263 
 
 So all the carriages that could be collected were 
 enlisted in the service, and a long train it was that 
 presently, under the escort of Slingsby and his 
 Seikhs, wended its way to the Treasury, a point 
 they reached without mishap, rather to the dis- 
 appointment of Tommy, who, from his elevated 
 seat on his friend's saddle, looked down somewhat 
 contemptuously on the crowd below him. Here 
 they found the Commissioner, the Magistrate, and 
 most of the other civilians and their wives 
 assembled ; and before long were joined by some 
 of the officers whose regiments had revolted, when 
 many wonderful stories of their hairbreadth escapes 
 were related, and many a sorrowful tale told of the 
 loss of loved comrades who had fallen before the 
 treacherous attacks of their own trusted soldiers. 
 
 Then appeared the guns, escorted by the Red 
 Dirks, with the General and several other officers, 
 for the mutinous regiments had now been joined 
 by thousands of discontented ruffians from the 
 city, and by a small army raised by the pretended 
 Nawab, whose cause Secunder Khan had espoused 
 
264 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 so that the hostile force had assumed very for- 
 midable dimensions. The blows it had received 
 during the morning's fighting had had a momentary 
 effect on it, but its successful butchery of unarmed 
 Europeans, its robberies and burnings and un- 
 bridled license had so inflamed and excited it as 
 to make an attack on the Treasury, where many 
 lakhs were lying, inevitable, and it was to obviate 
 the success of any such attempt that the troops 
 at the General's disposal were now being con- 
 centrated. 
 
 The position, being in fact an old serai or 
 defensible resting-place for travellers, was on the 
 whole a strong one, and consisted mainly of an 
 outer and inner square, the walls of whose masonry 
 were many feet thick, with an entrance gateway 
 containing several apartments of good size both 
 over the gate itself and on either hand of it. The 
 first court was a very large one, and had a long 
 range of stalls running round, intended for the 
 accommodation of the servants and horses of 
 travellers ; while the second, of smaller size, con- 
 
THE STORM BURSTS. 265 
 
 tained rooms of a superior class, which, though 
 now in a state of decay, had been honoured by the 
 presence of the mighty Akbar himself, who indeed 
 was reputed to have been its original constructor. 
 In this building, which formed the Treasury and 
 was by the natives considered a fort, had been by 
 the foresight of the Commissioner and the General 
 secretly collected a store of grain and rice and 
 firewood, and other necessaries sufficient to sup- 
 port some hundreds of people in case of necessity, 
 while an excellent well ensured a never-failing 
 supply of water. Sheep had been driven in by the 
 commissariat officer at the last moment, and a 
 score or so of them were now bleating in the 
 large square, while half-a-dozen bullocks were 
 packed closely together in one corner. The 
 necessary store of ammunition for the troops had 
 also been carefully laid in, and altogether no pre- 
 caution neglected to ensure the completeness of 
 the safety of those who had to seek a hasty asylum 
 there. More than that was not intended, as it 
 seemed unlikely that the European troops, small 
 
266 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 as their number was, could not at least hold their 
 own against any number of thousands of the 
 natives when once their women and children had 
 been placed beyond the reach of sudden danger. 
 
 For some time the utmost confusion prevailed, 
 and, till quarters, such as they were, could be 
 assigned to the different members of the little 
 garrison, there was no rest for the officer who had 
 charge of that department ; while the distribution 
 of the guards to the various posts, the mounting of 
 the guns at the most commanding points, the 
 strengthening of the parapets with sand-bags, and 
 the settling of innumerable other strategical con- 
 siderations, kept the officers, from the General 
 downwards, hard at work. 
 
 While Slingsby was giving some orders to Heera 
 Singh he suddenly observed before him the boy 
 Kulloo, salaaming and holding out a letter to him. 
 
 " Hulloa, Kulloo ! " he cried, in some surprise, 
 " I'm glad to see you here, but it's an odd time to 
 bring a note for anyone." 
 
 " Hah, sahib," replied the boy, grinning in his 
 
THE STORM BURSTS. i(>'j 
 
 usual manner, though his face had a scared look 
 upon it. "The Colonel-sahib ordered me to deliver 
 it at once to the magistrate-sahib, and I have 
 been ail the morning looking for him." 
 
 Slingsby glanced at the direction, and, seeing it 
 was in Colonel Scott's well-known hand, said he 
 would himself deliver it. 
 
 " But I was to take the reply at once to the 
 sahib!" cried the lad, "and he will be very angry if 
 I fail." 
 
 " My boy, the Colonel will never read a note 
 again," answered Slingsby, gravely. "He has been 
 murdered, Kulloo, and now lies stiff and cold on 
 the parade-ground over yonder, for we could not 
 even bring him off." 
 
 " Oh, sahib ! the good Colonel — the father of his 
 men ! " exclaimed the boy, bursting into tears. 
 
 And have they really killed him ? I felt certain 
 things were not right this morning, and tried to 
 warn him, but he was so brave, so trusting." 
 
 " I wonder you had not heard of his death," 
 Slingsby observed, eyeing him closely ; " but I 
 
268 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 suppose you went off to the civil lines at once with 
 this note." 
 
 *' Hah, sahib ; and when I found everyone was 
 hurrying here I thought I had better come too, for 
 the magistrate-sahib would probably drive here," 
 replied the lad. 
 
 " Quite right, quite right, my boy," said Slingsby 
 " and here he comes, so we can give him the let- 
 ter. Conway, this is for you, from Colonel Scott, 
 brought by this boy of his." 
 
 The man addressed was a short light-haired 
 fellow, active and energetic, who it was plain did 
 not relish being interrupted in his work. 
 
 " Confound it ! " he exclaimed, tearing open the 
 letter. " What's this ? ' My niece. Miss Langford, 
 has disappeared. Bearer reports that, he being in 
 charge of her, she went to see the Brahmin of the 
 temple by the river last night, and, on his return, 
 after a few minutes' absence, could not be found. 
 Strong suspicion rests on this Brahmin, who should 
 be immediately seized. Please reply at once if this 
 can be done. — Yours sincerely, T. Scott." But 
 
THE STORM BURSTS. 269 
 
 I thought Scott unfortunately had been mas- 
 sacred ! " 
 
 "So he has, Conway," cried SHngsby, greatly 
 moved, "but he wrote this early to-day, before 
 going out. What is to be done about Miss Lang- 
 ford, for I suppose she is not here ? " 
 
 While listening to the magistrate as he was 
 reading, Slingsby had drunk in the intelligence 
 respecting Lilian's disappearance with eagerness, 
 recalling instantly the night when he had overheard 
 the talk between Bhagut and Spencer's bearer, had 
 gathered that Lilian's habit was to visit the 
 Brahmin at various times, and had actually dis- 
 tinguished her in the palki as it was carried off 
 towards Jahmere. 
 
 " No," replied Conway quickly, " I have just seen 
 Mrs. Davis, who asked me if I had any news of 
 Miss Langford, as the other ladies knew nothing of 
 her, and are deploring her being left behind." 
 
 " 'Tis an extraordinary thing," said Slingsby, his 
 wonder and dissatisfaction increasing the more he 
 thought of the matter, " but 1 had not learned this 
 
270 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 till now, when the Colonel's note was given me by 
 the boy there." 
 
 " You did not see the Missy-sahib this morning?" 
 asked Conway, sharply turning on Kulloo. 
 
 " No, sahib, she was not at the bungalow at all, 
 so I was told by Bhagut," answered the lad with 
 readiness ; " and the Colonel seemed very angry 
 about it." 
 
 " I don't wonder," muttered Conway, " if she 
 had had any dealings with that villain of a 
 Brahmin." 
 
 "Do you know him ?" enquired Slingsby, cau- 
 tiously. " I have a reason for asking, though all 1 
 have heard of him is that he is a Brahmin of a 
 singularly saintly character." 
 
 Conway's face assumed a peculiar expression. 
 
 " Know him ! " he said. " I have had my eye 
 upon him for long, but he is too clever to be easily 
 caught, and now, when there is really something 
 tangible on which to act, I am tied hand and foot 
 here." 
 
 " I see," observed Slingsby, speaking slowly, for 
 
THE STORM BURSTS. 271 
 
 he was turning over many things in his mind. 
 " Yet there is nothing to be done, I fear, towards 
 arresting the old fellow or rescuing the poor girl." 
 
 " Absolutely nothing," returned Conway. " I 
 can't think, Slingsby, why Miss Langford ever 
 went to that temple. What could she have had 
 to do with the Brahmin, do you think ? " 
 
 That was a point that had long puzzled Edward 
 Slingsby, but appeared no nearer its solution now 
 than it had weeks ago when he first became aware 
 of her strange and apparently inexplicable con- 
 duct. Suspicions he hardly dared harbour rose up 
 in his mind, but he strove to thrust them from him 
 and to assume an air of unconcern as he answered 
 Conway. 
 
 "'Tis impossible for me to account for Miss 
 Langford's conduct," he said, "quite impossible. 
 And yet I cannot help fearing I was to blame in 
 not riding at once to see after her safety, though if, 
 as now appears, she was not at the bungalow, it 
 would have been useless." 
 
 " I say, Conway," interrupted Smith, the assist- 
 
272 THE BOW OF FATE, 
 
 ant magistrate, coming up hurriedly at this mo- 
 ment with a paper in his hand, "we have made out 
 that all those living in the civil lines are here 
 except that young Delmar, the barrister, but of 
 him there are no tidings." 
 
 " I'm sorry to hear that," replied Conway, " be- 
 cause I like what I've seen of Delmar, and lately 
 he has been dangerously ill — in fact almost off his 
 head. His nurse half feared he might do some- 
 thing desperate." 
 
 "It may be," suggested Smith, "that he has 
 been made away with, for we know he was in the 
 Lodhpore case, and not certainly on the popular 
 side." 
 
 " Quite true, young man ! " exclaimed Conway. 
 "There is little doubt this insurrection we now 
 have to meet is partly due to the pretended 
 Nawab's suddenly appearing here, having been 
 deputed from Delhi with messages from the old 
 puppet of an Emperor to the native soldiery, 
 whom he has been only too successful in cor- 
 rupting." 
 
THE STORM BURSTS. 273 
 
 Slingsby looked with some astonishment at the 
 magistrate as he spoke. 
 
 " You appear to hold the threads in a wonderful 
 manner," he said, " and I only marvel you could 
 not have done something to forestall all this mis- 
 chief that has occurred." 
 
 " My dear fellow," replied Conway, " 'tis easy to 
 find fault after the event, but a magistrate must 
 have proofs on which to act, and the evidence 
 before me was insufficient for that purpose." 
 
 " Surely you might have arrested this false 
 Nawab ? " Slingsby ventured to say. 
 
 "Well, that was about to be done," answered 
 Conway, " but the mutineers were before us, and 
 struck their blow sooner than we expected. And 
 who, do you think, was probably the main instru- 
 ment in causing that ? " 
 
 " How can I tell ? I am not a seer in these 
 matters," said Slingsby, incredulously. 
 
 "And yet," observed the magistrate, "this 
 
 moving spring was close to you — was daily under 
 
 your observation — was, in fact, a trusted agent of 
 
 T 
 
274 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 yours and of Colonel Scott's. I mean your 
 Mahomedan native officer, Secunder Khan." 
 
 " You don't say so ! " cried Slingsby, in some 
 confusion. " Secunder Khan ! Ah, how many 
 things that explains ! What light it throws on 
 circumstances I have time after time racked my 
 brains over in vain ! " 
 
 " Well, I have long suspected this man," con- 
 tinued Conway, " and fancied I knew even about 
 the day and the hour — it was to be in the evening — 
 that his plans were to mature ; but there has been 
 a mistake or a misapprehension somewhere, and 
 here we are shut up before the time." 
 
 " True enough," remarked Slingsby, gravely ; 
 " this fellow, Secunder Khan, was absent from 
 parade this morning, and I have heard nothing of 
 him since." 
 
 " Something has occurred, you may be sure — 
 something of importance — to prevent his being on 
 the scene," said Conway, half to himself. " Now, 
 is it possibly connected with that old villain 
 of a Brahmin, whose temple, the scene of their 
 
THE STORM BURSTS. 275 
 
 machinations, Secunder Khan so often visits ? 
 Whe-e-e-h ! I have it. This Miss Langford ! 
 Knowingly, or unknowingly, she is mixed up in 
 this business, having, as it seems, gone to that 
 temple — not perhaps for the first time — last 
 evening." 
 
 "But you don't mean to suggest," protested 
 Slingsby, " that that charming girl would so com- 
 promise herself as to meet a villain like Secunder 
 Khan? Really, Conway, this is beyond what 
 seems possible, leaving all probability out of the 
 question." 
 
 And yet, as he spoke, the young offieer s mind 
 misgave him, for he realised even more certainly 
 than Conway could do, the position Lilian Langford 
 seemed placed in, while regretfully acknowledging 
 that she herself must in reality be mainly to blame 
 for it. 
 
 " My duty is to put this and that together," 
 
 replied the magistrate, shrugging his shoulders, 
 
 '' and our information is not perfect at the present 
 
 moment. Where, for instance, is the bearer who 
 
 T 2 
 
276 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 accompanied Miss Langford to the temple ? He 
 returned without her, apparently." 
 
 " The man is perfectly trustworthy," answered 
 Slingsby, with decision, " having been her mother's 
 servant before she was born. There can be no 
 question about him." 
 
 " I should like to see him, nevertheless," said 
 Conway, "just to put a few questions to him. It's 
 quite possible I might " 
 
 " Whir-r-r ! " 
 
 It was the hiss of a round-shot passing over 
 their heads, and the crash and confusion that 
 followed showed it had fallen into the corner of 
 the yard, causing a general stampede among the 
 camp followers collected there ; yet all the harm it 
 did was to break away one of the partition walls 
 of the stable, and kill an unfortunate horse in his 
 stall. 
 
 The siege had, however, begun in earnest, and 
 soon shot after shot took rapid effect within that 
 little enclosure, wounding and killing many of the 
 garrison, and rendering the place so hot that safety 
 
THE STORM BURSTS. 277 
 
 could only be found under cover of the thick and 
 solid walls and towers of the serai. 
 
 But now the guns and mortars of the garrison 
 took up their tale, replying with accuracy and 
 rapidity to the enemy's fire, occasionally dis- 
 mounting one of their pieces, or dropping a shell 
 right into the battery they had hastily established 
 behind a mound within two hundred yards of the 
 defenders' position ; while a few picked marksmen 
 of the Red Dirks kept up such an incessant hail 
 of well-directed bullets on the heads which occa- 
 sionally showed above the cover, that, after a time 
 no open movement could be detected amongst the 
 enemy ; and, except for the continual booming of 
 the guns and the whizzing of the balls that fell into 
 every corner, it might have been thought the 
 assailants were drawing off from the attack. Such, 
 however, was very far indeed from the truth. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 LILIAN. 
 
 " Quick ! quick ! " shouted Secunder Khan, as 
 he stood on the narrow ledge above the river just 
 outside the entrance to the Brahmin's temple. 
 " Help me to carry her up, you two fellows, for she 
 has fainted again, and is no light weight, I can tell 
 you." 
 
 "We've got her, and we won't let her go, sahib," 
 responded a brawny ruffian, instantly seizing Lilian 
 under the arms, while a second held aloft a lantern 
 which showed the edge of the precipice close to 
 them. 
 
 " Gently with her, though — gently and carefully, 
 my brothers!" exclaimed the young Mahomedan, 
 
LILIAN. 279 
 
 gazing at his victim in triumph, yet with some 
 tinge of anxiety. " She is a prize worth winning, 
 yet one that requires careful handling, for the 
 moment she recognised me, she went off again 
 into this faint." 
 
 " All right, sahib, fear not," muttered the man, 
 as he forced the unhappy girl along, carrying her 
 up the steps with the other fellow's help, and 
 landing her at last safely at the summit of the cliff. 
 
 " Now, the palki should be close by if you obeyed 
 my orders," cried Secunder Khan, looking round 
 anxiously. 
 
 " We forced the wretches to bring it within reach, 
 threatening to cut out their tongues if they ran 
 away," said the man ; "and, as she is their mistress, 
 I shall be surprised if they are not here." 
 
 " Ram ! ram ! " spoke a voice from the darkness, 
 " your humble slaves are present, and at your 
 service, most honourable sir." 
 
 The head palki-bearer salaamed low before 
 Secunder Khan, whom, by a quick intuition, he 
 saw to be the master of the situation, and imme- 
 
28o THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 diately his fellows came up with their mistress' lit- 
 ter on their shoulders. 
 
 "Scoundrels!" exclaimed the young Mahomedan 
 " Why are you not in waiting for your mem-sahib 
 when you had received the order?" 
 
 " Protector of the Poor, blame them not," cried 
 the sirdar-bearer, joining his palms together, and 
 bending low. " Our mem would never allow us on 
 her nightly visits to proceed so far as this with her, 
 and we could not believe at first it was her com- 
 mand." 
 
 This shaft, whether intended or not, told at once, 
 and Secunder Khan became furious. 
 
 " Son of a pig ! " he exclaimed, " open the palki 
 and let your mistress be instantly laid in it ; then 
 bring her where I shall show you, or I will have 
 you skinned alive and thrown to the jackals." 
 
 So saying he signed hastily to his retainers, who, 
 lifting the girl without a word, placed her safely in 
 the litter. As they did so she opened her eyes in 
 wonder, puzzled, no doubt, by the strange faces of 
 the men ; but, when the sirdar-bearer made his 
 
LILIAN, 281 
 
 salaam to her she sank back and allowed herself 
 to be carried away, satisfied, perhaps, that all was 
 right, and that she was being conveyed home. 
 The bearers, however, were grumbling audibly, 
 being specially uneasy that Bhagut was not with 
 them, and when they came to a fork in the road, 
 and were directed by Secunder Khan to take the 
 right hand turn instead of the other, to which they 
 were accustomed, their sirdar attempted to remon- 
 strate. 
 
 " The Colonel-sahib will be very angry," he 
 ventured to say, " if the Missy-baba is not back at 
 the bungalow in proper time, and I may lose my 
 place in consequence ; therefore, great sir, I would 
 humbly ask that we may bear her home by the 
 shortest route." 
 
 " Son of an unbelieving mother ! " hissed Secun- 
 der Khan, holding his pistol at the head of the 
 poor wretch. "Your brains shall be scattered 
 on the road if you hesitate to obey my commands 
 instantly, therefore, convey the palki to the city, or 
 your miserable existence is at an end." 
 
282 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 Thus threatened, the man gave way, though un- 
 willingly, for his mind misgave him, and now, more 
 than ever, he felt he was being made a tool of in a 
 business of which he could not approve ; yet the 
 savage looks of the young Mahomedan and his 
 two villainous followers so impressed him that he 
 dared not open his lips, and before long the party 
 arrived, after a tedious passage through the tortu- 
 ous streets, at the very house in the city where the 
 meeting of the conspirators had taken place. 
 
 As the bearers, at a signal from Secunder Khan, 
 set down the palki, with their customary " Ram ! 
 ram!" the sirdar pushed open the door, and Lilian, 
 half-unconsciously, stepped out, evidently believing 
 herself at her own door, but, next moment per- 
 ceiving her mistake, drew back in amazement. 
 
 " Where are we, Bhagut ? " she cried, " and what 
 place have you brought me to now ? " 
 
 But, again the merciless arms of the two strong 
 men closing around her, compelled her to advance, 
 and rapidly she was forced up a staircase into a 
 small apartment exquisitely furnished in the native 
 
LILIAN. 283 
 
 fashion, with handsome green satin cushions dis- 
 posed against the walls, a thick carpet from Bok- 
 hara in which the same colour prevailed cover- 
 ing the floor, and a delicate silver lamp hanging 
 from the ceiling and casting a gentle light on all 
 below. Such was the suddenness of this kaleido- 
 scopic change, that poor Lilian's breath was taken 
 away, and, when the next moment, the purdah 
 having been dropped and the door closed behind 
 her, she was left standing there without support, 
 she felt the utmost difficulty in realising her 
 changed position. 
 
 There was time to note, however, in the further 
 corner a pile of shawls, from which projected what 
 seemed a thick block of wood ; yet, even as Lilian 
 looked, there appeared some movement, and she 
 shook with an inward shiver when convinced that a 
 huge light brown eyelid had veiled just for an 
 instant the orb of a monster whose form was 
 concealed amid the folds of the shawls, yet whose 
 attention was fixed on her, and from whom escape 
 was impossible. 
 
284 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 Turning round in this terrible strait, she raised the 
 purdah, and was in the act of trying to push open 
 the door, to which there appeared to be no handle, 
 when she felt a sudden blow from behind, and on 
 reeling backwards was confronted by an enormous 
 lizard, whose jaws opened ominously, and whose 
 bloodshot eyes rolled and winked at her in a 
 manner startling and unearthly. Again she felt a 
 smart concussion, and perceived it was due to the 
 sharp whisk of the creature's scaly and massive 
 tail ; nor did the blows cease till, in sheer horror, 
 she dropped the purdah and fled to the other side 
 of the chamber, where, piling the cushions one on 
 top of another, she strove to make a place of 
 safety for herself. 
 
 The situation was indeed a terrible one, for the 
 creature lay at the foot of the purdah as if 
 guarding the door, its fearful eyes rolling to- 
 wards her, their never-ceasing vigilance interrupted 
 only for a moment by the quick movement of the 
 lids, while its flail-like tail was frequently jerked 
 back and forward as if to warn her of its 
 
LILIAN. 285 
 
 readiness to meet any hostile demonstration on 
 her part. 
 
 Horrible as it was for the unfortunate girl to 
 have been thrown thus suddenly into the power of 
 the profligate Secunder Khan, many of whose 
 words and looks, incomprehensible as they had 
 been at the time, now came back to her only too 
 distinctly, bearing with them their full significance, 
 it seemed indeed a barbarous aggravation of 
 cruelty to force on her the companionship of such 
 a creature as this, in the close and stuffy atmos- 
 phere of that little room. For a moment she gave 
 way to absolute despair, but after a short space of 
 agonised watching, finding that the loathsome 
 animal appeared inclined to leave her in peace, 
 Lilian tried to take a calm view of her position, 
 and to estimate the chance of her ever escaping 
 from what she felt certain was a trap laid for her 
 by the wily Mahomedan. Of him personally she 
 had had only that cruel glimpse when she lay 
 within his arms amid the smoke-wreaths at the 
 shrine in the temple, for he had been careful to 
 
286 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 avoid showing himself ; but she had recognised his 
 voice directing the movements of his myrmidons, 
 and could only too easily guess at the reason of 
 her sudden incarceration in the chamber into 
 which she had been so ruthlessly forced. It was 
 too dreadful a position for the miserable and for- 
 saken girl ; yet, to have fallen into the meshes of 
 this villain through the treacherous conduct of 
 the Brahmin — for Lilian could not doubt that so it 
 had occurred — was perhaps only a just retribution 
 on her for having ventured so far to tamper with 
 holy things, and she could but acknowledge in her 
 wretched self-questionings that she had in some 
 measure deserved the fate that threatened her. 
 
 But Lilian Langford was young, and, whatever 
 her fault might have been, she could hardly sup- 
 press the hope that even yet she might be delivered 
 from this terrible danger. Were not her own ser- 
 vants — a whole dozen or so of them — within call at 
 the very door of the mysterious house into which 
 she had been cozened ? Could she but make 
 them aware of her dreadful strait they would 
 
LILIAA. 287 
 
 surely use some effort to release her and carry her 
 off. Yet how to reach them ? The door was im- 
 practicable, she knew, and the monster with the 
 never-sleeping eyes guarded it with jealous care. 
 Still, there must be a window somewhere, and 
 through it she might communicate with her own 
 people and call on them for help in distress. 
 
 Cogitating thus she heard, amid the stillness of 
 the night, the well-known voice of the sirdar- 
 bearer chatting with the others, and expressing 
 profound dissatisfaction at her prolonged absence. 
 
 " No, brothers," he said, " we have been ordered 
 to remain here at present, but my mind misgives 
 me altogether, and I know not what to think." 
 
 "If only we had Bhagut with us," exclaimed one 
 of the men, " he would give us the right orders." 
 
 " Bhagut has been purposely left behind, my 
 brother," muttered the head bearer, "and I am 
 certain mischief is intended to our young mistress. 
 Pass the pipe round, for I must consider well what 
 is necessary." 
 
 " We are not fighting men," said the other, " and 
 
288 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 cannot be expected to do anything against these 
 budmashes." 
 
 " That is true," answered the sirdar, " and I 
 recommend that we get some sleep while we can, 
 so as to be fresh and ready for work when the 
 morning comes. What say you, brothers ? " 
 
 " Hah, hah, sirdar ! " they assented. " Let us 
 sleep now, at any rate, for who knows what will 
 come with the morning? You are right there — 
 let us seek a safe shelter for sleep ! " 
 
 Their voices became lost in the distance and they 
 were gone. What would Lilian not have given to 
 communicate with them — to gain their assistance, 
 poor cowards though they were, in her dire neces- 
 sity ? 
 
 Behind the hangings which shrouded the walls 
 of her little prison-room she felt sure there must be 
 a concealed window, and, on looking up, a hollow 
 space became apparent at a point to which, on 
 account of her height, she could just reach with 
 her finger-tips by standing on the pile of cushions ; 
 but the opening was so small and deeply sunk as 
 
LILIAN. 289 
 
 to be practically useless, for it would not allow her 
 hand to pass out, having innumerable bars running 
 across it, and she could not go anywhere near 
 touching it with her mouth in order to make her- 
 self heard outside. It was, in truth, the barred 
 loophole of a prison, and as the girl after one or 
 two fruitless attempts sank down half fainting on 
 the soft pillows below, and became aware of the 
 rapid movement towards her of the reptile with its 
 never-resting tail, which again struck her repeated 
 blows, she gave herself up for lost, and for the 
 moment, half in despair, determined to wait, reserv- 
 ing her strength for any supreme effort that might 
 be imposed on her. 
 
 Terribly fatigued, it was not long before sleep, 
 much as she had dreaded it, overpowered her, and 
 the first faint morning light had come into the sky 
 ere she was wakened by a slap from the broad tail 
 of her unwelcome companion, whom she found in 
 the act of making one of its strange and lumbering 
 peregrinations round the little apartment. Sitting 
 
 upon her cushions she was startled to see the pur- 
 
 U 
 
290 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 dah swayed to one side, and next instant to find 
 herself confronted by the man whom of all she 
 most dreaded and detested — Secunder Khan. 
 
 Very handsome the young Mahomedan looked, 
 his dark face somewhat flushed, his curling hair 
 and beard beautifully trimmed and glossy, his 
 crimson and gold pugaree set jauntily on one side, 
 his pure white dress relieved only by a waistband 
 also of red and gold, like the head-gear — a contrast, 
 truly, to the worn and wearied girl, with tangled 
 hair and disordered clothes, whom he had at his 
 mercy in that prison-room that he had contrived 
 for her. 
 
 As he bowed in a half-gracious, half-triumphant 
 way before her, his words at any rate were polite if 
 somewhat bold. 
 
 " I hope you have rested," he said, " and have 
 found these cushions as soft as the English 
 mattresses on which your fair form generally re- 
 clines ? " 
 
 Lilian eyed him with disdain, but answered 
 nothing. 
 
LILIAN. 291 
 
 " And this pet of mine," he continued, laying 
 hold of the lizard's tail and drawing the animal 
 towards him, " I am sure he guarded you affection- 
 ately, lying at his usual post near the door, and 
 effectually preventing any passage through it either 
 from without, or — from within ! " 
 
 In saying this he smiled significantly — and a 
 cruel smile it was. 
 
 Still Lilian, her hollow eyes flaming with anger 
 and detestation, maintained silence, determined, 
 as it seemed, to trample underfoot his unworthy 
 assumption of equality with her, and to treat his 
 proffered favours with contumely. 
 
 " You recollect," he went on, after a moment, 
 " how I conjured the Colonel-sahib to allow me to 
 protect you if danger threatened, for that I had the 
 means to save you if I chose to use them ? " 
 
 He waited for a reply, but still all his victim did 
 was to flout his question with a hasty movement 
 of the hand. 
 
 " And the sahib and you accepted my poor 
 
 service," speaking with something of a sneer; "and 
 
 U 2 
 
292 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 indeed were most eager to swear me to it on the 
 holy Koran." 
 
 "You dastard and coward!" burst forth Lilian, 
 unable longer to restrain herself; "you lie in this 
 as you have done in so many other things, false as 
 you are to every tie of truth and honour ! " 
 
 The young villain again smiled cynically, secretly 
 pleased that he had roused her anger and put her 
 on her mettle. 
 
 "Gently, gently, . Missy-baba ! " he murmured. 
 " Be in no hurry to disown our compact or to 
 reject the service of your slave, for the time of 
 peril has come, and even now, perchance, your 
 uncle — though may Allah protect him ! — is riding 
 out to meet his doom." 
 
 He paused, watching closely the effect on her of 
 his cruel words. 
 
 " You know this ! " she exclaimed. Then draw- 
 ing herself up and throwing a withering glance at 
 him, " But why listen to such a liar, or combat 
 his villainous assertions? That would be simply 
 throwing time away ! " 
 
LILIAN. 293 
 
 " Perhaps," he observed quietly. " If it is so you 
 may be the best judge and I an ignoramus." 
 
 Lilian could not help betraying great uneasiness, 
 though she strove bravely to suppress it. 
 
 "For all the English at Jahmere, who have 
 hitherto been the lords of the earth, this is the 
 day of trial," he continued ; " the day of trial, 
 hastened and brought about by your obstinacy 
 and rashness ; and to you, yourself, Missy-baba, 
 it brings a bad kismut if you refuse the conditions 
 proffered to you." 
 
 The unhappy girl, weakened as she was by the 
 events of the night, exhausted by the heat and the 
 shock of her ignoble imprisonment in that little 
 room, was ill-fitted to combat him ; yet she held 
 out bravely, repudiating what she thought his 
 words conveyed with all her strength. 
 
 " The conditions proffered," she said, shuddering, 
 " were horrible and unnatural — such, indeed, as it 
 was a crime to propose to me — a wickedness to 
 think of." 
 
 " As you please," he rejoined, with a shrug ; 
 
294 THE BOW OF FATE, 
 
 " but I spoke not so much of what is past as of 
 what is to come." 
 
 Lilian's eyes stared at him, showing only wonder 
 as to the exact meaning of what he hinted at. 
 
 "Tis useless to conceal," he went on more 
 rapidly, " the extreme danger of your position — a 
 danger increased threefold by your own absurd 
 conduct at the temple, which has, indeed, but 
 hurried on the catastrophe that was inevitable." 
 
 She hung upon his words now, showing how 
 intensely they interested her, and Secunder Khan 
 could not help feeling deeply flattered by her atten- 
 tion. 
 
 " Placed as you are," he continued, with a signifi- 
 cance that jarred on her ear, "in this desperate 
 peril — a peril on which it is not necessary to en- 
 large, but from which I can assure you I, who am 
 your humble slave, can alone rescue you — you 
 have but to trust me, and all will be well." 
 
 " Trust you ! " she cried, as if in a dream. " Trust 
 you ! " 
 
 The Mahomedan laughed below his breath. 
 
LILIAN. 295 
 
 " Why not trust me, my pretty lady ? " he asked, 
 approaching a step nearer and speaking in his 
 softest tone ; " I have said I will redeem my 
 promise, and I speak truth. You shall be saved 
 from the fate of all the English ; amid the general 
 massacre you alone shall live, untouched, unharmed 
 — nay, honoured and bowed down to, inasmuch as 
 you will be with me — and I shall be a Prince ! " 
 
 " You — a Prince ! and I — with you ! " exclaimed 
 Lilian, shrinking back to the farthest corner and 
 regarding him with a horror she made no attempt 
 to conceal. 
 
 " Did you expect my protection for absolutely 
 no consideration ? " he asked, still pursuing her and 
 attempting to take her hand. " I am kind and 
 merciful, no doubt, yet there is a temptation I 
 cannot withstand, and Allah has placed it before 
 me now, in your lovely eyes, in your soft cheeks, 
 in your houri-like form, that seems to promise me 
 a foretaste of Paradise ! " 
 
 With his full eyes gloating upon her, with both 
 hands outstretched to seize her, he strove to take 
 
296 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 her in his arms, thinking that now, at least, he had 
 gained the price of all his intrigues, of all his lying, 
 of ail his double-dyed treachery. But the blood of 
 her Rajpoot mother not less than that of her brave 
 English father failed not, even in this direst of 
 straits, to aid the defenceless girl in the struggle 
 for more than life in which she was thus cruelly 
 and suddenly involved. 
 
 " Villain ! " she cried, drawing herself up and 
 turning on him a long withering look. " Cowardly 
 scoundrel ! Do you dare attempt to touch me — to 
 look at me — to speak to me so ? " 
 
 " Hah! hah !" he laughed. "That is a very pretty 
 air of yours, my sweet Missy-baba, but its effect is 
 only to embolden me the more. Come, resist not 
 uselessly — ^wql me at least your warm hand in 
 mine ! " 
 
 Saying that, and assuming his most seductive 
 smile, he seized her long slender fingers with his 
 own, drawing her forcibly towards him, and allowi-ng 
 her to realise by the strength of his grasp what 
 little chance she had of escaping his embraces. 
 
LILIAN. 297 
 
 " Dearest ! " he murmured, about to kiss her 
 " The blest moment I have so patiently awaited 
 has come, for has not a kind Allah delivered you 
 to me, willing that we may be happy together for 
 evermore ? " 
 
 " Vilest of the vile ! " shrieked the wretched girl 
 in a voice of anguish, drawing away her hand and 
 thrusting it into her bosom. " Thank God, there is 
 one weapon left to me — one safeguard in this ter- 
 rible extremity that even you, miscreant that you 
 are, can hardly rob me df." 
 
 " You do not mean," he exclaimed, rapidly re- 
 treating a step or two and unsheathing his tulwar 
 " that you are armed ? One knows strange things 
 of the English mem-sahibs, but hardly such a mar- 
 vel as that." 
 
 " I fight not with men, or with demons such as 
 you!" she replied, forcibly breaking open the sacred 
 phial that had been entrusted to her by the Brah- 
 min, which, hitherto concealed in the folds of her 
 dress, she had now drawn forth. " So put up your 
 sword and fear not. Armed I am, but 'tis against 
 
298 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 myself alone, though with you will rest the honour 
 of having hurried me, with all my sins and imper- 
 fections upon me, into the awful presence of the 
 God of the Christians ! " 
 
 She smiled faintly upon him, then placed the 
 glittering phial at her lips, and, before he could 
 reach her, drained it well-nigh to the dregs. 
 
 The lizard darted to the door, switching its tail 
 with a vigour that proved it to be more than 
 usually disturbed, and Secunder Khan, horrified at 
 what he had seen, was leaning forward towards the 
 unfortunate girl lying poisoned before him, when a 
 crash took place, the purdah was suddenly plucked 
 aside, and a man entered with a rush, travel- 
 stained, hatless, his drawn sword in his hand. 
 
 In that moment Lilian knew that he for whose 
 love she had so long hungered was close to her, 
 that the stranger who had penetrated to the scene 
 of her terrible trial was no other than her adored 
 cousin — Walter Spencer ! 
 
CHAPTER XVIIl. 
 
 A RUINED HOME. 
 
 The two men glared at each other for some 
 seconds without speaking, for Seconder Khan had 
 turned round sharply on hearing the disturbance 
 at the door, and faced young Spencer in consider- 
 able amazement, while the latter, seeing the naked 
 tulwar in his hand and the miserable Lilian at his 
 feet, concluded he was despatching her in his 
 ferocious anger. 
 
 " Ruffian, to murder women ! " he exclaimed. 
 " Am I too late to save her from your cruel 
 blade ? " 
 
 " Too late to save her ? Yes ! " cried the 
 Mahomedan, making a desperate cut at him which 
 he parried with some difficulty. " Too late to save 
 her from herself, the poisoned wretch — too late to 
 
300 THE BOW OF FATE, 
 
 give her the heaven on earth she had promised 
 herself as your ivife ! " 
 
 He pressed the young officer back foot by foot, 
 for Spencer felt totally unable to withstand the 
 ferocity of his attack, and had actually touched 
 the wall behind ere he could get his weapon suffi- 
 ciently into play to check the onslaught. 
 
 " By Allah, I have you now ! " hissed the 
 Mahomedan, drawing through the air his keen 
 blade, red as it already was with Spencer's blood, 
 and slashing furiously at his head. "In the name 
 
 of the Prophet " 
 
 " Die ! " yelled the young Englishman, with one 
 desperate lunge passing his sword up to the hilt 
 through the body of his adversary, and in falling 
 forward with the effort just escaping the edge of 
 the tulwar as it dropped from the nerveless hand 
 that had wielded it. " Die, traitor ! as those should 
 die who have broken their oaths and been false to 
 their vows of fidelity, sworn though they were on 
 all they held to be holiest and most sacred ! " 
 The warm heart's blood of Secunder Khan 
 
A RUINED HOME. 301 
 
 spurted in a drenching flood over Spencer's arm 
 as he withdrew his long blade and cast the still 
 palpitating body to one side, and when the young 
 Mahomedan's eyes turned up in the last agony 
 towards him, expressing ere they closed for ever 
 the extremest hatred of which they were capable, 
 while his brow contracted and his jaw set in the 
 death struggle, the young Englishman felt a certain 
 satisfaction in having brought to account a villain 
 of the full extent of whose misdeeds towards his 
 cousin he was at present, indeed, not fully in- 
 formed. 
 
 Turning breathlessly to her corner he perceived 
 how ill she appeared, while yet maintaining a brave 
 struggle with the unknown malady that oppressed 
 her. 
 
 " Ah, Walter ! " cried the poor girl, as he took 
 her hand and gazed wonderingly into her face. 
 " Are you hurt — has that villain wounded you ? " 
 
 " Nothing much, Lily — a mere scratch," he 
 answered. " But what is the meaning of all this ? 
 When riding past by chance on my way from 
 
302 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 Ahtabad I was stopped by your sirdar, who said 
 the palki was here waiting for you, but that you had 
 been carried into the upper part of the house — into 
 this den in fact — by that scoundrel there." 
 
 She put her hand to her forehead and stole a 
 glance at the body lying on its back, as if half 
 afraid the Mahomedan might even yet rise from the 
 floor in a final effort ; but, seeing all movement 
 had ceased, she drew a sigh of relief, and shading 
 her face from the lamp-light, spoke to him. 
 
 " I have but little time left for explanation, 
 Walter, and even now my sight is dimming and I 
 seem hardly to hear all you say." 
 
 For a moment she paused ; then noting how 
 completely he was puzzled, with an effort she con- 
 tinued, still grasping his hand. 
 
 " You should be told how it was I went to the 
 temple, how I was seized there by that wretch and 
 conducted to this house, then hurried up from the 
 palki for his own purposes into this miserable 
 prison-room, where I have spent some terrible hours, 
 my only companion the reptile — where is it now? — 
 
A RUINED HOME, 303 
 
 whose tail drove me by its unearthly switching 
 from one point to another." 
 
 For an instant she made an effort to rise, but 
 immediately fell back upon the pillows. 
 
 " How the room turns round ! " she murmured. 
 " Hold me, Walter ! There — I cannot stand, and 
 yet — ah ! that terrible reptile again ! " 
 
 The huge lizard rushed past them at this 
 moment, lashing out with its tail all dripping with 
 its master's blood, which it sputtered on to her in 
 a red shower of horrid drops ; but the action roused 
 her from the lethargy that was stealing over her, 
 and brought back her mind to the story she was 
 telling. 
 
 " Then he came — he, the base, the infamous one, 
 with his fair promises of safety and his invitations 
 to me to trust him. But — ah — I cannot go on — 
 and you can guess the rest, I think ! " 
 
 Yet Walter Spencer found it difficult even now 
 to comprehend her full meaning. 
 
 " I gathered," he said, " that you were not 
 touched — that he had spared you ! And yet — but 
 
304 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 he lied, of course ! My poor, darling Lily — only 
 to think of this ! " 
 
 A faint smile came over her beautiful face. 
 
 " No, Walter ! " she whispered, drawing him to- 
 wards her, for her head ached terribly, and a 
 drowsiness against which she vainly struggled 
 oppressed her. " No, he spoke truly in that— and 
 yet — I am dying — dying ! " 
 
 " Dying ! " he exclaimed, peering more closely 
 at her and striving to rouse her to the ne- 
 cessity of action. " Dying ! — what can you 
 mean ? " 
 
 His eye was caught at the moment by the 
 glitter of the phial which had fallen among the 
 cushions on which Lilian lay, and it required but 
 little further revelation to disclose to him the real 
 significance of her words. 
 
 " In my dire extremity," she murmured faintly, 
 "in my hopeless distress and danger, the only 
 chance of saving myself from the destroyer was to 
 take my own unhappy life. I had the means at 
 hand. Do you blame me for using them, Walter?" 
 
A RUINED HOME. 305 
 
 " This strange-looking phial," he said, taking it 
 up hastily, " may explain what you say." 
 
 " I can hardly see it," she went on, " for oh — this 
 sleep overpowers me. Walter ! — Walter ! are you 
 there ? Have you come back to me, my love ? " 
 
 " Yes, yes ! " he cried, supporting her head with 
 his arm, for a strange spasm came over her, and she 
 lay back as if in a trance. " Darling Lily, rouse 
 up, and you may yet be preserved! " 
 
 The lizard scuttled round and struck her with its 
 tail, for Spencer had dropped his sword, intent only 
 on devoting himself to the dying girl, so that the 
 creature had lost the dread his presence had at 
 first inspired in it. 
 
 She shivered again, and for a moment her whole 
 frame was convulsed. 
 
 Then a serene smile came over her face, and 
 
 she gently breathed out a few more words — happy 
 
 words they were, though difficult even for his ear 
 
 to catch. 
 
 " Yes, you have returned from your ride — 
 
 from you long ride — Walter — my love — Walter! 
 
 X 
 
3o6 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 You are back safe and well. I am glad — very 
 glad ! " 
 
 " Lily ! " he exclaimed, as she ceased for a 
 moment, 
 
 " Brave Walter ! " she wont on ; "I may love 
 you — now ! May I tell you how I love you ? — 
 Walter ! " 
 
 " My dearest one ! " he cried in an agony of 
 distress. 
 
 " You are back — yet it is useless — useless to 
 me — my love ! A minute sooner, and, ah, how 
 different it might have been ! " 
 
 " This is too much ! " he murmured. " Could I 
 but call assistance something might be done." 
 
 Her voice was fast failing — her hand and arm 
 shook nervelessly in his grasp. 
 
 " Think kindly of me, love ! " she gasped out. 
 " Whatever you hear, whatever they may say, 
 believe I was not all bad ! Tell Edith how I loved 
 you, how I would have lived for you — lived for 
 you — and died for you ! Aye, 'tis for your dear 
 sake, for the love I bear you, I have died ! Only 
 
A RUINED HOME. 307 
 
 that it was that gave me strength to drink, in that 
 terrible moment, the draught which was to preserve 
 me, to save me from dishonour, to keep me pure, 
 for you, Walter ! " 
 
 He could bear it no longer, and would have left 
 her to seek what aid he could, but she held him 
 with her dying grasp, and softly breathed her last 
 farewell. 
 
 "Good-bye, dear love!" she said. "Good-bye for 
 evermore! I cannot — cannot see you — but I know 
 you are there ! * Kiss me — my own Walter — kiss 
 me before I leave you ! " 
 
 He stooped down and kissed her forehead. 
 
 " Darling ! " she murmured faintly ; " dearest 
 love, I go. Walter ! Walter " 
 
 She fell back completely prostrate, a strong 
 convulsion so shaking her whole frame that 
 Spencer could not longer support her ; nor 
 did she speak again, though her heavy breath- 
 ing showed how unwilling her young life was to 
 leave her. 
 
 At this moment the h'zard made another of its 
 
 X 2 
 
3o8 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 rapid circuits round the room, but, the touch of its 
 unwieldy tail making no more impression on the 
 dying girl than on the dead trunk of its late 
 master, it seemed as though its interest in the little 
 apartment was gone, and it ended its gyrations at 
 the purdah, behind which, thrusting its huge head 
 and finding the door open, it flopped down the 
 staircase and passed, all besmeared with blood as it 
 was, into the open street. 
 
 Free to move, yet dreading to leave her, Walter 
 Spencer rose, and, taking in hand his sword, fol- 
 lowed the lead thus given him ; nor was he sorry, 
 after the sad passages he had experienced, to 
 breathe again the pure air beneath the open sky, 
 and to look on other sights than that distressing one 
 he had just left. Yet the respite was but momen- 
 tary, and his point was gained when he had pro- 
 cured some fresh water and had laid hold of two or 
 three of Lilian's bearers, now rapidly collecting 
 round the palki which stood under a shady banyan 
 tree not far from the house where she lay. There 
 was intense excitement among them, for the lizard 
 
A RUINED HOME. 309 
 
 had just dashed by, giving more than one a sharp 
 slap with its tail. 
 
 " And your honour saw that sheitan !" exclaimed 
 the sirdar, " begrimed with blood as it was — the 
 blood of some victim it had torn to death." 
 
 " Nonsense ! " said Spencer, knowing the igno- 
 rance and credulity of these people. "It was no 
 devil you saw, but only a lizard that had escaped 
 from the very room where your loved mistress now 
 is dying." 
 
 " Dying ! " cried the man. " My mem-sahib 
 dying ? But no wonder if that demon has been 
 with her." 
 
 " The demon that attacked her was a far more 
 barbarous one than that poor reptile," responded 
 the young officer, as they hurriedly mounted the 
 stairs ; " but you will see him in a moment, for he 
 lies slain as all traitors should — caught in the very 
 trap he had contrived for your innocent young mis- 
 tress." 
 
 Though but a couple of minutes had elapsed since 
 he had left her, Spencer found Lilian far beyond 
 
3IO THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 any earthly assistance, being indeed at the last ex- 
 fjremity, and, even as he tenderly raised her and 
 sprinkled over her face some of the water he had 
 brought, the sleep that had oppressed her gave 
 way to the deeper sleep of Death, and she passed 
 without a struggle to the unknown world that 
 was destined in that dark and gloomy time to 
 receive so many of those who, like her, were cut 
 off in the midst of their youth and health and 
 happiness. 
 
 " Can it be that she is gone ? " cried the young 
 man, distractedly. " Has she really left me thus ? 
 Ah, Lilian, my love, my love ! " 
 
 The timid bearers looked askance at the dead 
 Secunder Khan, half dreading to see him rise from 
 the floor ; but Spencer regarded them not, so ab- 
 sorbed was he in his terrible loss. Kneeling there 
 beside the dead girl, of whose deep devotion to him 
 he had only in the moment of losing her become 
 fully aware, he swore to himself that while life 
 should last he would be true to her dear memory, 
 and would cherish in his inmost heart her noble 
 
A RUINED HOME. 311 
 
 image for evermore. Then at length he rose, pale 
 and haggard, and spoke to those around him. 
 
 " Fear him not," he said, glancing at the native 
 officer's body, " he will never trouble you again ; 
 but help me here, for I need assistance, and \vc must 
 convey your darling young mem-sahib home." 
 
 " And she is dead ! " exclaimed the sirdar. " The 
 Missy-baba is really dead ? " 
 
 " You see she is dead — that she has ceased to 
 breathe," cried the young officer, looking down at 
 her tenderly. 
 
 " Sahib ! " exclaimed the head bearer, joining to- 
 gether his hands in supplication ; " she was a dear 
 kind mistress to us, truly a Gem of women. We are 
 her humble slaves and yours, but ask us not to touch 
 her, for that you know would be a great injury to 
 us ! " 
 
 Spencer eyed him for a moment with disdain. 
 
 " Wretched creature! " he cried ; " I had forgotten 
 to whom I was speaking, but you are not fit to share 
 this duty with me. Leave me alone, then, to per- 
 form it as best I may ! " 
 
312 THE ROW OF FATE. 
 
 The fellow turned to his companions, and they 
 whispered together a few minutes. 
 
 " Friend of the Poor," he said next, turning to 
 Spencer in his most respectful attitude, " we would 
 do all we can to assist your honour, and to show our 
 regard for the dear Missy-baba : may we then bring 
 the palki up here, so that you may place her in 
 it?" 
 
 " That you may," replied the young officer, 
 pleased at the thoughtfulness of the man, and 
 glad of this aid : " then we can take her straight 
 away to the cantonment." 
 
 By the time his melancholy preparations had 
 been made, and Spencer had regretfully and 
 lovingly wrapped the dead Lilian in two of the 
 shawls that lay in the corner of the little chamber, 
 the morning had far advanced and the sun was 
 high ; yet the bearers carried their precious burden 
 with gentle consideration down the narrow stair, 
 and waited with patience under the banyan tree 
 while the young officer untethered his horse and 
 made all ready to start. 
 
A RUINED HOME. 313 
 
 Spencer had half feared interruption from 
 Secunder Khan's followers, but no one save an 
 old woman who had charge of the house appeared, 
 and the little procession started on its way un- 
 molested. 
 
 " Your master lies stiff and cold in the room up 
 there," said the young Englishman to the house- 
 keeper, as he rode slowly off. " You can guess the 
 reason why, I think, without difficulty ! " 
 
 The hag gave a grunt, and threw up her hands 
 somewhat theatrically ; then salaamed low. 
 
 " Great lord ! " she cried, " I can but too well 
 conjecture how it happened. He was a good 
 master to me, but when the bearers told me just 
 now what they had seen I marvelled not at it." 
 
 So she had already learned the main features of 
 the tragedy enacted in that little room, and, with 
 the strange acquiescence of her race in the inevit- 
 able, philosophically set it down to " kismut," not 
 questioning for a moment the right or wrong of it. 
 
 When, after a long and weary journey, Spencer 
 and his little party arrived at the cantonment, they 
 
314 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 discovered to their amazement the utmost confusion 
 on every hand, and it needed no further evidence 
 than their own eyesight to tell them what had 
 happened ; but, though they found the bungalows 
 in ruins, the church still smouldering, albeit its 
 substantial walls had withstood the action of the 
 fire and looked gaunt and weird amid the de- 
 solation around, the point that struck them as 
 most extraordinary was the silence that prevailed 
 throughout, the solitude of the lines and of the 
 barracks, and the apparent total desertion of the 
 entire place by its inhabitants. Here and there, 
 it is true, a native servant might be seen lurking 
 about, unable to tear himself away from the 
 accustomed spot, or a bunniah of the bazar passed 
 furtively along and was lost to sight ere he could 
 be stopped to be questioned ; but Spencer could 
 obtain no information beyond a shake of the head 
 from the one or two persons whom he hailed, and 
 found it the best course to push on straight tc 
 Colonel Scott's bungalow. 
 
 On passing in through the well-known gateway 
 
A RUINED HOME. 315 
 
 it was apparent the mutineers had not treated the 
 gallant old officer's quarters with more consider- 
 ation than the other bungalows near it, for a 
 smoking ruin was all that was left of the house that 
 had ever held out a warm and cheery welcome to 
 those who, whatever their race or station, had 
 sought his succour or advice. It was evident, too, 
 that the place had been looted as well as burnt, 
 for fragments of furniture, of dress, of written and 
 printed papers, and of innumerable other things 
 lay scattered about in the wildest confusion ; while, 
 in the midst, lying on its side, might be seen the 
 poor Colonel's own favourite chair, sitting in which 
 he had been accustomed to hold his friendly talks 
 with the native officers of his own and other corps, 
 whom he loved to meet in this social manner, and 
 who had with one consent dubbed him the Pro- 
 tector of the Friendless, the Cherisher of the Poor. 
 Here again Spencer was met and perplexed by 
 the absolute silence of the scene. The bearers, 
 from the long course of habit, brought their burden 
 to the edge of the verandah, and there, with a 
 
3i6 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " Ram ! ram ! " softly deposited it ; yet such a rest- 
 ing-place seemed highly unsatisfactory, and it was 
 necessary to seek further information without delay. 
 Dismounting, and attempting to pass in by the 
 large doorway, Spencer stumbled over an object 
 that he found on examining closely to be the body 
 of an old man — no other, in fact, than that of 
 Bhagut, the bearer, who had evidently, by the 
 marks on his person and clothes, been bayoneted 
 to death. The left arm lay helplessly stretched 
 out on the floor, while in the other hand, which 
 was concealed below him, the young officer found 
 a parcel of jewellery that had doubtless belonged 
 to the unfortunate Lilian, and it looked as if while 
 saving it from the clutches of the sepoys the 
 faithful servant had met his death. Such, indeed, 
 Spencer was presently informed had been the fact, 
 for at that moment he heard a faint voice near him, 
 and on looking up recognised the ayah, Chahni, 
 standing beside him the very image of despair. 
 
 " Ah, sahib ! " she cried, wringing her hands pite- 
 ously, " no wonder you look miserable. This is 
 
A RUINED HOME. 317 
 
 indeed a day of weeping and lamentation — a time 
 when one prays to be dead, for is there anything 
 left to make life worth living ? You have brought 
 indeed the body of my darling mistress, but her soul 
 has fled. Oh ! woe and misery unspeakable ! " 
 
 " My poor Chahni !" replied Spencer, for he knew 
 her well, and how deeply she had loved his lost 
 Lilian. " I am glad to see you at any rate un- 
 harmed amid all this wreck ; but they would never 
 kill women like you, I should hope." 
 
 " Sahib, I did not trust them," she went on, still 
 weeping bitterly ; " and when they surged up to the 
 bungalow singing their turbulent songs and swear- 
 ing the good kind Colonel-sahib was murdered 
 that Delmar-sahib's head had been cut off, and that 
 they would also have the Missy-baba out, I con- 
 cealed myself in my hut yonder, lying perfectly 
 still." 
 
 " The Colonel dead ! " cried Spencer. " Can that 
 be true, I wonder ? And poor Delmar, also ! " 
 
 The ayah mournfully resumed, shaking her head 
 sadly : 
 
3i8 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " They searched roughly and rapidly, but of 
 course, poor dear Missy, they did not find her ! 
 Then Bhagut, who had been crying half the night 
 at her unaccountable absence, was glad she was not 
 here, and, being emboldened by this knowledge, ran 
 before them into her room to try to save some of 
 her valuables." 
 
 " The brave old fellow ! " exclaimed Spencer, as 
 she stopped for a moment. 
 
 " He would have done anything for her, sahib," 
 continued the ayah, " for he loved Missy Lilian as 
 his own child, and was dreadfully troubled about 
 her." 
 
 " Was he ?" asked the young officer, anxiously. 
 
 " Hah, sahib," she replied, " and said something 
 about his having been deceived — but that / could 
 not understand it." 
 
 " Well— and then ? " 
 
 " Then they caught him, and set upon him fu- 
 riously, and stabbed him to death with their bayo- 
 nets. Ah ! it was horrible ; and I saw it all — 
 crouching down in my hut over there ! " 
 
A RUINED HOME. 319 
 
 She held up her hands with the palms outwards, 
 turning aside her face at the remembrance. 
 
 " Quickly," she continued " they fired the bunga- 
 low, for there was an alarm of someone approaching, 
 and they cleared off as rapidly as they had come." 
 
 " Cowards ! " cried Spencer through his set 
 teeth. 
 
 " It was the Pathan, Ghoolam Ali Khan, and his 
 men that appeared," said the ayah ; " and they told 
 me not to fear, for they were going to rest under the 
 big peepul tree over there till they had definite 
 orders from the Captain-sahib." 
 
 " They meant Slingsby, no doubt," observed 
 Spencer, looking across the garden in the direction 
 indicated by the faithful ayah. " Ah ! here comes 
 the Pathan, and I shall hear more exactly the state 
 of affairs." 
 
 The grim and savage looking Ghoolam Ali ap- 
 proached, his hair and beard all dishevelled and the 
 tail of his pugaree drooping on his shoulder. 
 
 " Salaam, sahib ! " he said, suiting the action to 
 the word, and offering his sword-hilt to be touched. 
 
320 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 " Your servant is at your honour's orders in all 
 things." 
 
 " No, my friend," replied Spencer, " you are under 
 Captain Slingsby. But, tell me, why are you here 
 and not with him ? " 
 
 " There is little room for the horses at the 
 Treasury, where all the sahib-logue are," answered 
 the man, " and I suggested to the Captain-sahib 
 that we might be of use in helping stray fugitives 
 on their way by remaining in the cantonment, so he 
 gave us orders accordingly." 
 
 " Very sensible indeed," observed Spencer. " Then 
 the Treasury is where they are all gone for the 
 present? " 
 
 " Ha, sahib," replied the Pathan, " and from what 
 I can learn a grand attack by all the forces is to 
 take place this evening, for the Nawab has sworn 
 to capture the place and to put all within it to the 
 sword." 
 
 " You seem to have accurate information of what 
 is going on," said Spencer, " and, I suppose, have 
 a spy at work." 
 
A RUINED HOME. 321 
 
 " My own, brother, sahib," whispered Ghoolam 
 AH, " is now actually in the heart of the enemy's 
 camp for the second time to day, disguised as a 
 fakir. Within an hour or two he should return 
 with full intelligence, and this I will communicate 
 to you without a moment's delay." 
 
 " That is excellent," rejoined Spencer, highly 
 pleased with the man's fidelity and shrewdness. 
 " Now, how many lances can you command ? for I 
 shall probably call on you for help before the night 
 arrives." 
 
 The Pathan's eyes flashed with delight. 
 
 " A dozen good men are ready to follow you to 
 the death, Cherisher of the Poor ! " he exclaimed. 
 " They are sleeping now, but you have only to 
 summon them, and they will respond like echoes to 
 your voice." 
 
 " Good, my friend," replied Spencer, pleased so 
 far as was possible at the other's eagerness. " I 
 think I see an opportunity for them, and meantime 
 you and I had better follow their example, and 
 get a little rest." 
 
322 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 The Pathan took his leave, and, after a hurried 
 mouthful of chuppatties and milk, the first food he 
 had tasted that day, the young officer lay down 
 hoping to snatch a momentary oblivion of the 
 terrible loss that had blighted all his plans of happi- 
 ness. But it was in vain, and at length he gave up 
 the attempt, determining to drink to the very dregs, 
 during that never-to-be-forgotten night, the cup of 
 grief that had so suddenly and unexpectedly been 
 presented to him. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 AT THK TREASURY. 
 
 The sun had set in a haze of heat, yet it seemed 
 the night was to be a light one, for a glorious 
 moon threw her full though softened beams upon 
 the scene. The flashes of the guns were very ap- 
 parent, and the line of musketry-fire became more 
 marked and distinct as the enemy rapidly advanced 
 and swarmed boldly round the old serai in thou- 
 sands, attempting to destroy its defenders with 
 their storm of missiles, and to overwhelm them by 
 their fierce and determined assault. The shots 
 from their heavy pieces, run up now to within fifty 
 yards of the position, crashed with a fearful noise 
 through the vaulted chambers, crowded as they 
 were by the helpless women and children brought 
 thus suddenly face to face with death, bringing 
 
 Y 2 
 
324 THE BOW OF FAl E. 
 
 down quantities of shattered brick and other debris 
 with them, and frequently producing hideous and 
 horrible wounds. The mortars dropped shells 
 through the roofs, which, bursting in the rooms 
 below, caused even a greater terror and conster- 
 nation ; while a rain of rifle and musket balls pene- 
 trated where least expected, reaching the innermost 
 recesses, to which the weakly and the wounded 
 had retreated. 
 
 " This threatens to be more than we can stand," 
 cried Slingsby, rifle in hand, as he passed the 
 Artillery officer Annesley, hard at work, super- 
 intending his gunners. " I'm going to see the 
 General about making a diversion of some kind 
 with my Lancers, who are useless shut in here. 
 It's all very well to pick a few of these fellows 
 off with one's rifle, but we want to make a really 
 serious impression on them, and that without 
 delay." 
 
 " A very good idea, and the sooner it can be 
 carried out the better," replied the other, looking 
 up for a moment from the gun he was sighting 
 
AT THE TREASURY. 325 
 
 " The fact is we must have that gun, which they 
 have mounted since the morning, taken by some 
 means, or it will knock us to pieces. Ready — 
 fire ! " 
 
 " Bravo ! " sang out Slingsby, as the shot struck 
 the obnoxious piece, and for a time at any rate 
 put it out of action. " That's capital, and your 
 sighting " 
 
 But it was useless to continue, for the unfor- 
 tunate officer fell back insensible, shot through the 
 brain with a rifle-ball, the effect being so immediate 
 that he never moved again. 
 
 * Poor fellow ! " exclaimed Slingsby ; " and what 
 a serious loss ! Ah ! there's the General." 
 
 At this moment a sudden flash of irregular light 
 burst forth at the gate, accompanied by a low 
 boom that shook the earth, while a perfect tempest 
 of shot and shell rent the air, seeming to make it 
 impossible for any creature to live under it. This, 
 combined with the shouting and execrations of the 
 soldiers, the shrieking of the women and children, 
 the groans of the wounded and dying, the tumbling 
 
326 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 to pieces of huge masses of the masonry of the old 
 building loosened and shaken down by the bom- 
 bardment, and the rush forward through the par- 
 tially blown-in gateway of hundreds of the enemy, 
 made Slingsby recognise that not a moment must 
 be lost if the position were to be saved. Without 
 waiting for orders, therefore, he rapidly descended 
 into the square, mounted his horse, and, hastily 
 forming his Lancers into line, charged the seething 
 mass of assailants with fiery impetuosity. The 
 effect was instantaneous, for the enemy had not 
 thought of the possibility of a Cavalry charge, and 
 recoiled from it in consternation, leaving many of 
 their number prostrate and dying, while the main 
 body retreated from the gate amid a well-directed 
 and destructive fire from the rifles of the Red 
 Dirks. 
 
 " Right well done ! " shouted Slingsby, looking 
 over his shoulder and smiling grimly at the Seikhs. 
 " Now — form threes — forward ! " 
 
 They passed rapidly under the archway, once 
 clear of which their Captain drew them up in line 
 
AT THE TREASURY. 327 
 
 under the wall of the serai, and halted them for an 
 instant's breathing space. In front his practised 
 eye detected the retreating line of the enemy, and 
 noted the howdahs of more than one in authority 
 among them leading the way to a less exposed 
 position ; but even as he gazed an unaccountable 
 change came over them, the direction of their 
 movement altered, and a strange confusion seized 
 them. 
 
 This was the moment favourable for his purpose, 
 and Slingsby, putting up his glass, gave the word 
 to advance at a trot ; then, as they came within 
 charging distance, he dashed headlong at them, 
 the Seikhs shrieking wildly as they delivered their 
 impetuous attack. Each lance found a bloody 
 sheath for its point, and then tulwars were drawn 
 and proved even more effective in the hand-to-hand 
 fighting that ensued. 
 
 " Five thousand rupees to him who captures the 
 Nawab!" shouted Slingsby, as, at the head of some 
 half-dozen of his best men, among whom was 
 the old warrior Heera Singh ever to the fore he 
 
32« THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 penetrated far into the ranks of the enemy and 
 drew rein for the first time near a group of the 
 leaders of the insurgents. " Five thousand rupees 
 for the Nawab, dead or alive ! " 
 
 There was in the centre of the party they had just 
 come upon a young man, very handsomely dressed, 
 whom Slingsby shrewdly suspected to be the 
 pretended Prince himself Mounted on a hand- 
 some little bay Arab, the unfortunate youth had 
 ridden forth that evening deeming victory cer- 
 tain, for, as the well-equipped force under his 
 command advanced under cover of its big guns 
 to the attack, it seemed absurd to doubt that 
 the handful of English cooped up within the 
 serai, terribly burdened as it was with its women 
 and children, should be overborne and anni- 
 hilated by the hostile host. Yet, at the very 
 moment when victory seemed assured and the hated 
 usurpers must be finally swept from the earth and 
 exterminated, the sudden charge of the Seikhs had 
 inspired in the over-confident assailants a panic that 
 the example and exhortations of their leaders were 
 
AT THE TREASURY. 329 
 
 Utterly unable to check, changing their bold on- 
 slaught into a retreat to at any rate the temporary 
 shelter of the rising ground behind which their guns 
 had been originally stationed. There, probably, a 
 rally would have taken place, but that just as they 
 reached the desired position they were met by the 
 impetuous onset of another force, which, falling 
 like a flash of lightning on their flank and penetrat- 
 ing through and through their broken ranks, split 
 them up into three or four wavering masses, some 
 of the units of which made here and there a plucky 
 hand-to-hand resistance, but whose main constitu- 
 ents, happy as they had felt in their one-sided and 
 treacherous attack on the English in the morning, 
 had no stomach for a struggle in which the oppo- 
 nents appeared likely to take a bloody revenge on 
 them. 
 
 And, yet, had the Nawab and his army known 
 that the fierce assault which so shook them was 
 the charge of but a dozen wild Pathans under 
 the young Walter Spencer, they would not igno- 
 miniously have quailed before it, or wavered and 
 
330 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 broken in the manner that had so astonished 
 Slingsby. 
 
 The latter had hardly, he thought, made his offer 
 of reward heard amid the clamour and shouting, the 
 rattling of the musketry, the booming of the guns, 
 and was about to penetrate the flying group of horse- 
 men and attempt himself to seize the young fellow 
 who rode in their midst, when a weird and uncouth 
 figure, with unkempt hair and pugaree streaming out 
 behind, striding a wiry Caubul horse which he was 
 urging to its utmost speed, galloped up, and furi- 
 ously dashing at the Nawab struck at him with his 
 tulwar, and with a single stroke severed his head 
 from his body. 
 
 " Shabash ! " yelled the strange assailant, looking 
 round to see the effect of his blow, and pulling up at 
 last close to where Slingsby stood. " Shabash, 
 Nawab-Sahib ! That cut was not learnt in vain, 
 though I little thought I should practise it on so 
 eminent a neck as yours ! " 
 
 "Why, Ghoolam Ali," cried Slingsby, "this is a 
 lucky meeting ! But you are not alone, some of the 
 Fathans are with you ? " 
 
AT THE TREASURY. 331 
 
 " Salaam, sahib ! " exclaimed the other, delighted 
 to greet his commander at this auspicious moment. 
 " Pardon my charging up so close to your honour, 
 but this horse's mouth is hard, and I had had to 
 make him gallop." 
 
 "Gallop, indeed!" said Slingsby, admiringly. 
 " Why, with that wonderful stroke of yours you have 
 rid us of the head not only of the poor boy Nawab 
 but of the whole rebellion in these parts ; and right 
 well you deserve the reward, for see how they are 
 scuttling off right and left ! " 
 
 Ghoolan Ali grinned from ear to ear. 
 
 " Tell me," continued Slingsby, " how came you 
 so opportunely to our assistance, and what lucky 
 chance led you to single out the Nawab so uner- 
 ringly ?" 
 
 " Their camp was open to every comer, so certain 
 were they of victory, and I was kept fully aware of 
 their plans, which of course I communicated to 
 Spencer-sahib," replied the Pathan. 
 
 " Spencer-sahib here ! " echoed Slingsby in 
 amazement, turning round in his saddle, and wav- 
 
332 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 ing his sword to rally the Seikhs for another 
 charge. 
 
 " Hah ! sahib. He it was that led us, me and 
 my men, on to the attack just now, for we knew 
 you were hard pressed and in a desperate case," 
 said Ghoolam Ali. 
 
 " Why, here is Spencer-sahib with some of the 
 men, sure enough ! " exclaimed Slingsby, as a party 
 of the Lancers came galloping wildly up. " Halloa, 
 Spencer ! " 
 
 " Glad to see you, Slingsby," cried Walter, rein- 
 ing-in his horse ; " though hardly so much sur- 
 prised as you are to encounter me, I expect ! Now 
 I yield up my command to you, and have nothing 
 but praise for every man among them." 
 
 Warm greetings were passing between the 
 Pathans and Seikhs, delighted as they were to 
 meet again under such happy circumstances ; but 
 there was still work to be done, and Slingsby lost 
 no time in forming his men up and leading them 
 at a gallop after the retreating foe, Spencer charg- 
 ing: with them under his friend's orders. 
 
AT THE TREASURY. 333 
 
 And now one of those things happened which 
 mars a victory, even in the moment of its attain- 
 ment. The Seikhs and Pathans had behaved ad- 
 mirably that afternoon, sustaining but small loss 
 during their hard fighting and repeated and reck- 
 less charges under their gallant young leaders, 
 Slingsby and Spencer, who had also passed un- 
 scathed through the ordeal, for the latter had 
 thought nothing of the wound in the hand he had 
 received early in the day in his encounter with 
 Secunder Khan. But, whether owing to the loss 
 of blood it had occasioned, slight though it was, or 
 to the intense excitement and fatigue of the last few 
 hours, sure it is that, while riding at a gigantic 
 trooper who met him in full career, his vision failed 
 him, he reeled in his saddle, and in falling headlong 
 to the ground received a terrible slash near the left 
 shoulder, his adversary's razor-like sword cutting 
 deeply into his chest. His chance of life seemed a 
 poor one, and, indeed, the fellow would have 
 finished him off without scruple, as he lay there 
 helpless, had not Slingsby, who was close at hand, 
 
334 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 charged him without hesitation and with the utmost 
 impetuosity, causing him to topple over and fall 
 mortally wounded within a few feet of where 
 Spencer lay. 
 
 " Now, help me ! " cried Slingsby, throwing him- 
 self off his horse, and coming to his friend's assist- 
 ance. " Help me, Heera Singh, with the sahib, for 
 he is grievously wounded, and I fear may bleed to 
 death." 
 
 Willing hands soon lifted Walter Spencer, and 
 supported him as he sat on the ground to have his 
 injury examined and an artery tied by Dalrymple, 
 the surgeon, who was close by, and Pathans and 
 Seikhs vied with each other in fanning the young 
 fellow with extemporised punkahs, in bringing water 
 for him to drink, and in offering other little atten- 
 tions, for which he was very grateful. Though 
 not belonging to their regiment, he had won the 
 hearts of these rough soldiers by his skill in lead- 
 ing them to the attack at the right moment, and 
 by his daring and reckless courage against the 
 enemy. 
 
AT THE TREASURY. 335 
 
 But it was evident the shock of the dreadful 
 wound was more than the young fellow could bear, 
 and Dalrymple warned Slingsby how little hope 
 there was. Indeed, Spencer himself felt his final 
 hour had come, and could only whisper to his friend 
 his last wishes. 
 
 "I'm going, Edward — I feel I'm going — that I 
 shall soon be with her — with Lilian, I mean," he 
 murmured, faintly. 
 
 " With Lilian ! " exclaimed Slingsby, amazed. 
 " Lilian Langford, do you mean ? We have so 
 wondered where she is, and now you seem to 
 know " 
 
 Spencer put up his hand, and drew his friend to 
 him. 
 
 " She is — dead," he muttered, under his breath. 
 " Lily left me — this — morning. Ask Chahni — how. 
 She knows all." 
 
 " Walter, is this really true ? " cried Slingsby. 
 " And you are dying — that is what you would 
 express ? " 
 
 Spencer looked earnestly at him, but spoke not 
 
336 THE BOW OF FATE, 
 
 for some moments. Then, with a final effort, he 
 whispered j^ently a few more words. 
 
 " She died — in my arms — Edward. Now — I 
 shall see — her — shall meet — her — there ! " 
 
 Slingsby took his friend's hand in his, and gently 
 grasped it. 
 
 " My poor Walter ! " he cried, " I perceive what 
 you mean, though as yet I do not fully understand 
 it all." 
 
 " My father — and — Edith ! " continued faintly 
 the fast-sinking man. " My — last, dear — love — to 
 — them. Do — not — forget — Ed ." 
 
 But he was gone ; his brave young spirit had fled, 
 and Edward Slingsby knew that at that moment 
 he had lost the noblest and best of his friends. 
 Yet there was no time to dwell on this, for the 
 Cavalry were again called to instant action on 
 account of the enemy's showing signs of rally- 
 ing, and it was not till their leader had followed 
 the rebels up in hot pursuit and charged through 
 them again and again, that, their spirit being at 
 length finally broken, the formidable host that 
 
AT THE TREASURY. 337 
 
 had so lately threatened the little garrison with 
 destruction was converted into a disorganised and 
 panic-struck crowd. 
 
 What became of those mutinous regiments, 
 stained as many of them were with the blood of 
 the officers who had for years been their best 
 friends and had in many a hard fight led them 
 gallantly to victory, it were difficult to say. With- 
 out their European leaders they became little 
 better than an armed rabble, which, joining the 
 remnant of the army of the pretended Nawab, 
 passed away Northwards, leaving the town and 
 district of Jahmere free to settle down again into 
 their ordinary quietude and peace. Not, indeed, 
 that the marks of what took place on that memor- 
 able day have even yet been effaced, for though 
 new houses have been erected there are at man}' 
 points green mounds that show the spots where 
 stood Colonel Scott's and the other bungalows, 
 while the old serai that played so useful a part in 
 preserving from destruction the English and their 
 
 faithful adherents as well as all the Government 
 
 z 
 
338 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 treasure and records, remains a massive ruin, whose 
 blackened gateway bears witness to the formidable 
 assault that might probably have met with success, 
 but for Slingsby's well-timed charge. 
 
 When that officer returned to the Treasury at the 
 head of his victorious Lancers, the night was far 
 advanced, and there was nothing to be done except 
 rest both horses and men for some hours ; but with 
 morning light the cantonment was visited, and the 
 bodies of those that had fallen were brought in and 
 laid reverently in a tent near the churchyard, 
 ready for the service to be performed in the 
 evening. There was placed Colonel Scott, a be- 
 nevolent smile still marking his kindly face in spite 
 of the cruel death he had died ; there, beside him, 
 was laid his beautiful niece, her regular features 
 seeming more delicately striking and wax-like than 
 ever against the background of her dark and 
 splendid hair ; there, close by, lay stretched the 
 gallant young Spencer, his fingers tightly closed 
 over the little silver phial that had saved Lilian 
 Langford from dishonour, though at the cost to her 
 
AT THE TREASURY. 33^ 
 
 lover of all that rendered life most precious ; and 
 there, too, the mutilated body of the unfortunate 
 Delmar, side by side with the corpses of many a 
 brave soldier who had fallen in the deadly struggle. 
 And, separated only by a short space from their 
 European companions, were seen the faithful ones 
 among the native troops who had fought and died 
 in performance of their oaths, refusing to the last 
 to become traitors to their salt and to be drawn 
 aside from their duty by threats of vengeance or 
 by promises of loot. There was Heera Singh's 
 nephew, brought by his uncle from the spot at the 
 gateway of the General's garden where he had 
 fallen, and there, too, many another good Seikh or 
 Pathan, together with a few Poorbeahs and Raj- 
 poots, who had successfully withstood the terrible 
 temptations held out to them, and met their death 
 in open combat with their own fathers and brothers, 
 of whose defection they were ashamed and whose 
 treachery they deplored. Among these was to be 
 reckoned the old bearer Bhagut, who had died 
 
 true to his duty and to his mistress's interests, and 
 
 z 2 
 
340 THE BOW OF FATE, 
 
 whose faults, serious as they no doubt were, could 
 only be attributed to his race and to his rearing, 
 while his virtues — courage, faithfulness and de- 
 votion — had been all his own. 
 
 It was an impressive scene, that funeral of so 
 many brave men, and of the one woman, the fated 
 Lilian, which passed at sunset into the little church- 
 yard at Jahmere, the mournful procession, headed 
 by the band of the Red Dirks playing the " Dead 
 March," and every officer and civilian, from General 
 Davis and the Commissioner downwards, following ; 
 while Heera Singh, Ghoolam Ali Khan, and many 
 more of the men who had honoured him beyond 
 their own father and mother, stood near to see the 
 last of their revered Colonel, and of the dear Missy- 
 baba whom they had known and loved from her 
 childhood upwards. There, too, stood the faithful 
 Chahni, and the boy Kulloo, both in terrible grief 
 at the fate of the mistress who had ever been to them 
 the kindest of benefactors. 
 
 Yet the last regretful look had hardly been given 
 to the dead, the smoke of the last volley fired over 
 
AT THE TREASURY. 341 
 
 them had barely cleared away, when a despatch was 
 put into the General's hand urgently asking for aid 
 to be instantly sent to Ahtabad, before which place 
 a great host of the enemy had suddenly appeared, 
 investing it closely and threatening to overwhelm 
 its scanty garrison by their boldness and determi- 
 nation. 
 
 "Slingsby," said the General, as they walked 
 away together ; " it seems too bad to call on 
 you so soon again, but I have alarming news 
 from Ahtabad, and feel bound to help them if 
 I can." 
 
 " Yes," answered Slingsby ; " Bryce has whispered 
 a word to me of this." 
 
 " I can't spare the Red Dirks, burdened as we are 
 here by women and children, and with the Treasury 
 and civil station to look after, but you and your 
 Lancers shall go. 
 
 " Thank your, sir, we shall be delighted ! " cried 
 Slingsby ; " and I hope we may give a good account 
 of the enemy." 
 
 " That I am sure you will do if you get the 
 
342 THE BOW OF FATE. 
 
 chance," replied the General. " Now, how many can 
 you muster, and when can you be off?" 
 
 " I know the men by heart now," answered 
 Slingsby, smiling quietly, " and can answer for thirty 
 lances ; and as to the time, why we can march 
 within the hour." 
 
 " Capital ! " exclaimed the General. " In that 
 case I think you may be reckoned on to avert a 
 disaster, for my intelligence is to the effect that the 
 little party there will fight to the last man." 
 
 " We will do our best, sir," said Slingsby ; " you 
 may depend on us for that." 
 
 " I know by the experience of yesterday what 
 your best is," rejoined the General, " and have little 
 doubt you will rival it to-morrow at Ahtabad." 
 
 General Davis was right. The little band that 
 half-an-hour later rode forth and was presently lost 
 amid the dust that as usual blew in clouds on the 
 well-known road previously followed by Moody and 
 Spencer, fulfilled its destiny, and won for itself a 
 name for gallant and heroic deeds distinguished 
 even above other names in that time when such 
 
AT THE TREASURY, 343 
 
 deeds were of common and every-day occurrence ; 
 while its commander, after passing unscathed 
 through countless dangers, gained the highest re- 
 wards that it was possible to heap upon him. 
 
 It was some two years after these events that a 
 quiet wedding took place in Otterington church, 
 when Colonel Edward Slingsby, V.C., was united 
 to Edith Spencer, sole heiress to the old Baronet, 
 her father. There was a touch of sadness pervad- 
 ing the proceedings, for those engaged in them could 
 not forget the dear ones they had lost in the terrible 
 year of Fifty-seven ; yet Sir George cheered up as 
 he reflected that his daughter's husband was the 
 man of all others he would have wished her to 
 marry, while to Edward and Edith it has ever since 
 appeared as if their true happiness in life had only 
 begun on that bright summer's morning. 
 
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