diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/13340-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/13340-h/13340-h.htm | 8459 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/13340-h/isaacs001.png | bin | 0 -> 800929 bytes |
2 files changed, 8459 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/old/13340-h/13340-h.htm b/old/13340-h/13340-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4dc6355 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13340-h/13340-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8459 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" + content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> + <title>Mr. Isaacs</title> + <style type="text/css"> + + body + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + + p + {text-align: justify;} + + blockquote + {text-align: justify;} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 + {text-align: center;} + + hr + {text-align: center; width: 50%;} + + html>body hr + {margin-right: 25%; margin-left: 25%; width: 50%;} + + hr.full + {width: 100%;} + html>body hr.full + {margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%;} + + pre + {font-size: 0.7em; color: #000; background-color: #FFF;} + + .poetry + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 0%; + text-align: left;} + + .footnote + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; + font-size: 0.9em;} + + .index + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; + text-align: center;} + + .figure + {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; + text-align: center; font-size: 0.8em;} + .figure img + {border: none;} + + .date + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; + text-align: right;} + + span.rightnote + {position: absolute; left: 92%; right: 1%; + font-size: 0.7em; border-bottom: solid 1px;} + + span.leftnote + {position: absolute; left: 1%; right: 92%; + font-size: 0.7em; border-bottom: solid 1px;} + + span.linenum + {float:right; + text-align: right; font-size: 0.7em;} + </style> +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mr. Isaacs, by F. Marion Crawford + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Mr. Isaacs + +Author: F. Marion Crawford + +Release Date: August 31, 2004 [EBook #13340] +[Last updated: September 24, 2015] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MR. ISAACS *** + + + + +Produced by Kevin Handy, John Hagerson and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<h1>MR. ISAACS</h1> +<h2>A Tale of Modern India</h2> +<br /> +<h3>BY</h3> +<h2>F. MARION CRAWFORD</h2> +<br /> +<h4>WITH FRONTISPIECE</h4> +<br /> + +<br /> +<h4>1882</h4> <h4>BY F. MARION CRAWFORD</h4> + +<hr /> + +<p class="figure"> <a name="isaacs001"><img width="80%" alt="Illustration: +HER FACE WAS WHITER THAN HIS" src="isaacs001.png" /></a><br +/> HER FACE WAS WHITER THAN HIS, THOUGH NOT A QUIVER OF MOUTH OR EYELASH +BETRAYED HER EMOTION. —<i>Mr. Isaacs</i>.</p> +<br /> + + + + +<p>CONTENTS</p> + +<a href='#CHAPTER_I'>CHAPTER I</a><br /> +<a href='#Chapter_II'>CHAPTER II</a><br /> +<a href='#CHAPTER_III'>CHAPTER III</a><br /> +<a href='#CHAPTER_IV'>CHAPTER IV</a><br /> +<a href='#CHAPTER_V'>CHAPTER V</a><br /> +<a href='#CHAPTER_VI'>CHAPTER VI</a><br /> +<a href='#CHAPTER_VII'>CHAPTER VII</a><br /> +<a href='#CHAPTER_VIII'>CHAPTER VIII</a><br /> +<a href='#CHAPTER_IX'>CHAPTER IX</a><br /> +<a href='#CHAPTER_X'>CHAPTER X</a><br /> +<a href='#CHAPTER_XI'>CHAPTER XI</a><br /> +<a href='#CHAPTER_XII'>CHAPTER XII</a><br /> +<a href='#CHAPTER_XIII'>CHAPTER XIII</a><br /> +<a href='#CHAPTER_XIV'>CHAPTER XIV</a><br /> + +<hr /> + + + + +<a name="Page_1"></a><h2><a name='CHAPTER_I'></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + + +<p>In spite of Jean-Jacques and his school, men are not everywhere born +free, any more than they are everywhere in chains, unless these be of their +own individual making. Especially in countries where excessive liberty or +excessive tyranny favours the growth of that class most usually designated +as adventurers, it is true that man, by his own dominant will, or by a +still more potent servility, may rise to any grade of elevation; as by the +absence of these qualities he may fall to any depth in the social +scale.</p> + +<p>Wherever freedom degenerates into license, the ruthless predatory +instinct of certain bold and unscrupulous persons may, and almost certainly +will, place at their disposal the goods, the honours, and the preferment +justly the due of others; and in those more numerous and certainly more +unhappy countries, where the rule of the tyrant is substituted for <a +name="Page_2"></a>the law of God, the unwearying flatterer, patient under +blows and abstemious under high-feeding, will assuredly make his way to +power.</p> + +<p>Without doubt the Eastern portion of the world, where an hereditary, or +at least traditional, despotism has never ceased since the earliest social +records, and where a mode of thought infinitely more degrading than any +feudalism has become ingrained in the blood and soul of the chief races, +presents far more favourable conditions to the growth and development of +the true adventurer than are offered in any free country. For in a free +country the majority can rise and overthrow the favourite of fortune, +whereas in a despotic country they cannot. Of Eastern countries in this +condition, Russia is the nearest to us; though perhaps we understand the +Chinese character better than the Russian. The Ottoman empire and Persia +are, and always have been, swayed by a clever band of flatterers acting +through their nominal master; while India, under the kindly British rule, +is a perfect instance of a ruthless military despotism, where neither blood +nor stratagem have been spared in exacting the uttermost farthing from the +miserable serfs—they are nothing else—and in robbing and defrauding the +rich of their just and lawful possessions. All these countries teem with +stories of adventurers risen from the ranks to the command of armies, of +itinerant merchants wedded to princesses, of hardy sailors promoted to +admiralties, of half-educated younger sons of English peers dying in the +undisputed possession <a name="Page_3"></a>of ill-gotten millions. With the +strong personal despotism of the First Napoleon began a new era of +adventurers in France; not of elegant and accomplished adventurers like M. +de St. Germain, Cagliostro, or the Comtesse de la Motte, but regular +rag-tag-and-bobtail cut-throat moss-troopers, who carved and slashed +themselves into notice by sheer animal strength and brutality.</p> + +<p>There is infinitely more grace and romance about the Eastern adventurer. +There is very little slashing and hewing to be done there, and what there +is, is managed as quietly as possible. When a Sultan must be rid of the +last superfluous wife, she is quietly done up in a parcel with a few shot, +and dropped into the Bosphorus without more ado. The good old-fashioned +Rajah of Mudpoor did his killing without scandal, and when the kindly +British wish to keep a secret, the man is hanged in a quiet place where +there are no reporters. As in the Greek tragedies, the butchery is done +behind the scenes, and there is no glory connected with the business, only +gain. The ghosts of the slain sometimes appear in the columns of the +recalcitrant Indian newspapers and gibber a feeble little "Otototoi!" after +the manner of the shade of Dareios, but there is very little heed paid to +such visitations by the kindly British. But though the "raw head and bloody +bones" type of adventurer is little in demand in the East, there is plenty +of scope for the intelligent and wary flatterer, and some room for the +honest man of superior gifts, <a name="Page_4"></a>who is sufficiently free +from Oriental prejudice to do energetically the thing which comes in his +way, distancing all competitors for the favours of fortune by sheer +industry and unerring foresight.</p> + +<p>I once knew a man in the East who was neither a flatterer nor +freebooter, but who by his own masterly perseverance worked his way to +immense wealth, and to such power as wealth commands, though his high view +of the social aims of mankind deterred him from mixing in political +questions. <i>Bon chien chasse de race</i> is a proverb which applies to +horses, cattle, and men, as well as to dogs; and in this man, who was a +noble type of the Aryan race, the qualities which have made that race +dominant were developed in the highest degree. The sequel, indeed, might +lead the ethnographer into a labyrinth of conjecture, but the story is too +tempting a one for me to forego telling it, although the said ethnographer +should lose his wits in striving to solve the puzzle.</p> + +<p>In September, 1879, I was at Simla in the lower Himalayas,—at the time +of the murder of Sir Louis Cavagnari at Kabul,—being called there in the +interests of an Anglo-Indian newspaper, of which I was then editor. In +other countries, notably in Europe and in America, there are hundreds of +spots by the sea-shore, or on the mountain-side, where specific ills may be +cured by their corresponding antidotes of air or water, or both. Following +the aristocratic and holy example of the Bishops of Salzburg for the last +eight centuries, the sovereigns of the Continent are told <a +name="Page_5"></a>that the air and waters of Hofgastein are the only +nenuphar for the over-taxed brain in labour beneath a crown. The +self-indulgent sybarite is recommended to Ems, or Wiesbaden, or +Aix-la-Chapelle, and the quasi-incurable sensualist to Aix in Savoy, or to +Karlsbad in Bohemia. In our own magnificent land Bethesdas abound, in every +state, from the attractive waters of lotus-eating Saratoga to the magnetic +springs of Lansing, Michigan; from Virginia, the carcanet of sources, the +heaving, the warm, the hot sulphur springs, the white sulphur, the alum, to +the hot springs of Arkansas, the Ultima Thule of our migratory and +despairing humanity. But in India, whatever the ailing, low fever, high +fever, "brandy pawnee" fever, malaria caught in the chase of tigers in the +Terai, or dysentery imbibed on the banks of the Ganges, there is only one +cure, the "hills;" and chief of "hill-stations" is Simla.</p> + +<p>On the hip rather than on the shoulder of the aspiring Himalayas, +Simla—or Shumla, as the natives call it—presents during the wet monsoon +period a concourse of pilgrims more varied even than the Bagnères de +Bigorre in the south of France, where the gay Frenchman asks permission of +the lady with whom he is conversing to leave her abruptly, in order to part +with his remaining lung, the loss of the first having brought him there. +"Pardon, madame," said he, "je m'en vais cracher mon autre poumon."</p> + +<p>To Simla the whole supreme Government migrates for the summer—Viceroy, +council, clerks, printers, <a name="Page_6"></a>and hangers-on. Thither the +high official from the plains takes his wife, his daughters, and his liver. +There the journalists congregate to pick up the news that oozes through the +pent-house of Government secrecy, and failing such scant drops of +information, to manufacture as much as is necessary to fill the columns of +their dailies. On the slopes of "Jako"—the wooded eminence that rises +above the town—the enterprising German establishes his concert-hall and +his beer-garden; among the rhododendron trees Madame Blavatzky, Colonel +Olcott and Mr. Sinnett move mysteriously in the performance of their +wonders; and the wealthy tourist from America, the botanist from Berlin, +and the casual peer from Great Britain, are not wanting to complete the +motley crowd. There are no roads in Simla proper where it is possible to +drive, excepting one narrow way, reserved when I was there, and probably +still set apart, for the exclusive delectation of the Viceroy. Every one +rides—man, woman, and child; and every variety of horseflesh may be seen +in abundance, from Lord Steepleton Kildare's thoroughbreds to the +broad-sterned equestrian vessel of Mr. Currie Ghyrkins, the Revenue +Commissioner of Mudnugger in Bengal. But I need not now dwell long on the +description of this highly-favoured spot, where Baron de Zach might have +added force to his demonstration of the attraction of mountains for the +pendulum. Having achieved my orientation and established my servants and +luggage in one of the reputed hotels, I <a name="Page_7"></a>began to look +about me, and, like an intelligent American observer, as I pride myself +that I am, I found considerable pleasure in studying out the character of +such of the changing crowd on the verandah and on the mall as caught my +attention.</p> + +<p>At last the dinner-hour came. With the rest I filed into the large +dining-room and took my seat. The place allotted to me was the last at one +side of the long table, and the chair opposite was vacant, though two +remarkably well-dressed servants, in turbans of white and gold, stood with +folded arms behind it, apparently awaiting their master. Nor was he long in +coming. I never remember to have been so much struck by the personal +appearance of any man in my life. He sat down opposite me, and immediately +one of his two servants, or <i>khitmatgars</i>, as they are called, +retired, and came back bearing a priceless goblet and flask of the purest +old Venetian mould. Filling the former, he ceremoniously presented his +master with a brimming beaker of cold water. A water-drinker in India is +always a phenomenon, but a water-drinker who did the thing so artistically +was such a manifestation as I had never seen. I was interested beyond the +possibility of holding my peace, and as I watched the man's abstemious +meal,—for he ate little,—I contrasted him with our neighbours at the +board, who seemed to be vying, like the captives of Circe, to ascertain by +trial who could swallow the most beef and mountain mutton, and who could +absorb the most "pegs"—those vile <a name="Page_8"></a>concoctions of +spirits, ice, and soda-water, which have destroyed so many splendid +constitutions under the tropical sun. As I watched him an impression came +over me that he must be an Italian. I scanned his appearance narrowly, and +watched for a word that should betray his accent. He spoke to his servant +in Hindustani, and I noticed at once the peculiar sound of the dental +consonants, never to be acquired by a northern-born person.</p> + +<p>Before I go farther, let me try and describe Mr. Isaacs; I certainly +could not have done so satisfactorily after my first meeting, but +subsequent acquaintance, and the events I am about to chronicle, threw me +so often in his society, and gave me such ample opportunities of +observation, that the minutest details of his form and feature, as well as +the smallest peculiarities of his character and manner, are indelibly +graven in my memory.</p> + +<p>Isaacs was a man of more than medium stature, though he would never be +spoken of as tall. An easy grace marked his movements at all times, whether +deliberate or vehement,—and he often went to each extreme,—a grace which +no one acquainted with the science of the human frame would be at a loss to +explain for a moment. The perfect harmony of all the parts, the even +symmetry of every muscle, the equal distribution of a strength, not +colossal and overwhelming, but ever ready for action, the natural courtesy +of gesture—all told of a body in which true proportion of every limb and +sinew were at once <a name="Page_9"></a>the main feature and the pervading +characteristic. This infinitely supple and swiftly-moving figure was but +the pedestal, as it were, for the noble face and nobler brain to which it +owed its life and majestic bearing. A long oval face of a wondrous +transparent olive tint, and of a decidedly Oriental type. A prominent brow +and arched but delicate eyebrows fitly surmounted a nose smoothly aquiline, +but with the broad well-set nostrils that bespeak active courage. His +mouth, often smiling, never laughed, and the lips, though closely meeting, +were not thin and writhing and cunning, as one so often sees in eastern +faces, but rather inclined to a generous Greek fullness, the curling lines +ever ready to express a sympathy or a scorn which, the commanding features +above seemed to control and curb, as the stern, square-elbowed Arab checks +his rebellious horse, or gives him the rein, at will.</p> + +<p>But though Mr. Isaacs was endowed with exceptional gifts of beauty by a +bountiful nature, those I have enumerated were by no means what first +attracted the attention of the observer. I have spoken of his graceful +figure and perfect Iranian features, but I hardly noticed either at our +first meeting. I was enthralled and fascinated by his eyes. I once saw in +France a jewel composed of six precious stones, each a gem of great value, +so set that they appeared to form but one solid mass, yielding a strange +radiance that changed its hue at every movement, and multiplied the +sunlight a thousand-fold. Were I to seek <a name="Page_10"></a>a comparison +for my friend's eyes, I might find an imperfect one in this masterpiece of +the jeweler's art. They were dark and of remarkable size; when half closed +they were long and almond-shaped; when suddenly opened in anger or surprise +they had the roundness and bold keenness of the eagle's sight. There was a +depth of life and vital light in them that told of the pent-up force of a +hundred generations of Persian magii. They blazed with the splendour of a +god-like nature, needing neither meat nor strong drink to feed its +power.</p> + +<p>My mind was made up. Between his eyes, his temperance, and his dental +consonants, he certainly might be an Italian. Being myself a native of +Italy, though an American by parentage, I addressed him in the language, +feeling comparatively sure of his answer. To my surprise, and somewhat to +my confusion, he answered in two words of modern Greek—"[Greek: <i>den +enoêsa</i>]"—"I do not understand." He evidently supposed I was +speaking a Greek dialect, and answered in the one phrase of that tongue +which he knew, and not a good phrase at that.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," said I in English, "I believed you a countryman, and +ventured to address you in my native tongue. May I inquire whether you +speak English?"</p> + +<p>I was not a little astonished when he answered me in pure English, and +with an evident command of the language. We fell into conversation, and I +found him pungent, ready, impressive, and most <a +name="Page_11"></a>entertaining, thoroughly acquainted with Anglo-Indian +and English topics, and apparently well read. An Indian dinner is a long +affair, so that we had ample time to break the ice, an easy matter always +for people who are not English, and when, after the fruit, he invited me to +come down and smoke with him in his rooms, I gladly availed myself of the +opportunity. We separated for a few moments, and I despatched my servant to +the manager of the hotel to ascertain the name of the strange gentleman who +looked like an Italian and spoke like a fellow of Balliol. Having +discovered that he was a "Mr. Isaacs," I wended my way through verandahs +and corridors, preceded by a <i>chuprassie</i> and followed by my +pipe-bearer, till I came to his rooms.</p> + +<p>The fashion of the hookah or narghyle in India has long disappeared from +the English portion of society. Its place has been assumed and usurped by +the cheroot from Burmah or Trichinopoli, by the cigarette from Egypt, or +the more expensive Manilla and Havana cigars. I, however, in an early burst +of Oriental enthusiasm, had ventured upon the obsolete fashion, and so +charmed was I by the indolent aromatic enjoyment I got from the rather +cumbrous machine, that I never gave it up while in the East. So when Mr. +Isaacs invited me to come and smoke in his rooms, or rather before his +rooms, for the September air was still warm in the hills, I ordered my +"bearer" to bring down the apparatus and to prepare it for use. I myself +passed through the glass <a name="Page_12"></a>door in accordance with my +new acquaintance's invitation, curious to see the kind of abode in which a +man who struck me as being so unlike his fellows spent his summer months. +For some minutes after I entered I did not speak, and indeed I hardly +breathed. It seemed to me that I was suddenly transported into the +subterranean chambers whither the wicked magician sent Aladdin in quest of +the lamp. A soft but strong light filled the room, though I did not +immediately comprehend whence it came, nor did I think to look, so amazed +was I by the extraordinary splendour of the objects that met my eyes. In +the first glance it appeared as if the walls and the ceiling were lined +with gold and precious stones; and in reality it was almost literally the +truth. The apartment, I soon saw, was small,—for India at least,—and +every available space, nook and cranny, were filled with gold and jeweled +ornaments, shining weapons, or uncouth but resplendent idols. There were +sabres in scabbards set from end to end with diamonds and sapphires, with +cross hilts of rubies in massive gold mounting, the spoil of some worsted +rajah or Nawab of the mutiny. There were narghyles four feet high, crusted +with gems and curiously wrought work from Baghdad or Herat; water flasks of +gold and drinking cups of jade; yataghans from Bourn and idols from the far +East. Gorgeous lamps of the octagonal Oriental shape hung from the ceiling, +and, fed by aromatic oils, shed their soothing light on all around. The +floor was covered <a name="Page_13"></a>with a rich soft pile, and low +divans were heaped with cushions of deep-tinted silk and gold. On the +floor, in a corner which seemed the favourite resting-place of my host, lay +open two or three superbly illuminated Arabic manuscripts, and from a +chafing dish of silver near by a thin thread of snow-white smoke sent up +its faint perfume through the still air. To find myself transported from +the conventionalities of a stiff and starched Anglo-Indian hotel to such a +scene was something novel and delicious in the extreme. No wonder I stood +speechless and amazed. Mr. Isaacs remained near the door while I breathed +in the strange sights to which he had introduced me. At last I turned, and +from contemplating the magnificence of inanimate wealth I was riveted by +the majestic face and expression of the beautiful living creature who, by a +turn of his wand, or, to speak prosaically, by an invitation to smoke, had +lifted me out of humdrum into a land peopled with all the effulgent +phantasies and the priceless realities of the magic East. As I gazed, it +seemed as if the illumination from the lamps above were caught up and flung +back with the vitality of living fire by his dark eyes, in which more than +ever I saw and realised the inexplicable blending of the precious stones +with the burning spark of a divine soul breathing within. For some moments +we stood thus; he evidently amused at my astonishment, and I fascinated and +excited by the problem presented me for solution in his person and +possessions.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_14"></a>"Yes," said Isaacs, "you are naturally surprised +at my little Eldorado, so snugly hidden away in the lower story of a +commonplace hotel. Perhaps you are surprised at finding me here, too. But +come out into the air, your hookah is blazing, and so are the stars."</p> + +<p>I followed him into the verandah, where the long cane chairs of the +country were placed, and taking the tube of the pipe from the solemn +Mussulman whose duty it was to prepare it, I stretched myself out in that +indolent lazy peace which is only to be enjoyed in tropical countries. +Silent and for the nonce perfectly happy, I slowly inhaled the fragrant +vapour of tobacco and aromatic herbs and honey with which the hookah is +filled. No sound save the monotonous bubbling and chuckling of the smoke +through the water, or the gentle rustle of the leaves on the huge +rhododendron-tree which reared its dusky branches to the night in the +middle of the lawn. There was no moon, though the stars were bright and +clear, the foaming path of the milky way stretching overhead like the wake +of some great heavenly ship; a soft mellow lustre from the lamps in Isaacs' +room threw a golden stain half across the verandah, and the chafing dish +within, as the light breeze fanned the coals, sent out a little cloud of +perfume which mingled pleasantly with the odour of the <i>chillum</i> in +the pipe. The turbaned servant squatted on the edge of the steps at a +little distance, peering into the dusk, as Indians will do for hours +together. Isaacs <a name="Page_15"></a>lay quite still in his chair, his +hands above his head, the light through the open door just falling on the +jeweled mouthpiece of his narghyle. He sighed—a sigh only half regretful, +half contented, and seemed about to speak, but the spirit did not move him, +and the profound silence continued. For my part, I was so much absorbed in +my reflections on the things I had seen that I had nothing to say, and the +strange personality of the man made me wish to let him begin upon his own +subject, if perchance I might gain some insight into his mind and mode of +thought. There are times when silence seems to be sacred, even +unaccountably so. A feeling is in us that to speak would be almost a +sacrilege, though we are unable to account in any way for the pause. At +such moments every one seems instinctively to feel the same influence, and +the first person who breaks the spell either experiences a sensation of +awkwardness, and says something very foolish, or, conscious of the odds +against him, delivers himself of a sentiment of ponderous severity and +sententiousness. As I smoked, watching the great flaming bowl of the water +pipe, a little coal, forced up by the expansion of the heat, toppled over +the edge and fell tinkling on the metal foot below. The quick ear of the +servant on the steps caught the sound, and he rose and came forward to trim +the fire. Though he did not speak, his act was a diversion. The spell was +broken.</p> + +<p>"The Germans," said Isaacs, "say that an angel is passing over the +house. I do not believe it."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_16"></a>I was surprised at the remark. It did not seem +quite natural for Mr. Isaacs to begin talking about the Germans, and from +the tone of his voice I could almost have fancied he thought the proverb +was held as an article of faith by the Teutonic races in general.</p> + +<p>"I do not believe it," he repeated reflectively. "There is no such thing +as an angel 'passing'; it is a misuse of terms. If there are such things as +angels, their changes of place cannot be described as motion, seeing that +from the very nature of things such changes must be instantaneous, not +involving time as a necessary element. Have you ever thought much about +angels? By-the-bye, pardon my abruptness, but as there is no one to +introduce us, what is your name?"</p> + +<p>"My name is Griggs—Paul Griggs. I am an American, but was born in +Italy. I know your name is Isaacs; but, frankly, I do not comprehend how +you came by the appellation, for I do not believe you are either, English, +American, or Jewish of origin."</p> + +<p>"Quite right," he replied, "I am neither Yankee, Jew, nor beef-eater; in +fact, I am not a European at all. And since you probably would not guess my +nationality, I will tell you that I am a Persian, a pure Iranian, a +degenerate descendant of Zoroaster, as you call him, though by religion I +follow the prophet, whose name be blessed," he added, with an expression of +face I did not then understand. "I call myself Isaacs for convenience in +business. There is <a name="Page_17"></a>no concealment about it, as many +know my story; but it has an attractive Semitic twang that suite my +occupation, and is simpler and shorter for Englishmen to write than Abdul +Hafizben-Isâk, which is my lawful name."</p> + +<p>"Since you lay sufficient store by your business to have been willing to +change your name, may I inquire what your business is? It seems to be a +lucrative one, to judge by the accumulations of wealth you have allowed me +a glimpse of."</p> + +<p>"Yes. Wealth is my occupation. I am a dealer in precious stones and +similar objects of value. Some day I will show you my diamonds; they are +worth seeing."</p> + +<p>It is no uncommon thing to meet in India men of all Asiatic +nationalities buying and selling stones of worth, and enriching themselves +in the business. I supposed he had come with a caravan by way of Baghdad, +and had settled. But again, his perfect command of English, as pure as +though he had been educated at Eton and Oxford, his extremely careful, +though quiet, English dress, and especially his polished manners, argued a +longer residence in the European civilisation of his adopted home than +agreed with his young looks, supposing him to have come to India at sixteen +or seventeen. A pardonable curiosity led me to remark this.</p> + +<p>"You must have come here very young," I said. "A thoroughbred Persian +does not learn to speak English like a university man, and to quote German +<a name="Page_18"></a>proverbs, in a residence of a few years; unless, +indeed, he possess the secret by which the initiated absorb knowledge +without effort, and assimilate it without the laborious process of +intellectual digestion."</p> + +<p>"I am older than I look—considerably. I have been in India twelve +years, and with a natural talent for languages, stimulated by constant +intercourse with Englishmen who know their own speech well, I have +succeeded, as you say, in acquiring a certain fluency and mastery of +accent. I have had an adventurous life enough. I see no reason why I should +not tell you something of it, especially as you are not English, and can +therefore hear me with an unprejudiced ear. But, really, do you care for a +yarn?"</p> + +<p>I begged him to proceed, and I beckoned the servant to arrange our +pipes, that we might not be disturbed. When this was done, Isaacs +began.</p> + +<p>"I am going to try and make a long story short. We Persians like to +listen to long stories, as we like to sit and look on at a wedding nautch. +But we are radically averse to dancing or telling long tales ourselves, so +I shall condense as much as possible. I was born in Persia, of Persian +parents, as I told you, but I will not burden your memory with names you +are not familiar with. My father was a merchant in prosperous +circumstances, and a man of no mean learning in Arabic and Persian +literature. I soon showed a strong taste for books, and every opportunity +<a name="Page_19"></a>was given me for pursuing my inclinations in this +respect. At the early age of twelve I was kidnapped by a party of +slave-dealers, and carried off into Roum—Turkey you call it. I will not +dwell upon my tears and indignation. We travelled rapidly, and my captors +treated me well, as they invariably do their prizes, well knowing how much +of the value of a slave depends on his plump and sleek condition when +brought to market. In Istamboul I was soon disposed of, my fair skin and +accomplishments as a writer and a singer of Persian songs fetching a high +price.</p> + +<p>"It is no uncommon thing for boys to be stolen and sold in this way. A +rich pacha will pay almost anything. The fate of such slaves is not +generally a happy one." Isaacs paused a moment, and drew in two or three +long breaths of smoke. "Do you see that bright star in the south?" he said, +pointing with his long jewel-set mouthpiece.</p> + +<p>"Yes. It must be Sirius."</p> + +<p>"That is my star. Do you believe in the agency of the stars in human +affairs? Of course you do not; you are a European: how should you? But to +proceed. The stars, or the fates or Kâli, or whatever you like to +term your kismet, your portion of good and evil, allotted me a somewhat +happier existence than generally falls to the share of young slaves in +Roum. I was bought by an old man of great wealth and of still greater +learning, who was so taken with my proficiency in Arabic and in writing +that he <a name="Page_20"></a>resolved to make of me a pupil instead of a +servant to carry his coffee and pipe, or a slave to bear the heavier burden +of his vices. Nothing better could have happened to me. I was installed in +his house and treated with exemplary kindness, though he kept me rigorously +at work with my books. I need not tell you that with such a master I made +fair progress, and that at the age of twenty-one I was, for a Turk, a young +man of remarkably good education. Then my master died suddenly, and I was +thrown into great distress. I was of course nothing but a slave, and liable +to be sold at any time. I escaped. Active and enduring, though never +possessing any vast muscular strength, I bore with ease the hardships of a +long journey on foot with little food and scant lodging. Falling in with a +band of pilgrims, I recognised the wisdom of joining them on their march to +Mecca. I was, of course, a sound Mohammedan, as I am to this day, and my +knowledge of the Koran soon gained me some reputation in the caravan. I was +considered a creditable addition, and altogether an eligible pilgrim. My +exceptional physique protected me from the disease and exhaustion of which +not a few of our number died by the wayside, and the other pilgrims, in +consideration of my youth and piety, gave me willingly the few handfuls of +rice and dates that I needed to support life and strength.</p> + +<p>"You have read about Mecca; and your <i>hadji</i> barber, who of course +has been there, has doubtless <a name="Page_21"></a>related his experiences +to you scores of times in the plains, as he does everywhere. As you may +imagine, I had no intention of returning towards Roum with my companions. +When I had fulfilled all the observances required, I made my way to Yeddah +and shipped on board an Arabian craft, touching at Mocha, and bearing +coffee to Bombay. I had to work my passage, and as I had no experience of +the sea, save in the caïques of the Golden Horn, you will readily +conceive that the captain of the vessel had plenty of fault to find. But my +agility and quick comprehension stood me in good stead, and in a few days I +had learned enough to haul on a rope or to reef the great latteen sails as +well as any of them. The knowledge that I was just returning from a +pilgrimage to Mecca obtained for me also a certain respect among the crew. +It makes very little difference what the trade, business, or branch of +learning; in mechanical labour, or intellectual effort, the educated man is +always superior to the common labourer. One who is in the habit of applying +his powers in the right way will carry his system into any occupation, and +it will help him as much to handle a rope as to write a poem.</p> + +<p>"At last we landed in Bombay. I was in a wretched condition. What little +clothes I had had were in tatters; hard work and little food had made me +even thinner than my youthful age and slight frame tolerated. I had in all +about three pence money in small copper coins, carefully hoarded <a +name="Page_22"></a>against a rainy day. I could not speak a word of the +Indian dialects, still less of English, and I knew no one save the crew of +the vessel I had come in, as poor as I, but saved from starvation by the +slender pittance allowed them on land. I wandered about all day through the +bazaars, occasionally speaking to some solemn looking old shopkeeper or +long-bearded Mussulman, who, I hoped, might understand a little Arabic. But +not one did I find. At evening I bathed in the tank of a temple full from +the recent rains, and I lay down supperless to sleep on the steps of the +great mosque. As I lay on the hard stones I looked up to my star, and took +comfort, and slept. That night a dream came to me. I thought I was still +awake and lying on the steps, watching the wondrous ruler of my fate. And +as I looked he glided down from his starry throne with an easy swinging +motion, like a soap-bubble settling to the earth. And the star came and +poised among the branches of the palm-tree over the tank, opalescent, +unearthly, heart shaking. His face was as the face of the prophet, whose +name be blessed, and his limbs were as the limbs of the Hameshaspenthas of +old. Garments he had none, being of heavenly birth, but he was clothed with +light as with a garment, and the crest of his silver hair was to him a +crown of glory. And he spoke with the tongues of a thousand lutes, sweet +strong tones, that rose and fell on the night air as the song of a lover +beneath the lattice of his mistress, the song of the mighty star wooing the +<a name="Page_23"></a>beautiful sleeping earth. And then he looked on me +and said: 'Abdul Hafiz, be of good cheer. I am with thee and will not +forsake thee, even to the day when thou shalt pass over the burning bridge +of death. Thou shalt touch the diamond of the rivers and the pearl of the +sea, and they shall abide with thee, and great shall be thy wealth. And the +sunlight which is in the diamond shall warm thee and comfort thy heart; and +the moonlight which is in the pearl shall give thee peace in the +night-time, and thy children shall be to thee a garland of roses in the +land of the unbeliever.' And the star floated down from the palm-branches +and touched me with his hand, and breathed upon my lips the cool breath of +the outer firmament, and departed. Then I awoke and saw him again in his +place far down the horizon, and he was alone, for the dawn was in the sky +and the lesser lights were extinguished. And I rose from the stony stairway +that seemed like a bed of flowers for the hopeful dream, and I turned +westward, and praised Allah, and went my way.</p> + +<p>"The sun being up, all was life, and the life in me spoke of a most +capacious appetite. So I cast about for a shop where I might buy a little +food with my few coppers, and seeing a confectioner spreading out his +wares, I went near and took stock of the queer balls of flour and sugar, +and strange oily-looking sweetmeats. Having selected what I thought would +be within my modest means, I addressed the shopkeeper to call his +attention, though I knew he <a name="Page_24"></a>would not understand me, +and I touched with my hand the article I wanted, showing with the other +some of the small coins I had. As soon as I touched the sweetmeats the man +became very angry, and bounding from his seat called his neighbours +together, and they all shouted and screamed at me, and called a man I +thought to be a soldier, though he looked more like an ape in his long +loose trousers of dirty black, and his untidy red turban, under which +cumbrous garments his thin and stunted frame seemed even blacker and more +contemptible than nature had made them. I afterwards discovered him to be +one of the Bombay police. He seized me by the arm, and I, knowing I had +done no wrong, and curious to discover, if possible, what the trouble was, +accompanied him whither he led me. After waiting many hours in a kind of +little shed where there were more policemen, I was brought before an +Englishman. Of course all attempts at explanation were useless. I could +speak not a word of anything but Arabic and Persian, and no one present +understood either. At last, when I was in despair, trying to muster a few +words of Greek I had learned in Istamboul, and failing signally therein, an +old man with a long beard looked curiously in at the door of the crowded +court. Some instinct told me to appeal to him, and I addressed him in +Arabic. To my infinite relief he replied in that tongue, and volunteered to +be interpreter. In a few moments I learned that my crime was that I had +<i>touched</i> the sweetmeats on the counter.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_25"></a>"In India, as you who have lived here doubtless +know, it is a criminal offence, punishable by fine or imprisonment, for a +non-Hindu person to defile the food of even the lowest caste man. To touch +one sweetmeat in a trayful defiles the whole baking, rendering it all unfit +for the use of any Hindu, no matter how mean. Knowing nothing of caste and +its prejudices, it was with the greatest difficulty that the <i>moolah</i>, +who was trying to help me out of my trouble, could make me comprehend +wherein my wrong-doing lay, and that the English courts, being obliged in +their own interest to uphold and protect the caste practices of the Hindus, +at the risk of another mutiny, could not make any exception in favour of a +stranger unacquainted with Indian customs. So the Englishman who presided +said he would have to inflict a fine, but being a very young man, not yet +hardened to the despotic ways of Eastern life, he generously paid the fine +himself, and gave me a rupee as a present into the bargain. It was only two +shillings, but as I had not had so much money for months I was as grateful +as though it had been a hundred. If I ever meet him I will requite him, for +I owe him all I now possess.</p> + +<p>"My case being dismissed, I left the court with the old <i>moolah</i>, +who took me to his house and inquired of my story, having first given me a +good meal of rice and sweetmeats, and that greatest of luxuries, a little +pot of fragrant Mocha coffee; he sat in silence while I ate, ministering to +my wants, and evidently <a name="Page_26"></a>pleased with the good he was +doing. Then he brought out a package of <i>birris</i>, those little +cigarettes rolled in leaves that they smoke in Bombay, and I told him what +had happened to me. I implored him to put me in the way of obtaining some +work by which I could at least support life, and he promised to do so, +begging me to stay with him until I should be independent. The day +following I was engaged to pull a punkah in the house of an English lawyer +connected with an immense lawsuit involving one of the Mohammedan +principalities. For this irksome work I was to receive six rupees—twelve +shillings—monthly, but before the month was up I was transferred, by the +kindness of the English lawyer and the good offices of my co-religionist +the <i>moolah</i>, to the retinue of the Nizam of Haiderabad, then in +Bombay. Since that time I have never known want.</p> + +<p>"I soon mastered enough of the dialects to suit my needs, and applied +myself to the study of English, for which opportunities were not lacking. +At the end of two years I could speak the language enough to be understood, +and my accent from the first was a matter of surprise to all; I had also +saved out of my gratuities about one hundred rupees. Having been conversant +with the qualities of many kinds of precious stones from my youth up, I +determined to invest my economies in a diamond or a pearl. Before long I +struck a bargain with an old <i>marwarri</i> over a small stone, of which I +thought he misjudged the value, owing to the rough cutting. The fellow was +cunning <a name="Page_27"></a>and hard in his dealings, but my superior +knowledge of diamonds gave me the advantage. I paid him ninety-three rupees +for the little gem, and sold it again in a month for two hundred to a young +English 'collector and magistrate,' who wanted to make his wife a present. +I bought a larger stone, and again made nearly a hundred per cent on the +money. Then I bought two, and so on, until having accumulated sufficient +capital, I bade farewell to the Court of the Nizam, where my salary never +exceeded sixteen rupees a month as scribe and Arabic interpreter, and I +went my way with about two thousand rupees in cash and precious stones. I +came northwards, and finally settled in Delhi, where I set up as a dealer +in gems and objects of intrinsic value. It is now twelve years since I +landed in Bombay. I have never soiled my hands with usury, though I have +twice advanced large sums at legal interest for purposes I am not at +liberty to disclose; I have never cheated a customer or underrated a gem I +bought of a poor man, and my wealth, as you may judge from what you have +seen, is considerable. Moreover, though in constant intercourse with Hindus +and English, I have not forfeited my title to be called a true believer and +a follower of the prophet, whose name be blessed."</p> + +<p>Isaacs ceased speaking, and presently the waning moon rose pathetically +over the crest of the mountains with that curiously doleful look she wears +after the full is past, as if weeping over the loss of her <a +name="Page_28"></a>better half. The wind rose and soughed drearily through +the rhododendrons and the pines; and Kiramat Ali, the pipe-bearer, shivered +audibly as he drew his long cloth uniform around him. We rose and entered +my friend's rooms, where the warmth of the lights, the soft rugs and downy +cushions, invited us temptingly to sit down and continue our conversation. +But it was late, for Isaacs, like a true Oriental, had not hurried himself +over his narrative, and it had been nine o'clock when we sat down to smoke. +So I bade him good-night, and, musing on all I had heard and seen, retired +to my own apartments, glancing at Sirius and at the unhappy-looking moon +before I turned in from the verandah.</p> + +<hr /> + + + + +<a name="Page_29"></a><h2><a name='Chapter_II'></a>Chapter II.</h2> + + +<p>In India—in the plains—people rise before dawn, and it is not till +after some weeks' residence in the cooler atmosphere of the mountains that +they return to the pernicious habit of allowing the sun to be before them. +The hours of early morning, when one either mopes about in loose flannel +clothes, or goes for a gallop on the green <i>maidán</i>, are without +exception the most delicious of the day. I shall have occasion hereafter to +describe the morning's proceedings in the plains. On the day after the +events recorded in the last chapter I awoke as usual at five o'clock, and +meandered out on to the verandah to have a look at the hills, so novel and +delicious a sight after the endless flats of the northwest provinces. It +was still nearly dark, but there was a faint light in the east, which +rapidly grew as I watched it, till, turning the angle of the house, I +distinguished a snow-peak over the tops of the dark rhododendrons, and, +while I gazed, the first tinge of distant dawning caught the summit, and +the beautiful hill blushed, as a fair woman, at the kiss of the awakening +sun. The old story, the heaven wooing the earth with a wondrous shower of +gold.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_30"></a>"Prati 'shya sunarî janî"—the +exquisite lines of the old Vedic hymn to the dawn maiden, rose to my lips. +I had never appreciated or felt their truth down in the dusty plains, but +here, on the free hills, the glad welcoming of the morning light seemed to +run through every fibre, as thousands of years ago the same joyful thrill +of returning life inspired the pilgrim fathers of the Aryan race. Almost +unconsciously, I softly intoned the hymn, as I had heard my old Brahmin +teacher in Allahabad when he came and sat under the porch at daybreak, +until I was ready for him—</p> + +<blockquote> +The lissome heavenly maiden here,<br /> +Forth flashing from her sister's arms,<br /> +High heaven's daughter, now is come.<br /> +<br /> +In rosy garments, shining like<br /> +A swift bay mare; the twin knights' friend,<br /> +Mother of all our herds of kine.<br /> +<br /> +Yea, thou art she, the horseman's friend;<br /> +Of grazing cattle mother thou,<br /> +All wealth is thine, thou blushing dawn.<br /> +<br /> +Thou who hast driven the foeman back,<br /> +With praise we call on thee to wake<br /> +In tender reverence, beauteous one.<br /> +<br /> +The spreading beams of morning light<br /> +Are countless as our hosts of kine,<br /> +They fill the atmosphere of space.<br /> +<br /> +Filling the sky, thou openedst wide<br /> +The gates of night, thou glorious dawn—<br /> +Rejoicing-run thy daily race!<br /> +<br /> +<a name="Page_31"></a>The heaven above thy rays have filled,<br /> +The broad belovèd room of air,<br /> +O splendid, brightest maid of morn!<br /> +</blockquote> + +<p>I went indoors again to attend to my correspondence, and presently a +gorgeously liveried white-bearded <i>chuprassie</i> appeared at the door, +and bending low as he touched his hand to his forehead, intimated that "if +the great lord of the earth, the protector of the poor, would turn his ear +to the humblest of his servants, he would hear of something to his +advantage."</p> + +<p>So saying, he presented a letter from the official with whom I had to +do, an answer to my note of the previous afternoon, requesting an +interview. In due course, therefore, the day wore on, and I transacted my +business, returned to "tiffin," and then went up to my rooms for a little +quiet. I might have been there an hour, smoking and dreaming over a book, +when the servant announced a sahib who wanted to see me, and Isaacs walked +in, redolent of the sunshine without, his luminous eyes shining brightly in +the darkened room. I was delighted, for I felt my wits stagnating in the +unwonted idleness of the autumn afternoon, and the book I had taken up was +not conducive to wakefulness or brilliancy. It was a pleasant surprise too. +It is not often that an hotel acquaintance pushes an intimacy much, and +besides I had feared my silence during the previous evening might have +produced the impression of indifference, on which reflection I had resolved +to make myself agreeable at our next meeting.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_32"></a>Truly, had I asked myself the cause of a certain +attraction I felt for Mr. Isaacs, it would have been hard to find an +answer. I am generally extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance +by making confidences, and, in spite of Isaacs' charm of manner, I had +certainly speculated on his reasons for suddenly telling an entire stranger +his whole story. My southern birth had not modified the northern character +born in me, though it gave me the more urbane veneer of the Italian; and +the early study of Larochefoucauld and his school had not predisposed me to +an unlimited belief in the disinterestedness of mankind. Still there was +something about the man which seemed to sweep away unbelief and cynicism +and petty distrust, as the bright mountain freshet sweeps away the wretched +little mud puddles and the dust and impurities from the bed of a half dry +stream. It was a new sensation and a novel era in my experience of +humanity, and the desire to get behind that noble forehead, and see its +inmost workings, was strong beyond the strength of puny doubts and +preconceived prejudice. Therefore, when Isaacs appeared, looking like the +sun-god for all his quiet dress of gray and his unobtrusive manner, I felt +the "little thrill of pleasure" so aptly compared by Swinburne to the soft +touch of a hand stroking the outer hair.</p> + +<p>"What a glorious day after all that detestable rain!" were his first +words. "Three mortal months of water, mud, and Mackintoshes, not to mention +the <a name="Page_33"></a>agreeable sensation of being glued to a wet +saddle with your feet in water-buckets, and mountain torrents running up +and down the inside of your sleeves, in defiance of the laws of +gravitation; such is life in the monsoon. Pah!" And he threw himself down +on a cane chair and stretched out his dainty feet, so that the sunlight +through the crack of the half-closed door might fall comfortingly on his +toes, and remind him that it was fine outside.</p> + +<p>"What have you been doing all day?" I asked, for lack of a better +question, not having yet recovered from the mental stagnation induced by +the last number of the serial story I had been reading.</p> + +<p>"Oh—I don't know. Are you married?" he asked irrelevantly.</p> + +<p>"God forbid!" I answered reverently, and with some show of feeling.</p> + +<p>"Amen," was the answer. "As for me—I am, and my wives have been +quarreling."</p> + +<p>"Your wives! Did I understand you to use the plural number?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes. I have three; that is the worst of it. If there were only +two, they might get on better. You know 'two are company and three are +none,' as your proverb has it." He said this reflectively, as if meditating +a reduction in the number.</p> + +<p>The application of the proverb to such a case was quite new in my +recollection. As for the plurality of my friend's conjugal relations, I +remembered he was a Mohammedan, and my surprise vanished. <a +name="Page_34"></a>Isaacs was lost in meditation. Suddenly he rose to his +feet, and took a cigarette from the table.</p> + +<p>"I wonder"—the match would not light, and he struggled a moment with +another. Then he blew a great cloud of smoke, and sat down in a different +chair—"I wonder whether a fourth would act as a fly-wheel," and he looked +straight at me, as if asking my opinion.</p> + +<p>I had never been in direct relations with a Mussulman of education and +position. To be asked point-blank whether I thought four wives better than +three on general principles, and quite independently of the contemplated +spouse, was a little embarrassing. He seemed perfectly capable of marrying +another before dinner for the sake of peace, and I do not believe he would +have considered it by any means a bad move.</p> + +<p>"Diamond cut diamond," I said. "You too have proverbs, and one of them +is that a man is better sitting than standing; better lying than sitting; +better dead than lying down. Now I should apply that same proverb to +marriage. A man is, by a similar successive reasoning, better with no wife +at all than with three."</p> + +<p>His subtle mind caught the flaw instantly. "To be without a wife at all +would be about as conducive to happiness as to be dead. Negative happiness, +very negative."</p> + +<p>"Negative happiness is better than positive discomfort."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_35"></a>"Come, come," he answered, "we are bandying terms +and words, as if empty breath amounted to anything but inanity. Do you +really doubt the value of the institution of marriage?"</p> + +<p>"No. Marriage is a very good thing when two people are so poor that they +depend on each other, mutually, for daily bread, or if they are rich enough +to live apart. For a man in my own position marriage would be the height of +folly; an act of rashness only second to deliberate suicide. Now, you are +rich, and if you had but one wife, she living in Delhi and you in Simla, +you would doubtless be very happy."</p> + +<p>"There is something in that," said Isaacs. "She might mope and beat the +servants, but she could not quarrel if she were alone. Besides, it is so +much easier to look after one camel than three. I think I must try it."</p> + +<p>There was a pause, during which he seemed settling the destiny of the +two who were to be shelved in favour of a monogamic experiment. Presently +he asked if I had brought any horses, and hearing I had not, offered me a +mount, and proposed we should ride round Jako, and perhaps, if there were +time, take a look at Annandale in the valley, where there was polo, and a +racing-ground. I gladly accepted, and Isaacs despatched one of my servants, +the faithful Kiramat Ali, to order the horses. Meantime the conversation +turned on the expedition to Kabul to avenge the death of Cavagnari. I found +Isaacs held <a name="Page_36"></a>the same view that I did in regard to the +whole business. He thought the sending of four Englishmen, with a handful +of native soldiers of the guide regiment to protect them, a piece of +unparalleled folly, on a par with the whole English policy in regard to +Afghanistan.</p> + +<p>"You English—pardon me, I forgot you did not belong to them—the +English, then, have performed most of their great acts of valour as a +direct consequence of having wantonly exposed themselves in situations +where no sane man would have placed himself. Look at Balaclava; think of +the things they did in the mutiny, and in the first Afghan war; look at the +mutiny itself, the result of a hair-brained idea that a country like India +could be held for ever with no better defences than the trustworthiness of +native officers, and the gratitude of the people for the 'kindly British +rule.' Poor Cavagnari! when he was here last summer, before leaving on his +mission, he said several times he should never came back. And yet no better +man could have been chosen, whether for politics or fighting; if only they +had had the sense to protect him."</p> + +<p>Having delivered himself of this eulogy, my friend dropped his exhausted +cigarette, lit another, and appeared again absorbed in the triangulation of +his matrimonial problem. I imagined him weighing the question whether he +should part with Zobeida and Zuleika and keep Anima, or send Zuleika and +Amina about their business, and keep Zobeida to be a light <a +name="Page_37"></a>in his household. At last Kiramat Ali, on the watch in +the verandah, announced the saices with the horses, and we descended.</p> + +<p>I had expected that a man of Isaacs' tastes and habits would not be +stingy about his horseflesh, and so was prepared for the character of the +animals that awaited us. They were two superb Arab stallions, one of them +being a rare specimen of the weight-carrying kind, occasionally seen in the +far East. Small head, small feet, and feather-tailed, but broad in the +quarters and deep in the chest, able to carry a twelve-stone man for hours +at the stretching, even gallop, that never trembles and never tires; +surefooted as a mule, and tender-tempered as a baby.</p> + +<p>So we mounted the gentle creatures and rode away. The mountain on which +Simla is situated has a double summit, like a Swiss peak, the one higher +than the other. On the lower height and the neck between the two is built +the town, and the bungalows used as offices and residences for the +Government officials cover a very considerable, area. "Jako," the higher +eminence, is thickly covered with a forest of primeval rhododendrons and +pines, and though there are outlying bungalows and villas scattered about +among the trees near the town, they are so far back from the main road, +reserved as I have said for the use of the Viceroy, as far as driving is +concerned, that they are not seen in riding along the shady way; and on the +opposite side, where the trees are thin, the magnificent view looks far out +over the spurs of the <a name="Page_38"></a>mountains, the only human +habitation visible being a Catholic convent, which rears its little Italian +<i>campanile</i> against the blue sky, and rather adds to the beauty of the +scene than otherwise. As we rode along we continued our talk about the new +Afghan war, though neither of us was very much in the humour for animated +conversation. The sweet scent of the pines, the matchless motion of the +Arab, and the joyous feeling that the worst part of the tropical year was +passed, were enough for me, and I drank in the high, rarefied air, with the +intense delight of a man who has been smothered with dust and heat, and +then steamed to a jelly by a spring and summer in the plains of +Hindustan.</p> + +<p>The road abounds in sharp turns, and I, as the heavier mount, rode on +the inside as we went round the mountain. On reaching the open part on the +farther side, we drew rein for a moment to look down at the deep valleys, +now dark with the early shade, at the higher peaks red with the westering +sun, and at the black masses of foliage, through which some giant trunk +here and there caught a lingering ray of the departing light. Then, as we +felt the cool of the evening coming on, we wheeled and scampered along the +level stretch, stirrup to stirrup and knee to knee. The sharp corner at the +end pulled us up, but before we had quite reined in our horses, as +delighted as we to have a couple of minutes' straight run, we swung past +the angle and cannoned into a man ambling peaceably along with his reins on +one finger and his <a name="Page_39"></a>large gray felt hat flapping at +the back of his neck. There was a moment's confusion, profuse apologies on +our part, and some ill-concealed annoyance on the part of the victim, who +was, however, only a little jostled and taken by surprise.</p> + +<p>"Really, sir," he began. "Oh! Mr. Isaacs. No harm done, I assure you, +that is, not much. Bad thing riding fast round corners. No harm, no harm, +not much. How are you?" all in a breath.</p> + +<p>"How d'ye do! Mr. Ghyrkins; my friend Mr. Griggs."</p> + +<p>"The real offender," I added in a conciliatory tone, for I had kept my +place on the inside.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Griggs?" said Mr. Currie Ghyrkins. "Mr. Griggs of Allahabad? +<i>Daily Howler?</i> Yes, yes, corresponded; glad to see you in the +flesh."</p> + +<p>I did not think he looked particularly glad. He was a Revenue +Commissioner residing in Mudnugger; a rank Conservative; a regular old +"John Company" man, with whom I had had more than one tiff in the columns +of the <i>Howler,</i> leading to considerable correspondence.</p> + +<p>"I trust that our collision in the flesh has had no worse results than +our tilts in print, Mr. Ghyrkins?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all. Oh don't mention it. Bad enough, though, but no harm done, +none whatever," pulling up and looking at me as he pronounced the hist two +words with a peculiarly English slowness after a very quick sentence.</p> + +<p>While he was speaking, I was aware of a pair of <a +name="Page_40"></a>riders walking their horses toward us, and apparently +struggling to suppress their amusement at the mishap to the old gentleman, +which they must have witnessed. In truth, Mr. Ghyrkins, who was stout and +rode a broad-backed obese "tat," can have presented no very dignified +appearance, for he was jerked half out of the saddle by the concussion, and +his near leg, returning to its place, had driven his nether garment half +way to his knee, while the large felt hat was settling back on to his head +at a rakish angle, and his coat collar had gone well up the back of his +neck.</p> + +<p>"Dear uncle," said the lady as she rode up, "I hope you are not hurt?" +She was very handsome as she sat there trying not to laugh. A lithe figure +in a gray habit and a broad-brimmed hat, fair as a Swede, but with dark +eyes and heavy lashes. Just then she was showing her brilliant teeth, +ostensibly in delight at her dear uncle's escape, and her whole expression +was animated and amused. Her companion was a soldierly looking young +Englishman, with a heavy moustache and a large nose. A certain +devil-may-care look about his face was attractive as he sat carelessly +watching us. I noticed his long stirrups and the curb rein hanging loose, +while he held the snaffle, and concluded he was a cavalry officer. Isaacs +bowed low to the lady and wheeled his horse. She replied by a nod, +indifferent enough; but as he turned, her eyes instantly went back to him, +and a pleasant thoughtful look passed over her face, which betrayed at +least a trifling interest in the stranger, if stranger he were.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_41"></a>All this time Mr. Ghyrkins was talking and asking +questions of me. When had I come? what brought me here? how long would I +stay? and so on, showing that whether friendly or not he had an interest in +my movements. In answering his questions I found an opportunity of calling +the Queen the "Empress," of lauding Lord Beaconsfield's policy in India, +and of congratulating Mr. Ghyrkins upon the state of his district, with +which he had nothing to do, of course; but he swallowed the bait, all in a +breath, as he seemed to do everything. Then he introduced us.</p> + +<p>"Katharine, you know Mr. Isaacs; Mr. Griggs, Miss Westonhaugh, Lord +Steepleton Kildare, Mr. Isaacs."</p> + +<p>We bowed and rode back together over the straight piece we passed before +the encounter. Isaacs and the Englishman walked their horses on each side +of Miss Westonhaugh, and Ghyrkins and I brought up the rear. I tried to +turn the conversation to Isaacs, but with little result.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, good fellow Isaacs, for a fire-worshipper, or whatever he is. +Good judge of a horse. Lots of rupees too. Queer fish. By-the-bye, Mr. +Griggs, this new expedition is going to cost us something handsome, +eh?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes. I doubt whether you will get off under ten millions sterling. +And where is it to come from? You will have a nice time making your +assessments in Bengal, Mr. Ghyrkins, and we shall have an income-tax and +all sorts of agreeable things."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_42"></a>"Income-tax? Well, I think not. You see, Mr. +Griggs, it would hit the members of the council, so they won't do it, for +their own sakes, and the Viceroy too. Ha, ha, how do you think Lord Lytton +would like an income-tax, eh?" And the old fellow chuckled.</p> + +<p>We reached the end of the straight, and Isaacs reined in and bid Miss +Westonhaugh and her companion good evening. I bowed from where I was, and +took Mr. Ghyrkins' outstretched hand. He was in a good humour again, and +called out to us to come and see him, as we rode away. I thought to myself +I certainly would; and we paced back, crossing the open stretch for the +third time.</p> + +<p>It was almost dark under the trees as we re-entered the woods; I pulled +out a cheroot and lit it. Isaacs did the same, and we walked our horses +along in silence. I was thinking of the little picture I had just seen. The +splendid English girl on her thoroughbred beside the beautiful Arab steed +and his graceful rider. What a couple, I thought: what noble specimens of +great races. Why did not this fiery young Persian, with his wealth, his +beauty, and his talents, wed some such wife as that, some high-bred +Englishwoman, who should love him and give him home and children—and, I +was forced to add, commonplace happiness? How often does it happen that +some train of thought, unacknowledged almost to ourselves, runs abruptly +into a blind alley; especially when we try to plan out the future life of +some one <a name="Page_43"></a>else, or to sketch for him what we should +call happiness. The accidental confronting of two individuals pleases the +eye, we unite them in our imagination, carrying on the picture before us, +and suddenly we find ourselves in a quagmire of absurd incongruities. Now +what could be more laughable than to suppose the untamed, and probably +untameable young man at my side, with his three wives, his notions about +the stars and his Mussulman faith, bound for life to a girl like Miss +Westonhaugh? A wise man of the East trying to live the life of an English +country gentleman, hunting in pink and making speeches on the local +hustings! I smiled to myself in the dark and puffed at my cigar.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Isaacs was palpably uneasy. First he kicked his feet free of +the stirrups, and put them back again. Then he hummed a few words of a +Persian song and let his cigar go out, after which he swore loudly in +Arabic at the eternal matches that never would light. Finally he put his +horse into a hand gallop, which could not last on such a road in the dark, +and at last he broke down completely in his efforts to do impossible +things, and began talking to me.</p> + +<p>"You know Mr. Ghyrkins by correspondence, then?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and by controversy. And you, I see, know Miss Westonhaugh?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; what do you think of her?"</p> + +<p>"A charming creature of her type. Fair and <a +name="Page_44"></a>English, she will be fat at thirty-five, and will +probably paint at forty, but at present she is perfection—of her kind of +course," I added, not wishing to engage my friend in the defence of his +three wives on the score of beauty.</p> + +<p>"I see very little of Englishwomen," said Isaacs. "My position is +peculiar, and though the men, many of whom I know quite intimately, often +ask me to their houses, I fancy when I meet their women I can detect a +certain scorn of my nationality, a certain undefinable manner toward me, by +which I suppose they mean to convey to my obtuse comprehension that I am +but a step better than a 'native'—a 'nigger' in fact, to use the term they +love so well. So I simply avoid them, as a rule, for my temper is hasty. Of +course I understand it well enough; they are brought up or trained by their +fathers and husbands to regard the native Indian as an inferior being, an +opinion in which, on the whole, I heartily concur. But they go a step +farther and include all Asiatics in the same category. I do not choose to +be confounded with a race I consider worn out and effete. As for the men, +it is different. They know I am rich and influential in many ways that are +useful to them now, and they hope that the fortunes of war or revolution +may give them a chance of robbing me hereafter, in which they are mistaken. +Now there is our stout friend, whom we nearly brought to grief a few +minutes ago; he is always extremely civil, and never meets me that he does +not renew his invitation to visit him."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_45"></a>"I should like to see something more of Mr. Currie +Ghyrkins myself. I do not believe he is half as bad as I thought. Do you +ever go there?"</p> + +<p>"Sometimes. Yes, on second thoughts I believe I call on Mr. Currie +Ghyrkins pretty often." Then after a pause he added, "I like her."</p> + +<p>I pointed out the confusion of genders. Isaacs must have smiled to +himself in the gloom, but he answered quietly—</p> + +<p>"I mean Miss Westonhaugh. I like her—yes, I am quite sure I do. She is +beautiful and sensible, though if she stays here much longer she will be +like all the rest. We will go and see them to-morrow. Here we are; just in +time for dinner. Come and smoke afterwards."</p> + +<hr /> + + + + +<a name="Page_46"></a><h2><a name='CHAPTER_III'></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + + +<p>A loose robe of light material from Kashmir thrown around him, Isaacs +half sat, half lay, on the soft dark cushions in the corner of his outer +room. His feet were slipperless, Eastern fashion, and his head covered with +an embroidered cap of curious make. By the yellow light of the hanging +lamps he was reading an Arabic book, and his face wore a puzzled look that +sat strangely on the bold features. As I entered the book fell back on the +cushion, sinking deep into the down by its weight, and one of the heavy +gold clasps clanged sharply as it turned. He looked up, but did not rise, +and greeted me, smiling, with the Arabic salutation—</p> + +<p>"Peace be with you!"</p> + +<p>"And with you, peace," I answered in the same tongue. He smiled again at +my unfamiliar pronunciation. I established myself on the divan near him, +and inquired whether he had arrived at any satisfactory solution of his +domestic difficulties.</p> + +<p>"My father," he said, "upon whom be peace, had but one wife, my mother. +You know Mussulmans are allowed four lawful wives. Here is the passage in +the beginning of the fourth chapter, 'If ye fear <a name="Page_47"></a>that +ye shall not act with equity towards orphans of the female sex, take in +marriage of such other women as please you, two, or three, or four, and not +more. But, if ye fear that ye cannot act equitably towards so many, marry +one only, or the slaves which ye shall have acquired.'</p> + +<p>"The first part of this passage," continued Isaacs, "is disputed; I mean +the words referring to orphans. But the latter portion is plain enough. +When the apostle warns those who fear they 'cannot act equitably towards so +many,' I am sure that in his wisdom he meant something more by 'equitable' +treatment than the mere supplying of bodily wants. He meant us to so order +our households that there should be no jealousies, no heart-burnings, no +unnecessary troubling of the peace. Now woman is a thing of the devil, +jealous; and to manage a number of such creatures so that they shall be +even passably harmonious among themselves is a fearful task, soul-wearying, +heart-hardening, never-ending, leading to no result."</p> + +<p>"Just what I told you; a man is better with no wife at all than with +three. But why do you talk about such matters with me, an unbeliever, a +Christian, who, in the words of your prophet, 'shall swallow down nothing +but fire into my belly, and shall broil in raging flames' when I die? +Surely it is contrary to the custom of your co-religionists; and how can +you expect an infidel Frank to give you advice?"</p> + +<p>"I don't," laconically replied my host.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_48"></a>"Besides, with your views of women in general, +their vocation, their aims, and their future state, is it at all likely +that we should ever arrive at even a fair discussion of marriage and +marriage laws? With us, women have souls, and, what is a great deal more, +seem likely to have votes. They certainly have the respectful and courteous +service of a large proportion of the male sex. You call a woman a thing of +the devil; we call her an angel from heaven; and though some eccentric +persons like myself refuse to ally themselves for life with any woman, I +confess, as far as I am concerned, that it is because I cannot contemplate +the constant society of an angel with the degree of appreciation such a +privilege justly deserves; and I suspect that most confirmed bachelors, +knowingly or unconsciously, think as I do. The Buddhists are not singular +in their theory that permanent happiness should be the object."</p> + +<p>"They say," said Isaacs, quickly interrupting, "that the aim of the +ignorant is pleasure; the pursuit of the wise, happiness. Pray, under which +category would you class marriage? I suppose it comes under one or the +other."</p> + +<p>"I cannot say I see the force of that. Look at your own case, since you +have introduced it."</p> + +<p>"Never mind my own case. I mean with your ideas of one wife, and +heavenly woman, and voting, and domestic joy, and all the rest of it. Take +the ideal creature you rave about—"</p> + +<p>"I never rave about anything."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_49"></a>"Take the fascinating female you describe, and for +the sake of argument imagine yourself very poor or very rich, since you +would not enter wedlock in your present circumstances. Suppose you married +your object of 'courteous service and respectful adoration;' which should +you say you would attain thereby, pleasure or happiness?"</p> + +<p>"Pleasure is but the refreshment that cheers us in the pursuit of true +happiness," I answered, hoping to evade the direct question by a +sententious phrase.</p> + +<p>"I will not let you off so easily. You shall answer my question," he +said. He looked full at me with a deep searching gaze that seemed hardly +warranted by the lightness of the argument. I hesitated, and he impatiently +leaned forward, uncrossing his legs and clasping his hands over one knee to +bring himself nearer to me.</p> + +<p>"Pleasure or happiness?" he repeated, "which is it to be?"</p> + +<p>A sudden light flashed over my obscured intellect.</p> + +<p>"Both," I answered. "Could you see the ideal woman as I would fain paint +her to you, you would understand me better. The pleasure you enjoy in the +society of a noble and beautiful woman should be but the refreshment by the +wayside as you journey through life together. The day will come when she +will be beautiful no longer, only noble and good, and true to you as to +herself; and then, if pleasure has been to you what it should be, you will +find that in the happiness attained it is no longer counted, or <a +name="Page_50"></a>needed, or thought of. It will have served its end, as +the crib holds the ship in her place while she is building; and when your +white-winged vessel has smoothly glided off into the great ocean of +happiness, the crib and the stocks and the artificial supports will fall to +pieces and be forgotten for ever. Yet have they had a purpose, and have +borne a very important part in the life of your ship."</p> + +<p>Having heard me attentively till I had finished, Isaacs relaxed his hold +on his knee and threw himself back on the cushions, as if to entrench +himself for a better fight. I had made an impression on him, but he was not +the man to own it easily. Presumably to gain time, he called for hookahs +and sherbet, and though the servants moved noiselessly in preparing them, +their presence was an interruption.</p> + +<p>When we were settled again he had taken a nearly upright position on the +couch, and as he pulled at the long tube his face assumed that stolid look +of Oriental indifference which is the most discouraging shower-bath to the +persuasive powers. I had really no interest in converting him to my own +point of view about women. Honestly, was it my own point of view at all? +Would anything under heaven induce me, Paul Griggs, rich, or poor, or +comfortably off, to marry any one—Miss Westonhaugh, for instance? Probably +not. But then my preference for single blessedness did not prevent me from +believing that women have souls. That morning the question of the marriage +of the whole universe had <a name="Page_51"></a>been a matter of the utmost +indifference, and now I, a confirmed and hopelessly contented bachelor, was +trying to convince a man with three wives that matrimony was a most +excellent thing in its way, and that the pleasure of the honeymoon was but +the faint introduction to the bliss of the silver wedding. It certainly +must be Isaacs' own doing. He had launched on a voyage of discovery and had +taken me in tow. I had a strong suspicion that he wanted to be convinced, +and was playing indifference to soothe his conscience.</p> + +<p>"Well," said I at last, "have you any fault to find with my reasoning or +my simile?"</p> + +<p>"With your simile—none. It is faultlessly perfect. You have not mixed +up your metaphors in the least. Crib, stocks, ocean, ship—all correct, and +very nautical. As for your reasoning, I do not believe there is anything in +it. I do not believe that pleasure leads to happiness; I do not believe +that a woman has a soul, and I deny the whole argument from beginning to +end. There," he added with a smile that belied the brusqueness of his +words, "that is my position. Talk me out of it if you can; the night is +long, and my patience as that of the ass."</p> + +<p>"I do not think this is a case for rigid application of logic. When the +feelings are concerned—and where can they be more concerned than in our +intercourse with women?—the only way to arrive at any conclusion is by a +sort of trying-on process, imagining ourselves in the position indicated, +and striving <a name="Page_52"></a>to fancy how it would suit us. Let us +begin in that way. Suppose yourself unmarried, your three wives and their +children removed—"</p> + +<p>"Allah in his mercy grant it!" ejaculated Isaacs with great fervour.</p> + +<p>"—removed from the question altogether. Then imagine yourself thrown +into daily conversation with some beautiful woman who has read what you +have read, thought what you have thought, and dreamed the dreams of a +nobler destiny that have visited you in waking and sleeping hours. A woman +who, as she learned your strange story, should weep for the pains you +suffered and rejoice for the difficulties overcome, who should understand +your half spoken thoughts and proudly sympathise in your unuttered +aspirations; in whom you might see the twin nature to your own, and detect +the strong spirit and the brave soul, half revealed through the feminine +gentleness and modesty that clothe her as with a garment. Imagine all this, +and then suppose it lay in your power, was a question of choice, for you to +take her hand in yours and go through life and death together, till death +seem life for the joy of being united for ever. Suppose you married +her—not to lock her up in an indolent atmosphere of rosewater, narghyles, +and sweetmeats, to die of inanition or to pester you to death with +complaints and jealousies and inopportune caresses; but to be with you and +help your life when you most need help, by word and thought and deed, to +grow more and more a part of you, an essential <a +name="Page_53"></a>element of you in action or repose, to part from which +would be to destroy at a blow the whole fabric of your existence. Would you +not say that with such a woman the transitory pleasure of early +conversation and intercourse had been the stepping-stone to the lasting +happiness of such a friendship as you could never hope for in your old age +among your sex? Would not her faithful love and abounding sympathy be +dearer to you every day, though the roses in her cheek should fade and the +bright hair whiten with the dust of life's journey? Would you not feel that +when you died your dearest wish must be to join her where there should be +no parting—her from whom there could be no parting here, short of death +itself? Would you not believe she had a soul?"</p> + +<p>"There is no end of your 'supposing,' but it is quite pretty. I am half +inclined to 'suppose' too." He took a sip of sherbet from the tall crystal +goblet the servant had placed on a little three-legged stool beside him, +and as he drank the cool liquid slowly, looked over the glass into my eyes, +with a curious, half earnest, half smiling glance; I could not tell whether +my enthusiastic picture of conjugal bliss amused him or attracted him, so I +waited for him to speak again.</p> + +<p>"Now that you have had your cruise in your ship of happiness on the +waters of your cerulean imagination, permit me, who am land-born and a +lover of the chase, to put my steed at a few fences in the difficult +country of unadorned facts over which I propose to <a +name="Page_54"></a>hunt the wily fox, matrimony. I have never hunted a fox, +but I can quite well imagine what it is like.</p> + +<p>"In the first place, it is all very well to suppose that it had pleased +Allah in his goodness to relieve me of my three incumbrances—meanwhile, +there they are, and they are very real difficulties I assure you. +Nevertheless are there means provided us by the foresight of the apostle, +by which we may ease ourselves of domestic burdens when they are too heavy +for us to bear. It would be quite within the bounds of possibility for me +to divorce them all three, without making any special scandal. But if I did +this thing, do you not think that my experience of married life has given +me the most ineradicable prejudices against women as daily companions? Am I +not persuaded that they all bicker and chatter and nibble sweetmeats +alike—absolutely alike? Or if I looked abroad—"</p> + +<p>"Stop," I said, "I am not reasoner enough to persuade you that all women +have souls. Very likely in Persia and India they have not. I only want you +to believe that there may be women so fortunate as to possess a modicum of +immortality. Well, pardon my interruption, 'if you looked abroad,' as you +were saying?—"</p> + +<p>"If I looked abroad, I should probably discover little petty traits of +the same class, if not exactly identical. I know little of Englishmen, and +might be the more readily deceived. Supposing, if you will, that, after +freeing myself from all my present <a name="Page_55"></a>ties, in order to +start afresh, I were to find myself attracted by some English girl +here"—there must have been something wrong with the mouthpiece of his +pipe, for he examined it very attentively— "attracted," he continued, "by +some one, for instance, by Miss Westonhaugh—" he stopped short.</p> + +<p>So my inspiration was right. My little picture, framed as we rode +homeward, and indignantly scoffed at by my calmer reason, had visited his +brain too. He had looked on the fair northern woman and fancied himself at +her side, her lover, her husband. All this conversation and argument had +been only a set plan to give himself the pleasure of contemplating and +discussing such a union, without exciting surprise or comment. I had been +suspecting it for some time, and now his sudden interest in his mouthpiece, +to conceal a very real embarrassment, put the matter beyond all doubt.</p> + +<p>He was probably in love, my acquaintance of two days. He saw in me a +plain person, who could not possibly be a rival, having some knowledge of +the world, and he was in need of a confidant, like a school-girl. I +reflected that he was probably a victim for the first time. There is very +little romance in India, and he had, of course, married for convenience and +respectability rather than for any real affection. His first passion! This +man who had been tossed about like a bit of driftwood, who had by his own +determination and intelligence carved his way to wealth and power in the +teeth of every difficulty. Just <a name="Page_56"></a>now, in his +embarrassment, he looked very boyish. His troubles had left no wrinkles on +his smooth forehead, his bright black hair was untinged by a single thread +of gray, and as he looked up, after the pause that followed when he +mentioned the name of the woman he loved, there was a very really youthful +look of mingled passion and distress in his beautiful eyes.</p> + +<p>"I think, Mr. Isaacs, that you have used a stronger argument against the +opinions you profess to hold than I could have found in my whole armoury of +logic."</p> + +<p>As he looked at me, the whole field of possibilities seemed opened. I +must have been mistaken in thinking this marriage impossible and +incongruous. What incongruity could there be in Isaacs marrying Miss +Westonhaugh? My conclusions were false. Why must he necessarily return with +her to England, and wear a red coat, and make himself ridiculous at the +borough elections? Why should not this ideal couple choose some happy spot, +as far from the corrosive influence of Anglo-Saxon prejudice as from the +wretched sensualism of prosperous life east of the Mediterranean? I was +carried away by the idea, returning with redoubled strength as a sequel to +what I had argued and to what I had guessed. "Why not?" was the question I +repeated to myself over and over again in the half minute's pause after +Isaacs finished speaking.</p> + +<p>"You are right," he said slowly, his half-closed <a +name="Page_57"></a>eyes fixed on his feet. "Yes, you are right. Why not? +Indeed, indeed, why not?"</p> + +<p>It must have been pure guess-work, this reading of my thoughts. When he +was last speaking his manner was all indifference, scorn of my ideas, and +defiance of every western mode of reasoning. And now, apparently by pure +intuition, he gave a direct answer to the direct question I had mentally +asked, and, what is more, his answer came with a quiet, far-away tone of +conviction that had not a shade of unbelief in it. It was delivered as +monotonously and naturally as a Christian says "Credo in unum Deum," as if +it were not worth disputing; or as the devout Mussulman says "La Illah +illallah," not stooping to consider the existence of any one bold enough to +deny the dogma. No argument, not hours of patient reasoning, or weeks of +well directed persuasion, could have wrought the change in the man's tone +that came over it at the mere mention of the woman he loved. I had no share +in his conversion. My arguments had been the excuse by which he had +converted himself. Was he converted? was it real?</p> + +<p>"Yes—I think I am," he replied in the same mechanical monotonous +accent.</p> + +<p>I shook myself, drank some sherbet, and kicked off one shoe impatiently. +Was I dreaming? or had I been speaking aloud, really putting the questions +he answered so quickly and appositively? Pshaw! a coincidence. I called the +servant and ordered my hookah to be refilled. Isaacs sat still, immovable, +<a name="Page_58"></a>lost in thought, looking at his toes; an expression, +almost stupid in its vacancy, was on his face, and the smoke curled slowly +up in lazy wreaths from his neglected narghyle.</p> + +<p>"You are converted then at last?" I said aloud. No answer followed my +question; I watched him attentively.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Isaacs!" still silence, was it possible that he had fallen asleep? +his eyes were open, but I thought he was very pale. His upright position, +however, belied any symptoms of unconsciousness.</p> + +<p>"Isaacs! Abdul Hafiz! what is the matter!" He did not move. I rose to my +feet and knelt beside him where he sat rigid, immovable, like a statue. +Kiramat Ali, who had been watching, clapped his hands wildly and cried, +"Wah! wah! Sahib margyâ!"—"The lord is dead." I motioned him away +with a gesture and he held his peace, cowering in the corner, his eyes +fixed on us. Then I bent low as I knelt and looked under my friend's brows, +into his eyes. It was clear he did not see me, though he was looking +straight at his feet. I felt for his pulse. It was very low, almost +imperceptible, and certainly below forty beats to the minute. I took his +right arm and tried to put it on my shoulder. It was perfectly rigid. There +was no doubt about it—the man was in a cataleptic trance. I felt for the +pulse again; it was lost.</p> + +<p>I was no stranger to this curious phenomenon, where the mind is +perfectly awake, but every bodily <a name="Page_59"></a>faculty is lulled +to sleep beyond possible excitation, unless the right means be employed. I +went out and breathed the cool night air, bidding the servants be quiet, as +the sahib was asleep. When sufficiently refreshed I re-entered the room, +cast off my slippers, and stood a moment by my friend, who was as rigid as +ever.</p> + +<p>Nature, in her bountiful wisdom, has compensated me for a singular +absence of beauty by endowing me with great strength, and with one of those +exceptional constitutions which seem constantly charged with electricity. +Without being what is called a mesmerist, I am possessed of considerable +magnetic power, which I have endeavoured to develop as far as possible. In +many a long conversation with old Manu Lal, my Brahmin instructor in +languages and philosophy while in the plains, we had discussed the trance +state in all its bearings. This old pundit was himself a distinguished +mesmerist, and though generally unwilling to talk about what is termed +occultism, on finding in me a man naturally endowed with the physical +characteristics necessary to those pursuits, he had given me several +valuable hints as to the application of my powers. Here was a worthy +opportunity.</p> + +<p>I rubbed my feet on the soft carpet, and summoning all my strength, +began to make the prescribed passes over my friend's head and body. Very +gradually the look of life returned to his face, the generous blood welled +up under the clear olive skin, the lips <a name="Page_60"></a>parted, and +he sighed softly. Animation, as always happens in such cases, began at the +precise point at which it had been suspended, and his first movement was to +continue his examination of the mouthpiece in his hand. Then he looked up +suddenly, and seeing me standing over him, gave a little shake, half +turning his shoulders forward and back, and speaking once more in his +natural voice, said—</p> + +<p>"I must have been asleep! Have I? What has happened? Why are you +standing there looking at me in that way?" Then, after a short +interrogatory silence, his face changed and a look of annoyance shaded his +features as he added in a low tone, "Oh! I see. It has happened to me once +before. Sit down. I am all right now." He sipped a little sherbet and +leaned back in his old position. I begged him to go to bed, and prepared to +withdraw, but he would not let me, and he seemed so anxious that I should +stay, that I resumed my place. The whole incident had passed in ten +minutes.</p> + +<p>"Stay with me a little longer," he repeated. "I need your company, +perhaps your advice. I have had a vision, and you must hear about it."</p> + +<p>"I thought as I sat here that my spirit left my body and passed out +through the night air and hovered over Simla. I could see into every +bungalow, and was conscious of what passed in each, but there was only one +where my gaze rested, for I saw upon a couch in a spacious chamber the +sleeping form of one I knew. The masses of fair hair were heaped as <a +name="Page_61"></a>they fell upon the pillow, as if she had lain down weary +of bearing the burden of such wealth of gold. The long dark lashes threw +little shadows on her cheeks, and the parted lips seemed to smile at the +sweetness of the gently heaving breath that fanned them as it came and +went. And while I looked, the breath of her body became condensed, as it +were, and took shape and form and colour, so that the image of herself +floated up between her body and my watching spirit. Nearer and nearer to me +came the exquisite vision of beauty, till we were face to face, my soul and +hers, high up in the night. And there came from her eyes, as the long lids +lifted, a look of perfect trust, and of love, and of infinite joy. Then she +turned her face southward and pointed to my life star burning bright among +his lesser fellows; and with a long sweet glance that bid me follow where +she led, her maiden soul floated away, half lingering at first, as I +watched her; then, with dizzy speed, vanishing in the firmament as a +falling star, and leaving no trace behind, save an infinitely sad regret, +and a longing to enter with her into that boundless empire of peace. But I +could not, for my spirit was called back to this body. And I bless Allah +that he has given me to see her once so, and to know that she has a soul, +even as I have, for I have looked upon her spirit and I know it."</p> + +<p>Isaacs rose slowly to his feet and moved towards the open door. I +followed him, and for a few moments we stood looking out at the scene below +us. <a name="Page_62"></a>It was near midnight, and the ever-decreasing +moon was dragging herself up, as if ashamed of her waning beauty and +tearful look.</p> + +<p>"Griggs," said my friend, dropping the formal prefix for the first time, +"all this is very strange. I believe I am in love!"</p> + +<p>"I have not a doubt of it," I replied. "Peace be with you!"</p> + +<p>"And with you peace."</p> + +<p>So we parted.</p> + +<hr /> + + + + +<a name="Page_63"></a><h2><a name='CHAPTER_IV'></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + + +<p>In Simla people make morning calls in the morning instead of after dark, +as in more civilised countries. Soon after dawn I received a note from +Isaacs, saying that he had business with the Maharajah of Baithopoor about +some precious stones, but that he would be ready to go with me to call on +Mr. Currie Ghyrkins at ten o'clock, or soon after. I had been thinking a +great deal about the events of the previous evening, and I was looking +forward to my next meeting with Isaacs with intense interest. After what +had passed, nothing could be such a test of his true feelings as the visit +to Miss Westonhaugh, which we proposed to make together, and I promised +myself to lose no gesture, no word, no expression, which might throw light +on the question that interested me—whether such a union were practical, +possible, and wise.</p> + +<p>At the appointed time, therefore, I was ready, and we mounted and +sallied forth into the bright autumn day. All visits are made on horseback +in Simla, as the distances are often considerable. You ride quietly along, +and the saice follows you, walking or keeping pace with your gentle trot, +as the case may <a name="Page_64"></a>be. We rode along the bustling mall, +crowded with men and women on horseback, with numbers of gorgeously arrayed +native servants and <i>chuprassies</i> of the Government offices hurrying +on their respective errands, or dawdling for a chat with some +shabby-looking acquaintance in private life; we passed by the crowded +little shops on the hill below the church, and glanced at the +conglomeration of grain-sellers, jewellers, confectioners, and dealers in +metal or earthen vessels, every man sitting knee-deep in his wares, smoking +the eternal "hubble-bubble;" we noted the keen eyes of the buyers and the +hawk's glance of the sellers, the long snake-like fingers eagerly grasping +the passing coin, and seemingly convulsed into serpentine contortion when +they relinquished their clutch on a single "pi;" we marked this busy scene, +set down, like a Punch and Judy show, in the midst of the trackless waste +of the Himalayas, as if for the delectation and pastime of some merry +<i>genius loci</i> weary of the solemn silence in his awful mountains, and +we chatted carelessly of the sights animate and inanimate before us, +laughing at the asseverations of the salesmen, and at the hardened +scepticism of the customer, at the portentous dignity of the superb old +messenger, white-bearded and clad in scarlet and gold, as he bombastically +described to the knot of poor relations and admirers that elbowed him the +splendours of the last entertainment at "Peterhof," where Lord Lytton still +reigned. I smiled, and Isaacs frowned at the ancient and hairy <a +name="Page_65"></a>ascetic believer, who suddenly rose from his lair in a +corner, and bustled through the crowd of Hindoos, shouting at the top of +his voice the confession of his faith—"Beside God there is no God, and +Muhammad is his apostle!" The universality of the Oriental spirit is +something amazing. Customs, dress, thought, and language, are wonderfully +alike among all Asiatics west of Thibet and south of Turkistan. The +greatest difference is in language, and yet no one unacquainted with the +dialects could distinguish by the ear between Hindustani, Persian, Arabic, +and Turkish.</p> + +<p>So we moved along, and presently found ourselves on the road we had +traversed the previous evening, leading round Jako. On the slope of the +hill, hidden by a dense growth of rhododendrons, lay the bungalow of Mr. +Currie Ghyrkins, and a board at the entrance of the ride—drive there was +none—informed us that the estate bore the high-sounding title of +"Carisbrooke Castle," in accordance with the Simla custom of calling little +things by big names.</p> + +<p>Having reached the lawn near the house, we left our horses in charge of +the saice and strolled up the short walk to the verandah. A charming +picture it was, prepared as if on purpose for our especial delectation. The +bungalow was a large one for Simla, and the verandah was deep and shady; +many chairs of all sorts and conditions stood about in natural positions, +as if they had just been sat in, instead of <a name="Page_66"></a>being +ranged in stiff rows against the wall, and across one angle hung a +capacious hammock. Therein, swinging her feet to the ground, and holding on +by the edge rope, sat the beautiful Miss Westonhaugh, clad in one of those +close-fitting unadorned costumes of plain dark-blue serge, which only suit +one woman in ten thousand, though, when they clothe a really beautiful +young figure, I know of no garment better calculated to display grace of +form and motion. She was kicking a ball of worsted with her dainty toes, +for the amusement and instruction of a small tame jackal—the only one I +ever saw thoroughly domesticated. A charming little beast it was, with long +gray fur and bright twinkling eyes, mischievous and merry as a gnome's. +From a broad blue ribbon round its neck was suspended a small silver bell +that tinkled spasmodically, as the lively little thing sprang from side to +side in pursuit of the ball, alighting with apparent indifference on its +head or its heels.</p> + +<p>So busy was the girl with her live plaything that she had not seen us +dismount and approach her, and it was not till our feet sounded on the +boards of the verandah that she looked up with a little start, and tried to +rise to her feet. Now any one who has sat sideways in a netted hammock, +with feet swinging to the ground, and all the weight in the middle of the +thing, knows how difficult it is to get out with grace, or indeed in any +way short of rolling out and running for luck. You may break all your bones +in <a name="Page_67"></a>the feat, and you both look and feel as if you +were going to. Though we both sprang forward to her assistance, Miss +Westonhaugh had recognised the inexpediency of moving after the first +essay, and, with a smile of greeting, and the faintest tinge of +embarrassment on her fair cheek, abandoned the attempt; the quaint little +jackal sat up, backing against the side of the house, and, eyeing us +critically, growled a little.</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad to see you, Mr. Isaacs. How do you do, Mr.——"</p> + +<p>"Griggs," murmured Isaacs, as he straightened a rope of the hammock by +her side.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Griggs?" she continued. "We met last night, briefly, but to the +point, or at least you and my uncle did. I am alone; my uncle is gone down +towards Kalka to meet my brother, who is coming up for a fortnight at the +end of the season to get rid of the Bombay mould. Bring up some of those +chairs and sit down. I cannot tell what has become of the 'bearer' and the +'boy,' and the rest of the servants, and I could not make them understand +me if they were here. So you must wait on yourselves."</p> + +<p>I was the first to lay hands on a chair, and as I turned to bring it I +noticed she was following Isaacs with the same expression I had seen on her +face the previous evening; but I could see it better now. A pleasant +friendly look, not tender so much as kind, while the slightest possible +contraction of the eyes showed a feeling of curiosity. She was evidently +going to speak to him as soon as he turned his face.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_68"></a>"You see I have been giving him lessons," she +said, as he brought back the seat he had chosen.</p> + +<p>Isaacs looked at the queer small beast sitting up against the boards +under the window, his brush tail curled round him, and his head turned +inquiringly on one side.</p> + +<p>"He seems to be learning manners, at all events," said my friend.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I think I may say now, with safety, that his bark is worse than +his bite."</p> + +<p>"I am sure you could not have said so the last time I came. Do you +remember what fearful havoc he made among my nether garments? And yet he is +my god-child, so to speak, for I gave him into your care, and named him +into the bargain."</p> + +<p>"Don't suppose I am ungrateful for the gift," answered Miss Westonhaugh. +"Snap! Snap! here! come here, darling, to your mistress, and be petted!" In +spite of this eloquent appeal Snap, the baby jackal, only growled +pleasantly and whisked his brush right and left. "You see," she went on, +"your sponsorship has had no very good results. He will not obey any more +than you yourself." Her glance, turning towards Isaacs, did not reach him, +and, in fact, she could not have seen anything beyond the side of his +chair. Isaacs, on the contrary, seemed to be counting her eyelashes, and +taking a mental photograph of her brows.</p> + +<p>"Snap!" said he. The jackal instantly rose and trotted to him, fawning +on his outstretched hand.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_69"></a>"You malign me, Miss Westonhaugh. Snap is no less +obedient than I."</p> + +<p>"Then why did you insist on playing tennis left-handed the other day, +though you know very well how it puzzles me?"</p> + +<p>"My dear Miss Westonhaugh," he answered, "I am not a tennis-player at +all, to begin with, and as I do not understand the <i>finesse</i> of the +game, to use a word I do not understand either, you must pardon my +clumsiness in employing the hand most convenient and ready."</p> + +<p>"Some people," I began, "are what is called ambidexter, and can use +either hand with equal ease. Now the ancient Persians, who invented the +game of polo——"</p> + +<p>"I do not quarrel so much with you, Mr. Isaacs—" as she said this, she +looked at me, though entirely disregarding and interrupting my instructive +sentence—"I don't quarrel with you so much for using your left hand at +tennis as for employing left-handed weapons when you speak of other things, +or beings, for you are never so left-handed and so adroit as when you are +indulging in some elaborate abuse of our sex."</p> + +<p>"How can you say that?" protested Isaacs. "You know with what respectful +and almost devotional reverence I look upon all women, and," his eyes +brightening perceptibly, "upon you in particular."</p> + +<p>English women, especially in their youth, are not used to pretty +speeches. They are so much accustomed <a name="Page_70"></a>to the men of +their own nationality that they regard the least approach to a compliment +as the inevitable introduction to the worst kind of insult. Miss +Westonhaugh was no exception to this rule, and she drew herself up +proudly.</p> + +<p>There was a moment's pause, during which Isaacs seemed penitent, and she +appeared to be revolving the bearings of the affront conveyed in his last +words. She looked along the floor, slowly, till she might have seen his +toes; then her eyes opened a moment and met his, falling again instantly +with a change of colour.</p> + +<p>"And pray, Mr. Isaacs, would you mind giving us a list of the ladies you +look upon with 'respectful and devotional reverence?'" One of the horses +held by the saice at the corner of the lawn neighed lowly, and gave Isaacs +an opportunity of looking away.</p> + +<p>"Miss Westonhaugh," he said quietly, "you know I am a Mussulman, and +that I am married. It may be that I have borrowed a phrase from your +language which expresses more than I would convey, though it would ill +become me to withdraw my last words, since they are true."</p> + +<p>It was my turn to be curious now. I wondered where his boldness would +carry him. Among his other accomplishments, this man was capable of +speaking the truth even to a woman, not as a luxury and a <i>bonne +bouche</i>, but as a matter of habit. As I looked, the hot blood mantled up +to his brows. <a name="Page_71"></a>She was watching him, and womanlike, +seeing he was in earnest and embarrassed, she regained her perfect natural +composure.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I had forgotten!" she said. "I forgot about your wife in Delhi." +She half turned in the hammock, and after some searching, during which we +were silent, succeeded in finding a truant piece of worsted work behind +her. The wool was pulled out of the needle, and she held the steel +instrument up against the light, as she doubled the worsted round the eye +and pushed it back through the little slit. I observed that Isaacs was +apparently in a line with the light, and that the threading took some +time.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Griggs," she said slowly, and by the very slowness of the address I +knew she was going to talk to me, and at my friend, as women will; "Mr. +Griggs, do you know anything about Mohammedans?"</p> + +<p>"That is a very broad question," I answered; "almost as broad as the +Mussulman creed." She began making stitches in the work she held, and with +a little side shake settled herself to listen, anticipating a discourse. +The little jackal sidled up and fawned on her feet. I had no intention, +however, of delivering a lecture on the faith of the prophet. I saw my +friend was embarrassed in the conversation, and I resolved, if possible, to +interest her.</p> + +<p>"Among primitive people and very young persons," I continued, "marriage +is an article of faith, a moral precept, and a social law."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_72"></a>"I suppose you are married, Mr. Griggs," she said, +with an air of childlike simplicity.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, Miss Westonhaugh, I neither condescend to call myself +primitive, nor aspire to call myself young."</p> + +<p>She laughed. I had put a wedge into my end of the conversation.</p> + +<p>"I thought," said she, "from the way in which you spoke of 'primitive +and young persons' that you considered their opinion in regard to—to this +question, as being the natural and proper opinion of the original and +civilised young man."</p> + +<p>"I repeat that I do not claim to be very civilised, or very +young—certainly not to be very original, and my renunciation of all these +qualifications is my excuse for the confirmed bachelorhood to which I +adhere. Many Mohammedans are young and original; some of them are +civilised, as you see, and all of them are married. 'There is no God but +God, Muhammad is his prophet, and if you refuse to marry you are not +respectable,' is their full creed."</p> + +<p>Isaacs frowned at my profanity, but I continued—"I do not mean to say +anything disrespectful to a creed so noble and social. I think you have +small chance of converting Mr. Isaacs."</p> + +<p>"I would not attempt it," she said, laying down her work in her lap, and +looking at me for a moment. "But since you speak of creeds, to what +confession do you yourself belong, if I may ask?"</p> + +<p>"I am a Roman Catholic," I answered; adding <a +name="Page_73"></a>presently—"Really, though, I do not see how my belief +in the papal infallibility affects my opinion of Mohammedan marriages."</p> + +<p>"And what <i>do</i> you think of them?" she inquired, resuming her work +and applying herself thereto with great attention.</p> + +<p>"I think that, though justified in principle by the ordinary +circumstances of Eastern life, there are cases in which the system acts +very badly. I think that young men are often led by sheer force of example +into marrying several wives before they have sufficiently reflected on the +importance of what they are doing. I think that both marriage and divorce +are too easily managed in consideration of their importance to a man's +life, and I am convinced that no civilised man of Western education, if he +were to adopt Islam, would take advantage of his change of faith to marry +four wives. It is a case of theory <i>versus</i> practice, which I will not +attempt to explain. It may often be good in logic, but it seems to me it is +very often bad in real life."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Isaacs; "there are cases——" He stopped, and Miss +Westonhaugh, who had been very busy over her work, looked quietly up, only +to find that he was profoundly interested in the horses cropping the short +grass, as far as the saice would let them stretch their necks, on the other +side of the lawn.</p> + +<p>"I confess," said Miss Westonhaugh, "that my ideas about Mohammedans are +chiefly the result of <a name="Page_74"></a>reading the Arabian Nights, +ever so long ago. It seems to me that they treat women as if they had no +souls and no minds, and were incapable of doing anything rational if left +to themselves. It is a man's religion. My uncle says so too, and he ought +to know."</p> + +<p>The conversation was meandering in a kind of vicious circle. Both Isaacs +and I were far too deeply interested in the question to care for such idle +discussion. How could this beautiful but not very intellectual English +girl, with her prejudices and her clumsiness at repartee or argument, ever +comprehend or handle delicately so difficult a subject? I was disappointed +in her. Perhaps this was natural enough, considering that with two such men +as we she must be entirely out of her element. She was of the type of +brilliant, healthy, northern girls, who depend more on their animal spirits +and enjoyment of living for their happiness than upon any natural or +acquired mental powers. With a horse, or a tennis court, or even a ball to +amuse her, she would appear at her very best; would be at ease and do the +right thing. But when called upon to sustain a conversation, such as that +into which her curiosity about Isaacs had plunged her, she did not know +what to do. She was constrained, and even some of her native grace of +manner forsook her. Why did she avoid his eyes and resort to such a petty +little trick as threading a needle in order to get a look at him? An +American girl, or a French woman, would <a name="Page_75"></a>have seen +that her strength lay in perfect frankness; that Isaacs' straightforward +nature would make him tell her unhesitatingly anything she wanted to know +about himself, and that her position was strong enough for her to look him +in the face and ask him what she pleased. But she allowed herself to be +embarrassed, and though she had been really glad to see him, and liked him +and thought him handsome, she was beginning to wish he would go, merely +because she did not know what to talk about, and would not give him a +chance to choose his own subject. As neither of us were inclined to carry +the analysis of matrimony any farther, nor to dispute the opinions of Mr. +Currie Ghyrkins as quoted by his niece, there was a pause. I struck in and +boldly changed the subject.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to see the polo this afternoon, Miss Westonhaugh? I heard +at the hotel that there was to be a match to-day of some interest."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, of course. I would not miss it for anything. Lord Steepleton is +coming to tiffin, and we shall ride down together to Annandale. Of course +you are going too; it will be a splendid thing. Do you play polo, Mr. +Griggs? Mr. Isaacs is a great player, when he can be induced to take the +trouble. He knows more about it than he does about tennis."</p> + +<p>"I am very fond of the game," I answered, "but I have no horses here, +and with my weight it is not easy to get a mount for such rough work."</p> + +<p>"Do not disturb yourself on that score," said <a +name="Page_76"></a>Isaacs; "you know my stable is always at your disposal, +and I have a couple of ponies that would carry you well enough. Let us have +a game one of those days, whenever we can get the ground. We will play on +opposite sides and match the far west against the far east."</p> + +<p>"What fun!" cried Miss Westonhaugh, her face brightening at the idea, +"and I will hold the stakes and bestow the crown on the victor."</p> + +<p>"What is to be the prize?" asked Isaacs, with a smile of pleasure. He +was very literal and boyish sometimes.</p> + +<p>"That depends on which is the winner," she answered.</p> + +<p>There was a noise among the trees of horses' hoofs on the hard path, and +presently we heard a voice calling loudly for a saice who seemed to be +lagging far behind. It was a clear strong voice, and the speaker abused the +groom's female relations to the fourth and fifth generations with +considerable command of the Hindustani language. Miss Westonhaugh, who had +not been in the country long, did not understand a word of the very free +swearing that was going on in the woods, but Isaacs looked annoyed, and I +registered a black mark against the name of the new-comer, whoever he might +be.</p> + +<p>"Oh! it is Lord Steepleton," said the young girl. "He seems to be always +having a row with his servants. Don't go," she went on as I took up my hat; +"he is such a good fellow, you ought to know him."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_77"></a>Lord Steepleton Kildare now appeared at the corner +of the lawn, hotly pursued by his breathless groom, who had been loitering +on the way, and had thus roused his master's indignation. He was, as I have +said, a fine specimen of a young Englishman, though being Irish by descent +he would have indignantly denied any such nationality. I saw when he had +dismounted that he was tall and straight, though not a very heavily built +man. He carried his head high, and looked every inch a soldier as he strode +across the grass, carefully avoiding the pegs of the tennis net. He wore a +large gray felt hat, like every one else, and he shook hands all round +before he took it off, and settled himself in an easy chair as near as he +could get to Miss Westonhaugh's hammock.</p> + +<p>"How are ye? Ah—yes, Mr. Isaacs, Mr. Griggs of Allahabad. Jolly day, +isn't it?" and he looked vaguely at the grass. "Really, Miss Westonhaugh, I +got in such a rage with my rascal of a saice that I did not remember I was +so near the house. I am really very sorry I talked like that. I hope you +did not think I was murdering him?"</p> + +<p>Isaacs looked annoyed.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said he, "we thought Mahmoud was going to have a bad time of it. +I believe Miss Westonhaugh does not understand Hindustani."</p> + +<p>A look of genuine distress came into the Englishman's face.</p> + +<p>"Really," said he, very simply. "You don't know how sorry I am that any +one should have heard me. <a name="Page_78"></a>I am so hasty. But let me +apologise to you all most sincerely for disturbing you with my brutal +temper."</p> + +<p>His misdeed had not been a very serious crime after all, and there was +something so frank and honest about his awkward little apology that I was +charmed. The man was a gentleman. Isaacs bowed in silence, and Miss +Westonhaugh had evidently never thought much about it.</p> + +<p>"We were talking about polo when you came, Lord Steepleton; Mr. Isaacs +and Mr. Griggs are going to play a match, and I am to hold the stakes. Do +you not want to make one in the game?"</p> + +<p>"May I?" said the young man, grateful to her for having helped him out. +"May I? I should like it awfully. I so rarely get a chance of playing with +any except the regular set here." And he looked inquiringly at us.</p> + +<p>"We should be delighted, of course," said Isaacs. "By the way, can you +help us to make up the number? And when shall it be?" He seemed suddenly +very much interested in this projected contest.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes," said Kildare, "I will manage to fill up the game, and we can +play next Monday. I know the ground is free then."</p> + +<p>"Very good; on Monday. We are at Laurie's on the hill."</p> + +<p>"I am staying with Jack Tygerbeigh, near Peterhof. Come and see us. I +will let you know before Monday. Oh, Mr. Griggs, I saw such a nice thing +about me in the <i>Howler</i> the other day—so many <a +name="Page_79"></a>thanks. No, really, greatly obliged, you know; people +say horrid things about me sometimes. Good-bye, good-bye, delighted to have +seen you."</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Miss Westonhaugh."</p> + +<p>"Good morning; so good of you to take pity on my solitude." She smiled +kindly at Isaacs and civilly at me. And we went our way. As we looked back +after mounting to lift our hats once more, I saw that Miss Westonhaugh had +succeeded in getting out of the hammock and was tying on a pith hat, while +Lord Steepleton had armed himself with balls and rackets from a box on the +verandah. As we bowed they came down the steps, looking the very +incarnation of animal life and spirits in the anticipation of the game they +loved best. The bright autumn sun threw their figures into bold relief +against the dark shadow of the verandah, and I thought to myself they made +a very pretty picture. I seemed to be always seeing pictures, and my +imagination was roused in a new direction.</p> + +<p>We rode away under the trees. My impression of the whole visit was +unsatisfactory. I had thought Mr. Currie Ghyrkins would be there, and that +I would be able to engage him in a political discussion. We could have +talked income-tax, and cotton duties, and Kabul by the hour, and Miss +Westonhaugh and Isaacs would have had a pleasant +<i>tête-à-tête.</i> Instead of this I had been decidedly +the unlucky third who destroys the balance of so much pleasure in life, for +I felt that Isaacs was not a man <a name="Page_80"></a>to be embarrassed if +left alone with a woman, or to embarrass her. He was too full of tact, and +his sensibilities were so fine that, with his easy command of language, he +must be agreeable <i>quand même</i>; and such an opportunity would +have given him an easy lead away from the athletic Kildare, whom I +suspected strongly of being a rival for Miss Westonhaugh's favour. There is +an easy air of familiar proprietorship about an Englishman in love that is +not to be mistaken. It is a subtle thing, and expresses itself neither in +word nor deed in its earlier stages of development; but it is there all the +same, and the combination of this possessive mood, with a certain shyness +which often goes with it, is amusing.</p> + +<p>"Griggs," said Isaacs, "have you ever seen the Rajah of Baithopoor?"</p> + +<p>"No; you had some business with him this morning, had you not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes—some—business—if you call it so. If you would like to see him I +can take you there, and I think you would be interested in the—the +business. It is not often such gems are bought and sold in such a way, and +besides, he is very amusing. He is at least two thousand years old, and +will go to Saturn when he dies. His fingers are long and crooked, and that +which he putteth into his pockets, verily he shall not take it out."</p> + +<p>"A pleasing picture; a good contrast to the one we have left behind us. +I like contrasts, and I should like to see him."</p> + +<p>"You shall." And we lit our cheroots.</p> + +<hr /> + + + + +<a name="Page_81"></a><h2><a name='CHAPTER_V'></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + + +<p>"We will go there at four," said Isaacs, coming into my rooms after +tiffin, a meal of which I found he rarely partook. "I said three, this +morning, but it is not a bad plan to keep natives waiting. It makes them +impatient, and then they commit themselves."</p> + +<p>"You are Machiavellian. It is pretty clear which of you is asking the +favour."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is pretty clear." He sat down and took up the last number of +the <i>Howler</i> which lay on the table. Presently he looked up. "Griggs, +why do you not come to Delhi? We might start a newspaper there, you know, +in the Conservative interest."</p> + +<p>"In the interest of Mr. Algernon Currie Ghyrkins?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>"Precisely. You anticipate my thoughts with a true sympathy. I suppose +you have no conscience?"</p> + +<p>"Political conscience? No, certainly not, out of my own country, which +is the only one where that sort of thing commands a high salary. No, I have +no conscience."</p> + +<p>"You would really write as willingly for the Conservatives as you do for +the Liberals?"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_82"></a>"Oh yes. I could not write so well on the +Conservative side just now, because they are 'in,' and it is more blessed +to abuse than to be abused, and ever so much easier. But as far as any +prejudice on the subject is concerned, I have none. I had as lief defend a +party that robs India 'for her own good,' as support those who would rob +her with a more cynical frankness and unblushingly transfer the proceeds to +their own pockets. I do not care a rush whether they rob Peter to pay Paul, +or fraudulently deprive Paul of his goods for the benefit of Peter."</p> + +<p>"That is the way to look at it. I could tell you some very pretty +stories about that kind of thing. As for the journalistic enterprise, it is +only a possible card to be played if the old gentleman is obdurate."</p> + +<p>"Isaacs," said I, "I have only known you three days, but you have taken +me into your confidence to some extent; probably because I am not English. +I may be of use to you, and I am sure I sincerely hope so. Meanwhile I want +to ask you a question, if you will allow me to." I paused for an answer. We +were standing by the open door, and Isaacs leaned back against the +door-post, his eyes fixed on me, half closed, as he threw his head back. He +looked at me somewhat curiously, and I thought a smile flickered round his +mouth, as if he anticipated what the question would be.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," he said slowly. "Ask me anything you like. I have nothing +to conceal."</p> + +<p>"Do you seriously think of marrying, or proposing to marry, Miss +Katharine Westonhaugh?"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_83"></a>"I do seriously think of proposing to marry, and +of marrying, Miss Westonhaugh." He looked very determined as he thus +categorically affirmed his intention. I knew he meant it, and I knew enough +of Oriental character to understand that a man like Abdul +Hafizben-Isâk, of strong passions, infinite wit, and immense wealth, +was not likely to fail in anything he undertook to do. When Asiatic +indifference gives way under the strong pressure of some master passion, +there is no length to which the hot and impetuous temper beneath may not +carry the man. Isaacs had evidently made up his mind. I did not think he +could know much about the usual methods of wooing English girls, but as I +glanced at his graceful figure, his matchless eyes, and noted for the +hundredth time the commanding, high-bred air that was the breath of his +character, I felt that his rival would have but a poor chance of success. +He guessed my thoughts.</p> + +<p>"What do you think of me?" he asked, smiling. "Will you back me for a +place? I have advantages, you must allow—and worldly advantages too. They +are not rich people at all."</p> + +<p>"My dear Isaacs, I will back you to win. But as far as 'worldly +advantages' are concerned, do not trust to wealth for a moment. Do not +flatter yourself that there will be any kind of a bargain, as if you were +marrying a Persian girl. There is nothing venal in that young lady's veins, +I am sure."</p> + +<p>"Allah forbid! But there is something very venal <a +name="Page_84"></a>in the veins of Mr. Currie Ghyrkins. I propose to carry +the outworks one by one. He is her uncle, her guardian, her only relation, +save her brother. I do not think either of those men would be sorry to see +her married to a man of stainless name and considerable fortune."</p> + +<p>"You forget your three incumbrances, as you called them last night."</p> + +<p>"No—I do not forget them. It is allowed me by my religion to marry a +fourth, and I need not tell you that she would be thenceforth my only +wife."</p> + +<p>"But would her guardian and brother ever think of allowing her to take +such a position?"</p> + +<p>"Why not? You know very well that the English in general hardly consider +our marriages to be marriages at all—knowing the looseness of the bond. +That is the prevailing impression."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know. But then they would consider your marriage with Miss +Westonhaugh in the same light, which would not make matters any easier, as +far as I can see."</p> + +<p>"Pardon me. I should marry Miss Westonhaugh by the English marriage +service and under English law. I should be as much bound to her, and to her +alone, as if I were an Englishman myself."</p> + +<p>"Well, you have evidently thought it out and taken legal advice; and +really, as far as the technical part of it goes, I suppose you have as good +a chance as Lord Steepleton Kildare."</p> + +<p>Isaacs frowned, and his eyes flashed. I saw at <a +name="Page_85"></a>once that he considered the Irish officer a rival, and a +dangerous one. I did not think that if Isaacs had fair play and the same +opportunities Kildare had much chance. Besides there was a difficulty in +the way.</p> + +<p>"As far as religion is concerned, Lord Steepleton is not much better off +than you, if he wants to marry Miss Westonhaugh. The Kildares have been +Roman Catholics since the memory of man, and they are very proud of it. +Theoretically, it is as hard for a Roman Catholic man to marry a Protestant +woman, as for a Mussulman to wed a Christian of any denomination. Harder, +in fact, for your marriage depends upon the consent of the lady, and his +upon the consent of the Church. He has all sorts of difficulties to +surmount, while you have only to get your personality accepted—which, when +I look at you, I think might be done," I added, laughing.</p> + +<p>"<i>Jo hoga, so hoga</i>—what will be, will be," he said; "but religion +or no religion, I mean to do it." Then he lighted a cigarette and said, +"Come, it is time to go and see his Saturnine majesty, the Maharajah of +Baithopoor."</p> + +<p>I called for my hat and gloves.</p> + +<p>"By-the-bye, Griggs, you may as well put on a black coat. You know the +old fellow is a king, after all, and you had better produce a favourable +impression." I retired to comply with his request, and as I came back he +turned quickly and came towards me, holding out both hands, with a very +earnest look in his face.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_86"></a>"Griggs, I care for that lady more than I can tell +you," he said, taking my hands in his.</p> + +<p>"My dear fellow, I am sure you do. People do not go suddenly into +trances at a name that is indifferent to them. I am sure you love her very +honestly and dearly."</p> + +<p>"You and she have come into my life almost together, for it was not +until I talked with you last night that I made up my mind. Will you help +me? I have not a friend in the world." The simple, boyish look was in his +eyes, and he stood holding my hands and waiting for my answer. I was so +fascinated that I would have then and there gone through fire and water for +him, as I would now.</p> + +<p>"Yes. I will help you. I will be a friend to you."</p> + +<p>"Thank you. I believe you." He dropped my hands, and we turned and went +out, silent.</p> + +<p>In all my wanderings I had never promised any man my friendship and +unconditional support before. There was something about Isaacs that +overcame and utterly swept away preconceived ideas, rules, and prejudices. +It was but the third day of our acquaintance, and here was I swearing +eternal friendship like a school-girl; promising to help a man, of whose +very existence I knew nothing three days ago, to marry a woman whom I had +seen for the first time yesterday. But I resolved that, having pledged +myself, I would do my part with my might, whatever that part might be. +Meanwhile we rode along, and <a name="Page_87"></a>Isaacs began to talk +about the visit we were going to make.</p> + +<p>"I think," he said, "that you had better know something about this +matter beforehand. The way is long, and we cannot ride fast over the steep +roads, so there is plenty of time. Do not imagine that I have idly asked +you to go with me because I supposed it would amuse you. Dismiss also from +your mind the impression that it is a question of buying and selling +jewels. It is a very serious matter, and if you would prefer to have +nothing to do with it, do not hesitate to say so. I promised the maharajah +this morning that I would bring, this afternoon, a reliable person of +experience, who could give advice, and who might be induced to give his +assistance as well as his counsel. I have not known you long, but I know +you by reputation, and I decided to bring you, if you would come. From the +very nature of the case I can tell you nothing more, unless you consent to +go with me."</p> + +<p>"I will go," I said.</p> + +<p>"In that case I will try and explain the situation in as few words as +possible. The maharajah is in a tight place. You will readily understand +that the present difficulties in Kabul cause him endless anxiety, +considering the position of his dominions. The unexpected turn of events, +following now so rapidly on each other since the English wantonly +sacrificed Cavagnari and his friends to a vainglorious love of bravado, has +shaken the confidence of the <a name="Page_88"></a>native princes in the +stability of English rule. They are frightened out of their senses, having +the fear of the tribes before them if the English should be worsted; and +they dread, on the other hand, lest the English, finding themselves in +great straits, should levy heavy contributions on them—the native +princes—for the consolidation of what they term the 'Empire.' They have +not much sense, these poor old kings and boy princes, or they would see +that the English do not dare to try any of those old-fashioned Clive +tactics now. But old Baithopoor has heard all about the King of Oude, and +thinks he may share the same fate."</p> + +<p>"I think he may make his mind easy on that score. The kingdom of +Baithopoor is too inconveniently situated and too full of mosquitoes to +attract the English. Besides, there are more roses than rubies there just +now."</p> + +<p>"True, and that question interests me closely, for the old man owes me a +great deal of money. It was I who pulled him through the last famine."</p> + +<p>"Not a very profitable investment, I should think. Shall you ever see a +rupee of that money again?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; he will pay me; though I did not think so a week ago, or indeed +yesterday. I lent him the means of feeding his people and saving many of +them from actual death by starvation, because there are so many Mussulmans +among them, though the maharajah is a Hindoo. As for him, he might starve +to-morrow, the infidel hound; I would not give him a <a +name="Page_89"></a><i>chowpatti</i> or a mouthful of <i>dal</i> to keep his +wretched old body alive."</p> + +<p>"Do I understand that this interview relates to the repayment of the +moneys you have advanced?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; though that is not the most interesting part of it. He wanted to +pay me in flesh—human flesh, and he offered to make me a king into the +bargain, if I would forgive him the debt. The latter part of the proposal +was purely visionary. The promise to pay in so much humanity he is able to +perform. I have not made up my mind."</p> + +<p>I looked at Isaacs in utter astonishment. What in the world could he +mean? Had the maharajah offered him some more wives—creatures of peerless +beauty and immense value? No; I knew he would not hesitate now to refuse +such a proposition.</p> + +<p>"Will you please to explain what you mean by his paying you in man?" I +asked.</p> + +<p>"In two words. The Maharajah of Baithopoor has in his possession a man. +Safely stowed away under a triple watch and carefully tended, this man +awaits his fate as the maharajah may decide. The English Government would +pay an enormous sum for this man, but Baithopoor fears that they would ask +awkward questions, and perhaps not believe the answers he would give them. +So, as he owes me a good deal, he thinks I might be induced to take his +prisoner and realise him, so to speak; thus cancelling the debt, and saving +him from the alternative of putting the man to death privately, or of going +through dangerous <a name="Page_90"></a>negotiations with the Government. +Now this thing is perfectly feasible, and it depends upon me to say 'yes' +or 'no' to the proposition. Do you see now? It is a serious matter +enough."</p> + +<p>"But the man—who is he? Why do the English want him so much?"</p> + +<p>Isaacs pressed his horse close to mine, and looking round to see that +the saice was a long way behind, he put his hand on my shoulder, and, +leaning out of the saddle till his mouth almost touched my ear, he +whispered quickly—</p> + +<p>"Shere Ali."</p> + +<p>"The devil, you say!" I ejaculated, surprised out of grammar and decorum +by the startling news. Persons who were in India in 1879 will not have +forgotten the endless speculation caused by the disappearance of the Emir +of Afghanistan, Shere Ali, in the spring of that year. Defeated by the +English at Ali Musjid and Peiwar, and believing his cause lost, he fled, no +one knew whither; though there is reason to think that he might have +returned to power and popularity among the Afghan tribes if he had +presented himself after the murder of Cavagnari.</p> + +<p>"Yes," continued Isaacs, "he has been a prisoner in the palace of +Baithopoor for six weeks, and not a soul save the maharajah and you and I +know it. He came to Baithopoor, humbly disguised as a Yogi from the hills, +though he is a Mussulman, and having obtained a private hearing, disclosed +his real name, proposing to the sovereign a joint movement on <a +name="Page_91"></a>Kabul, then just pacified by the British, and promising +all manner of things for the assistance. Old Baitho, who is no fool, +clapped him into prison under a guard of Punjabi soldiers who could not +speak a word of Afghan, and after due consideration packed up his traps and +betook himself to Simla by short stages, for the journey is not an easy one +for a man of his years. He arrived the day before yesterday, and has +ostensibly come to congratulate the Viceroy on the success of the British +arms. He has had to modify the enthusiasm of his proposed address, in +consequence of the bad news from Kabul. Of course, his first move was to +send for me, and I had a long interview this morning, in which he explained +everything. I told him that I would not move in the matter without a third +person—necessary as a witness when dealing with such people—and I have +brought you."</p> + +<p>"But what was his proposal to invest you with a crown? Did he think you +were a likely person for a new Emir of Kabul?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly. My faith, and above all, my wealth, suggested to him that I, +as a born Persian, might be the very man for the vacant throne. No doubt, +the English would be delighted to have me there. But the whole thing is +visionary and ridiculous. I think I shall accept the other proposition, and +take the prisoner. It is a good bargain."</p> + +<p>I was silent. The intimate way in which I had seen Isaacs hitherto had +made me forget his immense <a name="Page_92"></a>wealth and his power. I +had not realised that he could be so closely connected with intrigues of +such importance as this, or that independant native princes were likely to +look upon him as a possible Emir of Afghanistan. I had nothing to say, and +I determined to keep to the part I was brought to perform, which was that +of a witness, and nothing more. If my advice were asked, I would speak +boldly for Shere Ali's liberation and protest against the poor man being +bought and sold in this way. This train of thought reminded me of Isaacs' +words when we left Miss Westonhaugh that morning. "It is not often," he had +said, "that you see such jewels bought and sold." No, indeed!</p> + +<p>"You see," said Isaacs, as we neared our destination, "Baithopoor is in +my power, body and soul, for a word from me would expose him to the British +Government as 'harbouring traitors,' as they would express it. On the other +hand, the fact that you, the third party, are a journalist, and could at a +moment's notice give publicity to the whole thing, will be an additional +safeguard. I have him as in a vice. And now put on your most formal manners +and look as if you were impenetrable as the rock and unbending as cast +iron, for we have reached his bungalow."</p> + +<p>I could not but admire the perfect calm and caution with which he was +conducting an affair involving millions of money, a possible indictment for +high treason, and the key-note of the Afghan question, <a +name="Page_93"></a>while I knew that his whole soul was absorbed in the +contemplation of a beautiful picture ever before him, sleeping or waking. +Whatever I might think of his bargaining for the possession of Shere Ali, +he had a great, even untiring, intellect. He had the elements of a leader +of men, and I fondly hoped he might be a ruler some day.</p> + +<p>The bungalow in which the Maharajah of Baithopoor had taken up his +residence during his visit was very much like all the rest of the houses I +saw in Simla. The verandah, however, was crowded with servants and sowars +in gorgeous but rather tawdry liveries, not all of them as clean as they +should have been. Horses with elaborate high saddles and embroidered +trappings rather the worse for wear were being led up and down the walk. As +we neared the door there was a strong smell of rosewater and native +perfumes and hookah tobacco—the indescribable odour of Eastern high life. +There was also a general air of wasteful and tawdry dowdiness, if I may +coin such a word, which one constantly sees in the retinues of native +princes and rich native merchants, ill contrasting with the great intrinsic +value of some of the ornaments worn by the chief officers of the train.</p> + +<p>Isaacs spoke a few words in a low voice to the jemadar at the door, and +we were admitted into a small room in the side of the house, opening, as +all rooms do in India, on to the verandah. There were low wooden charpoys +around the walls, and we sat <a name="Page_94"></a>down, waiting till the +maharajah should be advised of our arrival. Very soon a jemadar came in and +informed us that "if the <i>sahib log</i>, who were the protectors of the +poor, would deign to be led by him," we should be shown into the royal +presence. So we rose and followed the obsequious official into another +apartment.</p> + +<p>The room where the maharajah awaited us was even smaller than the one +into which we had been first shown. It was on the back of the house, and +only half lighted by the few rays of afternoon sun that struggled through +the dense foliage outside. I suppose this apartment had been chosen as the +scene of the interview on account of its seclusion. Outside the window, +which was closed, a sowar paced slowly up and down to keep away any curious +listeners. A heavy curtain hung before the door through which we had +entered. I thought that on the whole the place seemed pretty safe.</p> + +<p>The old maharajah sat cross-legged upon a great pile of dark-red +cushions, his slippers by his side, and a huge hookah before him. He wore a +plain white pugree with a large jewel set on one side, and his body was +swathed and wrapped in dark thick stuffs, as if he felt keenly the cold +autumn air. His face was long, of an ashy yellowish colour, and an immense +white moustache hung curling down over his sombre robe. One hand protruded +from the folds and held the richly-jewelled mouthpiece of the pipe to his +lips, and I noticed that the fingers were long <a name="Page_95"></a>and +crooked, winding themselves curiously round the gold stem, as if revelling +in the touch of the precious metal and the gems. As we came within his +range of vision, his dark eyes shot a quick glance of scrutiny at me and +then dropped again. Not a movement of the head or body betrayed a +consciousness of our presence. Isaacs made a long salutation in Hindustani, +and I followed his example, but he did not take off his shoes or make +anything more than an ordinary bow. It was quite evident that he was master +of the situation. The old man took the pipe from his mouth and replied in a +deep hollow voice that he was glad to see us, and that, in consideration of +our wealth, fame, and renowned wisdom, he would waive all ceremony and beg +us to be seated. We sat down cross-legged on cushions before him, and as +near as we could get, so that it seemed as if we three were performing some +sacred rite of which the object was the tall hookah that stood in the +centre of our triangle.</p> + +<p>Being seated, Isaacs addressed the prince, still in Hindustani, and said +that the splendour of his sublime majesty, which was like the sun +dispelling the clouds, so overcame him with fear and trembling, that he +humbly implored permission to make use of the Persian tongue, which, he was +aware, the lord of boundless wisdom spoke with even greater ease than +himself.</p> + +<p>Without waiting for an answer, and with no perceptible manifestation of +any such "fear and trembling" <a name="Page_96"></a>as he professed, Isaacs +at once began to speak in his native tongue, and dropping all forms of +ceremony or circumlocution plunged boldly into business. He did not +hesitate to explain to the maharajah the strength of his position, dwelling +on the fact that, by a word to the English of the whereabouts of Shere Ali, +he could plunge Baithopoor into hopeless and endless entanglements, to +which there could be but one issue—absorption into the British Râj. +He dwelt on the large sums the maharajah owed him for assistance lent +during the late famine, and he skilfully produced the impression that he +wanted the money down, then and there.</p> + +<p>"If your majesty should refuse to satisfy my just claims, I have ample +weapons by which to satisfy them for myself, and no considerations of mercy +or pity for your majesty will tempt me to abate one rupee in the account of +your indebtedness, which, as you well know, is not swelled by any usurious +interest. You could not have borrowed the money on such easy terms from any +bank in India or England, and if I have been merciful hitherto, I will be +so no longer. What saith the Apostle of Allah? 'Verily, life for life, and +eye for eye, and nose for nose, and ear for ear, and tooth for tooth, and +for wounding retaliation.' And the time of your promise is expired and you +shall pay me. And is not the wise Frank, who sitteth at my right hand, the +ready writer, who giveth to the public every day a new book to read, the +paper of news, <i>Khabar-i-Khagaz</i> wherein are written the <a +name="Page_97"></a>misdeeds of the wicked, and the dealings of the +fraudulent and the unwary receive their just reward? And think you he will +not make a great writing, several columns in length, and deliver it to the +devils that perform his bidding, and shall they not multiply what he hath +written, and sow it broadcast over the British Râj for the minor +consideration of one anna a copy, that all shall see how the Maharajah of +Baithopoor doth scandalously repudiate his debts, and harbour traitors to +the Râj in his palace?"</p> + +<p>Isaacs said all this in a solemn and impressive manner, calculated to +inspire awe and terror in the soul of the unhappy debtor. As for the +maharajah, the cold sweat stood on his face, and at the last words his +anxiety was so great that the long fingers uncurled spasmodically and the +jewelled mouthpiece fell back, as the head of a snake, among the silken +coils of the tube at his feet. Instantly, on feeling the grasping hand +empty, his majesty, with more alacrity than I would have expected, darted +forward with outstretched claws, as a hawk on his prey, and seizing the +glittering thing returned it to his lips with a look of evident relief. It +was habit, of course, for we were not exactly the men to plunder him of his +toy, but there was a fierceness about the whole action that spoke of the +real miser. Then there was silence for a moment. The old man was evidently +greatly impressed by the perils of his situation. Isaacs continued.</p> + +<p>"Your majesty well perceives that you have surrounded <a +name="Page_98"></a>yourself with dangers on all sides. No danger threatens +me. I could buy you and Baithopoor to-morrow if I chose. But I am a just +man. When the prophet, whose name be blessed, saith that we shall have eye +for eye, and nose for nose, and for wounding retaliation, he saith also +that 'he that remitteth the same as alms it shall be an atonement unto +him.' Now your majesty is a hard man, and I well know that if I force you +to pay me now you will cruelly tax and oppress your subjects to refill your +coffers. And many of your subjects are true believers, following the +prophet, upon whom be peace; and it is also written 'Thou shalt rob a +stranger, but thou shalt not rob a brother,'—and if I cause you to rob my +brethren is not the sin mine, and the atonement thereof? Now also has the +lawful interest on your bond mounted up to several lakhs of rupees. But for +the sake of my brethren who are in bondage to you, who are an unbeliever +and shall broil everlastingly in raging flames, I will yet make a covenant +with you, and the agreement thereof shall be this:</p> + +<p>"You shall deliver into my hand, before the dark half of the next moon, +the man"—Isaacs lowered his voice to a whisper, barely audible in the +still room, where the only sound heard as he paused was the tread of the +sowar on the verandah outside— "the man Shere Ali, formerly Emir of +Afghanistan, now hidden in your palace of Baithopoor. Him you shall give to +me safe and untouched at the place <a name="Page_99"></a>which I shall +choose, northwards from here, in the pass towards Keitung. And there shall +not be an hair of his head touched, and if it is good in my eyes I will +give him up to the British; and if it is good in my eyes, I will slay him, +and you shall ask no questions. And if you refuse to do this I will go to +the great lord sahib and tell him of your doings, and you will be arrested +before this night and shall not escape. But if you consent and put your +hand to this agreement, I will speak no word, and you shall depart in +peace; and moreover, for the sake of the true believers in your kingdom I +will remit to you the whole of the interest on your debt; and the bond you +shall pay at your convenience. I have spoken, do you answer me." Isaacs +calmly took from his pocket two rolls covered with Persian writing, and +lighting a cigarette, proceeded to peruse them carefully, to detect any +flaw or error in their composition. The face of the old maharajah betrayed +great emotion, but he bravely pulled away at his hookah and tried to think +over the situation. In the hope of delivering himself from his whole debt +he had rashly given himself into the hands of a man who hated him, though +he had discovered that hatred too late. He had flattered himself that the +loan had been made out of friendly feeling and a desire for his interest +and support; he found that Isaacs had lent the money, for real or imaginary +religious motives, in the interest of his co-religionists. I sat silently +watching the varying passions as they swept over the <a +name="Page_100"></a>repulsive face of the old man. The silence must have +lasted a quarter of an hour.</p> + +<p>"Give me the covenant," he said at last, "for I am in the tiger's +clutches. I will sign it, since I must. But it shall be requited to you, +Abdul Hafiz; and when your body has been eaten of jackals and wild pigs in +the forest, your soul shall enter into the shape of a despised sweeper, and +you and your off-spring shall scavenge the streets of the cities of my +kingdom and of the kingdom of my son, and son's son, to ten thousand +generations." A Hindoo cannot express scorn more deadly or hate more +lasting than this. Isaacs smiled, but there was a concentrated look in his +face, relentless and hard, as he answered the insult.</p> + +<p>"I am not going to bandy words with you. But if you are not quick about +signing that paper I may change my mind, and send for the Angrezi sowars +from Peterhof. So you had better hurry yourself." Isaacs produced a small +inkhorn and a reed pen from his pocket. "Sign," he said, rising to his feet +"before that soldier outside passes the window three times, or I will +deliver you to the British."</p> + +<p>Trembling in every joint, and the perspiration standing on his face like +beads, the old man seized the pen and traced his name and titles at the +foot, first of one copy, and then of the other. Isaacs followed, writing +his full name in the Persian character, and I signed my name last, "Paul +Griggs," in large letters at the bottom of each roll, adding the <a +name="Page_101"></a>word "witness," in case of the transaction becoming +known.</p> + +<p>"And now," said Isaacs to the maharajah, "despatch at once a messenger, +and let the man here mentioned be brought under a strong guard and by +circuitous roads to the pass of Keitung, and let them there encamp before +the third week from to-day, when the moon is at the full. And I will be +there and will receive the man. And woe to you if he come not; and woe to +you if you oppress the true believers in your realm." He turned on his +heel, and I followed him out of the room after making a brief salutation to +the old man, cowering among his cushions, a ceremony which Isaacs omitted, +whether intentionally or from forgetfulness, I could not say. We passed +through the house out into the air, and mounting our horses rode away, +leaving the double row of servants salaaming to the ground. The duration of +our private interview with the maharajah had given them an immense idea of +our importance. We had come at four and it was now nearly five. The long +pauses and the Persian circumlocutions had occupied a good deal of +time.</p> + +<p>"You do not seem to have needed my counsel or assistance much," I said. +"With such an armoury of weapons you could manage half-a-dozen +maharajahs."</p> + +<p>"Yes—perhaps so. But I have strong reasons for wishing this affair +quickly over, and the editor of a daily paper is a thing of terror to a +native prince; you must have seen that."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_102"></a>"What do you mean to do with your man when he is +safely in your hands, if it is not an indiscreet question?"</p> + +<p>"Do with him?" asked Isaacs with some astonishment. "Is it possible you +have not guessed? He is a brave man, and a true believer. I will give him +money and letters, that he may make his way to Baghdad, or wherever he will +be safe. He shall depart in peace, and be as free as air."</p> + +<p>I had half suspected my friend of some such generous intention, but he +had played his part of unrelenting hardness so well in our late interview +with the Hindoo prince that it seemed incomprehensible that a man should be +so pitiless and so kind on the same day. There was not a trace of hardness +on his beautiful features now, and as we rounded the hill and caught the +last beams of the sun, now sinking behind the mountains, his face seemed +transfigured as with a glory, and I could hardly bear to look at him. He +held his hat in his hand and faced the west for an instant, as though +thanking the declining day for its freshness and beauty; and I thought to +myself that the sun was lucky to see such an exquisite picture before he +bid Simla good-night, and that he should shine the brighter for it the next +day, since he would look on nothing fairer in his twelve hours' wandering +over the other half of creation.</p> + +<p>"And now," said he, "it is late, but if we ride towards Annandale we may +meet them coming back <a name="Page_103"></a>from the polo match we have +missed." His eyes glowed at the thought. Shere Ali, the maharajah, bonds, +principal, and interest, were all forgotten in the anticipation of a brief +meeting with the woman he loved.</p> + +<hr /> + + + + +<a name="Page_104"></a><h2><a name='CHAPTER_VI'></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + + +<p>"Why did you not come and see the game? After all your enthusiasm about +polo this morning, I did not think you would miss anything so good," were +the first words of Miss Westonhaugh as we met her and Kildare in the narrow +path that leads down to Annandale. Two men were riding behind them, who +proved to be Mr. Currie Ghyrkins and Mr. John Westonhaugh. The latter was +duly introduced to us; a quiet, spare man, with his sister's features, but +without a trace of her superb colour and animal spirits. He had the real +Bombay paleness, and had been steamed to the bone through the rains. As we +were introduced, Isaacs started and said quickly that he believed he had +met Mr. Westonhaugh before.</p> + +<p>"It is possible, quite possible," said that gentleman affably, +"especially if you ever go to Bombay."</p> + +<p>"Yes—it was in Bombay—some twelve years ago. You have probably +forgotten me."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes. I was young and green then. I wonder you remember me." He did +not show any very lively interest in the matter, though he smiled +pleasantly.</p> + +<p>Miss Westonhaugh must have been teasing Lord <a +name="Page_105"></a>Steepleton, for he looked flushed and annoyed, and she +was in capital spirits. We turned to go back with the party, and by a turn +of the wrist Isaacs wheeled his horse to the side of Miss Westonhaugh's, a +position he did not again abandon. They were leading, and I resolved they +should have a chance, as the path was not broad enough for more than two to +ride abreast. So I furtively excited my horse by a touch of the heel and a +quick strain on the curb, throwing him across the road, and thus producing +a momentary delay, of which the two riders in front took advantage to +increase their distance. Then we fell in, Mr. Ghyrkins and I in front, +while the dejected Kildare rode behind with Mr. John Westonhaugh. Ghyrkins +and I, being heavy men, heavily mounted, controlled the situation, and +before long Isaacs and Miss Westonhaugh were a couple of hundred yards +ahead, and we only caught occasional glimpses of them through the trees as +they wound in and out along the path.</p> + +<p>"What are those youngsters talking about, back there? Tigers, I'll be +bound," said Mr. Ghyrkins to me. Sure enough, they were.</p> + +<p>"What do you suppose I found when we got back this afternoon, Mr. +Griggs? Why, this hair-brained young Kildare has been proposing to my +niece——" his horse stumbled, but recovered himself in a moment.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean it," said I, rather startled.</p> + +<p>"Oh no, no, no. I don't mean that at all. Ha! <a name="Page_106"></a>ha! +ha! very good, very good. No, no. Lord Steepleton wants us all to go on a +tiger-hunt to amuse John, and he proposes—ha! ha!—really too funny of +me—that Miss Westonhaugh should go with us."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you have no objection, Mr. Ghyrkins? Ladies constantly go on +such expeditions, and they do not appear to be the least in the way."</p> + +<p>"Objections? Of course I have objections. Do you suppose I want to drag +my niece to a premature grave? Think of the fever and the rough living and +all, and she only just out from England."</p> + +<p>"She looks as if she could stand anything," I said, as just then an open +space in the trees gave us a glimpse of Miss Westonhaugh and Isaacs ambling +along and apparently in earnest conversation. She certainly looked strong +enough to go tiger-hunting that minute, as she sat erect but half turned to +the off side, listening to what Isaacs seemed to be saying.</p> + +<p>"I hope you will not go and tell her so," said Ghyrkins. "If she gets an +idea that the thing is possible, there will be no holding her. You don't +know her. I hardly know her myself. Never saw her since she was a baby till +the other day. Now you are the sort of person to go after tigers. Why do +you not go off with my nephew and Mr. Isaacs and Kildare, and kill as many +of them as you like?"</p> + +<p>"I have no objection, I am sure. I suppose the <i>Howler</i> could spare +me for a fortnight, now that I have converted the Press Commissioner, your +new <a name="Page_107"></a><i>deus ex machina</i> for the obstruction of +news. What a motley party we should be. Let me see.—a Bombay Civil +Servant, an Irish nobleman, a Persian millionaire, and a Yankee newspaper +man. By Jove! add to that a famous Revenue Commissioner and a reigning +beauty, and the sextett is complete." Mr. Ghyrkins looked pleased at the +gross flattery of himself. I recollected suddenly that, though he was far +from famous as a revenue commissioner, I had read of some good shooting he +had done in his younger days. Here was a chance.</p> + +<p>"Besides, Mr. Ghyrkins, a tiger-hunting party would not be the thing +without some seasoned Nimrod to advise and direct us. Who so fitted for the +post as the man of many a chase, the companion of Maori, the slayer of the +twelve foot tiger in the Nepaul hills in 1861?"</p> + +<p>"You have a good memory, Mr. Griggs," said the old fellow, perfectly +delighted, and now fairly launched on his favourite topic. "By Gad, sir, if +I thought I should get such another chance I would go with you +to-morrow!"</p> + +<p>"Why not? there are lots of big man-eaters about," and I incontinently +reeled off half a page of statistics, more or less accurate, about the +number of persons destroyed by snakes and wild beasts in the last year. "Of +course most of those deaths were from tigers, and it is a really good +action to kill a few. Many people can see tigers but cannot shoot them, +whereas your deeds of death amongst them <a name="Page_108"></a>ate a +matter of history. You really ought to be philanthropic, Mr. Ghyrkins, and +go with us. We might stand a chance of seeing some real sport then."</p> + +<p>"Why, really, now that you make me think of it, I believe I should like +it amazingly, and I could leave my niece with Lady—Lady—Stick-in-the-mud; +what the deuce is her name? The wife of the Chief Justice, you know. You +ought to know, really—I never remember names much;" he jerked out his +sentences irately.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, Lady Smith-Tompkins, you mean. Yes, you might do that—that +is, if Miss Westonhaugh has had the measles, and is not afraid of them. I +heard this morning that three of the little Smith-Tompkinses had them quite +badly."</p> + +<p>"You don't say so! Well, well, we shall find some one else, no +doubt."</p> + +<p>I was certain that at that very moment Isaacs and Miss Westonhaugh were +planning the whole expedition, and so I returned to the question of sport +and inquired where we should go. This led to considerable discussion, and +before we arrived at Mr. Ghyrkins' bungalow—still in the same order—it +was very clear that the old sportsman had made up his mind to kill one more +tiger at all events; and that, rather than forego the enjoyment of the +chase, he would be willing to take his niece with him. As for the direction +of the expedition, that could be decided in a day or two. It was not the +best season for tigers—the early spring is better—but they are <a +name="Page_109"></a>always to be found in the forests of the Terai, the +country along the base of the hills, north of Oude.</p> + +<p>When we reached the house it was quite dark, for we had ridden slowly. +The light from the open door, falling across the verandah, showed us Miss +Westonhaugh seated in a huge chair, and Isaacs standing by her side +slightly bending, and holding his hat in his hand. They were still talking, +but as we rode up to the lawn and shouted for the saices, Isaacs stood up +and looked across towards us, and their voices ceased. It was evident that +he had succeeded in thoroughly interesting her, for I thought—though it +was some distance, and the light on them was not strong—that as he +straightened himself and stopped speaking, she looked up to his face as if +regretting that he did not go on. I dismounted with the rest and walked up +to bid Miss Westonhaugh good-night.</p> + +<p>"You must come and dine to-morrow night," said Mr. Ghyrkins, "and we +will arrange all about it. Sharp seven. To-morrow is Sunday, you know. +Kildare, you must come too, if you mean business. Seven. We must look sharp +and start, if we mean to come back here before the Viceroy goes."</p> + +<p>"Oh in that case," said Kildare, turning to me, "we can settle all about +the polo match for Monday, can't we?"</p> + +<p>"Of course, very good of you to take the trouble."</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it. Good-night." We bowed and went back to find our horses +in the gloom. After <a name="Page_110"></a>some fumbling, for it was +intensely dark after facing the light in the doorway of the bungalow, we +got into the saddle and turned homeward through the trees.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Griggs," said Isaacs. "May your feet never weary, and your +shadow never be less."</p> + +<p>"Don't mention it, and thanks about the shadow. Only it is never likely +to be less than at the present moment. How dark it is, to be sure!" I knew +well enough what he was thanking me for. I lit a cheroot.</p> + +<p>"Isaacs," I said, "you are a pretty cool hand, upon my word."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Why, indeed! Here you and Miss Westonhaugh have been calmly planning an +extensive tiger-hunt, when you have promised to be in the neighbourhood of +Keitung in three weeks, wherever that may be. I suppose it is in the +opposite direction from here, for you will not find any tigers nearer than +the Terai at this time of year."</p> + +<p>"I do not see the difficulty," he answered. "We can be in Oude in two +days from here; shoot tigers for ten days, and be here again in two days +more. That is just a fortnight. It will not take me a week to reach +Keitung. I am much mistaken if I do not get there in three days. I shall +lay a <i>dâk</i> by messengers before I go to Oude, and between a +double set of coolies and lots of ponies wherever the roads are good +enough, I shall be at the place of meeting soon enough, never fear."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_111"></a>"Oh, very well; but I hardly think Ghyrkins will +want to return under three weeks; and—I did not think you would want to +leave the party." He had evidently planned the whole three weeks' business +carefully. I did not continue the conversation. He was naturally absorbed +in the arrangement of his numerous schemes—no easy matter, when affairs of +magnitude have to be ordered to suit the exigencies of a <i>grande +passion</i>. I shrank from intruding on his reflections, and I had quite +enough to do in keeping my horse on his feet in the thick darkness. +Suddenly he reared violently, and then stood still, quivering in every +limb. Isaacs' horse plunged and snorted by my side, and cannoned heavily +against me. Then all was quiet. I could see nothing. Presently a voice, low +and musical, broke on the darkness, and I thought I could distinguish a +tall figure on foot at Isaacs' knee. Whoever the man was he must be on the +other side of my companion, but I made out a head from which the voice +proceeded.</p> + +<p>"Peace, Abdul Hafiz!" it said.</p> + +<p>"Aleikum Salaam, Ram Lal!" answered Isaacs. He must have recognised the +man by his voice.</p> + +<p>"Abdul," continued the stranger, speaking Persian. "I have business with +thee this night; thou art going home. If it is thy pleasure I will be with +thee in two hours in thy dwelling."</p> + +<p>"Thy pleasure is my pleasure. Be it so." I thought the head +disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Be it so," the voice echoed, growing faint, as if <a +name="Page_112"></a>moving rapidly away from us. The horses, momentarily +startled by the unexpected pedestrian, regained their equanimity. I confess +the incident gave me a curiously unpleasant sensation. It was so very odd +that a man on foot—a Persian, I judged, by his accent—should know of my +companion's whereabouts, and that they should recognise each other by their +voices. I recollected that our coming to Mr. Ghyrkins' bungalow was wholly +unpremeditated, and I was sure Isaacs had spoken to none but our party—not +even to his saice—since our meeting with the Westonhaughs on the Annandale +road an hour and a half before.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what he wants," said my friend, apparently soliloquising.</p> + +<p>"He seems to know where to find you, at all events," I answered. "He +must have second sight to know you had been to Carisbrooke."</p> + +<p>"He has. He is a very singular personage altogether. However, he has +done me more than one service before now, and though I do not comprehend +his method of arriving at conclusions, still less his mode of locomotion, I +am always glad of his advice."</p> + +<p>"But what is he? Is he a Persian?—you called him by an Indian name, but +that may be a disguise—is he a wise man from Iran?"</p> + +<p>"He is a very wise man, but not from Iran. No. He is a Brahmin by birth, +a Buddhist by adopted religion, and he calls himself an 'adept' by +profession, I suppose, if he can be said to have any. He <a +name="Page_113"></a>comes and goes unexpectedly, with amazing rapidity. His +visits are brief, but he always seems to be perfectly conversant with the +matter in hand, whatever it be. He will come to-night and give me about +twenty words of advice, which I may follow or may not, as my judgment +dictates; and before I have answered or recovered from my surprise, he will +have vanished, apparently into space; for if I ask my servants where he is +gone they will stare at me as if I were crazy, until I show them that the +room is empty, and accuse them of going to sleep instead of seeing who goes +in and out of my apartment. He speaks more languages than I do, and better. +He once told me he was educated in Edinburgh, and his perfect knowledge of +European affairs and of European topics leads me to think he must have been +there a long time. Have you ever looked into the higher phases of Buddhism? +It is a very interesting study."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have read something about it. Indeed I have read a good deal, +and have thought more. The subject is full of interest, as you say. If I +had been an Asiatic by birth, I am sure I should have sought to attain +<i>moksha</i>, even if it required a lifetime to pass through all the +degrees of initiation. There is something so rational about their theories, +disclaiming, as they do, all supernatural power; and, at the same time, +there is something so pure and high in their conception of life, in their +ideas about the ideal, if you will allow me the expression, that I do <a +name="Page_114"></a>not wonder Edwin Arnold has set our American +transcendentalists and Unitarians and freethinkers speculating about it +all, and wondering whether the East may not have had men as great as +Emerson and Channing among its teachers." I paused. My greatest fault is +that if any one starts me upon a subject I know anything about, I +immediately become didactic. So I paused and reflected that Isaacs, being, +as he himself declared, frequently in the society of an "adept" of a high +class, was sure to know a great deal more than I.</p> + +<p>"I too," he said, "have been greatly struck, and sometimes almost +converted, by the beauty of the higher Buddhist thoughts. As for their +apparently supernatural powers and what they do with them, I care nothing +about phenomena of that description. We live in a land where marvels are +common enough. Who has ever explained the mango trick, or the basket trick, +or the man who throws a rope up into the air and then climbs up it and +takes the rope after him, disappearing into blue space? And yet you have +seen those things—I have seen them, every one has seen them,—and the +performers claim no supernatural agency or assistance. It is merely a +difference of degree, whether you make a mango grow from the seed to the +tree in half an hour, or whether you transport yourself ten thousand miles +in as many seconds, passing through walls of brick and stone on your way, +and astonishing some ordinary mortal by showing that you know all about his +affairs. I see <a name="Page_115"></a>no essential difference between the +two 'phenomena,' as the newspapers call them, since Madame Blavatsky has +set them all by the ears in this country. It is just the difference in the +amount of power brought to bear on the action. That is all. I have seen, in +a workshop in Calcutta, a hammer that would crack an eggshell without +crushing it, or bruise a lump of iron as big as your head into a flat cake. +'Phenomena' may amuse women and children, but the real beauty of the system +lies in the promised attainment of happiness. Whether that state of supreme +freedom from earthly care gives the fortunate initiate the power of +projecting himself to the antipodes by a mere act of volition, or of +condensing the astral fluid into articles of daily use, or of stimulating +the vital forces of nature to an abnormal activity, is to me a matter of +supreme indifference. I am tolerably happy in my own way as things are. I +should not be a whit happier if I were able to go off after dinner and take +a part in American politics for a few hours, returning to business here +to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>"That is an extreme case," I said. "No man in his senses ever connects +the idea of happiness with American politics."</p> + +<p>"Of one thing I am sure, though." He paused as if choosing his words. "I +am sure of this. If any unforeseen event, whether an act of folly of my +own, or the hand of Allah, who is wise, should destroy the peace of mind I +have enjoyed for ten years, with very trifling interruption,—if anything +should occur <a name="Page_116"></a>to make me permanently unhappy, beyond +the possibility of ordinary consolation,—I should seek comfort in the +study of the pure doctrines of the higher Buddhists. The pursuit of a +happiness, so immeasurably beyond all earthly considerations of bodily +comfort or of physical enjoyment, can surely not be inconsistent with my +religion—or with yours."</p> + +<p>"No indeed," said I. "But, considering that you are the strictest of +Mohammedans, it seems to me you are wonderfully liberal. So you have +seriously contemplated the possibility of your becoming one of the +'brethren'—as they style themselves?"</p> + +<p>"It never struck me until to-day that anything might occur by which my +life could be permanently disturbed. Something to-day has whispered to me +that such an existence could not be permanent. I am sure that it cannot be. +The issue must be either to an infinite happiness or to a still more +infinite misery. I cannot tell which." His clear, evenly modulated voice +trembled a little. We were in sight of the lights from the hotel.</p> + +<p>"I shall not dine with you to-night, Griggs. I will have something in my +own rooms. Come in as soon as you have done—that is if you are free. There +is no reason why you should not see Ram Lal the adept, since we think alike +about his religion, or school, or philosophy—find a name for it while you +are dining." And we separated for a time.</p> + +<p>It had been a long and exciting day to me. I felt no more inclined than +he did for the din and racket <a name="Page_117"></a>and lights of the +public dining-room. So I followed his example and had something in my own +apartment. Then I settled myself to a hookah, resolved not to take +advantage of Isaacs' invitation until near the time when he expected Ram +Lal. I felt the need of an hour's solitude to collect my thoughts and to +think over the events of the last twenty-four hours. I recognised that I +was fast becoming very intimate with Isaacs, and I wanted to think about +him and excogitate the problem of his life; but when I tried to revolve the +situation logically, and deliver to myself a verdict, I found myself +carried off at a tangent by the wonderful pictures that passed before my +eyes. I could not detach the events from the individual. His face was ever +before me, whether I thought of Miss Westonhaugh, or of the wretched old +maharajah, or of Ram Lal the Buddhist. Isaacs was the central figure in +every picture, always in the front, always calm and beautiful, always +controlling the events around him. Then I entered on a series of trite +reflections to soothe my baffled reason, as a man will who is used to +understanding what goes on before him and suddenly finds himself at a loss. +Of course, I said to myself, it is no wonder he controls things, or appears +to. The circumstances in which I find this three days' acquaintance are +emphatically those of his own making. He has always been a successful man, +and he would not raise spirits that he could not keep well in hand. He +knows perfectly well what he is about in making love to that beautiful <a +name="Page_118"></a>creature, and is no doubt at this moment laughing in +his sleeve at my simplicity in believing that he was really asking my +advice. Pshaw! as if any advice could influence a man like that! +Absurd.</p> + +<p>I sipped my coffee in disgust with myself. All the time, while trying to +persuade myself that Isaacs was only a very successful schemer, neither +better nor worse than other men, I was conscious of the face that would not +be banished from my sight. I saw the beautiful boyish look in his deep dark +eyes, the gentle curve of the mouth, the grand smooth architrave of the +brows. No—I was a fool! I had never met a man like him, nor should again. +How could Miss Westonhaugh save herself from loving such a perfect +creature? I thought, too, of his generosity. He would surely keep his +promise and deliver poor Shere Ali, hunted to death by English and Afghan +foes, from all his troubles. Had he not the Maharajah of Baithopoor in his +power? He might have exacted the full payment of the debt, principal and +interest, and saved the Afghan chief into the bargain. But he feared lest +the poor Mohammedans should suffer from the prince's extortion, and he +forgave freely the interest, amounting now to a huge sum, and put off the +payment of the bond itself to the maharajah's convenience. Did ever an +Oriental forgive a debt before even to his own brother? Not in my +experience.</p> + +<p>I rose and went down to Isaacs. I found him as on the previous evening, +among his cushions with a <a name="Page_119"></a>manuscript book. He looked +up smiling and motioned me to be seated, keeping his place on the page with +one finger. He finished the verse before he spoke, and then laid the book +down and leaned back.</p> + +<p>"So you have made up your mind that you would like to see Ram Lal. He +will be here in a minute, unless he changes his mind and does not come +after all."</p> + +<p>There was a sound of voices outside. Some one asked if Isaacs were in, +and the servant answered. A tall figure in a gray <i>caftán</i> and a plain +white turban stood in the door.</p> + +<p>"I never change my mind," said the stranger, in excellent English, +though with an accent peculiar to the Hindoo tongue when struggling with +European languages. His voice was musical and high in pitch, though soft +and sweet in tone. The quality of voice that can be heard at a great +distance, with no apparent effort to the speaker. "I never change my mind. +I am here. Is it well with you?"</p> + +<p>"It is well, Ram Lal. I thank you. Be seated, if you will stay with us a +while. This is my friend Mr. Griggs, of whom you probably know. He thinks +as I do on many points, and I was anxious that you should meet."</p> + +<p>While Isaacs was speaking, Ram Lal advanced into the room and stood a +moment under the soft light, a gray figure, very tall, but not otherwise +remarkable. He was all gray. The long <i>caftán</i> wrapped round him, the +turban which I had first <a name="Page_120"></a>thought white, the skin of +his face, the pointed beard and long moustache, the heavy eyebrows—a study +of grays against the barbaric splendour of the richly hung wall—a soft +outline on which the yellow light dwelt lovingly, as if weary of being cast +back and reflected from the glory of gold and the thousand facets of the +priceless gems. Ram Lal looked toward me, and as I gazed into his eyes I +saw that they too were gray—a very singular thing in the East—and that +they were very far apart, giving his face a look of great dignity and +fearless frankness. To judge by his features he seemed to be very thin, and +his high shoulders were angular, though the long loose garment concealed +the rest of his frame from view. I had plenty of time to note these +details, for he stood a full minute in the middle of the room, as if +deciding whether to remain or to go. Then he moved quietly to a divan and +sat down cross-legged.</p> + +<p>"Abdul, you have done a good deed to-day, and I trust you will not +change your mind before you have carried out your present intentions."</p> + +<p>"I never change my mind, Bam Lai," said Isaacs, smiling as he quoted his +visitor's own words. I was startled at first. What good deed was the +Buddhist referring to if not to the intended liberation of Shere Ali? How +could he know of it? Then I reflected that this man was, according to +Isaacs' declaration, an adept of the higher grades, a seer and a knower of +men's hearts. I resolved not to be astonished at anything that occurred, +only marvelling that it should <a name="Page_121"></a>have pleased this +extraordinary man to make his entrance like an ordinary mortal, instead of +through the floor or the ceiling.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," answered Ram Lal, "if I venture to contradict you. You do +change your mind sometimes. Who was it who lately scoffed at women, their +immortality, their virtue, and their intellect? Will you tell me now, +friend Abdul, that you have not changed your mind? Do you think of +anything, sleeping or waking, but the one woman for whom you <i>have</i> +changed your mind? Is not her picture ever before you, and the breath of +her beauty upon your soul? Have you not met her in the spirit as well as in +the flesh? Surely we shall hear no more of your doubts about women for some +time to come. I congratulate you, as far as that goes, on your conversion. +You have made a step towards a higher understanding of the world you live +in."</p> + +<p>Isaacs did not seem in the least surprised at his visitor's intimate +acquaintance with his affairs. He bowed his head in silence, acquiescing to +what Bam Lai had said, and waited for him to proceed.</p> + +<p>"I have come," continued the Buddhist, "to give you some good +advice—the best I have for you. You will probably not take it, for you are +the most self-reliant man I know, though you have changed a little since +you have been in love, witness your sudden intimacy with Mr. Griggs." He +looked at me, and there was a faint approach to a smile in his gray eyes. +"My advice to you is, do not let this projected <a +name="Page_122"></a>tiger-hunt take place if you can prevent it. No good +can come of it, and harm may. Now I have spoken because my mind would not +be at rest if I did not warn you. Of course you will do as you please, only +never forget that I pointed out to you the right course in time."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Ram Lal, for your friendly concern in my behalf. I do not +think I shall act as you suggest, but I am nevertheless grateful to you. +There is one thing I want to ask you, and consult you about, however."</p> + +<p>"My friend, what is the use of my giving you advice that you will not +follow? If I lived with you, and were your constant companion, you would +ask me to advise you twenty times a day, and then you would go and do the +diametric opposite of what I suggested. If I did not see in you something +that I see in few other men, I would not be here. There are plenty of fools +who have wit enough to take counsel of a wise man. There are few men of wit +wise enough to be guided by their betters, as if they were only fools for +the time. Yet because you are so wayward I will help you once or twice +more, and then I will leave you to your own course—which you, in your +blindness, will call your kismet, not seeing that your fate is continually +in your own hands—more so at this moment than ever before. Ask, and I will +answer."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Ram Lal. It is this I would know. You are aware that I have +undertaken a novel kind of <a name="Page_123"></a>bargain. The man you wot +of is to be delivered to me near Keitung. I am anxious for the man's safety +afterwards, and I would be glad of some hint about disposing of him. I must +go alone, for I do not want any witness of what I am going to do, and as a +mere matter of personal safety for myself and the man I am going to set +free, I must decide on some plan of action when I meet the band of sowars +who will escort him. They are capable of murdering us both if the maharajah +instructs them to. As long as I am alive to bring the old man into disgrace +with the British, the captive is safe; but it would be an easy matter for +those fellows to dispose of us together, and there would be an end of the +business."</p> + +<p>"Of course they could," replied Ram Lal, adding in an ironical tone "and +if you insist upon putting your head down the tiger's throat, how do you +expect me to prevent the brute from snapping it off? That would be a +'phenomenon,' would it not? And only this evening you were saying that you +despised 'phenomena.'"</p> + +<p>"I said that such things were indifferent to me. I did not say I +despised them. But I think that this thing may be done without performing +any miracles."</p> + +<p>"If it were not such a good action on your part I would have nothing to +do with it. But since you mean to risk your neck for your own peculiar +views of what is right, I will endeavour that you shall not break it. I +will meet you a day's journey before you reach Keitung, somewhere on the +road, and we will <a name="Page_124"></a>go together and do the business. +But if I am to help you I will not promise not to perform some miracles, as +you call them, though you know very well they are no such thing. Meanwhile, +do as you please about the tiger-hunt; I shall say no more about it." He +paused, and then, withdrawing one delicate hand from the folds of his +<i>caftán</i>, he pointed to the wall behind Isaacs and me, and said, "What +a very singular piece of workmanship is that yataghan!"</p> + +<p>We both naturally turned half round to look at the weapon he spoke of, +which was the central piece in a trophy of jewelled sabres and Afghan +knives.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Isaacs, turning back to answer his guest, "it is a ——" He +stopped, and I, who had not seen the weapon before, lost among so many, and +was admiring its singular beauty, turned too; to my astonishment I saw that +Isaacs was gazing into empty space. The divan where Ram Lal had been +sitting an instant before, was vacant. He was gone.</p> + +<p>"That is rather sudden," I said.</p> + +<p>"More so than usual," was the reply. "Did you see him go? Did he go out +by the door?"</p> + +<p>"Not I," I answered, "when I looked round at the wall he was placidly +sitting on that divan pointing with one hand at the yataghan. Does he +generally go so quickly?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, more or less. Now I will show you some pretty sport." He rose to +his feet and went to the door. "Narain!" he cried. Narain, the bearer, <a +name="Page_125"></a>who was squatting against the door-post outside, sprang +up and stood before his master. "Narain, why did you not show that pundit +the way downstairs? What do you mean? have you no manners?"</p> + +<p>Narain stood open mouthed. "What pundit, sahib?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Why, the pundit who came a quarter of an hour ago, you donkey! He has +just gone out, and you did not even get up and make a salaam, you +impertinent vagabond!" Narain protested that no pundit, or sahib, or any +one else, had passed the threshold since Ram Lal had entered. "Ha! you +<i>budmash</i>. You lazy dog of a Hindoo! you have been asleep again, you +swine, you son of a pig, you father of piglings! Is that the way you do +your work in my service?" Isaacs was enjoying the joke in a quiet way +immensely.</p> + +<p>"Sahib," said the trembling Narain, apparently forgetting the genealogy +his master had thrust upon him, "Sahib, you are protector of the poor, you +are my father and my mother, and my brother, and all my relations," the +common form of Hindoo supplication, "but, Sri Krishnaji! by the blessed +Krishna, I have not slept a wink."</p> + +<p>"Then I suppose you mean me to believe that the pundit went through the +ceiling, or is hidden under the cushions. Swear not by your false idols, +slave; I shall not believe you for that, you dog of an unbeliever, you +soor-be-iman, you swine without faith!"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_126"></a>"Han, sahib, han!" cried Narain, seizing at the +idea that the pundit had disappeared mysteriously through the walls. "Yes, +sahib, the pundit is a great yogi, and has made the winds carry him off." +The fellow thought this was a bright idea, not by any means beneath +consideration. Isaacs appeared somewhat pacified.</p> + +<p>"What makes you think he is a yogi, dog?" he inquired in a milder tone. +Narain had no answer ready, but stood looking rather stupidly through the +door at the room whence the unearthly visitor had so suddenly disappeared. +"Well," continued Isaacs, "you are more nearly right than you imagine. The +pundit is a bigger yogi than any your idiotic religion can produce. Never +mind, there is an eight anna bit for you, because I said you were asleep +when you were not." Narain bent to the ground in thanks, as his master +turned on his heel. "Not that he minds being told that he is a pig, in the +least," said Isaacs. "I would not call a Mussulman so, but you can insult +these Hindoos so much worse in other ways that I think the porcine simile +is quite merciful by comparison." He sat down again among the cushions, and +putting off his slippers, curled himself comfortably together for a +chat.</p> + +<p>"What do you think of Ram Lal?" he asked, when Narain had brought +hookahs and sherbet.</p> + +<p>"My dear fellow, I have hardly made up my mind what to think. I have not +altogether recovered from my astonishment. I confess that there was nothing +<a name="Page_127"></a>startling about his manner or his person. He behaved +and talked like a well educated native, in utter contrast to the amazing +things he said, and to his unprecedented mode of leave-taking. It would +have seemed more natural—I would say, more fitting—if he had appeared in +the classic dress of an astrologer, surrounded with zodiacs, and blue +lights, and black cats. Why do you suppose he wants you to abandon the +tiger-hunt?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell. Perhaps he thinks something may happen to me to prevent +my keeping the other engagement. Perhaps he does not approve——" he +stopped, as if not wanting to approach the subject of Ram Lal's +disapprobation. "I intend, nevertheless, that the expedition come off, and +I mean, moreover, to have a very good time, and to kill a tiger if I see +one."</p> + +<p>"I thought he seemed immensely pleased at your conversion, as he calls +it. He said that your newly acquired belief in woman was a step towards a +better understanding of life."</p> + +<p>"Of the world, he said," answered-Isaacs, correcting me. "There is a +great difference between the 'world' and 'life.' The one is a finite, the +other an infinite expression. I believe, from what I have learned of Ram +Lal, that the ultimate object of the adepts is happiness, only to be +attained by wisdom, and I apprehend that by wisdom they mean a knowledge of +the world in the broadest sense of the word. The world to them is a great +repository of facts, <a name="Page_128"></a>physical and social, of which +they propose to acquire a specific knowledge by transcendental methods. If +that seems to you a contradiction of terms, I will try and express myself +better. If you understand me, I am satisfied. Of course I use +transcendental in the sense in which it is applied by Western +mathematicians to a mode of reasoning which I very imperfectly comprehend, +save that it consists in reaching finite results by an adroit use of the +infinite."</p> + +<p>"Not a bad definition of transcendental analysis for a man who professes +to know nothing about it," said I. "I would not accuse you of a +contradiction of terms, either. I have often thought that what some people +call the 'philosophy of the nineteenth century,' is nothing after all but +the unconscious application of transcendental analysis to the everyday +affairs of life. Consider the theories of Darwin, for instance. What are +they but an elaborate application of the higher calculus? He differentiates +men into protoplasms, and integrates protoplasms into monkeys, and shows +the caudal appendage to be the independent variable, a small factor in man, +a large factor in monkey. And has not the idea of successive development +supplanted the early conception of spontaneous perfection? Take an +illustration from India—the new system of competition, which the natives +can never understand. Formerly the members of the Civil Service received +their warrants by divine authority, so to speak. They were born perfect, as +Aphrodite from the foam of the sea; they sprang <a +name="Page_129"></a>armed and ready from the head of old John Company as +Pallas Athene from the head of Zeus. Now all that is changed; they are +selected from a great herd of candidates by methods of extreme exactness, +and when they are chosen they represent the final result of infinite +probabilities for and against their election. They are all exactly alike; +they are a formula for taxation and the administration of justice, and so +long as you do not attempt to use the formula for any other purpose, such, +for instance, as political negotiation or the censorship of the public +press, the equation will probably be amenable to solution."</p> + +<p>"As I told you," said Isaacs, "I know nothing, or next to nothing, of +Western mathematics, but I have a general idea of the comparison you make. +In Asia and in Asiatic minds, there prevails an idea that knowledge can be +assimilated once and for all. That if you can obtain it, you immediately +possess the knowledge of everything—the pass-key that shall unlock every +door. That is the reason of the prolonged fasting and solitary meditation +of the ascetics. They believe that by attenuating the bond between soul and +body, the soul can be liberated and can temporarily identify itself with +other objects, animate and inanimate, besides the especial body to which it +belongs, acquiring thus a direct knowledge of those objects, and they +believe that this direct knowledge remains. Western philosophers argue that +the only acquaintance a man can have with <a name="Page_130"></a>bodies +external to his mind is that which he acquires by the medium of his bodily +senses—though these, are themselves external to his mind, in the truest +sanse. The senses not being absolutely reliable, knowledge acquired by +means of them is not absolutely reliable either. So the ultimate difference +between the Asiatic saint and the European man of science is, that while +the former believes all knowledge to be directly within the grasp of the +soul, under certain conditions, the latter, on the other hand, denies that +any knowledge can be absolute, being all obtained indirectly through a +medium not absolutely reliable. The reasoning, by which the Western mind +allows itself to act fearlessly on information which is not (according to +its own verdict) necessarily accurate, depends on a clever use of the +infinite in unconsciously calculating the probabilities of that +accuracy—and this entirely falls in with what you said about the +application of transcendental analysis to the affairs of everyday +life."</p> + +<p>"I see you have entirely comprehended me," I said. "But as for the +Asiatic mind—you seem to deny to it the use of the calculus of thought, +and yet you denned adepts as attempting to acquire specific knowledge by +general and transcendental methods. Here is a real contradiction."</p> + +<p>"No; I see no confusion, for I do not include the higher adepts in +either class, since they have the wisdom to make use of the learning and of +the methods of both. They seem to me to be endeavouring, <a +name="Page_131"></a>roughly speaking, to combine the two. They believe +absolute knowledge attainable, and they devote much time to the study of +nature, in which pursuit they make use of highly analytical methods. They +subdivide phenomena to an extent that would surprise and probably amuse a +Western thinker. They count fourteen distinct colours in the rainbow, and +invariably connect sound, even to the finest degrees, with shades of +colour. I could name many other peculiarities of their mode of studying +natural phenomena, which displays a much more minute subdivision and +classification of results than you are accustomed to. But beside all this +they consider that the senses of the normal man are susceptible of infinite +refinement, and that upon a greater or less degree of acquired acuteness of +perception the value of his results must depend. To attain this high degree +of sensitiveness, necessary to the perception of very subtle phenomena, the +adepts find it necessary to train their faculties, bodily and mental, by a +life of rigid abstention from all pleasures or indulgences not +indispensable in maintaining the relation between the physical and +intellectual powers."</p> + +<p>"The common <i>fakir</i> aims at the same thing," I remarked.</p> + +<p>"But he does not attain it. The common <i>fakir</i> is an idiot. He may, +by fasting and self-torture, of a kind no adept would approve, sharpen his +senses till he can hear and see some sounds and sights inaudible and +invisible to you and me. But his whole system <a name="Page_132"></a>lacks +any intellectual basis: he regards knowledge as something instantaneously +attainable when it comes at last; he believes he will have a vision, and +that everything will be revealed to him. His devotion to his object is +admirable, when he is a genuine ascetic and not, as is generally the case, +a good-for-nothing who makes his piety pay for his subsistence; but it is +devotion of a very low intellectual order. The true adept thinks the +training of the mind in intellectual pursuits no less necessary than the +moderate and reasonable mortification of the flesh, and higher Buddhism +pays as much attention to the one as to the other."</p> + +<p>"Excuse me," said I, "if I make a digression. I think there are two +classes of minds commonly to be found among thinkers all over the world. +The one seek to attain to knowledge, the others strive to acquire it. There +is a class of commonplace intellects who regard knowledge of all kinds in +the light of a ladder; one ladder for each science, and the rungs of the +ladders are the successive facts mastered by an effort and remembered in +the order they have been passed. These persons think it is possible to +attain to high eminence on one particular ladder, that is, in one +particular science, without having been up any of the other ladders, that +is, without a knowledge of other branches of seience. This is the mind of +the plodder, the patient man who climbs, step by step, in his own unvarying +round of thought; not seeing that it is but the wheel of a treadmill over +which he <a name="Page_133"></a>is labouring, and that though every step +may pass, and repass, beneath his toiling feet, he can never obtain a +birdseye view of what he is doing, because his eyes are continually fixed +on the step in front."</p> + +<p>"But," I continued, as Isaacs assented to my simile by a nod, "there is +another class of minds also. There are persons who regard the whole +imaginable and unimaginable knowledge of mankind, past, present, and +future, as a boundless plain over which they hang suspended and can look +down. Immediately beneath them there is a map spread out which represents, +in the midst of the immense desert, the things they themselves know. It is +a puzzle map, like those they make for children, where each piece fits into +its appointed place, and will fit nowhere else; every piece of knowledge +acquired fits into the space allotted to it, and when there is a piece, +that is, a fact, wanting, it is still possible to define its extent and +shape by the surrounding portions, though all the details of colour and +design are lacking. These are the people who regard knowledge as a whole, +harmonious, when every science and fragment of a science has its appointed +station and is necessary to completeness of perfect knowledge. I hope I +have made clear to you what I mean, though I am conscious of only sketching +the outlines of a distinction which I believe to be fundamental."</p> + +<p>"Of course it is fundamental. Broadly, it is the difference between +analytic and synthetic thought; between the subjective and the objective +views; <a name="Page_134"></a>between the finite conception of a limited +world and the infinite ideal of perfect wisdom. I understand you +perfectly."</p> + +<p>"You puzzle me continually, Isaacs. Where did you learn to talk about +'analytic' and 'synthetic,' and 'subjective' and 'objective,' and +transcendental analysis, and so forth?" It seemed so consistent with his +mind that he should understand the use of philosophical terms, that I had +not realised how odd it was that a man of his purely Oriental education +should know anything about the subject. His very broad application of the +words 'analytic' and 'synthetic' to my pair of illustrations attracted my +attention and prompted the question I had asked.</p> + +<p>"I read a good deal," he said simply. Then he added in a reflective +tone, "I rather think I have a philosophical mind. The old man who taught +me theology in Istamboul when I was a boy used to talk philosophy to me by +the hour, though I do not believe he knew much about it. He was a plodder, +and went up ladders in search of information, like the man you describe. +But he was very patient and good to me; the peace of Allah be with +him."</p> + +<p>It was late, and soon afterwards we parted for the night. The next day +was Sunday, and I had a heap of unanswered letters to attend to, so we +agreed to meet after tiffin and ride together before dining with Mr. +Ghyrkins and the Westonhaughs.</p> + +<p>I went to my room and sat a while over a volume of Kant, which I always +travel with—a sort of <a name="Page_135"></a>philosopher's stone on which +to whet the mind's tools when they are dulled with boring into the +geological strata of other people's ideas. I was too much occupied with the +personality of the man I had been talking with to read long, and so I +abandoned myself to a reverie, passing in review the events of the long +day.</p> + +<hr /> + + + + +<a name="Page_136"></a><h2><a name='CHAPTER_VII'></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + + +<p>The Sabbatarian tendency of the English mind at home and abroad is +proverbial, and if they are well-behaved on Sunday in London they are +models of virtue in Simla on the same day. Whether they labour and are +well-fed and gouty in their island home, or suffer themselves to be boiled +for gain in the tropical kettles of Ceylon and Singapore; whether they risk +their lives in hunting for the north pole or the northwest passage, or +endanger their safety in the pursuit of tigers in the Terai, they will have +their Sunday, come rain, come shine. On the deck of the steamer in the Red +Sea, in the cabin of the inbound Arctic explorer, in the crowded Swiss +hotel, or the straggling Indian hill station, there is always a parson of +some description, in a surplice of no description at all, who produces a +Bible and a couple of well-thumbed sermons from the recesses of his trunk +or his lunch basket, or his gun-case, and goes at the work of weekly +redemption with a will. And, what is more, he is listened to, and for the +time being—though on week days he is styled a bore by the old and a prig +by the young—he becomes temporarily invested with a dignity not his own, +with an authority <a name="Page_137"></a>he could not claim on any other +day. It is the dignity of a people who with all their faults have the +courage of their opinions, and it is the authority that they have been +taught from their childhood to reverence, whenever their traditions give it +the right to assert itself. Not otherwise. It is a fine trait of national +character, though it is one which has brought upon the English much +unmerited ridicule. One may differ from them in faith and in one's estimate +of the real value of these services, which are often only saved from being +irreverent in their performance by the perfect sincerity of parson and +congregation. But no one who dispassionately judges them can deny that the +custom inspires respect for English consistency and admiration for their +supreme contempt of surroundings.</p> + +<p>I presume that the periodical manifestations of religious belief to +which I refer are intimately and indissolubly connected with the staid and +funereal solemnity which marks an Englishman's dress, conversation, and +conduct on Sunday. He is a different being for the nonce, and must sustain +the entire character of his dual existence, or it will fall to the ground +and forsake him altogether. He cannot take his religion in the morning and +enjoy himself the rest of the day. He must abstain from everything that +could remind him that he has a mind at all, besides a soul. No amusement +will he tolerate, no reading of even the most harmless fiction can he +suffer, while he is in the weekly devotional trance.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_138"></a>I cannot explain these things; they are race +questions, problems for the ethnologist. Certain it is, however, that the +partial decay of strict Sabbatarianism which seems to have set in during +the last quarter of a century has not been attended by any notable +development of power in English thought of that class. The first Republic +tried the experiment of the decimal week, and it was a failure. The English +who attempt to put off even a little of the quaint armour of righteousness, +which they have been accustomed to buckle on every seventh day for so many +generations, are not so successful in the attempt as to attract many to +follow them. They are not graceful in their holiday gambols.</p> + +<p>Meditating somewhat on this wise I lay in my long chair by the open door +that Sunday morning in September. It was a little warmer again and the sun +shone pleasantly across the lawn on the great branches and bright leaves of +the rhododendron. The house was very quiet. All the inmates were gone to +the church on the mall, and the servants were basking in the last few days +of warmth they would enjoy before their masters returned to the plains. The +Hindoo servant hates the cold. He fears it as he fears cobras, fever, and +freemasons. His ideal life is nothing to do, nothing to wear, and plenty to +eat, with the thermometer at 135 degrees in the verandah and 110 inside. +Then he is happy. His body swells with much good rice and <i>dal</i>, and +his heart with pride; he will wear as little as you will let him, and <a +name="Page_139"></a>whether you will let him or not, he will do less work +in a given time than any living description of servant. So they basked in +rows in the sunshine, and did not even quarrel or tell yarns among +themselves; it was quiet and warm and sleepy. I dozed lazily, dropped my +book in my lap, struggled once, and then fairly fell asleep.</p> + +<p>I was roused by Kiramat Ali pulling at my foot, as natives will when +they are afraid of the consequences of waking their master. When I opened +my eyes he presented a card on a salver, and explained that the gentleman +wanted to see me. I looked, and was rather surprised to see it was +Kildare's card. "Lord Steepleton Kildare, 33d Lancers "—there was no word +in pencil, or any message. I told Kiramat to show the sahib in, wondering +why he should call on me. By Indian etiquette, if there was to be any +calling, it was my duty to make the first visit. Before I had time to think +more I heard the clanking of spurs and sabre on the verandah, and the young +man walked in, clad in the full uniform of his regiment. I rose to greet +him, and was struck by his soldierly bearing and straight figure, as I had +been at our first meeting. He took off his bearskin —for he was in the +fullest of full dress—and sat down.</p> + +<p>"I am so glad to find you at home," he said: "I feared you might have +gone to church, like everybody else in this place."</p> + +<p>"No. I went early this morning. I belong to a <a +name="Page_140"></a>different persuasion. I suppose you are on your way to +Peterhof?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. There is some sort of official reception to somebody,—I forget +who,—and we had notice to turn out. It is a detestable nuisance."</p> + +<p>"I should think so."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Griggs, I came to ask you about something. You heard of my proposal +to get up a tiger-hunt? Mr. Ghyrkins was speaking of it."</p> + +<p>"Yes. He wanted us to go,—Mr. Isaacs and me,—and suggested leaving his +niece, Miss Westonhaugh, with Lady Smith-Tompkins."</p> + +<p>"It would be so dull without a lady in the party. Nothing but tigers and +shikarries and other native abominations to talk to. Do you not think +so?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes. I told Mr. Ghyrkins that all the little Smith-Tompkins +children had the measles, and the house was not safe. If they have not had +them, they will, I have no doubt. Heaven is just, and will not leave you to +the conversational mercies of the entertaining tiger and the engaging +shikarry."</p> + +<p>"By Jove, Mr. Griggs, that was a brilliant idea: and, as you say, they +may all get the measles yet. The fact is, I have set my heart on this +thing. Miss Westonhaugh said she had never seen a tiger, except in cages +and that kind of thing, and so I made up my mind she should. Besides, it +will be no end of a lark; just when nobody is thinking about tigers, you go +off and kill a tremendous fellow, fifteen or sixteen feet long, and come +back covered with glory <a name="Page_141"></a>and mosquito bites, and tell +everybody that Miss Westonhaugh shot him herself with a pocket pistol. That +will be glorious!"</p> + +<p>"I should like it very much too; and I really see no reason why it +should not be done. Mr. Ghyrkins seemed in a very cheerful humour about +tigers last night, and I have no doubt a little persuasion from you will +bring him to a proper view of his obligations to Miss Westonhaugh." He +looked pleased and bright and hopeful, thoroughly enthusiastic, as became +his Irish blood. He evidently intended to have quite as "good" a "time" as +Isaacs proposed to enjoy. I thought the spectacle of those rivals for the +beautiful girl's favour would be extremely interesting. Lord Steepleton was +doubtless a good shot and a brave man, and would risk anything to secure +Miss Westonhaugh's approval; Isaacs, on the other hand, was the sort of man +who is very much the same in danger as anywhere else.</p> + +<p>"That is what I came to ask you about. We shall all meet there at dinner +this evening, and I wanted to secure as many allies as possible."</p> + +<p>"You may count on me, Lord Steepleton, at all events. There is nothing I +should enjoy better than such a fortnight's holiday, in such good +company."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Lord Steepleton, rising, "I must be off now to +Peterhof. It is an organised movement on Mr. Ghyrkins this evening, then. +Is it understood?" He took his bearskin from the table, and prepared to go, +pulling his straps and belts into place, and dusting a particle of ash from +his sleeve.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_142"></a>"Perfectly," I answered. "We will drag him forth +into the arena before three days are past." We shook hands, and he went +out.</p> + +<p>I was glad he had come, though I had been waked from a pleasant nap to +receive him. He was so perfectly gay, and natural, and healthy, that one +could not help liking him. You felt at once that he was honest and would do +the right thing in spite of any one, according to his light; that he would +stand by a friend in danger, and face any odds in fight, with as much +honest determination to play fair and win, as he would bring to a cricket +match or a steeple-chase. His Irish blood gave him a somewhat less formal +manner than belongs to the Englishman; more enthusiasm and less regard for +"form," while his good heart and natural courtesy would lead him right in +the long-run. He seemed all sunshine, with his bright blue eyes and great +fair moustache and brown face; the closely fitting uniform showed off his +erect figure and elastic gait, and the whole impression was fresh and +exhilarating in the extreme. I was sorry he had gone. I would have liked to +talk with him about boating and fishing and shooting; about athletics and +horses and tandem-driving, and many things I used, to like years ago at +college, before I began my wandering life. I watched him as he swung +himself into the military saddle, and he threw up his hand in a parting +salute as he rode away. Poor fellow! was he, too, going to be food for +powder and Afghan knives in the avenging army <a name="Page_143"></a>on its +way to Kabul? I went back to my books and remained reading until the +afternoon sun slanted in through the open door, and falling across my book +warned me it was time to keep my appointment with Isaacs.</p> + +<p>As we passed the church the people were coming out from the evening +service, and I saw Kildare, once more in the garb of a civilian, standing +near the door, apparently watching for some one to appear. I knew that, +with his strict observance of Catholic rules—often depending more on pride +of family than on religious conviction, in the house of Kildare—he would +not have entered the English Church at such a time, and I was sure he was +lying in wait for Miss Westonhaugh, probably intending to surprise her and +join her on her homeward ride. The road winds down below the Church, so +that for some minutes after passing the building you may get a glimpse of +the mall above and of the people upon it—or at least of their heads—if +they are moving near the edge of the path. I was unaccountably curious this +evening, and I dropped a little behind Isaacs, craning my neck and turning +back in the saddle as I watched the stream of heads and shoulders, strongly +foreshortened against the blue sky above, moving ceaselessly along the +parapet over my head. Before long I was rewarded; Miss Westonhaugh's fair +hair and broad hat entered the field of my vision, and a moment later Lord +Steepleton, who must have pushed through the crowd from the other side, <a +name="Page_144"></a>appeared struggling after her. She turned quickly, and +I saw no more, but I did not think she had changed colour.</p> + +<p>I began to be deeply interested in ascertaining whether she had any +preference for one or the other of the two young men. Kildare's visit in +the morning—though he had said very little—had given me a new impression +of the man, and I felt that he was no contemptible rival. I saw from the +little incident I had just witnessed that he neglected no opportunity of +being with Miss Westonhaugh, and that he had the patience to wait and the +boldness to find her in a crowd. I had seen very little of her myself; but +I had been amply satisfied that Isaacs was capable of interesting her in a +<i>tête-à-tête</i> conversation. "The talker has the +best chance, if he is bold enough," I said to myself; but I was not +satisfied, and I resolved that if I could manage it Isaacs should have +another chance that very evening after the dinner. Meanwhile I would +involve Isaacs in a conversation on some one of those subjects that seemed +to interest him most. He had not seen the couple on the mall, and was +carelessly ambling along with his head in the air and one hand in the +pocket of his short coat, the picture of unconcern.</p> + +<p>I was trying to make up my mind whether I would open fire upon the +immortality of the soul, matrimony, or the differential calculus, when, as +we passed from the narrow street into the road leading sound Jako, Isaacs +spoke.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_145"></a>"Look here, Griggs," said he, "there is something +I want to impress upon your mind."</p> + +<p>"Well, what is it?"</p> + +<p>"It is all very well for Ram Lal to give advice about things he +understands. I have a very sincere regard for him, but I do not believe he +was ever in my position. I have set my heart on this tiger-hunt. Miss +Westonhaugh said the other day that she had never seen a tiger, and I then +and there made up my mind that she should."</p> + +<p>I laughed. There seemed to be no essential difference of opinion between +the Irishman and the Persian in regard to the pleasures of the chase. Miss +Westonhaugh was evidently anxious to see tigers, and meant to do it, since +she had expressed her wish to the two men most likely to procure her that +innocent recreation. Lord Steepleton Kildare by his position, and Isaacs by +his wealth, could, if they chose, get up such a tiger-hunt for her benefit +as had never been seen. I thought she might have waited till the +spring—but I had learned that she intended to return to England in April, +and was to spend the early months of the year with her brother in +Bombay.</p> + +<p>"You want to see Miss Westonhaugh, and Miss Westonhaugh wants to see +tigers! My dear fellow, go in and win; I will back you."</p> + +<p>"Why do you laugh, Griggs?" asked Isaacs, who saw nothing particularly +amusing in what he had said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I laughed because another young gentleman <a +name="Page_146"></a>expressed the same opinions to me, in identically the +same words, this morning."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Westonhaugh?"</p> + +<p>"No. You know very well that Mr. Westonhaugh cares nothing about it, one +way or the other. The little plan for 'amusing brother John' is a hoax. The +thing cannot be done. You might as well try to amuse an undertaker as to +make a man from Bombay laugh. The hollowness of life is ever upon them. No. +It was Kildare; he called and said that Miss Westonhaugh had never seen a +tiger, and he seemed anxious to impress upon me his determination that she +should. Pshaw! what does Kildare care about brother John?"</p> + +<p>"Brother John, as you call him, is a better fellow than he looks. I owe +a great deal to brother John." Isaacs' olive skin flushed a little, and he +emphasised the epithet by which I had designated Mr. John Westonhaugh as if +he were offended by it.</p> + +<p>"I mean nothing against Mr. Westonhaugh," said I half apologetically. "I +remember when you met yesterday afternoon you said you had seen him in +Bombay a long time ago."</p> + +<p>"Do you remember the story I told you of myself the other night?"</p> + +<p>"Perfectly."</p> + +<p>"Westonhaugh was the young civil servant who paid my fine and gave me a +rupee, when I was a ragged sailor from a Mocha craft, and could not speak a +word of English. To that rupee I ultimately <a name="Page_147"></a>owe my +entire fortune. I never forget a face, and I am sure it is he—do you +understand me now? I owe to his kindness everything I possess in the +world."</p> + +<p>"The unpardonable sin is ingratitude," I answered, "of which you will +certainly not be accused. That is a very curious coincidence."</p> + +<p>"I think it is something more. A man has always at least one opportunity +of repaying a debt, and, besm Illah! I will repay what I can of it. By the +beard of the apostle, whose name is blessed, I am not ungrateful!" Isaacs +was excited as he said this. He was no longer the calm Mr. Isaacs, he was +Abdul Hafiz the Persian, fiery and enthusiastic.</p> + +<p>"You say well, my friend," he continued earnestly, "that the +unpardonable sin is ingratitude. Doubtless, had the blessed prophet of +Allah lived in our day, he would have spoken of the doom that hangs over +the ungrateful. It is the curse of this age; for he who forgets or refuses +to remember the kindness done to him by others sets himself apart, and +worships his miserable self, and he makes an idol of himself, saying, 'I am +of more importance than my fellows in the world, and it is meet and right +that they should give and that I should receive.' Ingratitude is +selfishness, and selfishness is the worship of oneself, the setting of +oneself higher than man and goodness and God. And when man perishes and the +angel Al Sijil, the recorder, rolls up his scroll, what is written therein +is written; and Israfil shall call <a name="Page_148"></a>men to judgment, +and the scrolls shall be unfolded, and he that has taken of others and not +given in return, but has ungratefully forgotten and put away the +remembrance of the kindness received, shall be counted among the +unbelievers and the extortioners and the unjust, and shall broil in raging +flames. By the hairs of the prophet's beard, whose name is blessed."</p> + +<p>I had not seen Isaacs so thoroughly roused before upon any subject. The +flush had left his face and given place to a perfect paleness, and his eyes +shone like coals of fire as he looked upward in pronouncing the last words. +I said to myself that there was a strong element of religious exaltation in +all Asiatics, and put his excitement down to this cause. His religion was a +very beautiful and real thing to him, ever present in his life, and I mused +on the future of the man, with his great endowments, his exquisite +sensitiveness, and his high view of his obligations to his fellows. I am +not a worshipper of heroes, but I felt that, for the first time in my life, +I was intimate with a man who was ready to stand in the breach and to die +for what he thought and believed to be right. After a pause of some +minutes, during which we had ridden beyond the last straggling bungalows of +the town, he spoke again, quietly, his temporary excitement having +subsided.</p> + +<p>"I feel very strongly about these things," he said, and then stopped +short.</p> + +<p>"I can see you do, and I honour you for it. I <a +name="Page_149"></a>think you are the first grateful person I have ever +met; a rare and unique bird in the earth."</p> + +<p>"Do not say that."</p> + +<p>"I do say it. There is very little of the philosophy of the nineteenth +century about you, Isaacs. Your belief in the obligations of gratitude and +in the general capacity of the human race for redemption, savours little of +'transcendental analysis.'"</p> + +<p>"You have too much of it," he answered seriously. "I do not think you +see how much your cynicism involves. You would very likely, if you are the +man I take you for, be very much offended if I accused you of not believing +any particular dogma of your religion. And yet, with all your faith, you do +not believe in God."</p> + +<p>"I cannot see how you get at that conclusion," I replied. "I must deny +your hypothesis, at the risk of engaging you in an argument." I could not +see what he was driving at.</p> + +<p>"How can you believe in God, and yet condemn the noblest of His works as +altogether bad? You are not consistent."</p> + +<p>"What makes you think I am so cynical?" I inquired, harking back to gain +time.</p> + +<p>"A little cloud, a little sultriness in the air, is all that betrays the +coming <i>khemsin</i>, that by and by shall overwhelm and destroy man and +beast in its sandy darkness. You have made one or two remarks lately that +show little faith in human nature, and if you do not believe in human +nature what is there left for <a name="Page_150"></a>you to believe in? You +said a moment ago that I was the first grateful person you had ever met. +Then the rest of humanity are all selfish, and worshippers of themselves, +and altogether vile, since you yourself say, as I do, that ingratitude is +the unpardonable sin; and God has made a world full of unpardonable +sinners, and unless you include yourself in the exception you graciously +make in my favour, no one but I shall be saved. And yet you say also with +me that God is good. Do you deny that you are utterly inconsistent?"</p> + +<p>"I may make you some concession in a few minutes, but I am not going to +yield to such logic. You have committed the fallacy of the undistributed +middle term, if you care to know the proper name for it. I did not say that +all men, saving you, were ungrateful. I said that, saving you, the persons +I have met in my life have been ungrateful. You ought to distinguish."</p> + +<p>"All I can say is, then, that you have had a very unfortunate experience +of life," retorted Isaacs warmly.</p> + +<p>"I have," said I, "but since you yield the technical point of logic, I +will confess that I made the assertion hastily and overshot the mark. I do +not remember, however, to have met any one who felt so strongly on the +point as you do."</p> + +<p>"Now you speak like a rational being," said Isaacs, quite pacified. +"Extraordinary feelings are the result of unusual circumstances. I was in +such distress <a name="Page_151"></a>as rarely falls to the lot of an +innocent man of fine temperament and good abilities. I am now in a position +of such wealth and prosperity as still more seldom are given to a man of my +age and antecedents. I remember that I obtained the first step on my road +to fortune through the kindness of John Westonhaugh, though I could never +learn his name, and I met him at last, as you saw, by an accident. I call +that accident a favour, and an opportunity bestowed on me by Allah, and the +meeting has roused in me those feelings of thankfulness which, for want of +an object upon which to show them, have been put away out of sight as a +thing sacred for many years. I am willing you should say that, were my +present fortune less, my gratitude would be proportionately less felt—it +is very likely—though the original gift remain the same, one rupee and no +more. You are entitled to think of any man as grateful in proportion to the +gift, so long as you allow the gratitude at all." He made this speech in a +perfectly natural and unconcerned way, as if he were contemplating the case +of another person.</p> + +<p>"Seriously, Isaacs, I would not do so for the world. I believe you were +as grateful twelve years ago, when you were poor, as you are now that you +are rich." Isaacs was silent, but a look of great gentleness crossed his +face. There was at times something almost angelic in the perfect kindness +of his eyes.</p> + +<p>"To return," I said at last, "to the subject from which we started, the +tigers. If we are really going, <a name="Page_152"></a>we must leave here +the day after to-morrow morning—indeed, why not to-morrow?"</p> + +<p>"No; to-morrow we are to play that game of polo, which I am looking +forward to with pleasure. Besides, it will take the men three days to get +the elephants together, and I only telegraphed this morning to the +collector of the district to make the arrangements."</p> + +<p>"So you have already taken steps? Does Kildare know you have sent +orders?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly. He came to me this morning at daybreak, and we determined to +arrange everything and take uncle Ghyrkins for granted. You need not look +astonished; Kildare and I are allies, and very good friends." What a true +Oriental! How wise and far-sighted was the Persian, how bold and reckless +the Irishman! It was odd, I thought, that Kildare had not mentioned the +interview with Isaacs. Yet there was a certain rough +delicacy—contradictory and impulsive—in his silence about this coalition +with his rival. We rode along and discussed the plans for the expedition. +All the men in the party, except Lord Steepleton, who had not been long in +India, had killed tigers before. There would be enough of us, without +asking any one else to join. The collector to whom Isaacs had telegraphed +was an old acquaintance of his, and would probably go out for a few days +with us. It all seemed easy enough and plain sailing. In the course of time +we returned to our hotel, dressed, <a name="Page_153"></a>and made our way +through the winding roads to Mr. Currie Ghyrkins' bungalow.</p> + +<p>We were met on the verandah by the old commissioner, who welcomed us +warmly and praised our punctuality, for the clock was striking seven in the +drawing-room, as we divested ourselves of our light top-coats. In the +vestibule, Miss Westonhaugh and her brother came forward to greet us.</p> + +<p>"John," said the young lady, "you know I told you there was some one +here whom you got out of trouble ever so many years ago in Bombay. Here he +is. This is a new introduction. Mr. John Westonhaugh, Mr. Abdul +Hafiz-ben-Isâk, commonly known to his friends as Mr. Isaacs." Her +face beamed with pleasure, and I thought with pride, as she led her brother +to Isaacs, and her eyes rested long on the Persian with a look that, to me, +argued something more than a mere interest. The two men clasped hands and +stood for some seconds looking at each other in silence, but with very +different expressions. Westonhaugh wore a look of utter amazement, though +he certainly seemed pleased. The good heart that had prompted the good +action twelve years before was still in the right place, above any petty +considerations about nationality. His astonishment gradually changed to a +smile of real greeting and pleasure, as he began to shake the hand he still +held. I thought that even the faintest tinge of blood coloured his pale +cheek.</p> + +<p>"God bless my soul," said he, "I remember you <a +name="Page_154"></a>perfectly well now. But it is so unexpected; my sister +reminded me of the story, which I had not forgotten, and now I look at you +I remember you perfectly. I am so glad."</p> + +<p>As Isaacs answered, his voice trembled, and his face was very pale. +There was a moisture in the brilliant eyes that told of genuine +emotion.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Westonhaugh, I consider that I owe to you everything I have in the +world. This is a greater pleasure than I thought was in store for me. +Indeed I thank you again."</p> + +<p>His voice would not serve him. He stopped short and turned away to look +for something in his coat.</p> + +<p>"Indeed," said Westonhaugh, "it was a very little thing I did for you." +And presently the two men went together into the drawing-room, Westonhaugh +asking all manner of questions, which Isaacs, who was himself again, began +to answer. The rest of us remained in the vestibule to meet Lord +Steepleton, who at that moment came up the steps. There were more +greetings, and then the head <i>khitmatgar</i> appeared and informed the +"<i>Sahib log</i>, protectors of the poor, that their meat was ready." So +we filed into the dining-room.</p> + +<p>Isaacs was placed at Miss Westonhaugh's right, and her brother sat on +his other side. Ghyrkins was opposite his niece at the other end, and +Kildare and I were together, facing Westonhaugh and Isaacs, a party of six. +Of course Kildare sat beside the lady.</p> + +<p>The dinner opened very pleasantly. <i>I</i> could see <a +name="Page_155"></a>that Isaacs' undisguised gratitude and delight in +having at last met the man who had helped him had strongly predisposed John +Westonhaugh in his favour. Who is it that is not pleased at finding that +some deed of kindness, done long ago with hardly a thought, has borne fruit +and been remembered and treasured up by the receiver as the turning-point +in his life? Is there any pleasure greater than that we enjoy through the +happiness of others—in those rare cases where kindness is not misplaced? I +had had time to reflect that Isaacs had most likely told a part of his +story to Miss Westonhaugh on the previous afternoon as soon as he had +recognised her brother. He might have told her before; I did not know how +long he had known her, but it must have been some time. Presently she +turned to him.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Isaacs," said she, "some of us know something of your history. Why +will you not tell us the rest now? My uncle has heard nothing of it, and I +know Lord Steepleton is fond of novels."</p> + +<p>Isaacs hesitated long, but as every one pressed him in turn, he yielded +at last. And he told it well. It was exactly the narrative he had given me, +in every detail of fact, but the whole effect was different. I saw how true +a mastery he had of the English language, for he knew his audience +thoroughly, and by a little colour here and an altered expression there he +made it graphic and striking, not without humour, and altogether free of a +certain mystical tinge he had imparted to it when we were alone. He talked +<a name="Page_156"></a>easily, with no more constraint than on other +occasions, and his narrative was a small social success. I had not seen him +in evening dress before, and I could not help thinking how much more +thoroughly he looked the polished man of the world than the other men. +Kildare never appeared to greater advantage than in the uniform and +trappings of his profession. In a black coat and a white tie he looked like +any other handsome young Englishman, utterly without individuality. But +Isaacs, with his pale complexion and delicate high-bred features, bore +himself like a noble of the old school. Westonhaugh beside him looked +washed-out and deathly, Kildare was too coarsely healthy, and Ghyrkins and +I, representing different types of extreme plainness, served as foils to +all three.</p> + +<p>I watched Miss Westonhaugh while Isaacs was speaking. She had evidently +heard the whole story, for her expression showed beforehand the emotion she +expected to feel at each point. Her colour came and went softly, and her +eyes brightened with a warm light beneath the dark brows that contrasted so +strangely yet delightfully with the mass of flaxen-white hair. She wore +something dark and soft, cut square at the neck, and a plain circlet of +gold was her only ornament. She was a beautiful creature, certainly; one of +those striking-looking women of whom something is always expected, until +they drop quietly out of youth into middle age, and the world finds out +that they are, after all, not heroines of <a name="Page_157"></a>romance, +but merely plain, honest, good women; good wives and good mothers who love +their homes and husbands well, though it has pleased nature in some strange +freak to give them the form and feature of a Semiramis, a Cleopatra, or a +Jeanne d'Arc.</p> + +<p>"Dear me, how very interesting!" exclaimed Mr. Ghyrkins, looking up from +his hill mutton as Isaacs finished, and a little murmur of sympathetic +applause went round the table.</p> + +<p>"I would give a great deal to have been through all that," said Lord +Steepleton, slowly proceeding to sip a glass of claret.</p> + +<p>"Just think!" ejaculated John Westonhaugh. "And I was entertaining such +a Sinbad unawares!" and he took another green pepper from the dish his +servant handed him.</p> + +<p>"Upon my word, Isaacs," I said, "some one ought to make a novel of that +story; it would sell like wildfire."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you do it yourself, Griggs?" he asked. "You are a pressman, +and I am sure you are welcome to the whole thing."</p> + +<p>"I will," I answered.</p> + +<p>"Oh do, Mr. Griggs," said the young lady, "and make it wind up with a +tiger-hunt. You could lay the scene in Australia or the Barbadoes, or some +of those places, and put us all in—and kill us all off, if you like, you +know. It would be such fun." Poor Miss Westonhaugh!</p> + +<p>"It is easy to see what you are thinking about <a +name="Page_158"></a>most, Miss Westonhaugh," said Lord Steepleton: "the +tigers are uppermost in your mind; and therefore in mine also," he added +gallantly.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, no—I was thinking about Mr. Isaacs." She blushed scarlet—the +first time I had ever seen her really embarrassed. It was very natural that +she should be thinking of Isaacs and the strange adventures he had just +recounted; and if she had not cared about him she would not have changed +colour. So I thought, at all events.</p> + +<p>"My dear, drink some water immediately, this curry is very hot—deuced +hot, in fact," said Mr. Ghyrkins, in perfectly good faith.</p> + +<p>John Westonhaugh, who was busy breaking up biscuits and green peppers +and "Bombay ducks" into his curry, looked up slowly at his sister and +smiled.</p> + +<p>"Why, you are quite a griffin, Katharine," said he, "how they will laugh +at you in Bombay!" I was amused; of course the remarks of her uncle and +brother did not make the blush subside—on the contrary. Kildare was +drinking more claret, to conceal his annoyance. Isaacs had a curious +expression. There was a short silence, and for one instant he turned his +eyes to Miss Westonhaugh. It was only a look, but it betrayed to me—who +knew what he felt—infinite surprise, joy, and sympathy. His quick +understanding had comprehended that he had scored his first victory over +his rival.</p> + +<p>As her eyes met those of Isaacs, the colour left her <a +name="Page_159"></a>cheeks as suddenly as it had come, leaving her face +dead white. She drank a little water, and presently seemed at ease again. I +was beginning to think she cared for him seriously.</p> + +<p>"And pray, John," she asked, "what may a griffin be? It is not a very +pretty name to call a young lady, is it?"</p> + +<p>"Why, a griffin," put in Mr. Ghyrkins, "is the 'Mr. Verdant Green' of +the Civil Service. A young civilian—or anybody else—who is just out from +home is called a griffin. John calls you a griffin because you don't +understand eating pepper. You don't find it as <i>chilly</i> as he does! +Ha! ha! ha!" and the old fellow laughed heartily, till he was red in the +face, at his bleared old pun. Of course every one was amused or professed +to be, for it was a diversion welcomed by the three men of us who had seen +the young girl's embarrassment.</p> + +<p>"A griffin," said I, "is a thing of joy. Mr. Westonhaugh was a griffin +when he gave Mr. Isaacs that historical rupee." I cast my little bombshell +into the conversation, and placidly went on manipulating my rice.</p> + +<p>Isaacs was in too gay a humour to be offended, and he only said, turning +to Miss Westonhaugh—</p> + +<p>"Mr. Griggs is a cynyic, you know. You must not believe anything he +says."</p> + +<p>"If doing kind things makes one a griffin, I hope I may be one always," +said Miss Westonhaugh quickly, "and I trust my brother is as much a griffin +as ever."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_160"></a>"I am, I assure you," said he. "But Mr. Griggs is +quite right, and shows a profound knowledge of Indian life. No one but a +griffin of the greenest ever gave anybody a rupee in Bombay—or ever will +now, I should think."</p> + +<p>"Oh, John, are you going to be cynical too?"</p> + +<p>"No, Katharine, I am not cynical at all. I do not think you are quite +sure what a 'cynic' is."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, I know quite well. Diogenes was a cynic, and Saint Jerome, and +other people of that class."</p> + +<p>"A man who lives in a tub, and abuses Alexander the Great, and that sort +of thing," remarked Kildare, who had not spoken for some time.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Griggs," said John Westonhaugh, "since you are the accused, pray +define what you mean by a cynic, and then Mr. Isaacs, as the accuser, can +have a chance too."</p> + +<p>"Very well, I will. A man is a cynic if he will do no good to any one +because he believes every one past improvement. Most men who do good +actions are also cynics, because they well know that they are doing more +harm than good by their charity. Mr. Westonhaugh has the discrimination to +appreciate this, and therefore he is not a cynic."</p> + +<p>"It is well you introduced the saving clause, Griggs," said Isaacs to me +from across the table. "I am going to define you now; for I strongly +suspect that you are the very ideal of a philosopher of that class. You are +a man who believes in all that is good <a name="Page_161"></a>and beautiful +in theory, but by too much indifference to good in small measures—for you +want a thing perfect, or you want it not at all—you have abstracted +yourself from perceiving it anywhere, except in the most brilliant examples +of heroism that history affords. You set up in your imagination an ideal +which you call the good man, and you are utterly dissatisfied with anything +less perfect than perfection. The result is that, though you might do a +good action from your philosophical longing to approach the ideal in your +own person, you will not suffer yourself to believe that others are +consciously or unconsciously striving to make themselves better also. And +you do not believe that any one can be made a better man by any one else, +by any exterior agency, by any good that you or others may do to him. What +makes you what you are is the fact that you really cherish this beautiful +ideal image of your worship and reverence, and love it; but for this, you +would be the most insufferable man of my acquaintance, instead of being the +most agreeable."</p> + +<p>Isaacs was gifted with a marvellous frankness of speech. He always said +what he meant, with a supreme indifference to consequences; but he said it +with such perfect honesty and evident appreciation of what was good, even +when he most vehemently condemned what he did not like, that it was +impossible to be annoyed. Every one laughed at his attack on me, and having +satisfied my desire to observe Miss Westonhaugh, which had prompted my +first <a name="Page_162"></a>remark about griffins, I thought it was time +to turn the conversation to the projected hunt.</p> + +<p>"My dear fellow," I said, "I think that in spite of your Parthian shaft, +your definition of a cynic is as complimentary to the school at large as to +me in particular. Meanwhile, however," I added, turning to Mr. Ghyrkins, "I +am inclined to believe with Lord Steepleton that the subject uppermost in +the thoughts of most of us is the crusade against the tigers. What do you +say? Shall we not all go as we are, a neat party of six?"</p> + +<p>"Well, well, Mr. Griggs, we shall see, you know. Now, if we are going at +all, when do you mean to start?"</p> + +<p>"The sooner the better of course," broke in Kildare, and he launched +into a host of reasons for going immediately, including the wildest +statistics about the habits of tigers in winter. This was quite natural, +however, as he was a thorough Irishman and had never seen a tiger in his +life. Mr. Currie Ghyrkins vainly attempted to stem the torrent of his +eloquence, but at last pinned him on some erratic statement about tigers +moulting later in the year and their skins not being worth taking. Kildare +would have asserted with equal equanimity that all tigers shed their teeth +and their tails in December; he was evidently trying to rouse Mr. Ghyrkins +into a discussion on the subject of tiger shooting in general, a purpose +very easily accomplished. The old gentleman was soon goaded to madness by +Kildare's wonderful <a name="Page_163"></a>opinions, and before long he +vowed that the youngster had never seen a tiger,—not one in his whole +life, sir,—and that it was high time he did, high time indeed, and he +swore he should see one before he was a week older. Yes, sir, before he was +a week older, "if I have to carry you among 'em like a baby in arms, sir, +by gad, sir—I should think so!"</p> + +<p>This was all we wanted, and in another ten minutes we were drinking a +bumper to the health of the whole tiger-hunt and of Miss Westonhaugh in +particular. Isaacs joined with the rest, and though he only drank some +sherbet, as I watched his bright eyes and pale cheek, I thought that never +knight drank truer toast to his lady. Miss Westonhaugh rose and went out, +leaving us to smoke for a while. The conversation was general, and turned +on the chase, of course. In a few minutes Isaacs dropped his cigarette and +went quietly out. I determined to detain the rest as long as possible, and +I seconded Mr. Ghyrkins in passing the claret briskly round, telling all +manner of stories of all nations and peoples—ancient tales that would not +amuse a schoolboy in America, but which were a revelation of profound wit +and brilliant humour to the unsophisticated British mind. By immense +efforts—and I hate to exert myself in conversation—I succeeded in +prolonging the session through a cigar and a half, but at last I was forced +to submit to a move; and with a somewhat ancient remark from Mr. Ghyrkins, +to the effect that all good things <a name="Page_164"></a>must come to an +end, we returned to the drawing-room.</p> + +<p>Isaacs and Miss Westonhaugh were looking over some English photographs, +and she was enthusiastically praising the beauties of Gothic architecture, +while Isaacs was making the most of his opportunity, and taking a good look +at her as she bent over the album. After we came in, she made a little +music at the tuneless piano—there never was a piano in India yet that had +any tune in it—playing and singing a little, very prettily. She sang +something about a body in the rye, and then something else about drinking +only with the eyes, to which her brother sang a sort of second very nicely. +I do not understand much about music, but I thought the allusion to Isaacs' +temperance in only drinking with his eyes was rather pointed. He said, +however, that he liked it even better with a second than when she sang it +alone, so I argued that it was not the first time he had heard it.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Isaacs," said she, "you have often promised to sing something +Persian for us. Will you not keep your word now?"</p> + +<p>"When we are among the tigers, Miss Westonhaugh, next week. Then I will +try and borrow a lute and sing you something."</p> + +<p>It was late for an Indian dinner-party, so we took our departure soon +afterwards, having agreed to meet the following afternoon at Annandale for +the game of polo, in which Westonhaugh said he would also <a +name="Page_165"></a>play. He and Isaacs made some appointment for the +morning; they seemed to be very sympathetic to each other. Kildare mounted +and rode homeward with us, though he had much farther to go than we. If he +felt any annoyance at the small successes Isaacs had achieved during the +evening, he was far too courteous a gentleman to show it; and so, as we +groped our way through the trees by the starlight, chiefly occupied in +keeping our horses on their legs, the snatches of conversation that were +possible were pleasant, if not animated, and there was a cordial +"Good-night" on both sides, as we left Kildare to pursue his way alone.</p> + +<hr /> + + + + +<a name="Page_166"></a><h2><a name='CHAPTER_VIII'></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + + +<p>It was nearly four o'clock in the afternoon when Isaacs and I emerged +from the narrow road upon the polo ground. We were clad in the +tight-fitting garments which are necessary for the game, and wrapped in +light top-coats; as we came out on the green we saw a number of other men +in similar costume standing about, and a great many native grooms leading +ponies up and down. Miss Westonhaugh was there in her gray habit and broad +hat, and by her side, on foot, Lord Steepleton Kildare was making the most +of his time, as he waited for the rest of the players. Mr. Currie Ghyrkins +was ambling about on his broad little horse, and John Westonhaugh stood +with his hands in his pockets and a large Trichinopoli cheroot between his +lips, apparently gazing into space. Several other men, more or less known +to us and to each other, moved about or chatted disconnectedly, and one or +two arrived after us. Some of them wore coloured jerseys that showed +brightly over the open collars of their coats, others were in ordinary +dress and had come to see the game. Farther off, at one side of the ground, +one or two groups of ladies and their escorting cavaliers haunted at a +short distance <a name="Page_167"></a>by their saices in many-coloured +turbans and belts, or <i>cummer-bunds,</i> as the sash is called in India, +moved slowly about, glancing from time to time towards the place where the +players and their ponies were preparing for the contest.</p> + +<p>Few games require so little preparation and so few preliminaries as +polo, descended as it is from an age when more was thought of good +horsemanship and quick eye than of any little refinements depending on an +accurate knowledge of fixed rules. Any one who is a firstrate rider and is +quick with his hands can learn to play polo. The stiffest of arms can be +limbered and the most recalcitrant wrist taught to turn nimbly in its +socket; but the essential condition is, that the player should know how to +ride. This being established, there is no reason why anybody who likes +should not play the game, if he will only use a certain amount of caution, +and avoid braining the other players and injuring the ponies by too wild a +use of his mallet. Presently it was found that all who were to play had +arrived—eight of us all told. Kildare had arranged the sides and had +brought the other men necessary to make the number complete, so we mounted +and took up our positions on the ground. Kildare and Isaacs were together, +and Westonhaugh and I on the other side, with two men I knew slightly. We +won the charge, and Westonhaugh, who was a celebrated player, struck the +ball off cleverly, and I followed him up with a rush as he raced after it. +Isaacs, on the other side, swept <a name="Page_168"></a>along easily, and +as the ball swerved on striking the ground bent far over till he looked as +though he were out of the saddle and stopped it cleverly, while Kildare, +who was close behind, got a good stroke in just in time, as Westonhaugh and +I galloped down on him, and landed the ball far to the rear near our goal. +As we wheeled quickly, I saw that one of the other two men on our side had +stopped it and was beginning to "dribble" it along. This was very bad play, +both Westonhaugh and I being so far forward, and it met its reward. Isaacs +and Kildare raced down on him, but the latter soon pulled up on finding +himself passed, and waited. Isaacs rushed upon the temporising player and +got the ball away from him in no time; eluded the other man, and with a +neat stroke sent the ball right between the poles. The game had hardly +lasted three minutes, and a little sound of clapping was heard from where +the spectators were standing, far off on one side. I could see Miss +Westonhaugh plainly, as she cantered with her uncle to where the victors +were standing together on the other side, patting their ponies and +adjusting stirrup and saddle. Isaacs had his back turned, but wheeled round +as he heard the sound of hoofs behind him and bowed low in his saddle to +the fair girl, whose face, I could see even at that distance, was flushed +with pleasure. They remained a few minutes in conversation, and then the +two spectators rode away, and we took up our positions once more.</p> + +<p>The next game was a much longer one. It was <a name="Page_169"></a>the +turn of the other party to hit off, for Kildare won the charge. There were +encounters of all kinds; twice the ball was sent over the line, but outside +the goal, by long sweeping blows from Isaacs, who ever hovered on the edge +of the scrimmage, and, by his good riding, and the help of a splendid pony, +often had a chance where another would have had none. At last it happened +that I was chasing the ball back towards our goal, from one of his hits, +and he was pursuing me. I had the advantage of a long start, and before he +could reach me I got in a heavy "backhander" that sent the ball far away to +one side, where, as good luck would have it, Westonhaugh was waiting. Quick +as thought he carried it along, and in another minute we had scored a goal, +amidst enthusiastic shouts from the spectators, who had been kept long in +suspense by the protracted game. This time it was to our side that the +young girl came, riding up to her brother to congratulate him on his +success. I thought she had less colour as she came nearer, and though she +smiled sweetly as she said, "It was splendidly played, John," there was not +so much enthusiasm in her voice as the said John, who had really won the +game with masterly neatness, might have expected. Then she sat quietly +looking over the ground, while we dismounted from our ponies, breathless, +and foaming, and lathery, from the hard-fought battle. The grooms ran up +with blankets and handfuls of grass to give the poor beasts a rub, and +covering them carefully after removing the saddles, led them away.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_170"></a>The sun leaves Annandale early, and I put on a +coat and lit a cigarette, while the saice saddled our second mounts. There +are few prettier sights than an English game, of any kind, on a beautiful +stretch of turf. The English live, and move and have their being out of +doors. A cricket-match, tennis, a racecourse, or a game of polo, show them +at their greatest advantage, whether as players or spectators. Their fresh +complexions suit the green of the grass and of the trees as naturally as a +bed of roses, or cyclamens, or any fresh and healthy flower will combine +with the grass and the ferns in garden or glen. The glorious vitality that +belongs to their race seems to blossom freshly in the contact with their +mother earth, and the physical capacity for motion with which nature endows +them makes them graceful and fascinating to watch, when in some free and +untrammelled dress of white they are at their games, batting and bowling +and galloping and running; they have the same natural grace then as a herd +of deer or antelopes; they are beautiful animals in the full enjoyment of +life and vigour, of health and strength; they are intensely alive. +Something of this kind passed through my mind, in all probability, and, +combined with the delightful sensation any strong man feels in the pause +after great exertion, disposed me well towards my fellows and towards +mankind at large. Besides we had won the last game.</p> + +<p>"You look pleased, Mr. Griggs," said Miss Westonhaugh, who had probably +been watching me for a <a name="Page_171"></a>moment or two. "I did not +know cynics were ever pleased."</p> + +<p>"I remember who it was that promised to crown the victors of this match, +Miss Westonhaugh, and I cherish some hopes of being one of them. Would you +mind very much?"</p> + +<p>"Mind? Oh dear no; you had better try. But if you stand there with your +coat on, you will not have much chance. They are all mounted, and waiting +for you."</p> + +<p>"Well, here goes," I said to myself, as I got into the saddle again. "I +hope he may win, but he would find me out in a minute if I tried to play +into his hands." We were only to play the best out of three goals, and the +score was "one all." All eight of us had fresh mounts, and the experience +of each other's play we had got in the preceding games made it likely that +the game would be a long one. And so it turned out.</p> + +<p>From the first things went badly. John Westonhaugh's fresh pony was very +wild, and he had to take him a breather half over the ground before he +could take his place for the charge. When at last the first stroke was +made, the ball went low along the ground, spinning and twisting to right +and left. Both Kildare and Isaacs missed it and wheeled across to return, +when a prolonged scrimmage ensued less than thirty yards from their goal. +Every one played his best, and we wheeled and spun round in a way that +reminded one of a cavalry skirmish. Strokes <a name="Page_172"></a>and +back-strokes followed quickly, till at last I got the ball as it came +rolling out between my horse's legs, and, hotly pursued, beyond the +possibility of making a fair stroke, I moved away with it in front of +me.</p> + +<p>Then began one of those interminable circular games that all polo +players know so well, round and round the battlefield, riding close +together, sometimes one succeeding in driving the ball a little, only to be +foiled by the next man's ill-delivered back-stroke; racing, and pulling up +short, and racing again, till horses and riders were in a perspiration and +a state of madness not to be attained by any peaceful means. At last, as we +were riding near our own goal, some one, I could not see who, struck the +ball out into the open. Isaacs, who had just missed, and was ahead, rode +for it like a madman, his club raised high for a back-stroke. He was hotly +pressed by the man who had roused my wrath in the first game by his +"dribbling" policy. He was a light weight and had kept his best horse for +the last game, so that as Isaacs spun along at lightning speed the little +man was very close to him, his club well back for a sweeping hit. He rode +well, but was evidently not so old a hand in the game as the rest of us. +They neared the ball rapidly and Isaacs swerved a little to the left in +order to get it well under his right hand, thus throwing himself somewhat +across the track of his pursuer. As the Persian struck with all his force +downwards and backwards, his adversary, <a name="Page_173"></a>excited by +the chase, beyond all judgment or reckoning of his chances, hit out wildly, +as beginners will. The long elastic handle of his weapon struck Isaacs' +horse on the flank and glanced upward, the head of the club striking Isaacs +just above the back of the neck. We saw him throw up his arms, the club in +his right hand hanging to his wrist by the strap. The infuriated little +arab pony tore on, and in a moment more the iron grip of the rider's knees +relaxed, Isaacs swayed heavily in the saddle and fell over on the near +side, his left foot hanging in the stirrup and dragging him along some +paces before the horse finally shook himself clear and scampered away +across the turf. The whole catastrophe occurred in a moment; the man who +had done the mischief threw away his club to reach the injured player the +sooner, and as we thundered after him, my pony stumbled over the long +handle, and falling, threw me heavily over his head. I escaped with a very +slight kick from one of the other horses, and leaving my beast to take care +of himself, ran as fast as I could to where Isaacs lay, now surrounded by +the six players as they dismounted to help him. But there was some one +there before them.</p> + +<p>The accident had occurred near the middle of the ground, and opposite +the place where Miss Westonhaugh and her uncle had taken up their stand to +watch the contest. With a shake of the reins and a blow of the hand that +made the thoroughbred bound his length as he plunged into a gallop, the +girl rode <a name="Page_174"></a>wildly to where Isaacs lay, and reining +the animal back on his haunches, sprang to the ground and knelt quickly +down, so that before the others had reached them she had propped up his +head and was rubbing his hands in hers. There was no mistaking the impulse +that prompted her. She had seen many an accident in the hunting-field, and +knew well that when a man fell like that it was ten to one he was badly +hurt.</p> + +<p>Isaacs was ghastly pale, and there was a little blood on Miss +Westonhaugh's white gauntlet. Her face was whiter even than his, though not +a quiver of mouth or eyelash betrayed emotion. The man who had done it +knelt on the other side, rubbing one of the hands. Kildare and Westonhaugh +galloped off at full speed, and presently returned bearing a brandy-flask +and a smelling-bottle, and followed by a groom with some water in a native +<i>lota</i>. I wanted to make him swallow some of the liquor, but Miss +Westonhaugh took the flask from my hands.</p> + +<p>"He would not like it. He never drinks it, you know," she said in a +quiet low voice, and pouring some of the contents on her handkerchief, +moistened all his brows and face and hair with the powerful alcohol.</p> + +<p>"Loosen his belt! pull off his boots, some of you!" cried Mr. Currie +Ghyrkins, as he came up breathless. "Take off his belt—damn it, you know! +Dear, dear!" and he got off his <i>tat</i> with all the alacrity he could +muster.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_175"></a>Miss Westonhaugh never took her eyes from the +face of the prostrate man—pressing the wet handkerchief to his brow, and +moistening the palm of the hand she held with brandy. In a few minutes +Isaacs breathed a long heavy breath, and opened his eyes.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" he said; then, recollecting himself and trying to +move his head—"Oh! I have had a tumble. Give me some water to drink." +There was a sigh of relief from every one present as he spoke, quite +naturally, and I held the <i>lota</i> to his lips. "What became of the +ball?" he asked quickly, as he sat up. Then turning round, he saw the +beautiful girl kneeling at his side. The blood rushed violently to his +face, and his eyes, a moment ago dim with unconsciousness, flashed +brightly. "What! Miss Westonhaugh—you?" he bounded to his feet, but would +have fallen back if I had not caught him in my arms, for he was still dizzy +from the heavy blow that had stunned him. The blood came and went in his +cheeks, and he hung on my arm confused and embarrassed, looking on the +ground.</p> + +<p>"I really owe you all manner of apologies—" he began.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it, my dear boy," broke in Ghyrkins, "my niece was nearest +to you when you fell, and so she came up and did the right thing, like the +brave girl she is." The old fellow helped her to rise as he said this, and +he looked so pleased and proud of her that I was delighted with him. "And +now," he went on, "we must see how much you are hurt—the <a +name="Page_176"></a>deuce of a knock, you know, enough to kill you—and if +you are not able to ride, why, we will carry you home, you know; the devil +of a way off it is, too, confound it all." As he jerked out his sentences +he was feeling the back of Isaacs' head, to ascertain, if he could, how +much harm had been done. All this time the man who had done the mischief +was standing by, looking very penitent, and muttering sentences of apology +as he tried to perform any little office for his victim that came in his +way. Isaacs stretched out his arm, while Ghyrkins was feeling and twisting +his head, and taking the man's hand, held it a moment.</p> + +<p>"My dear sir," he said, "I am not in the least hurt, I assure you, and +it was my fault for crossing you at such a moment. Please do not think +anything more about it." He smiled kindly at the young fellow, who seemed +very grateful, and who from that day on would have risked everything in the +world for him. I heard behind me the voice of Kildare, soliloquising +softly.</p> + +<p>"Faith," said he, "that fellow is a gentleman if I ever saw one. I am +afraid I should not have let that infernal duffer off so easily. +By-the-bye, Isaacs," he said aloud, coming up to us, "you know you won the +game. Nobody stopped the ball after you hit it, and the saices say it ran +right through the goal. So cheer up; you have got something for your pains +and your tumble." It was quite true; the phlegmatic saices had watched the +ball instead of the falling <a name="Page_177"></a>man. Miss Westonhaugh, +who was really a sensible and self-possessed young woman, and had begun to +be sure that the accident would have no serious results, expressed the most +unbounded delight.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Miss Westonhaugh," said Isaacs; "you have kept your promise; +you have crowned the victor."</p> + +<p>"With brandy," I remarked, folding up a scarf which somebody had given +me wherewith to tie a wet compress to the back of his head.</p> + +<p>"There is nothing the matter," said Ghyrkins; "no end of a bad bruise, +that's all. He will be all right in the morning, and the skin is only a +little broken."</p> + +<p>"Griggs," said Isaacs, who could now stand quite firm again, "hold the +wet handkerchief in place, and give me that scarf." I did as he directed, +and he took the white woollen shawl, and in half a dozen turns wound it +round his head in a turban, deftly and gracefully. It was wonderfully +becoming to his Oriental features and dark eyes, and I could see that Miss +Westonhaugh thought so. There was a murmur of approbation from the native +grooms who were looking on, and who understood the thing.</p> + +<p>"You see I have done it before," he said, smiling. "And now give me my +coat, and we will be getting home. Oh yes! I can ride quite well."</p> + +<p>"That man has no end of pluck in him," said John Westonhaugh to +Kildare.</p> + +<p>"By Jove! yes," was the answer. "I have seen <a name="Page_178"></a>men +at home make twice the fuss over a tumble in a ploughed field, when they +were not even stunned. I would not have thought it."</p> + +<p>"He is not the man to make much fuss about anything of that kind."</p> + +<p>Isaacs stoutly refused any further assistance, and after walking up and +down a few minutes, he said he had got his legs back, and demanded a +cigarette. He lit it carefully, and mounted as if nothing had happened, and +we moved homeward, followed by the spectators, many of whom, of course, +were acquaintances, and who had ridden up more or less quickly to make +polite inquiries about the accident. No one disputed with Isaacs the right +to ride beside Miss Westonhaugh on the homeward road. He was the victor of +the day, and of course was entitled to the best place. We were all +straggling along, but without any great intervals between us, so that the +two were not able to get away as they had done on Saturday evening, but +they talked, and I heard Miss Westonhaugh laugh. Isaacs was determined to +show that he appreciated his advantage, and though, for all I know, he +might be suffering a good deal of pain, he talked gaily and sat his horse +easily, rather a strange figure in his light-coloured English overcoat, +surmounted by the large white turban he had made out of the shawl. As we +came out on the mall at the top of the hill, Mr. Ghyrkins called a council +of war.</p> + +<p>"Of course we shall have to put off the tiger-hunt."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_179"></a>"I suppose so," muttered Kildare, +disconsolately.</p> + +<p>"Why?" said Isaacs. "Not a bit of it. Head or no head, we will start +to-morrow morning. I am well enough, never fear."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, you know it's nonsense," said Ghyrkins, "you will be in bed +all day with a raging headache. Horrid things, knocks on the back of the +head."</p> + +<p>"Not I. My traps are all packed, and my servants have gone down to +Kalka, and I am going to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>"Well, of course, if you really think you can," etc. etc. So he was +prevailed upon to promise that if he should be suffering in the morning he +would send word in time to put off the party. "Besides," he added, "even if +I could not go, that is no reason why you should not."</p> + +<p>"Stuff," said Ghyrkins.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Miss Westonhaugh, looking rather blank.</p> + +<p>"That would never do," said John.</p> + +<p>"Preposterous! we could not think of going without you," said Lord +Steepleton Kildare loudly; he was beginning to like Isaacs in spite of +himself. And so we parted.</p> + +<p>"I shall not dine to-night, Griggs," said Isaacs, as we paused before +his door. "Come in for a moment: you can help me." We entered the richly +carpeted room, and he went to a curious old Japanese cabinet, and after +opening various doors and divisions, <a name="Page_180"></a>showed a small +iron safe. This he opened by some means known to himself, for he used no +key, and he took out a small vessel of jade and brought it to the light. +"Now," he said, "be good enough to warm this little jar in your hands while +I go into the next room and get my boots and spurs and things off. But do +not open it on any account—not on any account, until I come back," he +added very emphatically.</p> + +<p>"All right, go ahead," said I, and began to warm the cold thing that +felt like a piece of ice between my hands. He returned in a few minutes +robed in loose garments from Kashmir, with the low Eastern slippers he +generally wore indoors. He sat down among his cushions and leaned back, +looking pale and tired; after ordering the lamps to be lit and the doors +closed, he motioned me to sit down beside him.</p> + +<p>"I have had a bad shaking," he said, "and my head is a good deal +bruised. But I mean to go to-morrow in spite of everything. In that little +vial there is a powerful remedy unknown in your Western medicine. Now I +want you to apply it, and to follow with the utmost exactness my +instructions. If you fear you should forget what I tell you, write it down, +for a mistake might be fatal to you, and would certainly be fatal to +me."</p> + +<p>I took out an old letter and a pencil, not daring to trust my +memory.</p> + +<p>"Put the vial in your bosom while you write: it must be near the +temperature of the body. Now <a name="Page_181"></a>listen to me. In that +silver box is wax. Tie first this piece of silk over your mouth, and then +stop your nostrils carefully with the wax. Then open the vial quickly and +pour a little of the contents into your hand. You must be quick, for it is +very volatile. Rub that on the back of my head, keeping the vial closed. +When your hand is dry, hold the vial open to my nostrils for two minutes by +your watch. By that time, I shall be asleep. Put the vial in this pocket of +my <i>caftán</i>; open all the doors and windows, and tell my servant to +leave them so, but not to admit any one. Then you can leave me; I shall +sleep very comfortably. Come back and wake me a little before midnight. You +will wake me easily by lifting my head and pressing one of my hands. +Remember, if you should forget to wake me, and I should still be asleep at +one o'clock, I should never open my eyes again, and should be dead before +morning. Do as I tell you, for friendship's sake, and when I wake I shall +bathe and sleep naturally the rest of the night."</p> + +<p>I carefully fulfilled his instructions. Before I had finished rubbing +his head he was drowsy, and when I took the vial from his nostrils he was +sound asleep. I placed the precious thing where he had told me, and +arranged his limbs on the cushions. Then I opened everything, and leaving +the servant in charge went my way to my rooms. On removing the silk and the +wax which had protected me from the powerful drug, an indescribable odour +which <a name="Page_182"></a>permeated my clothes ascended to my nostrils; +aromatic, yet pungent and penetrating; I never smelt anything that it +reminded me of, but I presume the compound contained something of the +nature of an opiate. I took some books down to Isaacs' rooms and passed the +evening there, unwilling to leave him to the care of an inquisitive +servant, and five minutes before midnight I awoke him in the manner he had +directed. He seemed to be sleeping lightly, for he was awake in a moment, +and his first action was to replace the vial in the curious safe. He +professed himself perfectly restored; and, indeed, on examining his bruise +I found there was no swelling or inflammation. The odour of the medicament, +which, as he had said, seemed to be very volatile, had almost entirely +disappeared. He begged me to go to bed, saying that he would bathe and then +do likewise, and I left him for the night; speculating on the nature of +this secret and precious remedy.</p> + +<hr /> + + + + +<a name="Page_183"></a><h2><a name='CHAPTER_IX'></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + + +<p>The Himalayan <i>tonga</i> is a thing of delight. It is easily +described, for in principle it is the ancient Persian war-chariot, though +the accommodation is so modified as to allow four persons to sit in it back +to back; that is, three besides the driver. It is built for great strength, +the wheels being enormously heavy, and the pole of the size of a mast. +Harness the horses have none, save a single belt with a sort of lock at the +top, which fits into the iron yoke through the pole, and can slide from it +to the extremity; there is neither breeching nor trace nor collar, and the +reins run from the heavy curb bit directly through loops on the yoke to the +driver's hands. The latter, a wiry, long-bearded Mohammedan, is armed with +a long whip attached to a short thick stock, and though he sits low, on the +same level as the passenger beside him on the front seat, he guides his +half broken horses with amazing dexterity round sharp curves and by giddy +precipices, where neither parapet nor fencing give the startled mind even a +momentary impression of security. The road from Simla to Kalka at the foot +of the hills is so narrow that if two vehicles meet, the one has to <a +name="Page_184"></a>draw up to the edge of the road, while the other passes +on its way. In view of the frequent encounters, every tonga-driver is +provided with a post horn of tremendous power and most discordant harmony; +for the road is covered with bullock carts bearing provisions and stores to +the hill station. Smaller loads, such as trunks and other luggage, are +generally carried by coolies, who follow a shorter path, the carriage road +being ninety-two miles from Umballa, the railroad station, to Simla, but a +certain amount may be stowed away in the tonga, of which the capacity is +considerable.</p> + +<p>In three of these vehicles our party of six began the descent on Tuesday +morning, wrapped in linen "dusters" of various shades and shapes, and armed +with countless varieties of smoking gear. The roughness of the road +precludes all possibility of reading, and, after all, the rapid motion and +the constant appearance of danger—which in reality does not exist—prevent +any overpowering <i>ennui</i> from assailing the dusty traveller. So we +spun along all day, stopping once or twice for a little refreshment, and +changing horses every five or six miles. Everybody was in capital spirits, +and we changed seats often, thus obtaining some little variety. Isaacs, who +to every one's astonishment, seemed not to feel any inconvenience from his +accident, clung to his seat in Miss Westonhaugh's tonga, sitting in front +with the driver, while she and her uncle or brother occupied the seat +behind, which is far more comfortable. <a name="Page_185"></a>At last, +however, he was obliged to give his place to Kildare, who had been very +patient, but at last said it "really wasn't fair, you know," and so Isaacs +courteously yielded. At last we reached Kalka, where the tongas are +exchanged for <i>dâk gharry</i> or mail carriage, a thing in which +you can sit up in the daytime and lie down at night, there being an +extension under the driver's box calculated for the accommodation of the +longest legs. When lying down in one of these vehicles the sensation is +that of being in a hearse and playing a game of funeral. On this occasion, +however, it was still early when we made the change, and we paired off, two +and two, for the last part of the drive. By the well planned arrangements +of Isaacs and Kildare, two carriages were in readiness for us on the +express train, and though the difference in temperature was enormous +between Simla and the plains, still steaming from the late rainy season, +the travelling was made easy for us, and we settled ourselves for the +journey, after dining at the little hotel; Miss Westonhaugh bidding us all +a cheery "good-night" as she retired with her <i>ayah</i> into the carriage +prepared for her. I will not go into tedious details of the journey—we +slept and woke and slept again, and smoked, and occasionally concocted iced +drinks from our supplies, for in India the carriages are so large that the +traveller generally provides himself with a generous basket of provisions +and a travelling ice-chest full of bottles, and takes a trunk or two with +<a name="Page_186"></a>him in his compartment. Suffice it to say that we +arrived on the following day at Fyzabad in Oude, and that we were there met +by guides and shikarries—the native huntsmen—who assured us that there +were tigers about near the outlying station of Pegnugger, where the +elephants, previously ordered, would all be in readiness for us on the +following day. The journey from Fyzabad to Pegnugger was not a long one, +and we set out in the cool of the evening, sending our servants along in +that "happy-go-lucky" fashion which characterises Indian life. It has +always been a mystery to me how native servants manage always to turn up at +the right moment. You say to your man, "Go there and wait for me," and you +arrive and find him waiting; though how he transferred himself thither, +with his queer-looking bundle, and his lota, and cooking utensils, and your +best teapot wrapped up in a newspaper and ready for use, and with all the +other hundred and one things that a native servant contrives to carry about +without breaking or losing one of them, is an unsolved puzzle. Yet there he +is, clean and grinning as ever, and if he were not clean and grinning and +provided with tea and cheroots, you would not keep him in your service a +day, though you would be incapable of looking half so spotless and pleased +under the same circumstances yourself.</p> + +<p>On the following day, therefore, we found ourselves at Pegnugger, +surrounded by shikarries and provided with every instrument of the chase +that the <a name="Page_187"></a>ingenuity of man and the foresight of +Isaacs and Ghyrkins could provide. There were numbers of tents, sleeping +tents, cooking tents, and servants' tents; guns and ammunition of every +calibre likely to be useful; <i>kookries</i>, broad strong weapons not +unlike the famous American bowie knives (which are all made in Sheffield, +to the honour, glory, and gain, of British trade); there were huge packs of +provisions edible and potable; baskets of utensils for the kitchen and the +table, and piles of blankets and tenting gear for the camp. There was also +the little collector of Pegnugger, whose small body housed a stout heart, +for he had shot tigers on foot before now in company with a certain German +doctor of undying sporting fame, whose big round spectacles seemed to +direct his bullets with unerring precision. But the doctor was not here +now, and so the sturdy Englishman condescended to accept a seat in the +howdah, and to kill his game with somewhat less risk than usual.</p> + +<p>This first day was occupied in transferring our party, now swelled by +countless beaters and numerous huntsmen, not to mention all the retinue of +servants necessary for an Indian camp, to the neighbourhood of the +battlefield. There is not much conversation on these occasions, for the +party is apt to become scattered, and there is a general tone of expectancy +in the air, the old hands conversing more with the natives who know the +district than with each other, and the young ones either wondering how <a +name="Page_188"></a>many tigers they will kill, or listening open mouthed +to the tales of adventure reeled off by the yard by the old bearded +shikarry, who has slain the king of the jungle with a <i>kookrie</i> in +hand to hand struggle when he was young, and bears the scars of the deadly +encounter on his brown chest to this day. Old Ghyrkins, who was evidently +in his element, rode about on a little <i>tat</i>, questioning beaters and +shikarries, and coming back every now and then to bawl up some piece of +information to the little collector, who had established himself on one of +the elephants and looked down over the edge of the howdah, the great pith +hat on his head making him look like an immense mushroom with a very thin +stem sprouting suddenly from the back of the huge beast. He smiled +pleasantly at the old sportsman from his elevation, and seemed to know all +about it. It so chanced that when he received Isaacs' telegrams he had been +planning a little excursion on his own account, and had been sending out +scouts and beaters for some days to ascertain where the game lay. This, of +course, was so much clear gain to us, and the little man was delighted at +the opportune coincidence which enabled him, by the unlimited money +supplied, to join in such a hunt as he had not seen since the time when the +Prince of Wales disported himself among the royal game, three years before. +As for Miss Westonhaugh, she was in the gayest of spirits, as she sat with +her brother on an elephant's back, while Isaacs, who loved the saddle, +circled <a name="Page_189"></a>round her and kept up a fire of little +compliments and pretty speeches, to which she was fast becoming inured. +Kildare and I followed them closely on another elephant, discoursing +seriously about the hunt, and occasionally shouting some question to John +Westonhaugh, ahead, about sport in the south.</p> + +<p>Before evening we had arrived at our first camping ground, near a small +village on the outskirts of the jungle, and the tents were pitched on a +little elevation covered with grass, now green and waving. The men had +mowed a patch clear, and were busy with the pegs and all the paraphernalia +of a canvas house, and we strolled about, some of us directing the +operations, others offering a sacrifice of cooling liquids and tobacco to +the setting sun. Miss Westonhaugh had heard about living in tents ever +since she came to India, and had often longed to sleep in one of those +temporary chambers that are set up anywhere in the "compound" of an English +bungalow for the accommodation of the bachelor guests whom the house itself +is too small to hold; now she was enchanted at the prospect of a whole +fortnight under canvas, and watched with rapt interest the driving of the +pegs, the raising of the poles, and the careful furnishing of her dwelling. +There was a carpet, and armchairs, and tables, and even a small bookcase +with a few favourite volumes. To us in civilised life it seems a great deal +of trouble to transport a lunch basket and a novel to some shady glen to +enjoy a day's rest in the open air, and we would <a +name="Page_190"></a>almost rather starve than take the trouble to carry +provisions. In India you speak the word, and as by magic there arises in +the wilderness a little village of tents, furnished with every necessary +luxury—and the luxuries necessary to our degenerate age are many—a +kitchen tent is raised, and a skilled dark-skinned artist provides you in +an hour with a dinner such as you could eat in no hotel. The treasures of +the huge portable ice-chest reveal cooling wines and soda water to the +thirsty soul, and if you are going very far beyond the reach of the large +towns, a small ice-machine is kept at work day and night to increase the +supply while you sleep, and to maintain it while you wake. In the +<i>connât</i> or verandah of the tent, long chairs await you after +your meal, and as you smoke the fragrant cigarette and watch the stars +coming out, you feel as comfortable as though you had been dining in your +own spacious bungalow in Mudnugger.</p> + +<p>It was not long before all was ready, and having made many ablutions and +a little toilet, we assembled round the dinner table in the eating tent, +the same party that had dined at Mr. Currie Ghyrkins' house on Sunday +night, with the addition of the little collector of Pegnugger, whose +stories of his outlying district were full of humour and anecdote. The talk +bending in the direction of adventure, Kildare, who had been lately in +South Africa with his regiment, told some tales of Zulus and assegais and +Boers in the Hibernian style of hyperbole. The <a name="Page_191"></a>Irish +blood never comes out so strongly as when a story is to be told, and no +amount of English education and Oxford accent will suppress the tendency. +The brogue is gone, but the love of the marvellous is there still. Isaacs +related the experience of "a man he knew," who had been pulled off his +elephant, howdah and all, and had killed the tiger with a revolver at half +arm's length.</p> + +<p>"Ah yes," said the little collector, who had not caught the names of all +the party when introduced, "I read about it at the time; I remember it very +well. It happened in Purneah two years ago. The gentleman was a Mr. Isaacs +of Delhi. Queer name too—remember perfectly." There was a roar of laughter +at this, in which the collector joined vociferously on being informed that +the man with the "queer name" was his neighbour at table.</p> + +<p>"You see what you get for your modesty," cried old Ghyrkins, laughing to +convulsions.</p> + +<p>"And is it really true, Mr. Isaacs?" asked Miss Westonhaugh, looking +admiringly across at the young man, who seemed rather annoyed.</p> + +<p>And so the conversation went round and all were merry, and some were +sleepy after dinner, and we sat in long chairs under the awning or +<i>connât</i>. There was no moon yet, but the stars shone out as they +shine nowhere save in India, and the evening breeze played pleasantly +through the ropes after the long hot day. Miss Westonhaugh assured +everybody for the hundredth time that day that she rather <a +name="Page_192"></a>liked the smell of cigars, and so we smoked and chatted +a little, and presently there was a jerk and a sputtering sneeze from Mr. +Ghyrkins, who, being weary with the march and the heat and the good dinner, +and on the borders of sleep, had put the wrong end of his cigar in his +mouth with destructive results. Then he threw it away with a small volley +of harmless expletives, and swore he would go to bed, as he could not stand +our dulness any longer; but he merely shifted his position a little, and +was soon snoring merrily.</p> + +<p>"What a pity it is we have no piano, Katharine," said John Westonhaugh, +who was fond of music. "Could you not sing something without any +accompaniment?"</p> + +<p>"Oh no. Mr. Isaacs," she said, turning her voice to where she could see +the light of his cigarette and the faint outline of his chair in the +starlight, "here we are in the camp. Now where is the 'lute' you promised +to produce for us? I think the time has come at last for you to keep your +promise."</p> + +<p>"Well," said he, "I believe there really is an old guitar or something +of the kind among my traps somewhere. But it might wake Mr. Ghyrkins, who, +I understand from his tones, is asleep."</p> + +<p>Various opinions were expressed to the effect that Mr. Ghyrkins was not +so easily disturbed, and a voice like Kildare's was heard to mumble that +"it would not hurt him if he was," a sentence no one attempted to construe. +So the faithful Narain was <a name="Page_193"></a>summoned, and instructed +to bring the instrument if he could find it. I was rather surprised at +Isaacs' readiness to sing; but in the first place I had never heard him, +and besides I did not make allowance for the Oriental courtesy of his +character, which would not refuse anything, or make any show of refusal in +order to be pressed. Narain returned with a very modern-looking +guitar-case, and, opening the box, presented his master with the +instrument, which, as Isaacs took it to the light in the door of the tent +to see if it had travelled safely, appeared to be a perfectly new German +guitar. I suspected him of having purchased it at the little music shop at +Simla, for the especial amusement of our party.</p> + +<p>"I thought it was a lute you played on," said Miss Westonhaugh, "a real, +lovely, ancient Assyrian lute, or something of that kind."</p> + +<p>"Oh, a plain guitar is infinitely better and less troublesome," said +Isaacs as he returned to his seat in the dark and began to tune the strings +softly. "It takes so long to tune one of those old things, and then nothing +will make them stand. Now this one, you see,—or rather you cannot +see,—has an ingenious contrivance of screws by which you may tune it in a +moment." While he was speaking he was altering the pitch of the strings, +and presently he added, "There, it is done now," and two or three sounding +chords fell on the still air. "Now what shall I sing? I await your +commands."</p> + +<p>"Something soft, and sweet, and gentle."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_194"></a>"A love-song?" asked he quietly.</p> + +<p>"Well yes—a love-song if you like. Why not?" said she.</p> + +<p>"No reason in the world that I can think of," I remarked. Whereat Lord +Steepleton Kildare threw his cigar away, and began lighting another a +moment after, as if he had discarded his weed by mistake.</p> + +<p>Isaacs struck a few chords softly, and then began a sort of running +accompaniment. His voice, which seemed to me to be very high, was +wonderfully smooth and round, and produced the impression of being much +more powerful than he cared to show. He sang without the least effort, and +yet there was none of that effeminate character that I have noticed in +European male singers when producing high notes very softly. I do not +understand music, but I am sure I never heard an opera tenor with a voice +of such quality. The words of his song were Persian, and the pure accents +of his native tongue seemed well suited to the half passionate, half +plaintive air he had chosen. I afterwards found a translation of the sonnet +by an English officer, which I here give, though it conveys little idea of +the music of the original verse.</p> + +<blockquote> +Last night, my eyes being closed in sleep, but my good fortune awake,<br /> +The whole night, the livelong night, the image of my beloved one was the +companion of my soul.<br /> +The sweetness of her melodious voice still remains vibrating on my soul;<br +/> +Heavens! how did the sugared words fall from her sweeter lips;<br /> +Alas! all that she said to me in that dream has escaped from my memory,<br +/> +<a name="Page_195"></a>Although it was my care till break of day to repeat +over and over her sweet words.<br /> +The day, unless illuminated by her beauty, is, to my eyes, of nocturnal +darkness.<br /> +Happy day that first I gazed upon that lovely face!<br /> +May the eyes of Jami long be blessed with pleasing visions, since they +presented to his view last night<br /> +The object, on whose account he passed his waking life in +expectation.<sup><a href="#fn1" name="rfn1">[1]</a></sup><br /> +</blockquote> + +<p>His beautiful voice ceased, and with infinite skill he wove a few +strains of the melody into the final chords he played when he had finished +singing. It was all so entirely novel, so unlike any music most of us had +ever heard, and it was so undeniably good, that every one applauded and +said something to the singer in turn, expressing the greatest admiration +and appreciation. Miss Westonhaugh was the last to speak.</p> + +<p>"It is perfectly lovely," she said. "I wish I could understand the +words—are they as sweet as the music?"</p> + +<p>"Sweeter," he answered, and he gave an offhand translation of two or +three verses.</p> + +<p>"Beautiful indeed," she said; "and now sing me another, please." There +was no resisting such an appeal, with the personal pronoun in the singular +number. He moved a little nearer, and emphatically sang to her, and to no +one else. A song of the same character as the first, but, I thought, more +passionate and less dreamy, as his great sweet voice swelled and softened +and rose again in burning vibrations <a name="Page_196"></a>and waves of +sound. She did not ask a translation this time, but some one else did, +after the applause had subsided.</p> + +<p>"I cannot translate these things," said Isaacs, "so as to do them +justice, or give you any idea of the strength and vitality of the Persian +verses. Perhaps Griggs, who understands Persian very well and is a literary +man, may do it for you. I would rather not try." I professed my entire +inability to comply with the request, and to turn the conversation asked +him where he had learned to play the guitar so well.</p> + +<p>"Oh," he answered, "in Istamboul, years ago. Everybody plays in +Istamboul—and most people sing love-songs. Besides it is so easy," and he +ran scales up and down the strings with marvellous rapidity to illustrate +what he said.</p> + +<p>"And do you never sing English songs, Mr. Isaacs?" asked the collector +of Pegnugger, who was enchanted, not having heard a note of music for +months.</p> + +<p>"Oh, sometimes," he answered. "I think I could sing 'Drink to me only +with thine eyes'—do you know it?" He began to play the melody on the +guitar while he spoke.</p> + +<p>"Rather—I should think so!" Kildare was heard to say. He was beginning +to think the concert had lasted long enough.</p> + +<p>"Oh, do sing it, Mr. Isaacs," said the young girl, "and my brother and I +will join in. It will be so pretty!"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_197"></a>It certainly sounded very sweetly as he gave the +melody in his clear, high tones, and Miss Westonhaugh and John sang with +him. Having heard it several thousand times myself, I was beginning to +recognise the tune well enough to enjoy it a good deal.</p> + +<p>"That is very nice," said Kildare, who was sorry he had made an +impatient remark before, and wanted to atone.</p> + +<p>"Eh? what? how's that?" said Mr. Ghyrkins just waking up. "Oh! of +course. My niece sings charmingly. Quite an artist, you know." And he +struggled out of his chair and said it was high time we all went to bed if +we meant to shoot straight in the morning. The magistrate of Pegnugger +concurred in the opinion, and we reluctantly separated for the night to our +respective quarters, Isaacs and I occupying a tent together, which he had +caused to be sent on from Delhi, as being especially adapted to his +comfort.</p> + +<p>On the following day at dawn we were roused by the sound of +preparations, and before we were dressed the voices of Mr. Currie Ghyrkins +and the collector were heard in the camp, stirring up the sleepy servants +and ordering us to be waked. The two old sportsmen felt it their duty to be +first on such an occasion as this, and in the calm security that they would +do everything that was right, Isaacs and I discussed our tea and fruit—the +<i>chota haziri</i> or "little breakfast" usually taken in India on +waking—sitting <a name="Page_198"></a>in the door of our tent, while +Kiramat Ali and Narain and Mahmoud and the rest of the servants were giving +a final rub to the weapons of the chase, and making all the little +preparations for a long day. And we sat looking out and sipping our +tea.</p> + +<p>In the cool of the dawn Miss Westonhaugh came tripping across the wet +grass to where her uncle was giving his final directions about the +furnishing of his howdah for the day; a lovely apparition of freshness in +the gray morning, all dressed in dark blue, a light pith helmet-shaped hat +pressing the rebellious white-gold hair almost out of sight. She walked so +easily it seemed as if her dainty little feet had wings, as Hermes' of old, +to ease the ground of their feather weight. A broad belt hung across her +shoulder with little rows of cartridges set all along, and at the end hung +a very business-like revolver case of brown leather and of goodly length. +No toy miniature pistol would she carry, but a full-sized, heavy +"six-shooter," that might really be of use at close quarters. She stood +some minutes talking with Mr. Ghyrkins, not noticing us in the shadow of +the tent some thirty yards away; Isaacs and I watched her intently—with +very different feelings, possibly, but yet intensely admiring the fair +creature, so strong and pliant, and yet so erect and straight. She turned +half round towards us, and I saw there were flowers in the front of her +dress. I wondered where they had come from; they were roses—of all flowers +in the world to be blooming in the desert. Perhaps she <a +name="Page_199"></a>had brought them carefully from Fyzabad, but that was +improbable; or from Pegnugger—yes, there would be roses in the collector's +garden there. Isaacs rose to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Oh, come along, Griggs. You have had quite enough tea!"</p> + +<p>"Go ahead; I will be with you in a moment." But a sudden thought struck +me, and I went with him, bareheaded, to greet Miss Westonhaugh. She smiled +brightly as she held out her hand.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Mr. Isaacs. Thank you so much for the roses. How +<i>did</i> you do it? They are <i>too</i> lovely!" So it was just as I +thought. Isaacs had probably despatched a man back to Pegnugger in the +night.</p> + +<p>"Very easy I assure you. I am so glad you like them. They are not very +fresh after all though, I see," he added depreciatingly, as men do when +they give flowers to people they care about. I never heard a man find fault +with flowers he gave out of a sense of duty. It is perhaps that the woman +best loved of all things in the world has for him a sweetness and a beauty +that kills the coarser hues of the rose, and outvies the fragrance of the +double violets.</p> + +<p>"Oh no!" she said, emphasising the negative vigorously. "I think they +are perfectly beautiful, but I want you to tell me where you got them." I +began talking to Ghyrkins, who was intent on the arrangement of his guns +which was going on under his eyes, but I heard the answer, though Isaacs +spoke in a low voice.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_200"></a>"You must not say that, Miss Westonhaugh. You +yourself are the most perfect and beautiful thing God ever made." By a +superhuman effort I succeeded in keeping my eyes fixed on Ghyrkins, +probably with a stony, unconscious stare, for he presently asked what I was +looking at. I do not think Isaacs cared whether I heard him or not, knowing +that I sympathised, but Mr. Ghyrkins was another matter. The Persian had +made progress, for there was no trace of annoyance in Miss Westonhaugh's +answer, though she entirely overlooked her companion's pretty speech.</p> + +<p>"Seriously, Mr. Isaacs, if you mean to have one of them for your badge +to-day, you must tell me how you got them." I turned slowly round. She was +holding a single rose in her fingers, and looking from it to him, as if to +see if it would match his olive skin and his Karkee shooting-coat. He could +not resist the bribe.</p> + +<p>"If you really want to know I will tell you, but it is a profound +secret," he said, smiling. "Griggs, swear!"</p> + +<p>I raised my hand and murmured something about the graves of my +ancestors.</p> + +<p>"Well," he continued, "yesterday morning at the collector's house I saw +a garden; in the garden there were roses, carefully tended, for it is late. +I took the gardener apart and said, 'My friend, behold, here is silver for +thee, both rupees and pais. And if thou wilt pick the best of thy roses and +deliver them to the swift runner whom I will send to thee at supper <a +name="Page_201"></a>time when the stars are coming out, I will give thee as +much as thou shalt earn in a month with thy English master. But if thou +wilt not do it, or if thou failest to do it, having promised, I will cause +the grave of thy father to be defiled with the slaughter of swine, and, +moreover, I will return and beat thee with a thick stick!' The fellow was a +Mussulman, and there was a merry twinkle in his eye as he took the money +and swore a great oath. I left a running man at Pegnugger with a basket, +and that is how you got the roses. Don't tell the collector, that is +all."</p> + +<p>We all laughed, and Miss Westonhaugh gave the rose to Isaacs, who +touched it to his lips, under pretence of smelling it, and put it in his +buttonhole. Kildare came up at this moment and created a diversion; then +the collector joined us and scattered us right and left, saying it was high +time we were in the howdahs and on the way. So we buckled on our belts, and +those who wore hats put them on, and those who preferred turbans bent while +their bearers wound them on, and then we moved off to where the elephants +were waiting and got into our places, and the <i>mahouts</i> urged the huge +beasts from their knees to their feet, and we went swinging off to the +forest. The pad elephants, who serve as beaters and move between the howdah +animals, joined us, and presently we went splashing through the reedy +patches of fern, and crashing through the branches, towards the heart of +the jungle.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_202"></a>Mr. Currie Ghyrkins, whose long experience had +made him as cool when after tigers as when reading the <i>Pioneer</i> in +his shady bungalow at Simla, had taken Miss Westonhaugh with him in his +howdah, and as an additional precaution for her safety, the little +collector of Pegnugger, who was a dead shot, only allowed two pad elephants +to move between himself and Ghyrkins. As there were thirty-seven animals in +all, the rest of the party were much scattered. I thought there were too +many elephants for our six howdahs, but it turned out that I was mistaken, +for we had capital sport. The magistrate of Pegnugger, who knew the country +thoroughly, was made the despot of the day. His orders were obeyed +unquestioningly and unconditionally, and we halted in long line or marched +onwards, forcing a passage through every obstacle, at his word. We might +have been out a couple of hours, watching every patch of jungle and blade +of long rank grass for a sight of the striped skin, writhing through the +reeds, that we so longed to see, when the quick, short crack of a rifle +away to the right brought us to a halt, and every one drew a long breath +and turned, gun in hand, in the direction whence the sound had come. It was +Kildare; he had met his first tiger, and the first also of the hunt. He had +put up the animal not five paces in front of him, stealing along in the +cool grass and hoping to escape between the elephants, in the cunning way +they often do. He had fired a snap shot too quickly, inflicting a wound in +the flank which <a name="Page_203"></a>only served to rouse the tiger to +madness. With a leap that seemed to raise its body perpendicularly from the +ground, the gorgeous creature flew into the air and settled right on the +head of Kildare's elephant, while the terrified <i>mahout</i> wound himself +round the howdah. It would have been a trying position for the oldest +sportsman, but to be brought into such terrific encounter at arm's length, +almost, at one's very first experience of the chase, was a terrible test of +nerve. Those who were near said that in that awful moment Kildare never +changed colour. The elephant plunged wildly in his efforts to shake off the +beast from his head, but Kildare had seized his second gun the moment he +had discharged the first, and aiming for one second only, as the tossing +head and neck of the tusker brought the gigantic cat opposite him, fired +again. The fearful claws, driven deep and sure into the thick hide of the +poor elephant, relaxed their hold, the beautiful lithe limbs straightened +by their own perpendicular weight, and the first prize of the day dropped +to the ground like lead, dead, shot through the head.</p> + +<p>A great yell of triumph arose all along the line, and the little +<i>mahout</i> crept cautiously back from his lurking-place behind the +howdah to see if the coast were clear. Kildare had behaved splendidly, and +shouts of congratulation reached his ears from all sides. Miss Westonhaugh +waved her handkerchief in token of approbation, every one applauded, and +far away to the left Isaacs, who was in the last howdah, <a +name="Page_204"></a>clapped his hands vigorously, and sent his high clear +voice ringing like a trumpet down the line.</p> + +<p>"Well done, Kildare! well done, indeed!" and his rival's praise was not +the least grateful to Lord Steepleton on that day. Meanwhile the shikarries +gathered around the fallen beast. It proved to be a young tigress some +eight feet long, and the clean bright coat showed that she was no +man-eater. So the pad elephant came alongside, to use a nautical phrase not +inappropriate, and kneeling down received its burden willingly, well +knowing that the slain beauty was one of his deadly foes. The <i>mahout</i> +pronounced the elephant on which Kildare was mounted able to proceed, and +only a few huge drops of blood marked where the tigress had kept her hold. +We moved on again, beating the jungle, wheeling and doubling the long line, +wherever it seemed likely that some striped monster might have eluded us. +Marching and counter-marching through the heat of the day, we picked up +another-prize in the afternoon. It was a large old tiger, nine feet six as +he lay; he fell an easy prey to the gun of the little collector of +Pegnugger, who sent a bullet through his heart at the first shot, and +smiled rather contemptuously as he removed the empty shell of the cartridge +from his gun. He would rather have had Kildare's chance in the morning.</p> + +<p>After all, two tigers in a day was not bad sport for the time of year. I +knew Isaacs would be disappointed at not having had a shot, where his rival +in <a name="Page_205"></a>a certain quarter had had so good an opportunity +for displaying skill and courage; and I confessed to myself that I +preferred a small party, say, a dozen elephants and three howdahs, to this +tremendous and expensive <i>battue</i>. I had a shot-gun with me, and +consoled myself by shooting a peacock or two as we rolled and swayed +homewards. We had determined to keep to the same camp for a day or two, as +we could enter the forest from another point on the morrow, and might even +beat some of the same ground again with success.</p> + +<p>It was past five when we got down to the tents and descended from our +howdahs, glad to stretch our stiffened limbs in a brisk walk. The dead +tigers were hauled into the middle of the camp, and the servants ran +together to see the result of the <i>sahib log's</i> day out. We retired to +dress and refresh ourselves for dinner.</p> + +<hr /> + + + + +<a name="Page_206"></a><h2><a name='CHAPTER_X'></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + + +<p>In Isaacs' tent I was pulling off my turban, all shapeless and crumpled +by the long day, while Isaacs stood disconsolately looking at the clean +guns and unbroken rows of cartridges which Narain deposited on the table. +The sun was very low, and shone horizontally through the raised door of the +tent on my friend's rather gloomy face. At that moment something +intercepted the sunshine, and a dark shadow fell across the floor. I +looked, and saw a native standing on the threshold, salaaming and waiting +to be spoken to. He was not one of our men, but a common ryot, clad simply +in a <i>dhoti</i> or waist-cloth, and a rather dirty turban.</p> + +<p>"Kya chahte ho?"—"What do you want?" asked Isaacs impatiently. He was +not in a good humour by any means. "Wilt thou deprive thy betters of the +sunlight thou enjoyest thyself?"</p> + +<p>"The sahib's face is like the sun and the moon," replied the man +deprecatingly. "But if the great lord will listen I will tell him what +shall rejoice his heart."</p> + +<p>"Speak, unbeliever," said Isaacs.</p> + +<p>"Protector of the poor! you are my father and my <a +name="Page_207"></a>mother! but I know where there lieth a great tiger, an +eater of men, hard-hearted, that delighteth in blood."</p> + +<p>"Dog," answered Isaacs, calmly removing his coat, "the tiger you speak +of was seen by you many moons since; what do you come to me with idle tales +for?" Isaacs was familiar with the native trick of palming off old tigers +on the unwary stranger, in the hope of a reward.</p> + +<p>"Sahib, I am no liar. I saw the tiger, who is the king of the forest, +this morning." Isaacs' manner relaxed a little, and he sat down and lighted +the eternal cigarette. "Slave," he said meditatively, "if it is as you say, +I will kill the tiger, but if it is not as you say, I will kill you, and +cause your body to be buried with the carcass of an ox, and your soul shall +not live." The man did not seem much moved by the threat. He moved nearer, +and salaamed again.</p> + +<p>"It is near to the dwelling of the sahib, who is my father," said the +man, speaking low. "The day before yesterday he destroyed a man from the +village. He has eaten five men in the last moon. I have seen him enter his +lair, and he will surely return before the dawn; and the sahib shall strike +him by his lightning; and the sahib will not refuse me the ears of the +man-eater, that I may make a <i>jädu</i>, a charm against sudden +death?"</p> + +<p>"Hound! if thou speakest the truth, and I kill the tiger, the monarch of +game, I will make thee a rich man; but thou shalt not have his ears. I +desire the <i>jädu</i> for myself. I have spoken; wait thou here my <a +name="Page_208"></a>pleasure." The ryot bent low to the earth, and then +squatted by the tent-door to wait, in the patient way that a Hindoo can, +for Isaacs to go and eat his dinner. As the latter came out ten minutes +later, he paused and addressed the man once more. "Speak not to any man of +thy tiger while I am gone, or I will cut off thine ears with a pork knife." +And we passed on.</p> + +<p>The sun was now set and hovering in the afterglow, the new moon was +following lazily down. I stopped a moment to look at her, and was surprised +by Miss Westonhaugh's voice close behind me.</p> + +<p>"Are you wishing by the new moon, Mr. Griggs?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said I, "I was. And what were you wishing, Miss Westonhaugh, if I +may ask?" Isaacs came up, and paused beside us. The beautiful girl stood +quite still, looking to westward, a red glow on the white-gold masses of +her hair.</p> + +<p>"Did you say you were wishing for something, Miss Westonhaugh?" he +asked. "Perhaps I can get it for you. More flowers, perhaps? They are very +easily got."</p> + +<p>"No—that is, not especially. I was wishing—well, that a tiger-hunt +might last for ever; and I want a pair of tiger's ears. My old <i>ayah</i> +says they keep off evil spirits and sickness; and all sorts of things."</p> + +<p>"I know; it is a curious idea. I suppose both those beasts there have +lost theirs already. These fellows cut them off in no time."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_209"></a>"Yes. I have looked. So I suppose I must wait +till to-morrow. But promise me, Mr. Isaacs, if you shoot one to-morrow, +let me have the ears!"</p> + +<p>"I will promise that readily enough. I would promise anything you—" The +last part of the sentence was lost to me, as I moved away and left +them.</p> + +<p>At dinner, of course, every one talked of the day's sport, and +compliments of all kinds were showered on Lord Steepleton, who looked very +much pleased, and drank a good deal of wine. Ghyrkins and the little +magistrate expressed their opinion that he would make a famous tiger-killer +one of these days, when he had learned to wait. Every one was hungry and +rather tired, and after a somewhat silent cigar, we parted for the night, +Miss Westonhaugh rising first. Isaacs went to his quarters, and I remained +alone in a long chair, by the deserted dining-tent. Kiramat Ali brought me +a fresh hookah, and I lay quietly smoking and thinking of all kinds of +things—things of all kinds, tigers, golden hair, more tigers, Isaacs, +Shere Ali, Baithop—, what was his name—Baithop—p—. I fell asleep.</p> + +<p>Some one touched my hand, waking me suddenly. I sprang to my feet and +seized the man by the throat, before I recognised in the starlight that it +was Isaacs.</p> + +<p>"You are not a nice person to rouse," remarked he in a low voice, as I +relaxed my grasp. "You will have fever if you sleep out-of-doors at this +time of year. Now look here; it is past midnight, and I am going <a +name="Page_210"></a>out a little way." I noticed that he had a +<i>kookrie</i> knife at his waist, and that his cartridge-belt was on his +chest.</p> + +<p>"I will go with you," said I, guessing his intention. "I will be ready +in a moment," and I began to move towards the tent.</p> + +<p>"No. I must go alone, and do this thing single-handed. I have a +particular reason. I only wanted to warn you I was gone, in case you missed +me. I shall take that ryot fellow with me to show me the way."</p> + +<p>"Give him a gun," I suggested.</p> + +<p>"He could not use one if I did. He has your <i>kookrie</i> in case of +accidents."</p> + +<p>"Oh, very well! do not let me interfere with any innocent and childlike +pastime you may propose for your evening hours. I will attend to your +funeral in the morning. Good-night."</p> + +<p>"Good-night; I shall be back before you are up." And he walked quickly +off to where the ryot was waiting and holding his guns. He had the sense to +take two. I was angry at the perverse temerity of the man. Why could he not +have an elephant out and go like a sensible thinking being, instead of +sneaking out with one miserable peasant to lie all night among the reeds, +in as great danger from cobras as from the beast he meant to kill? And all +for a girl —an English girl—a creature all fair hair and eyes, with no +more intelligence than a sheep! Was it not she who sent him out to his +death in the jungle, that <a name="Page_211"></a>her miserable caprice for +a pair of tiger's ears might be immediately satisfied? If a woman ever +loved me, Paul Griggs,—thank heaven no woman ever did,—would I go out +into bogs and desert places and risk my precious skin to find her a pair of +cat's ears? Not I;—wait a moment, though. If I were in his place, if Miss +Westonhaugh loved <i>me</i>—I laughed at the conceit. But supposing she +did. Just for the sake of argument, I would allow it. I think that I would +risk something after all. What a glorious thing it would be to be loved by +a woman, once, wholly and for ever. To meet the creature I described to him +the other night, waiting for me to come into her life, and to be to her all +I could be to the woman I should love. But she has never come; never will, +now; still, there is a sort of rest to me in thinking of rest. Hearth, +home, wife, children; the worn old staff resting in the corner, never to +wander again. What a strange thing it is that men should have all these, +and more, and yet never see that they have the simple elements of earthly +happiness, if they would but use them. And we, outcasts and wanderers, +children of sin and darkness, in whose hands one commandment seems hardly +less fragile than another, would give anything—had we anything to +give—for the happiness of a home, to call our own. How strange it is that +what I said to Isaacs should be true. "Do not marry unless you must depend +on each other for daily bread, or unless you are rich enough to live +apart." Yes, it is true, in ninetynine <a name="Page_212"></a>cases out of +a hundred. But then, I should add a saving clause, "and unless you are +quite sure that you love each other." Ay, there is the <i>pons +asinorum,</i> the bridge whereon young asses and old fools come to such +terrible grief. They are perfectly sure they love eternally; they will +indignantly scorn the suggestions of prudence; love any other woman? never, +while I live, answers the happy and unsophisticated youth. Be sorry I did +it? Do you think I am a schoolboy in my first passion? demands the aged +bridegroom. And so they marry, and in a year or two the enthusiastic young +man runs away with some other enthusiastic man's wife, and the octogenarian +spouse finds himself constituted into a pot of honey for his wife's +swarming relations to settle on, like flies. But a man in strong middle +prime of age, like me, knows his own mind; and—yes, on the whole I was +unjust to Isaacs and to Miss Westonhaugh. If a woman loved me, she should +have all the tiger's ears she wanted. "Still, I hope he will get back +safely," I added, in afterthought to my reverie, as I turned into bed and +ordered Kiramat Ali to wake me half an hour before dawn.</p> + +<p>I was restless, sleeping a little and dreaming much. At last I struck a +light and looked at my watch. Four o'clock. It would not be dawn for more +than an hour; I knew Isaacs had made for the place where the tiger passed +his days, certain that he would return near daybreak, according to all +common probability. He need not have gone so early, I <a +name="Page_213"></a>thought. However, it might be a long way off. I lay +still for a while, but it seemed very hot and close under the canvas. I got +up and threw a <i>caftán</i> round me, drew a chair into the +<i>connât</i> and sat, or rather lay, down in the cool morning +breeze. Then I dozed again until Kiramat Ali woke me by pulling at my foot. +He said it would be dawn in half an hour. I had passed a bad night, and +went out, as I was, to walk on the grass. There was Miss Westonhaugh's tent +away off at the other end. She was sleeping calmly enough, never doubting +that at that very moment the man who loved her was risking his life for her +pleasure—her slightest whim. She would be wide awake if she knew it, +staring out into the darkness and listening for the crack of his rifle. A +faint light appeared behind the dining-tent, over the distant trees, like +the light of London seen from twenty or thirty miles' distance in the +country, a faint, suggestive, murky grayness in the sky, making the stars +look dimmer.</p> + +<p>The sound of a shot rang true and clear through the chill air; not far +off I thought. I held my breath, listening for a second report, but none +came. So it was over. Either he had killed the tiger with his first bullet, +or the tiger had killed him before he could fire a second. I was intensely +excited. If he were safe I wished him to have the glory of coming home +quite alone. There was nothing for it but to wait, so I went into my tent +and took a bath—a very simple operation where the bathing consists in <a +name="Page_214"></a>pouring a huge jar of water over one's head. Tents in +India have always a small side tent with a ditch dug to drain off the water +from the copious ablutions of the inmate. I emerged into the room feeling +better. It was now quite light, and I proceeded to dress leisurely to spin +out the time. As I was drawing on my boots, Isaacs sauntered in quietly and +laid his gun on the table. He was pale, and his Karkee clothes were covered +with mud and leaves and bits of creeper, but his movements showed he was +not hurt in any way; he hardly seemed tired.</p> + +<p>"Well?" I said anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Very well, thank you. Here they are," and he produced from the pocket +of his coat the <i>spolia opima</i> in the shape of a pair of ears, that +looked very large to me. There was a little blood on them and on his hands +as he handed the precious trophies to me for inspection. We stood by the +open door, and while I was turning over the ears curiously in my hands, he +looked down at his clothes.</p> + +<p>"I think I will take a bath," he said; "I must have been in a dirty +place."</p> + +<p>"My dear fellow," I said, taking his hand, "this is absurd. I mean all +this affected calmness. I was angry at your going in that way, to risk your +head in a tiger's mouth; but I am sincerely glad to see you back alive. I +congratulate you most heartily."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, old man," he said, his pale face brightening a little. "I am +very glad myself. Do you know I have a superstition that I must fulfil <a +name="Page_215"></a>every wish of—like that—even half expressed, to the +very letter?"</p> + +<p>"The 'superstition,' as you call it, is worthy of the bravest knight +that ever laid lance in rest. Don't part with superstitions like that. They +are noble and generous things."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," he answered, "but I really am very superstitious," he added, +as he turned into the bathing <i>connât</i>. Soon I heard him +splashing among the water jars.</p> + +<p>"By-the-bye, Griggs," he called out through the canvas, "I forgot to +tell you. They are bringing that beast home on an elephant. It was much +nearer than we supposed. They will be here in twenty minutes." A tremendous +splashing interrupted him. "You can go and attend to that funeral you were +talking about last night," he added, and his voice was again drowned in the +swish and souse of the water. "He was rather large—over ten feet—I should +say. Measure him as soon as he—" another cascade completed the sentence. I +went out, taking the measuring tape from the table.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the procession appeared. Two or three matutinal +shikarries had gone out and come back, followed by the elephant, for which +Isaacs had sent the ryot at full speed the moment he was sure the beast was +dead. And so they came up the little hill behind the dining-tent. The great +tusker moved evenly along, bearing on the pad an enormous yellow carcass, +at which the little <i>mahout</i> glanced occasionally <a +name="Page_216"></a>over his shoulder. Astride of the dead king sat the +ryot, who had directed Isaacs, crooning a strange psalm of victory in his +outlandish northern dialect, and occasionally clapping his hands over his +head with an expression of the most intense satisfaction I have ever seen +on a human face. The little band came to the middle of the camp where the +other tigers, now cut up and skinned elsewhere, had been deposited the +night before, and as the elephant knelt down, the shikarries pulled the +whole load over, pad, tiger, ryot and all, the latter skipping nimbly +aside. There he lay, the great beast that had taken so many lives. We +stretched him out and measured him—eleven feet from the tip of his nose to +the end of his tail, all but an inch—as a little more straightening fills +the measure, eleven feet exactly.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the servant and shikarries collected, and the noise of the +exploit went abroad. The sun was just rising when Mr. Ghyrkins put his head +out of his tent and wanted to know "what the deuce all this +<i>tamäsha</i> was about."</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing especial," I called out. "Isaacs has killed an eleven foot +man-eater in the night. That is all."</p> + +<p>"Well I'm damned," said Mr. Ghyrkins briefly, and to the point, as he +stared from his tent at the great carcass, which lay stretched out for all +to see, the elephant having departed.</p> + +<p>"Clear off those fellows and let me have a look at him, can't you?" he +called out, gathering the tent <a name="Page_217"></a>curtains round his +neck; and there he stood, his jolly red face and dishevelled gray hair +looking as if they had no body attached at all.</p> + +<p>I went back to our quarters. Isaacs was putting the ears, which he had +carefully cleansed from blood, into a silver box of beautiful workmanship, +which Narain had extracted from his master's numerous traps.</p> + +<p>"Take that box to Miss Westonhaugh's tent," he said, giving it to the +servant, "with a greeting from me—with 'much peace.'" The man went +out.</p> + +<p>"She will send the box back," said I. "Such is the Englishwoman. She +will take a pair of tiger's ears that nearly cost you your life, and she +would rather die than accept the bit of silver in which you enclose them, +without the 'permission of her uncle.'"</p> + +<p>"I do not care," he said, "so long as she keeps the ears. But unless I +am much mistaken, she will keep the box too. She is not like other +Englishwomen in the least."</p> + +<p>I was not sure of that. We had some tea in the door of our tent, and +Isaacs seemed hungry and thirsty, as well he might be. Now that he was +refreshed by bathing and the offices of the camp barber, he looked much as +usual, save that the extreme paleness I had noticed when he came in had +given place to a faint flush beneath the olive, probably due to his +excitement, the danger being past. As we sat there, the rest of the party, +who had slept rather later than usual after their fatigues of the previous +<a name="Page_218"></a>day, came out one by one and stood around the dead +tiger, wondering at the tale told by the delighted ryot, who squatted at +the beast's head to relate the adventure to all comers. We could see the +group from where we sat, in the shadow of the <i>connât</i>, and the +different expressions of the men as they came out. The little collector of +Pegnugger measured and measured again; Mr. Ghyrkins stood with his hands in +his coat pockets and his legs apart, then going to the other side he took +up the same position again. Lord Steepleton Kildare sauntered round and +twirled his big moustache, saying nothing the while, but looking rather +serious. John Westonhaugh, who seemed to be the artistic genius of the +party, sent for a chair and made his servant hold an umbrella over him +while he sketched the animal in his notebook, and presently his sister came +out, a big bunch of roses in her belt, and a broad hat half hiding her +face, and looked at the tiger and then round the party quickly, searching +for Isaacs. In her hand she held a little package wrapped in white tissue +paper. I strolled up to the group, leaving Isaacs in his tent. I thought I +might as well play innocence.</p> + +<p>"Of course," I remarked, "those fellows have bagged his ears as +usual."</p> + +<p>"They never omit that," said Ghyrkins.</p> + +<p>"Oh no, uncle," broke in Miss Westonhaugh, "he gave them to me!"</p> + +<p>"Who?" asked Ghyrkins, opening his little eyes wide.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_219"></a>"Mr. Isaacs. Did not he kill the tiger? He sent +me the ears in a little silver box. Here it is—the box, I mean. I am going +to give it back to him, of course."</p> + +<p>"How did Mr. Isaacs know you wanted them?" asked her uncle, getting red +in the face.</p> + +<p>"Why, we were talking about them last night before dinner, and he +promised that if he shot a tiger to-day he would give me the ears." Mr. +Ghyrkins was redder and redder in the morning sun. There was a storm of +some kind brewing. We were collected together on the other side of the dead +tiger and exchanged all kinds of spontaneous civilities and remarks, not +wishing to witness Mr. Ghyrkins' wrath, nor to go away too suddenly. I +heard the conversation, however, for the old gentleman made no pretence of +lowering his voice.</p> + +<p>"And do you mean to say you let him go off like that? He must have been +out all night. That beast of a nigger says so. On foot, too. I say on foot! +Do you know what you are talking about? Eh? Shooting tigers on foot? What? +Eh? Might have been killed as easily as not! And then what would you have +said? Eh? What? Upon my soul! You girls from home have no more hearts than +a parcel of old Juggernauts!" Ghyrkins was now furious. We edged away +towards the dining-tent, making a great talk about the terrible heat of the +sun in the morning. I caught the beginning of Miss Westonhaugh's answer. +She had hardly appreciated the situation <a name="Page_220"></a>yet, and +probably thought her uncle was joking, but she spoke very coldly, being +properly annoyed at his talking in such a way.</p> + +<p>"You cannot suppose for a moment that I meant him to go," I heard her +say, and something else followed in a lower tone. We then went into the +dining-tent.</p> + +<p>"Now look here, Katharine," Mr. Ghyrkins' irate voice rang across the +open space, "if any young woman asked me——" John Westonhaugh had risen +from his chair and apparently interrupted his uncle. Miss Westonhaugh +walked slowly to her tent, while her male relations remained talking. I +thought Isaacs had shown some foresight in not taking part in the morning +discussion. The two men went into their tents together and the dead tiger +lay alone in the grass, the sun rising higher and higher, pouring down his +burning rays on man and beast and green thing. And soon the shikarries came +with a small elephant and dragged the carcass away to be skinned and cut +up. Kildare and the collector said they would go and shoot some small game +for dinner. Isaacs, I supposed, was sleeping, and I was alone in the +dining-tent. I shouted for Kiramat Ali and sent for books, paper, and pens, +and a hookah, resolved to have a quiet morning to myself, since it was +clear we were not going out to-day. I saw Ghyrkins' servant enter his tent +with bottles and ice, and I suspected the old fellow was going to cool his +wrath with a "peg," and would be asleep most of the morning. <a +name="Page_221"></a>John would take a peg too, but he would not sleep in +consequence, being of Bombay, iron-headed and spirit-proof. So I read on +and wrote, and was happy, for I like the heat of the noon-day and the +buzzing of the flies, and the smell of the parched grass, being southern +born.</p> + +<p>About twelve o'clock, when I was beginning to think I had done enough +work for one day, I saw Miss Westonhaugh's native maid come out of her +mistress's tent and survey the landscape, shading her eyes with her hand. +She was dressed, of course, in spotless white drapery, and there were heavy +anklets on her feet and bangles of silver on her wrist. She seemed +satisfied by her inspection and went in again, returning presently with +Miss Westonhaugh and a large package of work and novels and letter-writing +materials. They came straight to where I was sitting under the airy tent +where we dined, and Miss Westonhaugh established herself at one side of the +table at the end of which I was writing.</p> + +<p>"It is so hot in my tent," she said almost apologetically, and began to +unroll some worsted work.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is quite unbearable," I answered politely, though I had not +thought much about the temperature. There was a long silence, and I +collected my papers in a bundle and leaned back in my chair. I did not know +what to say, nor was anything expected of me. I looked occasionally at the +young girl, who had laid her hat on the table, allowing the rich coils of +dazzling hair to assert their independence. Her <a name="Page_222"></a>dark +eyes were bent over her work as her fingers deftly pushed the needle in and +out of the brown linen she worked on.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Griggs," she began at last without looking up, "did you know Mr. +Isaacs was going out last night to kill that horrid thing?" I had expected +the question for some time.</p> + +<p>"Yes; he told me about midnight, when he started."</p> + +<p>"Then why did you let him go?" she asked, looking suddenly at me, and +knitting her dark eyebrows rather fiercely.</p> + +<p>"I do not think I could have prevented him. I do not think anybody could +prevent him from doing anything he had made up his mind to. I nearly +quarrelled with him, as it was."</p> + +<p>"I am sure I could have stopped him, if I had been you," she said +innocently.</p> + +<p>"I have not the least doubt that you could. Unfortunately, however, you +were not available at the time, or I would have suggested it to you."</p> + +<p>"I wish I had known," she went on, plunging deeper and deeper. "I would +not have had him go for—for anything."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Well, I suppose not. But, seriously, Miss Westonhaugh, are you not +flattered that a man should be willing and ready to risk life and limb in +satisfying your lightest fancy?"</p> + +<p>"Flattered?" she looked at me with much astonishment and some anger. I +was sure the look was genuine and not assumed.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_223"></a>"At all events the tiger's ears will always be a +charming reminiscence, a token of esteem that any one might be proud +of."</p> + +<p>"I am not proud of them in the least, though I shall always keep them as +a warning not to wish for such things. I hope that the next time Mr. Isaacs +is going to do a foolish thing you will have the common sense to prevent +him." She returned to her starting-point; but I saw no use in prolonging +the skirmish, and turned the talk upon other things. And soon John +Westonhaugh joined us, and found in me a sympathetic talker and listener, +as we both cared a great deal more for books than for tigers, though not +averse to a stray shot now and then.</p> + +<p>In this kind of life the week passed, shooting to-day and staying in +camp to-morrow. We shifted our ground several times, working along the +borders of the forest and crashing through the jungle after tiger with +varying success. In the evenings, when not tired with the day's work, we +sat together, and Isaacs sang, and at last even prevailed upon Miss +Westonhaugh to let him accompany her with his guitar, in which he proved +very successful. They were constantly together, and Ghyrkins was heard to +say that Isaacs was "a very fine fellow, and it was a pity he wasn't +English," to which Kildare assented somewhat mournfully, allowing that it +was quite true. His chance was gone, and he knew it, and bore it like a +gentleman, though he still made use of every opportunity he had to make +himself acceptable to <a name="Page_224"></a>Miss Westonhaugh. The girl +liked his manly ways, and was always grateful for any little attention from +him that attracted her notice, but it was evident that all her interest +ceased there. She liked him in the same way she liked her brother, but +rather less, if anything. She hardly knew, for she had seen so little of +John since she was a small child. I suppose Isaacs must have talked to her +about me, for she treated me with a certain consideration, and often +referred questions to me, on which I thought she might as well have +consulted some one else. For my part, I served the lovers in every way I +could think of. I would have done anything for Isaacs then as now, and I +liked her for the honest good feeling she had shown about him, especially +in the matter of the tiger's ears, for which she could not forgive +herself—though in truth she had been innocent enough. And they were really +lovers, those two. Any one might have seen it, and but for the wondrous +fascination Isaacs exercised over every one who came near him, and the +circumstances of his spotless name and reputation for integrity in the +large transactions in which he was frequently known to be engaged, it is +certain that Mr. Ghyrkins would have looked askance at the whole affair, +and very likely would have broken up the party.</p> + +<p>In the course of time we became a little <i>blasé</i> about +tigers, till on the eighth day from the beginning of the hunt, which was a +Thursday, I remember, an incident occurred which left a lasting impression +on <a name="Page_225"></a>the mind of every one who witnessed it. It was a +very hot morning, the hottest day we had had, and we had just crossed a +<i>nullah</i> in the forest, full from the recent rains, wherein the +elephants lingered lovingly to splash the water over their heated sides, +drowning the swarms of mosquitoes from which they suffer such torments, in +spite of their thick skins. The collector called a halt on the opposite +side; our line of march had become somewhat disordered by the passage, and +numerous tracks in the pasty black mud showed that the <i>nullah</i> was a +favourite resort of tigers—though at this time of day they might be a long +distance off. I had come next to the collector after we emerged from the +stream, the pad elephants having lingered longer in the water, and Mr. +Ghyrkins with Miss Westonhaugh was three or four places beyond me. It was +shady and cool under the thick trees, and the light was not good. The +collector bent over his howdah, looking at some tracks.</p> + +<p>"Those tracks look suspiciously fresh, Mr. Griggs," said the collector, +scrutinising the holes, not yet filled by the oozing back water of the +<i>nullah</i>. "Don't you think so?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, yes. I do not understand it at all," I replied. At the +collector's call a couple of beaters came forward and stooped down to +examine the trail. One of them, a good-looking young <i>gowala</i>, or +cowherd, followed along the footprints, examining each to be sure he was +not going on a false spoor; he moved slowly, scrutinising each hole, as the +traces grew <a name="Page_226"></a>shallower on the rising ground, +approaching a bit of small jungle. My sight followed the probable course of +the track ahead of him and something caught my eyes, which are remarkably +good, even at a great distance. The object was brown and hairy; a dark +brown, not the kind of colour one expects to see in the jungle in +September. I looked closely, and was satisfied that it must be part of an +animal; still more clearly I saw it, and no doubt remained in my mind; it +was the head of a bullock or a heifer. I shouted to the man to be careful, +to stop and let the elephants plough through the undergrowth, as only +elephants can. But he did not understand my Hindustani, which was of the +civilised <i>Urdu</i> kind learnt in the North-West Provinces. The man went +quickly along, and I tried to make the collector comprehend what I saw. But +the pad elephants were coming out of the water and forcing themselves +between our beasts, and he hardly caught what I said in the confusion. The +track led away to my left, nearly opposite to the elephant bearing Mr. +Ghyrkins and his niece. The little Pegnugger man was on my right. The +native held on, moving more and more rapidly as he found himself following +a single track. I shouted to him—to Ghyrkins—to everybody, but they could +not make the doomed man understand what I saw—the freshly slain head of +the tiger's last victim. There was little doubt that the king himself was +near by—probably in that suspicious-looking bit of green jungle, slimy +green too, as green <a name="Page_227"></a>is, that grows in sticky +chocolate-coloured mud. The young fellow was courageous, and ignorant of +the immediate danger, and, above all, he was on the look out for +bucksheesh. He reached the reeds and unclean vegetables that grew thick and +foul together in the little patch. He put one foot into the bush.</p> + +<p>A great fiery yellow and black head rose cautiously above the level of +the green and paused a moment, glaring. The wretched man, transfixed with +terror, stood stock still, expecting death. Then he moved, as if to throw +himself on one side, and at the same instant the tiger made a dash at his +naked body, such a dash as a great relentless cat makes at a gold-fish +trying to slide away from its grip. The tiger struck the man a heavy blow +on the right shoulder, felling him like a log, and coming down to a +standing position over his prey, with one paw on the native's right arm. +Probably the parade of elephants and bright coloured howdahs, and the +shouts of the beaters and shikarries, distracted his attention for a +moment. He stood whirling his tail to right and left, with half dropped jaw +and flaming eyes, half pressing, half grabbing the fleshy arm of the +senseless man beneath him—impatient, alarmed, and horrible.</p> + +<p>"Pack!!! Pi-i-i-i-ing ..." went the crack and the sing of the merry +rifle, and the scene changed.</p> + +<p>With a yell like a soul in everlasting torment the great beast whirled +himself into the air ten feet at least, and fell dead beside his victim, +shot through <a name="Page_228"></a>breast and breastbone and heart. A dead +silence fell on the spectators. Then I looked, and saw Miss Westonhaugh +holding out a second gun to Mr. Ghyrkins, while he, seeing that the first +had done its work, leaned forward, his broad face pale with the extremity +of his horror for the man's danger, and his hands gripping at the empty +rifle.</p> + +<p>"You've done it this time," cried the collector from the right. "Take +six to four the man's dead!"</p> + +<p>"Done," called Kildare from the other end. I was the nearest to the +scene, after Ghyrkins. I dropped over the edge of the howdah and made for +the spot, running. I think I reflected as I ran that it was rather low for +men to bet on the poor fellow's life in that way. Tigers are often very +deceptive and always die hard, and I am a cautious person, so when I was +near I pulled out my long army six-shooter, and, going within arm's +length, quietly put a bullet through the beast's eye as a matter of safety. +When he was cut up, however, the ball from the rifle of Mr. Ghyrkins was +found in his heart; the old fellow was a dead shot still. I went up and +examined the prostrate man. He was lying on his face, and so I picked him +up and propped his head against the dead tiger. He was still breathing, but +a very little examination proved that his right collar-bone and the bone of +his upper arm were broken. A little brandy revived him, and he immediately +began to scream with pain. I was soon joined by the collector, who with +characteristic promptitude had torn and hewed some broad <a +name="Page_229"></a>slats of bamboo from his howdah, and with a little +pulling and wrenching, and the help of my long, tough turban-cloth, a real +native pugree, we set and bound the arm as best we could, giving the poor +fellow brandy all the while. The collar-bone we left to its own devices; an +injury there takes care of itself.</p> + +<p>An elephant came up and received the dead tiger, and the man was carried +off and placed in my howdah. The other animals with their riders had +gathered near the scene, and every one had something to say to Ghyrkins, +who by his brilliant shot and the life he had saved, had maintained his +reputation, and come off the hero of the whole campaign. Miss Westonhaugh +was speechless with horror at the whole thing, and seemed to cling to her +uncle, as if fearing something of the same kind might happen to her at any +moment. Isaacs, as usual the last on the line of beating, came up and +called out his congratulations.</p> + +<p>"After saving a life so well, Mr. Ghyrkins, you will not grudge me the +poor honour of risking one, will you?"</p> + +<p>"Not I, my boy!" answered the delighted old sportsman, "only if that +mangy old man-eater had got you down the other day, I should not have been +there to pot him!"</p> + +<p>"Great shot, sir! I envy you," said Kildare.</p> + +<p>"Splendid shot. A hundred yards at least," said John Westonhaugh +meditatively, but in a loud voice.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_230"></a>So we swung away toward the camp, though it was +early. Ghyrkins chuckled, and the man with the broken bones groaned. But +between the different members of the party he would be a rich man before he +was well. I amused myself with my favourite sport of potting peacocks with +bullets; it is very good practice. Isaacs had told me that morning when we +started that he would leave us the next day to meet Shere Ali near Keitung. +We reached camp about three o'clock, in the heat of the afternoon. The +injured beater was put in a servant's tent to be sent off to Pegnugger in a +litter in the cool of the night. There was a doctor there who would take +care of him under the collector's written orders.</p> + +<p>The camp was in a shady place, quite unlike the spot where we had first +pitched our tents. There was a little grove of mango-trees, rather stunted, +as they are in the north, and away at one corner of the plantation was a +well with a small temple where a Brahmin, related to all the best families +in the neighbouring village, dwelt and collected the gifts bestowed on him +and his simple shrine by the superstitious, devout, or worldly pilgrims who +yearly and monthly visited him in search of counsel, spiritual or social. +The men had mowed the grass smooth under the trees, and the shade was not +so close as to make it damp. Some ryots had been called in to dig a ditch +and raised a rough <i>chapudra</i> or terrace, some fifteen feet in +diameter, opposite the dining-tent, on which elevation we could sit, even +late at night, in reasonable <a name="Page_231"></a>security from cobras +and other evil beasts. It was a pleasant place in the afternoon, and +pleasanter still at night. As I turned into our tent after we got back, I +thought I would go and sit there when I had bathed, and send for a hookah +and a novel, and go to sleep.</p> + +<hr /> + + + + +<a name="Page_232"></a><h2><a name='CHAPTER_XI'></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + + +<p>I observed that Isaacs was very quick about his toilet, and when I came +out and ascended the terrace, followed by Kiramat Ali with books and +tobacco, I glanced lazily over the quiet scene, settling myself in my +chair, and fully expecting to see my friend somewhere among the trees, not +unaccompanied by some one else. I was not mistaken. Turning my eyes towards +the corner of the grove where the old Brahmin had his shrine, I saw the two +well-known figures of Isaacs and Miss Westonhaugh sauntering towards the +well. Having satisfied the expectations of my curiosity, I turned over the +volume of philosophy, well thumbed and hard used as a priest's breviary, +and I inhaled long draughts of tobacco, debating whether I should read, or +meditate, or dream. Deciding in favour of the more mechanical form of +intellectuality, I fixed on a page that looked inviting, and followed the +lines, from left to right, lazily at first, then with increased interest, +and finally in that absorbed effort of continued comprehension which +constitutes real study. Page after page, syllogism after syllogism, +conclusion after conclusion, I followed for the hundredth time in the book +I love well—the <a name="Page_233"></a>book of him that would destroy the +religion I believe, but whose brilliant failure is one of the grandest +efforts of the purely human mind. I finished a chapter and, in thought +still, but conscious again of life, I looked up. They were still down there +by the well, those two, but while I looked the old priest, bent and white, +came out of the little temple where he had been sprinkling his image of +Vishnu, and dropped his aged limbs from one step to the other painfully, +steadying his uncertain descent with a stick. He went to the beautiful +couple seated on the edge of the well, built of mud and sun-dried bricks, +and he seemed to speak to Isaacs, I watched, and became interested in the +question whether Isaacs would give him a two-anna bit or a copper, and +whether I could distinguish with the naked eye at that distance between the +silver and the baser metal. Curious, thought I, how odd little trifles will +absorb the attention. The interview which was to lead to the expected act +of charity seemed to be lasting a long time.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Isaacs turned and called to me; his high, distinct tones +seeming to gather volume from the hollow of the well. He was calling me to +join them. I rose, rather reluctantly, from my books and moved through the +trees to where they were.</p> + +<p>"Griggs," Isaacs called out before I had reached him, "here is an old +fellow who knows something. I really believe he is something of a +yogi."</p> + +<p>"What ridiculous nonsense," I said impatiently, <a +name="Page_234"></a>"who ever heard of a yogi living in a temple and +feeding on the fat of the land in the way all these men do? Is that all you +wanted?" Miss Westonhaugh, peering down into the depths of the well, +laughed gaily.</p> + +<p>"I told you so! Never try to make Mr. Griggs swallow that kind of thing. +Besides, he is a 'cynic' you know."</p> + +<p>"As far as personal appearance goes, Miss Westonhaugh, I think your +friend the Brahmin there stands more chance of being taken for a +philosopher of that school. He really does not look particularly well fed, +in spite of the riches I thought he possessed." He was a strange-looking +old man, with a white beard and a small badly-rolled pugree. His black eyes +were filmy and disagreeable to look at. I addressed him in Hindustani, and +told him what Isaacs said, that he thought he was a yogi. The old fellow +did not look at me, nor did the bleared eyes give any sign of intelligence. +Nevertheless he answered my question.</p> + +<p>"Of what avail that I do wonders for you who believe not?" he asked, and +his voice sounded cracked and far off.</p> + +<p>"It will avail thee several coins, friend," I answered, "both rupees and +pais. Reflect that there may be bucksheesh in store for thee, and do a +miracle."</p> + +<p>"I will not do wonders for bucksheesh," said the priest, and began to +hobble away. Isaacs stepped <a name="Page_235"></a>lightly to his side and +whispered something in his ear. The ancient Brahmin turned.</p> + +<p>"Then I will do a wonder for you, but I want no bucksheesh. I will do it +for the lady with white hair, whose face resembles Chunder." He looked long +and fixedly at Miss Westonhaugh. "Let the <i>sáhib log</i> come with me a +stone's throw from the well, and let one sáhib call his servant and bid him +draw water that he may wash his hands. And I will do this wonder; the man +shall not draw any water, though he had the strength of Siva, until I say +the word." So we moved away under the trees, and I shouted for Kiramat Ali, +who came running down, and I told him to send a <i>bhisti</i>, a +water-carrier, with his leathern bucket. Then we waited. Presently the man +came, with bucket and rope.</p> + +<p>"Draw water, that I may wash my hands," said I.</p> + +<p>"Achhá, sáhib," and he strode to the well and lowered his pail by the +rope. The priest looked intently at him as he shook the rope to turn the +bucket over and let it fill; then he began to pull. The bucket seemed to be +caught. He jerked, and then bent his whole weight back, drawing the rope +across the edge of the brickwork. The thing was immovable. He seemed +astonished and looked down into the well, thinking the pail was caught in a +stone. I could not resist the temptation to go down and inspect the thing. +No. The bucket was full and lying in the middle of the round sheet of water +at the bottom of the well. The man tugged, while the <a +name="Page_236"></a>Brahmin never took his eyes, now bright and fiery, off +him. I went back to where they all stood. The thing had lasted five +minutes. Then the priest's lips moved silently.</p> + +<p>Instantly the strain was released and the stout water-carrier fell +headlong backwards on the grass, his heels in the air, jerking the bucket +right over the edge of the well. He bounded to his feet and ran up the +grove, shouting "Bhût, Bhût," "devils, devils," at the top of his voice. +His obstinacy had lasted so long as the bucket would not move, but then his +terror got the better of him and he fled.</p> + +<p>"Did you ever see anything of that kind before, Miss Westonhaugh?" I +inquired.</p> + +<p>"No indeed; have you? How is it done?"</p> + +<p>"I have seen similar things done, but not often. There are not many of +them that know how. But I cannot tell you the process any more than I can +explain the mango trick, which belongs, distantly, to the same class of +phenomena."</p> + +<p>The Brahmin, whose eyes were again dim and filmy, turned to Isaacs.</p> + +<p>"I have done a wonder for you. I will also tell you a saying. You have +done wrong in not taking the advice of your friend. You should not have +come forth to kill the king of game, nor have brought the white-haired lady +into the tiger's jaws. I have spoken. Peace be with you." And he moved +away.</p> + +<p>"And with you peace, friend," answered Isaacs mechanically, but as I +looked at him he turned white to the very lips.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_237"></a>Miss Westonhaugh did not understand the language, +and Isaacs would have been the last person to translate such a speech as +the Brahmin had made. We turned and strolled up the hill, and presently I +bethought me of some errand, and left them together under the trees. They +were so happy and so beautiful together, the fair lily from the English +dale and the deep red rose of Persian Gulistán. The sun slanted low through +the trees and sank in rose-coloured haze, and the moon, now just at the +half, began to shine out softly through the mangoes, and still the lovers +walked, pacing slowly to and fro near the well. No wonder they dallied +long; it was their last evening together, and I doubted not that Isaacs was +telling her of his sudden departure, necessary for reasons which I knew he +would not explain to her or to any one else.</p> + +<p>At last we all assembled in the dining-tent. Mr. Currie Ghyrkins was +among the first, and his niece was the last to enter the room. He was +glorious that evening, his kindly red face beamed on every one, and he +carried himself like a victorious general at a ladies' tea-party. He had +reason to be happy, and his jerky good spirits were needed to +counterbalance the deep melancholy that seemed to have settled upon his +niece. The colour was gone from her cheeks, and her dark eyes, heavily +fringed by the black brows and lashes, shone out strangely; the contrast +between the white flaxen hair, drawn back in simple massive waves like a +Greek statue, and the broad level eyes <a name="Page_238"></a>as dark as +night, was almost startling this evening in the singularity of its beauty. +She sat like a queenly marble at the end of the table, not silent, by any +means, but so evidently out of spirits that John Westonhaugh, who did not +know that Isaacs was going in the morning, and would not have supposed that +his sister could care so much, if he had known, remarked upon her +depression.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Katharine?" he asked kindly. "Have you a headache +this evening?" She was just then staring rather blankly into space.</p> + +<p>"Oh no," she said, trying to smile. "I was thinking."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Mr. Ghyrkins merrily, "that is why you look so unlike +yourself, my dear!" And he laughed at his rough little joke.</p> + +<p>"Do I?" asked the girl absently.</p> + +<p>But Ghyrkins was not to be repressed, and as Kildare and the Pegnugger +man were gay and wide awake, the dinner was not as dull as might have been +expected. When it was over, Isaacs announced his intention of leaving early +the next morning. Very urgent business recalled him suddenly, he explained. +A messenger had arrived just before dinner. He must leave without fail in +the morning. Miss Westonbaugh of course was forewarned; but the others were +not. Lord Steepleton Kildare, in the act of lighting a cheroot, dropped the +vesuvian incontinently, and stood staring at Isaacs with an indescribable +expression of empty wonder in his face, while the <a +name="Page_239"></a>match sputtered and smouldered and died away in the +grass by the door. John Westonhaugh, who liked Isaacs sincerely, and had +probably contemplated the possibility of the latter marrying Katharine, +looked sorry at first, and then a half angry expression crossed his face, +which softened instantly again. Currie Ghyrkins swore loudly that it was +out of the question—that it would break up the party—that he would not +hear of it, and so on.</p> + +<p>"I must go," said Isaacs quietly. "It is a very serious matter. I am +sorry—more sorry than I can tell you; but I must."</p> + +<p>"But you cannot, you know. Damn it, sir, you are the life of the party, +you know! Come, come, this will never do!"</p> + +<p>"My dear sir," said Isaacs, addressing Ghyrkins, "if, when you were +about to fire this morning to save that poor devil's life, I had begged you +not to shoot, would you have complied?"</p> + +<p>"Why, of course not," ejaculated Ghyrkins angrily.</p> + +<p>"Well, neither can I comply, though I would give anything to stay with +you all."</p> + +<p>"But nobody's life depends on your going away to-morrow morning. What do +you mean? The deuce and all, you know, I don't understand you a bit."</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell you, Mr. Ghyrkins; but something depends on my going, +which is of as great importance to the person concerned as life itself. +Believe me," he said, going near to the old gentleman and <a +name="Page_240"></a>laying a hand on his arm, "I do not go willingly."</p> + +<p>"Well, I hope not, I am sure," said Ghyrkins gruffly, though yielding. +"If you will, you will, and there's no holding you; but we are all very +sorry. That's all. Mahmoud! bring fire, you lazy pigling, that I may +smoke." And he threw himself into a chair, the very creaking of the cane +wicker expressing annoyance and dissatisfaction.</p> + +<p>So there was an end of it, and Isaacs strode off through the moonlight +to his quarters, to make some arrangement, I supposed. But he did not come +back. Miss Westonhaugh retired also to her tent, and no one was surprised +to see her go. Kildare rose presently and asked if I would not stroll to +the well, or anywhere, it was such a jolly night. I went with him, and arm +in arm we walked slowly down. The young moon was bright among the +mango-trees, striking the shining leaves, that reflected a strange greenish +light. We moved leisurely, and spoke little. I understood Kildare's silence +well enough, and I had nothing to say. The ground was smooth and even, for +the men had cut the grass close, and the little humped cow that belonged to +the old Brahmin cropped all she could get at.</p> + +<p>We skirted round the edge of the grove, intending to go back to the +tents another way. Suddenly I saw something in front that arrested my +attention. Two figures, some thirty yards away. They stood quite still, +turned from us. A man and a woman <a name="Page_241"></a>between the trees, +an opening in the leaves just letting a ray of moonlight slip through on +them. His arm around her, the tall lissome figure of her bent, and her head +resting on his shoulder. I have good eyes and was not mistaken, but I +trusted Kildare had not seen. A quick twitch of his arm, hanging carelessly +through mine, told me the mischief was done before I could turn his +attention. By a common instinct we wheeled to the left, and passing into +the open strolled back in the direction whence we had come. I did not look +at Kildare, but after a minute he began to talk about the moonlight and +tigers, and whether tigers were ever shot by moonlight, and altogether was +rather incoherent; but I took up the question, and we talked bravely till +we got back to the dining-tent, where we sat down again, secretly wishing +we had not gone for a stroll after all. In a few minutes Isaacs came from +his tent, which he must have entered from the other side. He was perfectly +at his ease, and at once began talking about the disagreeable journey he +had before him. Then, after a time, we broke up, and he said good-bye to +every one in turn, and Ghyrkins told John to call his sister, if she were +still visible, for "Mr. Isaacs wanted to say good-bye." So she came and +took his hand, and made a simple speech about "meeting again before long," +as she stood with her uncle; and my friend and I went away to our tent.</p> + +<p>We sat long in the <i>connât</i>. Isaacs did not seem to <a +name="Page_242"></a>want rest, and I certainly did not. For the first half +hour he was engaged in giving directions to the faithful Narain, who moved +about noiselessly among the portmanteaus and gun-cases and boots which +strewed the floor. At last all was settled for the start before dawn, and +he turned to me.</p> + +<p>"We shall meet again in Simla, Griggs, of course?"</p> + +<p>"I hope so. Of course we shall, unless you are killed by those fellows +at Keitung. I would not trust them."</p> + +<p>"I do not trust them in the least, but I have an all-powerful ally in +Ram Lal. Did you not think it very singular that the Brahmin should know +all about Ram Lal's warning? and that he should have the same opinion?"</p> + +<p>"We live in a country where nothing should astonish us, as I remember +saying to you a fortnight ago, when we first met," I answered. "That the +Brahmin possesses some knowledge of <i>yog-vidya</i> is more clearly shown +by his speech about Ram Lal than by that ridiculous trick with my +water-carrier."</p> + +<p>"You are not easily astonished, Griggs. But I agree with you as to that. +I am still at a loss to understand why I should not have come or let the +others come. I was startled at the Brahmin."</p> + +<p>"I saw you were; you were as white as a sheet, and yet you turned up +your nose at Ram Lal when he told you not to come."</p> + +<p>"The Brahmin said something more than Ram Lal. He said I should not have +brought the white-haired <a name="Page_243"></a>lady into the tiger's jaws. +I saw that the first warning had been on her account, and I suppose the +impression of possible danger for her frightened me."</p> + +<p>"It would not have frightened you three weeks ago about any woman," I +said. "It appears to me that your ideas in certain quarters have undergone +some little change. You are as different from the Isaacs I knew at first as +Philip drunk was different from Philip sober. Such is human +nature—scoffing at women the one day, and risking life and soul for their +whims the next."</p> + +<p>"I hate your reflections about the human kind, Griggs, and I do not like +your way of looking at women. You hate women so!"</p> + +<p>"No. You like my descriptions of the 'ideal creatures I rave about' much +better, it seems. Upon my soul, friend, if you want a criterion of +yourself, take this conversation. A fortnight ago to-day—or to-morrow, +will it be?—I was lecturing you about the way to regard women; begging you +to consider that they had souls and were capable of loving, as well as of +being loved. And here you are accusing me of hating the whole sex, and +without the slightest provocation on my part, either. Here is Birnam wood +coming to Dunsinane with a vengeance!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't deny it. I don't pretend to argue about it. I have changed +a good deal in the last month." He pensively crossed one leg over the other +as he lay back on the long chair and pulled at his slipper. "I suppose I +have—changed a good deal."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_244"></a>"No wonder. I presume your views of immortality, +the future state of the fair sex, and the application of transcendental +analysis to matrimony, all changed about the same time?"</p> + +<p>"Don't be unreasonable," he answered. "It all dates from that evening +when I had that singular fit and the vision I related to you. I have never +been the same man since; and I am glad of it. I now believe women to be +much more adorable than you painted them, and not half enough adored." +Suddenly he dropped the extremely English manner which he generally +affected in the idiom and construction of his speech, and dropped back into +something more like his own language. "The star that was over my life is +over it no longer. I have no life-star any longer. The jewel of the +southern sky withdraws his light, paling before the white gold from the +northern land. The gold that shall be mine through all the cycles of the +sun, the gold that neither man nor monarch shall take from me. What have I +to do with stars in heaven? Is not my star come down to earth to abide with +me through life? And when life is over and the scroll is full, shall not my +star bear me hence, beyond the fiery foot-bridge, beyond the paradise of my +people and its senseless sensuality of houris and strong wine? Beyond the +very memory of limited and bounded life, to that life eternal where there +is neither limit, nor bound, nor sorrow? Shall our two souls not unite and +be one soul to roam through the countless circles of revolving <a +name="Page_245"></a>outer space? Not through years, or for times, or for +ages—but for ever? The light of life is woman, the love of life is the +love of woman; the light that pales not, the life that cannot die, the love +that can know not any ending; <i>my</i> light, <i>my</i> life, and +<i>my</i> love!" His whole soul was in his voice, and his whole heart; the +twining white fingers, the half-closed eyes, and the passionate quivering +tone, told all he had left unsaid. It was surely a high and a noble thing +that he felt, worthy of the man in his beauty of mind and body. He loved an +ideal, revealed to him, as he thought, in the shape of the fair English +girl; he worshipped his ideal through her, without a thought that he could +be mistaken. Happy man! Perhaps he had a better chance of going through +life without any cruel revelation of his mistake than falls to the lot of +most lovers, for she was surpassingly beautiful, and most good and true +hearted. But are not people always mistaken who think to find the perfect +comprehended in the imperfect, the infinite enchained and made tangible in +the finite? Bah! The same old story, the same old vicious circle, the +everlastingly recurring mathematical view of things that cannot be treated +mathematically; the fruitless attempt to measure the harmonious circle of +the soul by the angular square of the book. What poor things our minds are, +after all. We have but one way of thinking derived from what we know, and +we incontinently apply it to things of which we can know nothing, and then +we quarrel with the result, <a name="Page_246"></a>which is a mere +<i>reductio ad absurdum</i>, showing how utterly false and meagre are our +hypotheses, premisses, and so-called axioms. Confucius, who began his +system with the startling axiom that "man is good," arrived at much more +really serviceable conclusions than Schopenhauer and all the pessimists put +together. Meanwhile, Isaacs was in love, and, I supposed, expected me to +say something appreciative.</p> + +<p>"My dear friend," I began, "it is a rare pleasure to hear any one talk +like that; it refreshes a man's belief in human nature, and enthusiasm, and +all kinds of things. I talked like that some time ago because you would +not. I think you are a most satisfactory convert."</p> + +<p>"I am indeed a convert. I would not have believed it possible, and now I +cannot believe that I ever thought differently. I suppose it is the way +with all converts—in religion as well—and with all people who are taken +up by a fair-winged genius from an arid desert and set down in a garden of +roses." He could not long confine himself to ordinary language. "And yet +the hot sand of the desert, and the cool of the night, and the occasional +patch of miserable, languishing green, with the little kindly spring in the +camel-trodden oasis, seemed all so delightful in the past life that one was +quite content, never suspecting the existence of better things. But now—I +could almost laugh to think of it. I stand in the midst of the garden that +is filled with all <a name="Page_247"></a>things fair, and the tree of life +is beside me, blossoming straight and broad with the flowers that wither +not, and the fruit that is good to the parched lips and the thirsty spirit. +And the garden is for us to dwell in now, and the eternity of the heavenly +spheres is ours hereafter." He was all on fire again. I kept silence for +some time; and his hands unfolded, and he raised them and clasped them +under his head, and drew a deep long breath, as if to taste the new life +that was in him.</p> + +<p>"Forgive my bringing you down to earth again," I said after a while, +"but have you made all necessary arrangements? Is there anything I can do, +after you are gone? Anything to be said to these good people, if they +question me about your sudden departure?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I was forgetting. If you will be so kind, I wish you would see the +expedition out, and take charge of the expenses. There are some bags of +rupees somewhere among my traps. Narain knows. I shall not take him with +me—or, no; on second thoughts I will hand you over the money, and take him +to Simla. Then, about the other thing. Do not tell any one where I have +gone, unless it be Miss Westonhaugh, and use your own discretion about her. +We shall all be in Simla in ten days, and I do not want this thing known, +as you may imagine. I do not think there is anything else, thanks." He +paused, as if thinking. "Yes, there is one more consideration. If anything +out of the way should occur in this transaction with Baithopoor, I should +<a name="Page_248"></a>want your assistance, if you will give it. Would you +mind?"</p> + +<p>"Of course not. Anything——"</p> + +<p>"In that case, if Ram Lal thinks you are wanted, he will send a swift +messenger to you with a letter signed by me, in the Persian +<i>shikast</i>—which you read.—Will you come by the way he will direct +you, if I send? He will answer for your safety."</p> + +<p>"I will come," I said, though I thought it was rather rash of me, who am +a cautious man, to trust my life in the hands of a shadowy person like Ram +Lal, who seemed to come and go in strange ways, and was in communication +with suspicious old Brahmin jugglers. But I trusted Isaacs better than his +adept friend.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," I said, vaguely hoping there might yet be a possibility of +detaining him, "that there is no way of doing this business so that you +could remain here."</p> + +<p>"No, friend Griggs. If there were any other way, I would not go now. I +would not go to-day, of all days in the year—of all days in my life. There +is no other way, by the grave of my father, on whom be the peace of Allah." +So we went to bed.</p> + +<p>At four o'clock Narain waked us, and in twenty minutes Isaacs was on +horseback. I had ordered a <i>tat</i> to be in readiness for me, thinking I +would ride with him an hour or two in the cool of the morning. So we passed +along by the quiet tents, Narain disappearing in the manner peculiar to +Hindoo servants, <a name="Page_249"></a>to be found at the end of the day's +march, smiling as ever. The young moon had set some time before, but the +stars were bright, though it was dark under the trees.</p> + +<p>Twenty yards beyond the last tent, a dark figure swept suddenly out from +the blackness and laid a hand on Isaacs' rein. He halted and bent over, and +I heard some whispering. It only lasted a moment, and the figure shot away +again. I was sure I heard something like a kiss, in the gloom, and there +was a most undeniable smell of roses in the air. I held my peace, though I +was astonished. I could not have believed her capable of it. Lying in wait +in the dusk of the morning to give her lover a kiss and a rose and a +parting word. She must have taken me for his servant in the dark.</p> + +<p>"Griggs," said Isaacs as we parted some six or seven miles farther +on,—"an odd thing happened this morning. I have left something more in +your keeping than money."</p> + +<p>"I know. Trust me. Good-bye," and he cantered off.</p> + +<p>I confess I was very dejected and low-spirited when I came back into +camp. My acquaintance with Isaacs, so suddenly grown into intimacy, had +become a part of my life. I felt a sort of devotion to him that I had never +felt for any man in my life before. I would rather have gone with him to +Keitung, for a presentiment told me there was trouble in the wind. He had +not talked to me about the <a name="Page_250"></a>Baithopoor intrigue, for +everything was as much settled beforehand as it was possible to settle +anything. There was nothing to be said, for all that was to come was +action; but I knew Isaacs distrusted the maharajah, and that without Ram +Lal's assistance—of whatever nature that might prove to be—he would not +have ventured to go alone to such a tryst.</p> + +<p>When I returned the camp was all alive, for it was nearly seven o'clock. +Kildare and the collector, my servant said, had gone off on <i>tats</i> to +shoot some small game. Mr. Ghyrkins was occupied with the shikarries in the +stretching and dressing of the skin he had won the previous day. Neither +Miss Westonhaugh nor her brother had been seen. So I dressed and rested +myself and had some tea, and sat wondering what the camp would be like +without Isaacs, who, to me and to one other person, was emphatically, as +Ghyrkins had said the night before, the life of the party. The weather was +not so warm as on the previous day, and I was debating whether I should not +try and induce the younger men to go and stick a pig—the shikarry said +there were plenty in some place he knew of—or whether I should settle +myself in the dining-tent for a long day with my books, when the arrival of +a mounted messenger with some letters from the distant post-office decided +me in favour of the more peaceful disposition of my time. So I glanced at +the papers, and assured myself that the English were going deeper and +deeper into the mire of difficulties and reckless expenditure that <a +name="Page_251"></a>characterised their campaign in Afghanistan in the +autumn of 1879; and when I had assured myself, furthermore, by the perusal +of a request for the remittance of twenty pounds, that my nephew, the only +relation, male or female, that I have in the world, had not come to the +untimely death he so richly deserved, I fell to considering what book I +should read. And from one thing to another, I found myself established +about ten o'clock at the table in the dining-tent, with Miss Westonhaugh at +one side, worsted work, writing materials and all, just as she had been at +the same table a week or so before. At her request I had continued my +writing when she came in. I was finishing off a column of a bloodthirsty +article for the <i>Howler</i>; it probably would come near enough to the +mark, for in India you may print a leader anywhere within a month of its +being written, and if it was hot enough to begin with, it will still answer +the purpose. Journalism is not so rapid in its requirements as in New York, +but, on the other hand, it is more lucrative.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Griggs, are you <i>very</i> busy?"</p> + +<p>"Oh dear, no—nothing to speak of," I went on writing—the +unprecedented—folly—the—blatant—charlatanism——</p> + +<p>"Mr. Griggs, do you understand these things?"</p> + +<p>——Lord Beaconsfield's—"I think so, Miss Westonhaugh"—Afghan +policy——There, I thought,</p> + +<p>I think that would rouse Mr. Currie Ghyrkins, if he ever saw it, which I +trust he never will. I had <a name="Page_252"></a>done, and I folded the +numbered sheets in an oblong bundle.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, Miss Westonhaugh; I was just finishing a sentence. I +am quite at your service."</p> + +<p>"Oh no! I see you are too busy."</p> + +<p>"Not in the least, I assure you. Is it that tangled skein? Let me help +you."</p> + +<p>"Oh thank you. It is so tiresome, and I am not in the least inclined to +be industrious."</p> + +<p>I took the wool and set to work. It was very easy, after all; I pulled +the loops through, and back again and through from the other side, and I +found the ends, and began to wind it up on a piece of paper. It is +singular, though, how the unaided wool can tie itself into every kind of a +knot—reef, carrick bend, bowline, bowline in a bight, not to mention a +variety of hitches and indescribable perversions of entanglement. I was +getting on very well, though. I looked up at her face, pale and weary with +a sleepless night, but beautiful—ah yes—beautiful beyond compare. She +smiled faintly.</p> + +<p>"You are very clever with your fingers. Where did you learn it? Have you +a sister who makes you wind her wool for her at home?"</p> + +<p>"No. I have no sister. I went to sea once upon a time."</p> + +<p>"Were you ever in the navy, Mr. Griggs?"</p> + +<p>"Oh no. I went before the mast."</p> + +<p>"But you would not learn to unravel wool before the mast. I suppose your +mother taught you when you were small—if you ever were small."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_253"></a>"I never had a mother that I can remember—I +learned to do all those things at sea."</p> + +<p>"Forgive me," she said, guessing she had struck some tender chord in my +existence. "What an odd life you must have had."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps. I never had any relations that I can remember, except a +brother, much older than I. He died years ago, and his son is my only +living relation. I was born in Italy."</p> + +<p>"But when did you learn so many things? You seem to know every language +under the sun."</p> + +<p>"I had a good education when I got ashore. Some one was very kind to me, +and I had learned Latin and Greek in the common school in Rome before I ran +away to sea."</p> + +<p>I answered her questions reluctantly. I did not want to talk about my +history, especially to a girl like her. I suppose she saw my +disinclination, for as I handed her the card with the wool neatly wound on +it, she thanked me and presently changed the subject, or at least shifted +the ground.</p> + +<p>"There is something so free about the life of an adventurer—I mean a +man who wanders about doing brave things. If I were a man I would be an +adventurer like you."</p> + +<p>"Not half so much of an adventurer, as you call it, as our friend who +went off this morning."</p> + +<p>It was the first mention of Isaacs since his departure. I had said the +thing inadvertently, for I would not have done anything to increase her +trouble for <a name="Page_254"></a>the world. She leaned back, dropping her +hands with her work in her lap, and stared straight out through the +doorway, as pale as death—pale as only fair-skinned people are when they +are ill, or hurt. She sat quite still. I wondered if she were ill, or if it +were only Isaacs' going that had wrought this change in her brilliant +looks. "Would you like me to read something to you, Miss Westonhaugh? Here +is a comparatively new book—<i>The Light of Asia</i>, by Mr. Edwin Arnold. +It is a poem about India. Would it give you any pleasure?" She guessed the +kind intention, and a little shadow of a smile passed over her lips.</p> + +<p>"You are so kind, Mr. Griggs. Please, you are so very kind."</p> + +<p>I began to read, and read on and on through the exquisite rise and fall +of the stanzas, through the beautiful clear high thoughts which seem to +come as a breath and a breeze from an unattainable heaven, from the Nirvana +we all hope for in our inmost hearts, whatever our confession of faith. And +the poor girl was soothed, and touched and lulled by the music of thought +and the sigh of verse that is in the poem; and the morning passed. I +suppose the quiet and the poetry wrought up in her the feeling of +confidence she felt in me, as being her lover's friend, for after I had +paused a minute or two, seeing some one coming toward the tent, she said +quite simply—</p> + +<p>"Where is he gone?"</p> + +<p>"He is gone to do a very noble deed. He is gone <a +name="Page_255"></a>to save the life of a man he never saw." A bright light +came into her face, and all the chilled heart's blood, driven from her +cheeks by the weariness of her first parting, rushed joyously back, and for +one moment there dwelt on her features the glory and bloom of the love and +happiness that had been hers all day yesterday, that would be hers +again—when? Poor Miss Westonhaugh, it seemed so long to wait.</p> + +<p>The day passed somehow, but the dinner was dismal. Miss Westonhaugh was +evidently far from well, and I could not conceive that the pain of a +temporary parting should make so sudden a change in one so perfectly strong +and healthy—even were her nature ever so sensitive. Kildare and the +Pegnugger magistrate tried to keep up the spirits of the party, but John +Westonhaugh was anxious about his sister, and even old Mr. Currie Ghyrkins +was beginning to fancy there must be something wrong. We sat smoking +outside, and the young girl refused to leave us, though John begged her to. +As we sat, it may have been half an hour after dinner, a messenger came +galloping up in hot haste, and leaping to the ground asked for "Gurregis +Sahib," with the usual native pronunciation of my euphonious name. Being +informed, he salaamed low and handed me a letter, which I took to the +light. It was in <i>shikast</i> Persian, and signed "Abdul +Hafiz-ben-Isâk." "Ram Lal," he said, "has met me unexpectedly, and +sends you this by his own means, which are swift as the flight of the +eagle. It is indispensable that you meet <a name="Page_256"></a>us below +Keitung, towards Sultanpoor, on the afternoon of the day when the moon is +full. Travel by Julinder and Sultanpoor; you will easily overtake me, since +I go by Simla. For friendship's sake, for love's sake, come. It is life and +death. Give the money to the Irishman. Peace be with you."</p> + +<p>I sighed a sigh of the most undetermined description. Was I glad to +rejoin my friend? or was I pained to leave the woman he loved in her +present condition? I hardly knew.</p> + +<p>"I think we had all better go back to Simla," said John, when I +explained that the most urgent business called me away at dawn.</p> + +<p>"There will be none of us left soon," said Ghyrkins quite quietly and +mournfully.</p> + +<p>I found means to let Miss Westonhaugh understand where I was going. I +gave Kildare the money in charge.</p> + +<p>In the dark of the morning, as I cleared the tents, the same shadow I +had seen before shot out and laid a hand on my rein. I halted on the same +spot where Isaacs had drawn rein twenty-four hours before.</p> + +<p>"Give him this from me. God be with you!" She was gone in a moment, +leaving a small package in my right hand. I thrust it in my bosom and rode +away.</p> + +<p>"How she loves him," I thought, wondering greatly.</p> + +<hr /> + + + + +<a name="Page_257"></a><h2><a name='CHAPTER_XII'></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + + +<p>It was not an agreeable journey I had undertaken. In order to reach the +inaccessible spot, chosen by Isaacs for the scene of Shere Ali's +liberation, in time to be of any use, it was necessary that I should travel +by a more direct and arduous route than that taken by my friend. He had +returned to Simla, and by his carefully made arrangements would be able to +reach Keitung, or the spot near it, where the transaction was to take +place, by constant changes of horses where riding was possible, and by a +strong body of dooly-bearers wherever the path should prove too steep for +four-footed beasts of burden. I, on the other hand, must leave the road at +Julinder, a place I had never visited, and must trust to my own unaided +wits and a plentiful supply of rupees to carry me over at least two hundred +miles of country I did not know—difficult certainly, and perhaps +impracticable for riding. The prospect was not a pleasant one, but I was +convinced that in a matter of this importance a man of Isaacs' wit and +wealth would have made at least some preliminary arrangements for me, since +he probably knew the country well enough <a name="Page_258"></a>himself. I +had but six days at the outside to reach my destination.</p> + +<p>I had resolved to take one servant, Kiramat Ali, with me as far as +Julinder, whence I would send him back to Simla with what slender luggage +we carried, for I meant to ride as light as possible, with no encumbrance +to delay me when once I left the line of the railway. I might have ridden +five miles with Kiramat Ali behind me on a sturdy <i>tat</i>, when I was +surprised by the appearance of an unknown saice in plain white clothes, +holding a pair of strong young ponies by the halter and salaaming low.</p> + +<p>"Pundit Ram Lal sends your highness his peace, and bids you ride without +sparing. The <i>dâk</i> is laid to the fire-carriages."</p> + +<p>The saddles were changed in a moment, Kiramat Ali and I assisting in the +operation. It was clear that Ram Lal's messengers were swift, for even if +he had met Isaacs when the latter reached the railroad, no ordinary horse +could have returned with the message at the time I had received it. Still +less would any ordinary Hindus be capable of laying a <i>dâk</i>, or +post route of relays, over a hundred miles long in twelve hours. Once +prepared, it was a mere matter of physical endurance in the rider to cover +the ground, for the relays were stationed every five or six miles. It was +well known that Lord Steepleton Kildare had lately ridden from Simla to +Umballa one night and back the next day, ninety-two miles each way, with +constant change of cattle. What <a name="Page_259"></a>puzzled me was the +rapidity with which the necessary dispositions had been made. On the whole, +I was reassured. If Ram Lal had been able to prepare my way at such short +notice here, with two more days at his disposal he would doubtless succeed +in laying me a <i>dâk</i> most of the way from Julinder to Keitung. I +will not dwell upon the details of the journey. I reached the railroad and +prepared for forty-eight hours of jolting and jostling and broken sleep. It +is true that railway travelling is nowhere so luxurious as in India, where +a carriage has but two compartments, each holding as a rule only two +persons, though four can be accommodated by means of hanging berths. Each +compartment has a spacious bathroom attached, where you may bathe as often +as you please, and there are various contrivances for ventilating and +cooling the air. Nevertheless the heat is sometimes unbearable, and a +journey from Bombay to Calcutta direct during the warm months is a severe +trial to the strongest constitution. On this occasion I had about +forty-eight hours to travel, and I was resolved to get all the rest in that +time that the jolting made possible; for I knew that once in the saddle +again it might be days before I got a night's sleep. And so we rumbled +along, through the vast fields of sugar-cane, now mostly tied in huge +sheaves upright, through boundless stretches of richly-cultivated soil, +intersected with the regularity of a chess-board by the rivulets and +channels of a laborious irrigation. Here and there stood the high frames +made by planting <a name="Page_260"></a>four bamboos in a square and +wickering the top, whereon the ryots sit when the crops are ripening, to +watch against thieves and cattle, and to drive away the birds of the air. +On we spun, past Meerut and Mozuffernugger, past Umballa and Loodhiana, +till we reached our station of Julinder at dawn. Descending from the train, +I was about to begin making inquiries about my next move, when I was +accosted by a tall and well-dressed Mussulman, in a plain cloth +<i>caftán</i> and a white turban, but exquisitely clean and fresh looking, +as it seemed to me, for my eyes were smarting with dust and wearied with +the perpetual shaking of the train.</p> + +<p>The courteous native soon explained that he was Isaacs' agent in +Julinder, and that a <i>târ ki khaber</i>, a telegram in short, had +warned him to be on the lookout for me. I was greatly relieved, for it was +evident that every arrangement had been made for my comfort, so far as +comfort was possible. Isaacs had asked my assistance, but he had taken +every precaution against all superfluous bodily inconvenience to me, and I +felt sure that from this point I should move quickly and easily through +every difficulty. And so it proved. The Mussulman took me to his house, +where there was a spacious apartment, occupied by Isaacs when he passed +that way. Every luxury was prepared for the enjoyment of the bath, and a +breakfast of no mean taste was served me in my own room. Then my host +entered and explained that he had been directed to make certain +arrangements <a name="Page_261"></a>for my journey. He had laid a +<i>dâk</i> nearly a hundred miles ahead, and had been ordered to tell +me that similar steps had been taken beyond that point as far as my +ultimate destination, of which, however, he was ignorant. My servant, he +said, must stay with him and return to Simla with my traps.</p> + +<p>So an hour later I mounted for my long ride, provided with a revolver +and some rupees in a bag, in case of need. The country, my entertainer +informed me, was considered perfectly safe, unless I feared the <i>tap</i>, +the bad kind of fever which infests all the country at the base of the +hills. I was not afraid of this. My experience is that some people are +predisposed to fever, and will generally be attacked by it in their first +year in India, whether they are much exposed to it or not, while others +seem naturally proof against any amount of malaria, and though they sleep +out of doors through the whole rainy season, and tramp about the jungles in +the autumn, will never catch the least ague, though they may have all other +kinds of ills to contend with.</p> + +<p>On and on, galloping along the heavy roads, sometimes over no road at +all, only a broad green track, where the fresh grass that had sprung up +after the rains was not yet killed by the trampling of the bullocks and the +grinding jolt of the heavy cart. At intervals of seven or eight miles I +found a saice with a fresh pony picketed and grazing at the end of the long +rope. The saice was generally squatting near by, with his bag of food and +his three-sided kitchen <a name="Page_262"></a>of stones, blackened with +the fire from his last meal, beside him; sometimes in the act of cooking +his chowpatties, sometimes eating them, according to the time of day. +Several times I stopped to drink some water where it seemed to be good, and +I ate a little chocolate from my supply, well knowing the miraculous, +sustaining powers of the simple little block of "Menier," which, with its +six small tablets, will not only sustain life, but will supply vigour and +energy, for as much as two days, with no other food. On and on, through the +day and the night, past sleeping villages, where the jackals howled around +the open doors of the huts; and across vast fields of late crops, over +hills thickly grown with trees, past the broad bend of the Sutlej river, +and over the plateau toward Sultanpoor, the cultivation growing scantier +and the villages rarer all the while, as the vast masses of the Himalayas +defined themselves more and more distinctly in the moonlight. Horses of all +kinds under me, lean and fat, short and high, roman-nosed and goose-necked, +broken and unbroken; away and away, shifting saddle and bridle and +saddle-bag as I left each tired mount behind me. Once I passed a stream, +and pulling off my boots to cool my feet, the temptation way too strong, so +I hastily threw off my clothes and plunged in and had a short refreshing +bath. Then on, with, the galloping even triplet of the house's hoofs +beneath me, as they came down in quick succession, as if the earth were a +muffled drum and we were beating an untiring <i>rataplan</i> on her +breast.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_263"></a>I must have ridden a hundred and thirty miles +before dawn, and the pace was beginning to tell, even on my strong frame. +True, to a man used to the saddle, the effort of riding is reduced to a +minimum when every hour or two gives him a fresh horse. There is then no +heed for the welfare of the animal necessary; he has but his seven or eight +miles to gallop, and then his work is done; there are none of those +thousand little cares and sympathetic shiftings and adjustings of weight +and seat to be thought of, which must constantly engage the attention of a +man who means to ride the same horse a hundred miles, or even fifty or +forty. Conscious that a fresh mount awaits him, he sits back lazily and +never eases his weight for a moment; before he has gone thirty miles he +will kick his feet out of the stirrups about once in twenty minutes, and if +he has for the moment a quiet old stager who does not mind tricks, he will +probably fetch one leg over and go a few miles sitting sideways. He will go +to sleep once or twice, and wake up apparently in the very act to +fall—though I believe that a man will sleep at a full gallop and never +loosen his knees until the moment of waking startles him. Nevertheless, and +notwithstanding Lord Steepleton Kildare and his ride to Umballa and back in +twenty-four hours, when a man, be he ever so strong, has ridden over a +hundred miles, he feels inclined for a rest, and a walk, and a little +sleep.</p> + +<p>Once more an emissary of Ram Lal strode to my side as I rolled off the +saddle into the cool grass at <a name="Page_264"></a>sunrise in a very +impracticable-looking country. The road had been steeper and less defined +during the last two hours of the ride, and as I crossed one leg high over +the other lying on my back in the grass, the morning light caught my spur, +and there was blood on it, bright and red. I had certainly come as fast as +I could; if I should be too late, it would not be my fault. The agent, +whoever he might be, was a striking-looking fellow in a dirty brown cloth +<i>caftán</i> and an enormous sash wound round his middle. A pointed cap +with some tawdry gold lace on it covered his head, and greasy black +love-locks writhed filthily over his high cheek bones and into his scanty +tangled beard; a suspicious hilt bound with brass wire reared its +snake-like head from the folds of his belt, and his legs, terminating in +thick-soled native shoes, reminded one of a tarantula in boots. He salaamed +awkwardly with a tortuous grin, and addressed me with the northern +salutation, "May your feet never be weary with the march." Having been +twenty-four hours in the saddle, my feet were not that portion of my body +most wearied, but I replied to the effect that I trusted the shadow of the +greasy gentleman might not diminish a hairsbreadth in the next ten thousand +years. We then proceeded to business, and I observed that the man spoke a +very broken and hardly intelligible Hindustani. I tried him in Persian, but +it was of no avail. He spoke Persian, he said, but it was not of the kind +that any human being could understand; so we returned to the first +language, <a name="Page_265"></a>and I concluded that he was a wandering +kábuli.</p> + +<p>As an introduction of himself he mentioned Isaacs, calling him Abdul +Hafiz Sáhib, and he seemed to know him personally. Abdul, he said, was not +far off as distances go in the Himalayas. He thought I should find him the +day after to-morrow, <i>mungkul</i>. He said I should not be able to ride +much farther, as the pass beyond Sultanpoor was utterly impracticable for +horses; coolies, however, awaited me with a dooly, one of those low litters +slung on a bamboo, in which you may travel swiftly and without effort, but +to the destruction of the digestive organs. He said also that he would +accompany me the next stage as far as the doolies, and I thought he showed +some curiosity to know whither I was going; but he was a wise man in his +generation, and knowing his orders, did not press me overmuch with +questions. I remarked in a mild way that the saddle was the throne of the +warrior, and that the air of the black mountains was the breath of freedom; +but I added that the voice of the empty stomach was as the roar of the king +of the forest. Whereupon the man replied that the forest was mine and the +game therein, whereof I was lord, as I probably was of the rest of the +world, since I was his father and mother and most of his relations; but +that, perceiving that I was occupied with the cares of a mighty empire, he +had ventured to slay with his own hand a kid and some birds, which, if I +would condescend to partake <a name="Page_266"></a>of them, he would +proceed to cook. I replied that the light of my countenance would shine +upon my faithful servant to the extent of several coins, both rupees and +pais, but that the peculiar customs of my caste forbid me to touch food +cooked by any one but myself. I would, however, in consideration of his +exertions and his guileless heart, invite the true follower of the prophet, +whose name is blessed, to partake with me of the food which I should +presently prepare. Whereat he was greatly delighted, and fetched the meat, +which he had stowed away in a kind of horse-cloth, for safety against +ants.</p> + +<p>I am not a bad cook at a pinch, and so we sat down and made a +cooking-place with stones, and built a fire, and let the flame die down +into coals, and I dressed the meat as best I could, and flavoured it with +gunpowder and pepper, and we were merry. The man was thenceforth mine, and +I knew I could trust him; a bivouac in the Himalayas, when one is alone and +far from any kind of assistance, is not the spot to indulge in any +prejudice about colour. I did not think much about it as I hungrily gnawed +the meat and divided the birds with my pocket-knife.</p> + +<p>The lower Himalayas are at first extremely disappointing. The scenery is +enormous but not grand, and at first hardly seems large. The lower parts +are at first sight a series of gently undulating hills and wooded dells; in +some places it looks as if one might almost hunt the country. It is long +before you realise that it is all on a gigantic scale; that the quickset <a +name="Page_267"></a>hedges are belts of rhododendrons of full growth, the +water-jumps rivers, and the stone walls mountain-ridges; that to hunt a +country like that you would have to ride a horse at least two hundred feet +high. You cannot see at first, or even for some time, that the +gentle-looking hill is a mountain of five or six thousand feet; in Simla +you will not believe you are three thousand feet above the level of the +Rhigi Kulm in Switzerland. Persons who are familiar with the aspect of the +Rocky Mountains are aware of the singular lack of dignity in those enormous +elevations. They are merely big, without any superior beauty, until you +come to the favoured spots of nature's art, where some great contrast +throws out into appalling relief the gulf between the high and the low. It +is so in the Himalayas.</p> + +<p>You may travel for hours and days amidst vast forests and hills without +the slightest sensation of pleasure or sense of admiration for the scene, +till suddenly your path leads you out on to the dizzy brink of an awful +precipice—a sheer fall, so exaggerated in horror that your most stirring +memories of Mont Blanc, the Jungfrau, and the hideous <i>arête</i> of +the Pitz Bernina, sink into vague insignificance. The gulf that divides you +from the distant mountain seems like a huge bite taken bodily out of the +world by some voracious god; far away rise snow peaks such as were not +dreamt of in your Swiss tour; the bottomless valley at your feet is misty +and gloomy with blackness, streaked with mist, while the peaks above shoot +<a name="Page_268"></a>gladly to the sun and catch his broadside rays like +majestic white standards. Between you, as you stand leaning cautiously +against the hill behind you, and the wonderful background far away in +front, floats a strange vision, scarcely moving, but yet not still. A great +golden shield sails steadily in vast circles, sending back the sunlight in +every tint of burnished glow. The golden eagle of the Himalayas hangs in +mid-air, a sheet of polished metal to the eye, pausing sometimes in the +full blaze of reflection, as ages ago the sun and the moon stood still in +the valley of Ajalon; too magnificent for description, as he is too +dazzling to look at. The whole scene, if no greater name can be given to +it, is on a scale so Titanic in its massive length and breadth and depth, +that you stand utterly trembling and weak and foolish as you look for the +first time. You have never seen such masses of the world before.</p> + +<p>It was in such a spot as this that, nearly at noon on the appointed day, +my dooly-bearers set me down and warned me I was at my journey's end. I +stepped out and stood on the narrow way, pausing to look and to enjoy all +that I saw. I had been in other parts of the lower Himalayas before, and +the first sensations I had experienced had given way to those of a +contemplative admiration. No longer awed or overpowered or oppressed by the +sense of physical insignificance in my own person, I could endure to look +on the stupendous panorama before me, and could even analyse what I felt. +But before long my <a name="Page_269"></a>pardonable reverie was disturbed +by a well-known voice. The clear tones rang like a trumpet along the +mountain-side in a glad shout of welcome. I turned and saw Isaacs coming +quickly towards me, bounding along the edge of the precipice as if his life +had been passed in tending goats and robbing eagles' nests. I, too, moved +on to meet him, and in a moment we clasped hands in unfeigned delight at +being again together. What was Ghyrkins or his party to me? Here was the +man I sought; the one man on earth who seemed worth having for a friend. +And yet it was but three weeks since we first met, and I am not +enthusiastic by temperament.</p> + +<p>"What news, friend Griggs?"</p> + +<p>"She greets you and sends you this," I said, taking from my bosom the +parcel she had thrust into my hand as I left in the dark. His face fell +suddenly. It was the silver box he had given her; was it possible she had +taken so much trouble to return it? He turned it over mournfully.</p> + +<p>"You had better open it. There is probably something in it."</p> + +<p>I never saw a more complete change in a man's face during a single +second than came over Isaacs' in that moment. He had not thought of opening +it, in his first disappointment at finding it returned. He turned back the +lid. Bound with a bit of narrow ribbon and pressed down carefully, he found +a heavy lock of gold-white hair, so fair that it made everything around it +seem dark—the grass, our clothes, <a name="Page_270"></a>and even the +white streamer that hung down from Isaacs' turban. It seemed to shed a +bright light, even in the broad noon-day, as it lay there in the curiously +wrought box—just as the body of some martyred saint found jealously +concealed in the dark corner of an ancient crypt, and broken in upon by +unsuspecting masons delving a king's grave, might throw up in their dusky +faces a dazzling halo of soft radiance—the glory of the saint hovering +lovingly by the body wherein the soul's sufferings were perfected.</p> + +<p>The moment Isaacs realised what it was, he turned away, his face all +gladness, and moved on a few steps with bent head, evidently contemplating +his new treasure. Then he snapped the spring, and putting the casket in his +vest turned round to me.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Griggs; how are they all?"</p> + +<p>"It was worth a two-hundred mile ride to see your face when you opened +that box. They are pretty well. I left them swearing that the party was +broken up, and that they would all go back to Simla."</p> + +<p>"The sooner the better. We shall be there in three days from here, by +the help of Ram Lal's wonderful post."</p> + +<p>"Between you I managed to get here quite well. How did you do it? I +never missed a relay all the way from Julinder."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it is very easy," answered Isaacs. "You could have a +<i>dâk</i> to the moon from India if you would pay for it; or any +other thing in heaven or earth or hell that you might fancy. Money, that is +all. But, <a name="Page_271"></a>my dear fellow, you have lost flesh +sensibly since we parted. You take your travelling hard."</p> + +<p>"Where is Ram Lal?" I asked, curious to learn something of our movements +for the night.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know. He is probably somewhere about the place charming +cobras or arresting avalanches, or indulging in some of those playful +freaks he says he learned in Edinburgh. We have had a great good time the +last two days. He has not disappeared, or swallowed himself even once, or +delivered himself of any fearful and mysterious prophecies. We have been +talking transcendentalism. He knows as much about 'functional gamma' and +'All X is Y' and the rainbow, and so on, as you do yourself. I recommend +him. I think he would be a charming companion for you. There he is now, +with his pockets full of snakes and evil beasts. I wanted him to catch a +golden eagle this morning, and tame it for Miss Westonhaugh, but he said it +would eat the jackal and probably the servants, so I have given it up for +the present." Isaacs was evidently in a capital humour. Ram Lal approached +us.</p> + +<p>I saw at a glance that Ram Lal the Buddhist, when on his beats in the +civilisation of Simla, was one person. Ram Lal, the cultured votary of +science, among the hills and the beasts and the specimens that he loved, +was a very different man. He was as gray as ever, it is true, but better +defined, the outlines sharper, the features more Dantesque and easier to +discern in the broad light of the sun. He did not <a +name="Page_272"></a>look now as if he could sit down and cross his legs and +fade away into thin air, like the Cheshire cat. He looked more solid and +fleshly, his voice was fuller, and sounded close to me as he spoke, without +a shadow of the curious distant ring I had noticed before.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" he said in English, "Mr. Griggs, at last! Well, you are in plenty +of time. The gentleman who is not easily astonished. That is just as well, +too. I like people with quiet nerves. I see by your appearance that you are +hungry, Mr. Griggs. Abdul Hafiz, why should we not dine? It is much better +to get that infliction of the flesh over before this evening."</p> + +<p>"By all means. Come along. But first send those dooly-bearers about +their business. They can wait till to-morrow over there on the other side. +They always carry food, and there is any amount of fuel."</p> + +<p>Just beyond the shoulder of the hill, sheltered from the north by the +projecting boulders, was a small tent, carefully pitched and adjusted to +stand the storms if any should come. Thither we all three bent our steps +and sat down by the fire, for it was chilly, even cold, in the passes in +September. Food was brought out by Isaacs, and we ate together as if no +countless ages of different nationalities separated us. Ram Lal was +perfectly natural and easy in his manners, and affable in what he said. +Until the meal was finished no reference was made to the strange business +that brought us from different points of the <a name="Page_273"></a>compass +to the Himalayan heights. Then, at last, Ram Lal spoke; his meal had been +the most frugal of the three, and he had soon eaten his fill, but he +employed himself in rolling cigarettes, which he did with marvellous skill, +until we two had satisfied our younger and healthier appetites.</p> + +<p>"Abdul Hafiz," he said, his gray face bent over his colourless hands as +he twisted the papers, "shall we not tell Mr. Griggs what is to be done? +Afterward he can lie in the tent and sleep until evening, for he is weary +and needs to recruit his strength."</p> + +<p>"So be it, Ram Lal," answered Isaacs.</p> + +<p>"Very well. The position is this, Mr. Griggs. Neither Mr. Isaacs nor I +trust those men that we are to meet, and therefore, as we are afraid of +being killed unawares, we thought we would send for you to protect us." He +smiled pleasantly as he saw the blank expression in my face.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, and you shall hear how it is to be done. The place is not +far from here in the valley below. The band are already nearing the spot, +and at midnight we will go down and meet them. The meeting will be, of +course, like all formal rendezvous for the delivery of prisoners. The +captain of the band will come forward accompanied by his charge, and +perhaps by a sowar. We three will stand together, side by side, and await +their coming. Now the plot is this. They have determined if possible to +murder both Shere Ali and Isaacs then and there together. They have not +counted on us, but they <a name="Page_274"></a>probably expect that our +friend will arrive guarded by a troop of horse. The maharajah's men will +try and sneak up close to where we stand, and at a signal, which the +leader, in conversation with Isaacs, will give by laying his hand on his +shoulder, the men will rush in and cut Shere Ali to pieces, and Isaacs too +if the captain cannot do it alone. Now look here, Mr. Griggs. What we want +you to do is this. Your friend—my friend—wants no miracles, so that you +have got to do by strength what might be done by stratagem, though not so +quickly. When you see the leader lay his hand on Isaacs' shoulder, seize +him by the throat and mind his other arm, which will be armed. Prevent him +from injuring Isaacs, and I will attend to the rest, who will doubtless +require my whole attention."</p> + +<p>"But," I objected, "supposing that this captain turned out to be +stronger or more active than I. What then?"</p> + +<p>"Never fear," said Isaacs, smiling. "There aren't any."</p> + +<p>"No," continued Ram Lal, "never disturb yourself about that, but just +knock your man down and be done with it. I will guarantee you can do it +well enough, and if he gives you trouble I may be able to help you."</p> + +<p>"All right; give me some cigarettes;" and before I had smoked one I was +asleep.</p> + +<p>When I awoke the sun was down, but there was a great light over +everything. The full moon had just <a name="Page_275"></a>risen above the +hills to eastward and bathed every object in silver sheen. The far peaks, +covered with snow, caught the reflection and sent the beams floating across +the deep dark valleys between. The big boulder, against which the tent was +pitched, caught it too, and seemed changed from rough stone to precious +metal; it was on the tent-pegs and the ropes, it was upon Isaacs' lithe +figure, as he tightened his sash round his waist and looked to his +pocket-book for the agreement. It made Ram Lal, the gray and colourless, +look like a silver statue, and it made the smouldering flame of the +watch-fire utterly dim and faint. It was a wonderful moon. I looked at my +watch; it was eight o'clock.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Isaacs, "you were tired and have slept long. It is time to +be off. There is some whiskey in that flask. I don't take those things, but +Ram Lal says you had better have some, as you might get fever." So I did. +Then we started, leaving everything in the tent, of which we pegged down +the flap. There were no natives about, the dooly-bearers having retired to +the other side of the valley, and the jackals would find nothing to attract +them, as we had thrown the remainder of our meal over the edge. As for +weapons, I had a good revolver and a thick stick; Isaacs had a revolver and +a vicious-looking Turkish knife; and Ram Lal had nothing at all, as far as +I could see, except a long light staff.</p> + +<p>The effect of the moonlight was wild in the extreme, as we descended the +side of the mountain <a name="Page_276"></a>by paths which were very far +from smooth or easy. Every now and then, as we neared the valley, we turned +the corner of some ridge and got a fair view of the plain. Then a step +farther, and we were in the dark again, behind boulders and picking our way +over loose stones, or struggling with the wretched foothold afforded by a +surface of light gravel, inclined to the horizontal at an angle of +forty-five degrees. Then, with a scramble, a jump, and a little swearing in +a great many languages—I think we counted that we spoke twenty-seven +between us—we were on firm soil again, and swinging along over the bit of +easy level path. It would have been out of the question to go in doolies, +and no pony could keep a foothold for five minutes on the uncertain +ground.</p> + +<p>At last, as we emerged into the bright moonlight on a little platform of +rock at an angle of the path, we paused. Ram Lal, who seemed to know the +way, was in front, and held up his hand to silence us; Isaacs and I kneeled +down and looked over the brink. Some two hundred feet below, on a broad +strip of green bordering the steep cliffs, was picketed a small body of +horse. We could see the men squatting about in their small compact turbans +and their shining accoutrements; the horses tethered at various distances +on the sward, cropping so vigorously that even at that height we could hear +the dull sound as they rhythmically munched the grass. We could see in the +middle of the little camp a man seated on a <a name="Page_277"></a>rug and +wrapped in a heavy garment of some kind, quietly smoking a common +hubble-bubble. Beside him stood another who reflected more moonlight than +the rest, and who was therefore, by his trappings, the captain of the band. +The seated smoker could be no other than Shere Ali.</p> + +<p>Cautiously we descended the remaining windings of the steep path, +turning whenever we had a chance, to look down on the horsemen and their +prisoner below, till at last we emerged in the valley a quarter of a mile +or so beyond where they were stationed. Here on the level of the plain we +stopped a moment, and Ram Lal renewed his instructions to me.</p> + +<p>"If the captain," he said, "lays his hand on Isaacs' shoulder, seize him +and throw him. If you cannot get him down kill him—any way you can—shoot +him under the arm with your pistol. It is a matter of life and death."</p> + +<p>"All right." And we walked boldly along the broad strip of sward. The +moon was now almost immediately overhead, for it was midnight, or near it. +I confess the scene awed me, the giant masses of the mountains above us, +the vast distances of mysterious blue air, through which the snow-peaks +shone out with a strange look that was not natural. The swish of the +quickly flowing stream at the edge of the plot we were walking over sounded +hollow and unearthly; the velvety whirr of the great mountain bats as they +circled near us, stirred from the branches as we passed out, was +disagreeable and heavy to hear. The moon shone brighter and brighter.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_278"></a>We were perhaps thirty yards from the little +camp, in which there might be fifty men all told. Isaacs stood still and +sung out a greeting.</p> + +<p>"Peace to you, men of Baithopoor!" he shouted. It was the preconcerted +form of address. Instantly the captain turned and looked toward us. Then he +gave some orders in a low voice, and taking his prisoner by the hand +assisted him to rise. There was a scurrying to and fro in the camp. The men +seemed to be collecting, and moving to the edge of the bivouac. Some began +to saddle the horses. The moon was so intensely bright that their movements +were as plain to us as though it had been broad daylight.</p> + +<p>Two figures came striding toward us—the captain and Shere Ali. As I +looked at them, curiously enough, as may be imagined, I noticed that the +captain was the taller man by two or three inches, but Shere Ali's broad +chest and slightly-bowed legs produced an impression of enormous strength. +He looked the fierce-hearted, hard-handed warrior, from head to heel; +though in accordance with Isaacs' treaty he had been well taken care of and +was dressed in the finest stuffs, his beard carefully clipped and his +Indian turban rolled with great neatness round his dark and prominent +brows.</p> + +<p>The first thing for the captain was to satisfy himself as far as +possible that we had no troops in ambush up there in the jungle on the base +of the mountain. He had probably sent scouts out before, and was <a +name="Page_279"></a>pretty sure there was no one there. To gain time, he +made a great show of reading the agreement through from beginning to end, +comparing it all the while with a copy he held. While this was going on, +and I had put myself as near as possible to the captain, Isaacs and Shere +Ali were in earnest conversation in the Persian tongue. Shere Ali told +Abdul that the captain's perusal of the contract must be a mere empty show, +since the man did not know a word of the language. Isaacs, on hearing that +the captain could not understand, immediately warned Shere Ali of the +intended attempt to murder them both, of which Ram Lal, his friend, had +heard, and I could see the old soldier's eye flash and his hand feel for +his weapon, where there was none, at the mere mention of a fight. The +captain began to talk to Isaacs, and I edged as near as I could to be ready +for my grip. Still it did not come. He talked on, very civilly, in +intelligible Hindustani. What was the matter with the moon?</p> + +<p>A few minutes before it had seemed as if there would be neither cloud +nor mist in such a sky; and now a light filmy wreath was rising and +darkening the splendour of the wonderful night. I looked across at Ram Lal. +He was standing with one hand on his hip, and leaning with the other on his +staff, and he was gazing up at the moon with as much interest as he ever +displayed about anything. At that moment the captain handed Isaacs a +prepared receipt for signature, to the effect that the prisoner had been <a +name="Page_280"></a>duly delivered to his new owner. The light was growing +dimmer, and Isaacs could hardly see to read the characters before he +signed. He raised the scroll to his eyes and turned half round to see it +better. At that moment the tall captain stretched forth his arm and laid +his hand on Isaacs' shoulder, raising his other arm at the same time to his +men, who had crept nearer and nearer to our group while the endless talking +was going on. I was perfectly prepared, and the instant the soldier's hand +touched Isaacs I had the man in my grip, catching his upraised arm in one +hand and his throat with the other. The struggle did not last long, but it +was furious in its agony. The tough Punjabi writhed and twisted like a cat +in my grasp, his eyes gleaming like living coals, springing back and +forward in his vain and furious efforts to reach my feet and trip me. But +it was no use. I had his throat and one arm well in hand, and could hold +him so that he could not reach me with the other. My fingers sank deeper +and deeper in his neck as we swayed backwards and sideways tugging and +hugging, breast to breast, till at last, with a fearful strain and wrench +of every muscle in our two bodies, his arm went back with a jerk, broken +like a pipe-stem, and his frame collapsing and bending backwards, fell +heavily to the ground beneath me.</p> + +<p>The whole strength of me was at work in the struggle, but I could get a +glimpse of the others as we whirled and swayed about.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_281"></a>Like the heavy pall of virgin white that is laid +on the body of a pure maiden; of velvet, soft and sweet but heavy and +impenetrable as death, relentless, awful, appalling the soul, and freezing +the marrow in the bones, it came near the earth. The figure of the gray old +man grew mystically to gigantic and unearthly size, his vast old hands +stretched forth their skinny palms to receive the great curtain as it +descended between the moonlight and the sleeping earth. His eyes were as +stars, his hoary head rose majestically to an incalculable height; still +the thick, all-wrapping mist came down, falling on horse and rider and +wrestler and robber and Amir; hiding all, covering all, folding all, in its +soft samite arms, till not a man's own hand was visible to him a span's +length from his face.</p> + +<p>I could feel the heaving chest of the captain beneath my knee; I could +feel the twitching of the broken arm tortured under the pressure of my left +hand; but I could see neither face nor arm nor breast, nor even my own +fingers. Only above me, as I stared up, seemed to tower the supernatural +proportions of Ram Lal, a white apparition visible through the opaque +whiteness that hid everything else from view. It was only a moment. A hand +was on my shoulder, Isaacs' voice was in my ear, speaking to Shere Ali. Ram +Lal drew me away.</p> + +<p>"Be quick," he said; "take my hand, I will lead you to the light." We +ran along the soft grass, following the sound of each other's feet, +swiftly. <a name="Page_282"></a>A moment more and we were in the pass; the +mist was lighter, and we could see our way. We rushed up the stony path +fast and sure, till we reached the clear bright moonlight, blazing forth in +silver splendour again. Far down below the velvet pall of mist lay thick +and heavy, hiding the camp and its horses and men from our sight.</p> + +<p>"Friend," said Isaacs, "you are as free as I. Praise Allah, and let us +depart in peace."</p> + +<p>The savage old warrior grasped the outstretched hand of the Persian and +yelled aloud—</p> + +<p>"Illallaho-ho-ho-ho!" His throat was as brass.</p> + +<p>"La illah ill-allah!" repeated Isaacs in tones as of a hundred clarions, +echoing by tree and mountain and river, down the valley.</p> + +<p>"Thank God!" I said to Ram Lal.</p> + +<p>"Call Him as you please, friend Griggs," answered the pundit.</p> + +<p>It was daylight when we reached the tent at the top of the pass.</p> + +<hr /> + + + + +<a name="Page_283"></a><h2><a name='CHAPTER_XIII'></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + + +<p>"Abdul Hafiz," said Ram Lal, as we sat round the fire we had made, +preparing food, "if it is thy pleasure I will conduct thy friend to a place +of safety and set his feet in the paths that lead to pleasant places. For +thou art weary and wilt take thy rest until noon, but I am not weary and +the limbs of the Afghan are as iron." He spoke in Persian, so that Shere +Ali could understand what he said. The latter looked uneasy at first, but +soon perceived that his best chance of safety lay in immediately leaving +the neighbourhood, which was unpleasantly near Simla on the one side and +the frontiers of Baithopoor on the other.</p> + +<p>"I thank thee, Ram Lal," replied Isaacs, "and I gladly accept thy offer. +Whither wilt thou conduct our friend the Amir?"</p> + +<p>"I will lead him by a sure road into Thibet, and my brethren shall take +care of him, and presently he shall journey safely northwards into the +Tartar country, and thence to the Russ people, where the followers of your +prophet are many, and if thou wilt give him the letters thou hast written, +which he may present to the principal moolahs, he shall prosper. And <a +name="Page_284"></a>as for money, if thou hast gold, give him of it, and if +not, give him silver; and if thou hast none, take no thought, for the +freedom of the spirit is better than the obesity of the body."</p> + +<p>"Bishmillah! Thou speakest with the tongue of wisdom, old man," said +Shere Ali; "nevertheless a few rupees—"</p> + +<p>"Fear nothing," broke in Isaacs. "I have for thee a store of a few +rupees in silver, and there are two hundred gold mohurs in this bag. They +are scarce in Hind and pass not as money, but the value of them whither +thou goest shall buy thee food many days. Take also this diamond, which if +thou be in want thou shalt sell and be rich."</p> + +<p>Shere Ali, who had been suspicious of treachery, or at least was afraid +to believe himself really free, was convinced by this generosity. The great +rough warrior, the brave patriot who had shut the gates of Kabul in the +face of Sir Neville Chamberlain, and who had faced every danger and defeat, +rather than tamely suffer the advance of the all-devouring English into his +dominions, was proud and unbending still, through all his captivity and +poverty and trouble, and weariness of soul and suffering of body; he could +bear his calamities like a man, the unrelenting chief of an unrelenting +race. But when Isaacs stretched forth his hand and freed him, and bestowed +upon him, moreover, a goodly stock of cash, and bid him go in peace, his +gratitude got the better of him, and he fairly broke down. The big tears +coursed down over <a name="Page_285"></a>his rough cheeks, and his face +sank between his hands, which trembled violently for a moment. Then his +habitual calm of outward manner returned.</p> + +<p>"Allah requite thee, my brother," he said, "I can never hope to."</p> + +<p>"I have done nothing," said Isaacs. "Shall believers languish and perish +in the hands of swine without faith? Verily it is Allah's doing, whose name +is great and powerful. He will not suffer the followers of His prophet to +be devoured of jackals and unclean beasts. Masallah! There is no God but +God."</p> + +<p>Therefore, when they had eaten some food, Ram Lal and Shere Ali +departed, journeying north-east towards Thibet, and Isaacs and I remained +sleeping in the tent until past noon. Then we arose and went our way, +having packed up the little canvas house and the utensils and the pole into +a neat bundle which we carried by turns along the steep rough paths, until +we found the dooly-bearers squatting round the embers after their mid-day +meal. As we journeyed we talked of the events of the night. It seemed to me +that the whole thing might have been managed very much more simply. Isaacs +did things in his own way, however, and, after all, he generally had a good +reason for his actions.</p> + +<p>"I think not," he said in reply to my question. "While you were throwing +that ruffian, who would have overmatched me in an instant, Shere Ali and I +disposed of the sowars who ran up at the captain's <a +name="Page_286"></a>signal. Shere Ali says he killed one of them with his +hands, and my little knife here seems to have done some damage." He +produced the vicious-looking dagger, stained above the hilt with dark +blood, which he began to scrape off with a bit of stick.</p> + +<p>"My dear fellow," I objected, "I am delighted to have served you, and I +see that since Shere Ali could not be warned of the signal, I was the only +person there who could tackle that Punjabi man; yet I am completely at a +loss to explain why, if Ram Lal can command the forces of nature to the +extent of calling down a thick mist under the cover of which we might +escape, he could not have calmly destroyed the whole band by lightning, or +indigestion, or some simple and efficacious means, so that we need not have +risked our lives in supplementing what he only half did."</p> + +<p>"There are plenty of answers to that question," Isaacs answered. "In the +first place, how do you know that Ram Lal could do anything more than +discover the preconcerted signal and bring down that fog? He pretends to no +supernatural power; he only asserts that he understands the workings of +nature better than you do. How do you know that the fog was his doing at +all? Your excited imagination, developed suddenly by the tussle with the +captain, which undoubtedly sent the blood to your head, made you think you +saw Ram Lal's figure magnified beyond human proportion. If there had been +no mist at all, we should most likely have got away unhurt all the same. +Those fellows would not fight after their <a name="Page_287"></a>leader was +down. Again, I like to let Ram Lal feel that I am able to do something for +myself, and that I have other friends as powerful. He aims at obtaining too +much ascendency over me. I do not like it."</p> + +<p>"Oh—if you look at it in that light, I have nothing to say. It has been +a very pleasant and interesting excursion to me, and I am rather glad I +only broke that fellow's arm instead of killing him, as you and Shere Ali +did your sowars."</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether I killed him. I suppose I did. Poor fellow. +However, he would certainly have killed me."</p> + +<p>"Of course. No use crying over spilt milk," I answered.</p> + +<p>So we got into the doolies and swung away. As we neared Simla my +friend's spirits rose, and he chanted wild Persian and Arabic love-songs, +and kept up a fire of conversation all day and all night, singing and +talking alternately.</p> + +<p>"Griggs," he said, as we approached the end of our journey, "did you +have occasion to tell Miss Westonhaugh where I had gone?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. She asked me, and I answered that you had gone to save a man's +life. She looked very much pleased, I thought, but just then somebody came +up, and we did not talk any more about it. I got your message the evening +of the day you left."</p> + +<p>"She looked pleased?"</p> + +<p>"Very much. I remember the colour came into her cheeks."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_288"></a>"Was she so pale, then?" he asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes. You remember how she looked the night before you left? She +was even paler the next day, but when I said you had gone to do a good +deed, the light came into her face for a moment."</p> + +<p>"Do you think she was ill, Griggs?"</p> + +<p>"She did not look well, but of course she was anxious about you, and a +good deal cut up about your going."</p> + +<p>"No; but did you really think she was ill?" he insisted.</p> + +<p>"Oh no, nothing but your going."</p> + +<p>His spirits were gone again, and he said very little more that day. As +we were ascending the last hills, some eight or nine hours from Simla, the +moon rose majestically behind us. It must have been ten o'clock, for she +could not have been seen above the notch in the mountains to eastward until +she had been risen an hour at least.</p> + +<p>"I wonder where they are now, those two," said Isaacs.</p> + +<p>"Shere Ali and Ram Lal?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. They are probably across the borders into Thibet, watching the +moon rise from the door of some Buddhist monastery. I am glad I am not +there."</p> + +<p>"Isaacs," I said, "I would really like to know why you took so much +trouble about Shere Ali. It seems to me you might have procured his +liberation in some simpler way, if it was merely an act of charity that you +contemplated."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_289"></a>"Call it anything you like. I had read about the +poor man until my imagination was wrought up, and I could not bear to think +of a man so brave and patriotic and at the same time a true believer, lying +in the clutches of that old beast of a maharajah. And as for the method of +my procedure, do you realise the complete secrecy of the whole affair? Do +you see that no one but you and I and the Baithopoor people know anything +of the transaction? Do you suppose that I should be tolerated a day in the +country if the matter were known? Above all, what do you imagine Mr. Currie +Ghyrkins would think of me if he knew I had been liberating and enriching +the worst foe of his little god, Lord Beaconsfield?"</p> + +<p>There was truth in what he said. By no arrangement could the liberation +of Shere Ali have been effected with such secrecy and despatch as by the +simple plan of going ourselves. And now we toiled up the last hills, vainly +attempting to keep our horses in a canter; long before the relay was +reached they had relapsed into a dogged jog-trot.</p> + +<p>So we reached Simla at sunrise, and crawled wearily up the steps of the +hotel to our rooms, tired with the cramp of dooly and saddle for so many +days, and longing for the luxury of the bath, the civilised meal, and the +arm-chair. Of course I did not suppose Isaacs would go to bed. He expected +that the Westonhaughs would have returned by this time, and he would +doubtless go to them as soon as he had breakfasted. So we separated to +dress and be shaved—my <a name="Page_290"></a>beard was a week old at +least—and to make ourselves as comfortable as we deserved to be after our +manifold exertions. We had been three days and a half from Keitung to +Simla.</p> + +<p>At my door stood the faithful Kiramat Ali, salaaming and making a +pretence of putting dust on his head according to his ideas of respectful +greeting. On the table lay letters; one of these, a note, lay in a +prominent position. I took it instinctively, though I did not know the +hand. It was from Mr. Currie Ghyrkins.</p> + +<blockquote> +<i>Saturday morning</i>. + +<p>MY DEAR MR. GRIGGS—If you have returned to</p> +Simla, I should be glad to see you for half an hour on +a matter of urgent importance. I would come to you +if I could. My niece, Miss Westonhaugh, is, I am +sorry to say, dangerously ill.—Sincerely yours, + +<p>A. CURRIE GHYRKINS.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>It was dated two days before, for to-day was Monday. I made every +possible haste in my toilet and ordered a horse. I wondered whether Isaacs +had received a similar missive. What could be the matter? What might not +have happened in those two days since the note was written? I felt sure +that the illness had begun before I left them in the Terai, hastened +probably by the pain she had felt at Isaacs' departure; there is nothing +like a little mental worry to hasten an illness, if it is to come at all. +Poor Miss Westonhaugh! So, after all her gaiety and all <a +name="Page_291"></a>the enjoyment she had from the tiger-hunt on which she +had set her heart, she had come back to be ill in Simla. Well, the air was +fresh enough now—almost cold, in fact. She would soon be well. Still, it +was a great pity. We might have had such a gay week before breaking up.</p> + +<p>I was dressed, and I went down the steps, passing Isaacs' open door. He +was calmly reading a newspaper and having a morning smoke, until it should +be time to go out. Clearly he had not heard anything of Miss Westonhaugh's +illness. I resolved I would say nothing until I knew the worst, so I merely +put my head in and said I should be back in an hour to breakfast with him, +and passed on. Once on horseback, I galloped as hard as I could, scattering +chuprassies and children and marketers to right and left in the bazaar. It +was not long before I left my horse at the corner of Mr. Currie Ghyrkins' +lawn, and walking to the verandah, which looked suspiciously neat and +unused, inquired for the master of the house. I was shown into his bedroom, +for it was still very early and he was dressing.</p> + +<p>I noticed a considerable change in the old gentleman's manner and +appearance in the last ten days. His bright red colour was nearly faded, +his eyes had grown larger and less bright, he had lost flesh, and his tone +was subdued in the extreme. He came from his dressing-glass to greet me +with a ghost of the old smile on his face, and his hand stretched eagerly +out.</p> + +<p>"My dear Mr. Griggs, I am sincerely glad to see you."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_292"></a>"I have not been in Simla two hours," I answered, +"and I found your note. How is Miss Westonhaugh? I am so sorry to——"</p> + +<p>"Don't talk about her, Griggs. I am afraid she's g—g—goin' to die." He +nearly broke down, but he struggled bravely. I was terribly shocked, though +a moment's reflection told me that so strong and healthy a person would not +die so easily. I expressed my sympathy as best I could.</p> + +<p>"What is it? What is the illness?" I asked when he was quieter.</p> + +<p>"Jungle fever, my dear fellow, jungle fever; caught in that beastly +tiger-hunt. Oh! I wish I had never taken her. I wish we had never gone. Why +wasn't I firm? Damn it all, sir, why wasn't I firm, eh?" In his anger at +himself something of the former jerky energy of the man showed itself. Then +it faded away into the jaded sorrowful look that was on his face when I +came in. He sat down with his elbows on his knees and his hands in his +scanty gray hair, his suspenders hanging down at his sides—the picture of +misery. I tried to console him, but I confess I felt very much like +breaking down myself. I did not see what I could do, except break the bad +news to Isaacs.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Griggs," he said at last, "she has been asking for you all the +time, and the doctor thought if you came she had best see you, as it might +quiet her. Understand?" I understood better than he thought.</p> + +<p>People who are dangerously ill have no morning <a +name="Page_293"></a>and no evening. Their hours are eternally the same, +save for the alternation of suffering and rest. The nurse and the doctor +are their sun and moon, relieving each other in the watches of day and +night. As they are worse—as they draw nearer to eternity, they are less +and less governed by ideas of time. A dying person will receive a visit at +midnight or at mid-day with no thought but to see the face of friend—or +foe—once more. So I was not surprised to find that Miss Westonhaugh would +see me; in an interval of the fever she had been moved to a chair in her +room, and her brother was with her. I might go in—indeed she sent a very +urgent message imploring that I would go. I went.</p> + +<p>The morning sun was beating brightly on the shutters, and the room +looked cheerful as I entered. John Westonhaugh, paler than death, came +quickly to the door and grasped my hand.</p> + +<p>On a long cane-chair by the window, carefully covered from the possible +danger of any insidious draught, with a mass of soft white wraps and +shawls, lay Katharine Westonhaugh—the transparant phantasm of her +brilliant self. The rich masses of pale hair were luxuriously nestled +around her shoulders and the blazing eyes flamed, lambently, under the +black brows—but that was all. Colour, beside the gold hair and the black +eyes, there was hardly any. The strong clean-cut outline of the features +was there, but absolutely startling in emaciation, so that there seemed to +be no flesh at all; the pale lips <a name="Page_294"></a>scarcely closed +over the straight white teeth. A wonderful and a fearful sight to see, that +stately edifice of queenly strength and beauty thus laid low and pillaged +and stript of all colour save purple and white—the hues of mourning—the +purple lips and the white cheek. I have seen many people die, and the +moment I looked at Katharine Westonhaugh I felt that the hand of death was +already closed over her, gripped round, never to relax. John led me to her +side, and a faint smile showed she was glad to see me. I knelt reverently +down, as one would kneel beside one already dead. She spoke first, clearly +and easily, as it seemed. People who are ill from fever seldom lose the +faculty of speech.</p> + +<p>"I am so glad you are come. There are many things I want you to do."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Miss Westonhaugh. I will do everything."</p> + +<p>"Is he come back?" she asked—then, as I looked at her brother, she +added, "John knows, he is very glad."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we came back this morning together; I came here at once."</p> + +<p>"Thank you—it was kind. Did you give him the box?"</p> + +<p>"Yes—he does not know you are ill. He means to come at eleven."</p> + +<p>"Tell him to come now. <i>Now</i>—do you understand?" Then she added in +a low tone, for my ear only, "I don't think they know it; I am dying. I +shall be dead before to-night. Don't tell him that. <a +name="Page_295"></a>Make him come now. John knows. Now go. I am tired. +No—wait! Did he save the man's life?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; the man is safe and free in Thibet."</p> + +<p>"That was nobly done. Now go. You have always been kind to me, and you +love him. When you see me again I shall be gone." Her voice was perceptibly +weaker, though still clearly audible. "When I am gone, put some flowers on +me for friendship's sake. You have always been so kind. Good-bye, dear Mr. +Griggs. Good-bye. God keep you." I moved quickly to the door, fearing lest +the piteous sight should make a coward of me. It was so ineffably +pathetic—this lovely creature, just tasting of the cup of life and love +and dying so.</p> + +<p>"Bring him here at once, Griggs, please. I know all about it. It may +save her." John Westonhaugh clasped my hand in his again, and pushed me out +to speed me on my errand. I tore along the crooked paths and the winding +road, up through the bazaar, past the church and the narrow causeway beyond +to the hotel. I found him still smoking and reading the paper.</p> + +<p>"Well?" said he cheerfully, for the morning sun had dispelled the doubts +of the night.</p> + +<p>"My dear friend," I said, "Miss Westonhaugh wants to see you +immediately."</p> + +<p>"How? What? Of course; I will go at once, but how did you know?"</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute, Isaacs; she is not well at all—in fact, she is quite +ill."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_296"></a>"What's the matter—for God's sake—Why, Griggs, +man, how white you are—O my God, my God—she is dead!" I seized him +quickly in my arms or he would have thrown himself on the ground.</p> + +<p>"No," I said, "she is not dead. But, my dear boy, she is dying. I do not +believe she will live till this evening. Therefore get to horse and ride +there quickly, before it is too late."</p> + +<p>Isaacs was a brave man, and of surpassing strength to endure. After the +first passionate outburst, his manner never changed as he mechanically +ordered his horse and pulled on his boots. He was pale naturally, and great +purple rings seemed to come out beneath his eyes—as if he had received a +blow—from the intensity of his suppressed emotion. Once only he spoke +before he mounted.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Jungle fever," I answered. He groaned. "Shall I go with you?" asked I, +thinking it might be as well. He shook his head, and was off in a +moment.</p> + +<p>I turned to my rooms and threw myself on my bed. Poor fellow; was there +ever a more piteous case? Oh the cruel misery of feeling that nothing could +save her! And he—he who would give life and wealth and fortune and power +to give her back a shade of colour—as much as would tinge a rose-leaf, +even a very little rose-leaf—and could not. Poor fellow! What would he do +to-night—to-morrow. I could see him kneeling by her side and weeping hot +tears over the wasted hands. I could almost hear his <a +name="Page_297"></a>smothered sob—his last words of speeding to the +parting soul—the picture grew intensely in my thoughts. How beautiful she +would look when she was dead!</p> + +<p>I started as the thought came into my mind. How superficial was my +acquaintance with her, poor girl,—how little was she a part of my life, +since I could really so heartlessly think of her beauty when her breath +should be gone! Of course, though, it was natural enough, why should I feel +any personal pang for her? It was odd that I should even expect to—I, who +never felt a "personal pang" of regret for the death of any human creature, +excepting poor dear old Lucia, who brought me up, and sent me to school, +and gave me roast chestnuts when I knew my lessons, in the streets of Rome, +thirty years ago. When she died, I was there; poor old soul, how fond she +was of me! And I of her! I remember the tears I shed, though I was a +bearded man even then. How long is that? Since she died, it must be ten +years.</p> + +<p>My thoughts wandered about among all sorts of <i>bric-à-brac</i> +memories. Presently something brought me back to the present. Why must this +fair girl from the north die miserably here in India? Ah yes! the eternal +why. Why did we go at such a season into the forests of the Terai? it was +madness; we knew it was, and Ram Lal knew it too. Hence his warning. O Ram +Lal, you are a wise old man, with your gray beard and you mists of wet +white velvet and your dark sayings! Ram Lal, will you riddle me, also, my +weird that I must dree?</p> + +<p><a name="Page_298"></a>A cold draught passed over my head, and I turned +on my couch to see whence it came. I started bolt upright, and my hair +stood on end with sudden terror. I had uttered the name of Ram Lal aloud in +my reverie, and there he sat on a chair by the door, as gray as ever, with +his long staff leaning from his feet across his breast and shoulder. He +looked at me quietly.</p> + +<p>"I come opportunely, Mr. Griggs, it seems. <i>Lupus in fabula.</i> I +hear my name pronounced as I enter the door. This is flattering to a man of +my modest pretensions to social popularity. You would like me to tell you +your fortune? Well, I am not a fortune-teller."</p> + +<p>"Never mind my fortune. Will Miss Westonhaugh recover?"</p> + +<p>"No. She will die at sundown."</p> + +<p>"How do you know, since you say you are no prophet?"</p> + +<p>"Because I am a doctor of medicine. M.D. of Edinburgh."</p> + +<p>"Why can you not save her then? A man who is a Scotch doctor, and who +possesses the power of performing such practical jokes on nature as you +exhibited the other night, might do something. However, I suppose I am not +talking to you at all. You are in Thibet with Shere Ali. This is your +astral body, and if I were near enough, I could poke my fingers right +through you, as you sit there, telling me you are an Edinburgh doctor, +forsooth."</p> + +<p>"Quite right, Mr. Griggs. At the present moment <a +name="Page_299"></a>my body is quietly asleep in a lamastery in Thibet, and +this is my astral shape, which, from force of habit, I begin to like almost +as well. But to be serious——"</p> + +<p>"I think it is very serious, your going about in this casual +manner."</p> + +<p>"To be serious. I warned Isaacs that he should not allow the tiger-hunt +to come off. He would not heed my warning. It is too late now. I am not +omnipotent."</p> + +<p>"Of course not. Still, you might be of some use if you went there. While +there is life there is hope."</p> + +<p>"Proverbs," said Earn Lai scornfully, "are the wisdom of wise men +prepared in portable doses for the foolish; and the saying you quote is one +of them. There is life yet, but there is no hope."</p> + +<p>"Well, I am afraid you are right. I saw her this morning—I suppose I +shall never see her again, not alive, at least. She looked nearly dead +then. Poor girl; poor Isaacs, left behind!"</p> + +<p>"You may well say that, Mr. Griggs," said the adept. "On the whole, +perhaps he is to be less pitied than she; who knows? Perhaps we should pity +neither, but rather envy both."</p> + +<p>"Why? Either you are talking the tritest of cant, or you are indulging +in more of your dark sayings, to be interpreted, <i>post facto</i>, +entirely to your own satisfaction, and to every one else's disgust." I was +impatient with the man. If he had such extraordinary powers as were +ascribed to him—I never <a name="Page_300"></a>heard him assert that he +possessed any; if he could prophesy, he might as well do so to some +purpose. Why could he not speak plainly? He could not impose on me, who was +ready to give him credit for what he really could do, while finding fault +with the way he did it.</p> + +<p>"I understand what passes in your mind, friend Griggs," he said, not in +the least disconcerted at my attack. "You want me to speak plainly to you, +because you think you are a plain-spoken, clear-headed man of science +yourself. Very well, I will. I think you might yourself become a brother +some day, if you would. But you will not now, neither will in the future. +Yet you understand some little distant inkling of the science. When you ask +your scornful questions of me, you know perfectly well that you are putting +an inquiry which you yourself can answer as well as I. I am not omnipotent. +I have very little more power than you. Given certain conditions and I can +produce certain results, palpable, visible, and appreciable to all; but my +power, as you know, is itself merely the knowledge of the laws of nature, +which Western scientists, in their wisdom, ignore. I can replenish the oil +in the lamp, and while there is wick the lamp shall burn—ay, even for +hundreds of years. But give me a lamp wherein the wick is consumed, and I +shall waste my oil; for it will not burn unless there be the fibre to carry +it. So also is the body of man. While there is the flame of vitality and +the essence of life in his nerves and <a name="Page_301"></a>finer tissues, +I will put blood in his veins, and if he meet with no accident he may live +to see hundreds of generations pass by him. But where there is no vitality +and no essence of life in a man, he must die; for though I fill his veins +with blood, and cause his heart to beat for a time, there is no spark in +him—no fire, no nervous strength. So is Miss Westonhaugh now—dead while +yet breathing, and sighing her sweet farewells to her lover."</p> + +<p>"I know. I understand you very well. But do not deny that you might have +saved her. Why did you not?" Ram Lal smiled a strange smile, which I should +have described as self-satisfied, had it not been so gentle and kind.</p> + +<p>"Ah yes!" he said, with something like a sigh, though there was no +sorrow or regret in it. "Yes, Griggs, I might have saved her life. I would +certainly have saved her—well, if he had not persuaded her to go down into +that steaming country at this time of year, since it was my advice to +remain here. But it is no use talking about it."</p> + +<p>"I think you might have conveyed your meaning to him a little more +clearly. He had no idea that you meant danger to her."</p> + +<p>"No, very likely not. It is not my business to mould men's destinies for +them. If I give them advice that is good, it is quite enough. It is like a +man playing cards: if he does not seize his chance it does not return. +Besides, it is much better for him that she should die."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_302"></a>"Your moral reflections are insufferable. Can you +not find some one else to whom you may confide your secret joy of my +friend's misfortunes?"</p> + +<p>"Calm yourself. I say it is better for her, better for him, better for +both. Remember what you said to him yourself about the difference between +pleasure and happiness. They shall be one yet, their happiness shall not be +less eternal because their pleasure in this life has been brief. Can you +not conceive of immortal peace and joy without the satisfaction of earthly +lust?"</p> + +<p>"I would not call such a beautiful union as theirs might have been by +such a name. For myself, I confess to a very real desire for pleasure first +and happiness afterwards."</p> + +<p>"I know you better than you think, Mr. Griggs. You are merely +argumentative, rarely sceptical. If I had begun by denying what I instead +asserted, you would by this time have been arguing as strongly on my side +as you now are on yours. You are often very near degenerating into a common +sophist."</p> + +<p>"Very likely, it was a charming profession. Meanwhile, by going to the +very opposite extreme from sophistry, I mean by a more than Quixotic +veneration for an abstract dogma you hold to be true, and by your +determination to make people die for it, you are causing fearful misery of +body, untold agony of soul, to a woman and a man whom you should have every +reason to like. Go to, Ram Lal, adept, magician, enthusiast, and prophet, +you are mistaken, like all your kind!"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_303"></a>"No, I am not mistaken, time will show. Moreover, +I would have you remark that the lady in question is not suffering at all, +and that the 'untold agony of soul' you attribute to Isaacs is a wholesome +medicine for one with such a soul as his. And now I am going, for you are +not the sort of person with whom I can enjoy talking very long. You are +violent and argumentative, though you are sometimes amusing. I am rarely +violent, and I never argue: life is too short. And yet I have more time for +it than you, seeing my life will be indefinitely longer than yours. +Good-bye, for the present; and believe me, those two will be happier far, +and far more blessed, in a few short years hence, than ever you or I shall +be in all the unreckonable cycles of this or any future world." Ram Lal +sighed as he uttered the last words, and he was gone; yet the musical +cadence of the deep-drawn breath of a profound sorrow, vibrated +whisperingly through the room where I lay. Poor Ram Lal, he must have had +some disappointment in his youth, which, with all his wisdom and +superiority over the common earth, still left a sore place in his +heart.</p> + +<p>I was not inclined to move. I knew where Isaacs was, where he would +remain to the bitter end, and I would not go out into the world that day, +while he was kneeling in the chamber of death. He might come back at any +time. How long would it last? God in his mercy grant it might be soon and +quickly over, without suffering. Oh! but those strong people <a +name="Page_304"></a>die so deathly hard. I have seen a man—No, I was sure +of that. She would not suffer any more now.</p> + +<p>I lay thinking. Would Isaacs send for me when he returned, or would he +face his grief alone for a night before he spoke? The latter, I thought; I +hoped so too. How little sympathy there must be for any one, even the +dearest, in our souls and hearts, when it is so hard to look forward to +speaking half-a-dozen words of comfort to some poor wretch of a friend who +has lost everything in the wide world that is dear to him. We would rather +give him all we possess outright than attempt to console him for the loss. +And yet—what is there in life more sweet than to be consoled and +comforted, and to have the true sympathy of some one, even a little near to +us, when we ourselves are suffering. The people we do not want shower cards +of condolence on us, and carriage-loads of flowers on the poor dead thing; +the ones who could be of some help to the tortured soul are afraid to +speak; the very delicacy of kind-heartedness in them, which makes us wish +they would come, makes them stay away.</p> + +<p>I hope Isaacs will not send for me, poor fellow.</p> + +<p>If he does, what shall I say? God help me.</p> + +<hr /> + + + + +<a name="Page_305"></a><h2><a name='CHAPTER_XIV'></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + + +<p>The hours came and went, and though worn out with the exertions of the +past days, and with the emotions of the morning, I lay in my rooms, unable +to sleep even for a moment. I went down once or twice to Isaacs' rooms to +know whether he had returned, but he had not, nor had any one heard from +him. At last the evening shadows crept stealthily up, darkening first one +room, then another, until there was not light enough to read by. Then I +dropped my book and went out to breathe the cold air on the verandah. +Wearily the hours went by, and still there was no sign of my friend.</p> + +<p>Towards eleven o'clock the moon, now waning, once more rose above the +hills and shed her light across the lawn, splendid still, but with the +first tinge of melancholy that clouds her departing glory. Exhausted nature +asserted herself, and chilled to the bone I went to bed, and, at last, to +sleep.</p> + +<p>I slept peacefully at first, but soon the events that had come over my +life began to weave themselves in wild disharmony through my restful +visions, and the events that were to come cast their lengthening shadows +before them. The world of past, present, <a name="Page_306"></a>and future +thoughts, came into my soul, distorted, without perspective, nothing to +help me to discern the good from the evil, the suffering gone and +long-forgotten from the pain in store. The triumph of discrepancy over +waking reason, the fancied victories of the sleep-dulled intellect over the +outrageous discord of the wakeful imagination. I passed a most miserable +night. It seemed rest to wake, until I was awake, and then it seemed rest +to sleep again, until my eyes were closed. At last it came, no dream this +time; Isaacs stood by my bed-side in the gray of the morning, himself +grayer than the soft neutral-tinted dawn. It was a terrible moment to me, +though I had expected it since yesterday. I felt like the condemned +criminal in France, who does not know the day or hour of his death. The +first intimation is when the executioner at daybreak enters his cell and +bids him come forth to die, sometimes in less than sixty seconds from his +waking.<sup><a href="#fn2" name="rfn2">[2]</a></sup></p> + +<p>How gray he looked, and how infinitely tried. I rose swiftly and took +his hands, which were deadly cold, and led him to the outer room. I could +not say anything, for I did not know how such a terribly sudden blow would +affect him; he was so unlike any one else. Why is it so hard to comfort the +afflicted? Why should the most charitable duty it is ever given us to +perform be, without exception, the hardest of tasks?</p> + +<p>I am sure most people feel as I do. It is far less painful to suffer +wounds and sickness in one's own <a name="Page_307"></a>body than to stand +by and see the cold clean knife go through skin and flesh and cartilage; it +is surely easier to suffer disease than to smooth daily and hourly the bed +and pillows of some poor tormented wretch, calling on God and man to end +his misery. There is a hidden instinct—of a low and cowardly kind, but +human nevertheless—which bids us turn away from spectacles of agony +whether harrowing or repulsive, until the good angel comes and whispers +that we must trample on such coarse impulse and do our duty. "Show pity," +said the wise old Frenchman, "do anything to alleviate distress, but avoid +actually feeling either compassion or sympathy. They can lead to no good." +That was only his way of making to himself an excuse for doing a good +action, for Larochefoucauld was a man who really possessed every virtue +that he disclaimed for himself and denied in others.</p> + +<p>I felt much of this as I led Isaacs to the outer room, not knowing what +form his sorrow might take, but feeling in my own person a grief as +poignant, perhaps, for the moment, as his own. I had known he would come, +that was all, though I had hoped he would not, and I knew that I must do my +best to send him away a little less sorrowful than he had come. I was not +prepared for the extreme calm of voice and manner that marked his first +words, coming with measured rhythm and even cadence from his pale lips.</p> + +<p>"It is all over, my friend," he said.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_308"></a>"It has but begun," said the solemn tones of Ram +Lal, the Buddhist, from the door. He entered and approached us.</p> + +<p>"Friend Isaacs," he continued, "I am not here to mock at your grief or +to weary your strained heartstrings with such petty condolence as well-nigh +drove Ayoub of old to impatience. But I love you, my brother, and I have +somewhat to say to you in your trouble, some advice to give you in your +distress. You are suffering greatly, past the power of reason to alleviate, +for you no longer know yourself, nor are aware what you really think. But I +will show to you three pictures of yourself that shall rouse you to what +you are, to what you were, and to what you shall be.</p> + +<p>"I found you, not many years ago, a very young man, most exceptionally +placed in regard to the world. You were even then rich, though not so rich +as you now are. You were beautiful and full of vigour, but you have now +upon you the glow of a higher beauty, the overflowing promise of a more +glorious life. You were happy because you thought you were, but such +happiness as you had proceeded from without rather than from within. You +were a materially thinking man. Your thoughts were of the flesh, and your +delights—harmless it is true—were in the things that were under your +eyes—wealth, power, book knowledge, and perhaps woman, if you can call the +creatures you believed in women.</p> + +<p>"You gathered wealth in great heaps, and your <a +name="Page_309"></a>precious stones in storehouses. You laid your hand upon +the diamond of the river and upon the pearl of the sea, and they abode with +you, as the light of the sun and the moon. And you said, 'Behold it is my +star, which is the lord of the dog-heat in summer, and it is my kismet.' +You also took to yourself wives of rare qualities, having both golden and +raven black hair, whose skin was as fine silk, and their breath as the +freshness of the dawning, and their eyes as jewels. Then said you, +rejoicing in your heart, that you were happy; and so you dwelt in peace and +plenty, and waxed glad.</p> + +<p>"Therefore you accomplished your first destiny, and you drank of the cup +that was filled to overflowing. And if it had been the law of nature that +from pleasure man should derive permanent lasting peace, you had been happy +so long as you lived. But, though you have the faultless life of the body +to enjoy all things of the earth, even as other men, though in another +degree, you have within you something more. There is in your breast a heart +beating—an organ so wonderful in its sensitiveness, so perfect in its +consciousness of good, that the least throb and thrill of pleasure that it +feels is worth years and ages of mere sensual life enjoyment. The body +having tasted of all happiness whereof it is capable, and having found that +it is good, is saturated with its own ease and enjoys less keenly. But the +heart is the border-land between body and soul. The heart can love and the +body can love, but the body can only love itself; the <a +name="Page_310"></a>heart is the wellspring of the lore that goes beyond +self. Therefore your heart awoke.</p> + +<p>"Shall I tell you of the first early stirrings of your love? Think you, +because I am gray and loveless, that I have never known youth and gladness +of heart? Ah, I know, better than you can think. It is not sudden, really, +the blossoming out of the tree of life. The small leaves grow larger and +stronger though still closely folded in the bud, until the bright warmth of +the spring makes them burst into bloom. The little lark in the nest among +the grass grows beneath the mother's wing and idly moves, now and then, +unconscious of the cloud-cleaving gift of flight, until all at once, in the +fair dawning, there wells up in his tiny breast the mighty sense of power +to rise.</p> + +<p>"The human heart is like the budded folded leaves, and like the untaught +lark. The quiet sleep before the day of blooming is, while it lasts, a +state of happiness. But it is not comparable with the breathing joy of the +leaf that feels and sees the wonderful life around it, whispering divine +answers to the wooing breeze. The humble nest where it has first seen light +is for many days a happy home to the tender songster, soon left behind, +when the first wing-strokes waft the small body upwards to the sky, and +forgotten as the first glad trill and quaver of the new-found voice roll +out the prelude to the glorious life-long hymn of praise. The heart of +man—your heart, my dear friend—gave a great leap from earth to sky, when +first it felt the magic of the other life. The <a +name="Page_311"></a>grosser scales of material vision fell away from your +inner sight on the day when you met, and knew you had met, the woman you +were to love.</p> + +<p>"I found you again, a different man, a far happier man, though you would +hardly allow that. A sweet uncertainty of the future half-tinged your joy +with a shadow of sadness, which you had not known before: but love sadness +is only the shading and gentle pencilling in love's wondrous picture, +whereby the whole light of the painting is made clearer and stronger. A new +world opened out before you in endless vistas of untold and undreamed +bliss. You looked back at your former self, so careless and sunny, so +consciously happy in the strong sense of life and power, and you wondered +how you could have been even contented through so many years. The good and +evil deeds of your past life lost colour and perspective, and fell back +into a dull, flat background, against which the ineffable vision of +beautiful and immortal womanhood stood forth in transcendent glory. The +eternal womanly element of the great universe beckoned you on, as it did +Doctor Faustus of old. You had hitherto accepted woman and ignored +womanhood, as so many of the followers of the prophet have always done. +Henceforth there was to be a change, entire, complete, and enduring. No +doubts now, or careless scepticism; no cant about women having no souls and +no individual being; you had made a great step to a better understanding of +the world you live in. Filled with a new life, you <a +name="Page_312"></a>went on your way rejoicing and longing to do great +deeds for her who had come into your destiny. From dawn to sunset, and from +evening to dawn, one picture ever was before you leading you on. You were +ready to run any risk for a smile and a blush of pleasure, you were willing +to sacrifice anything and everything for her praise. And when, down there +among the mango-trees in the Terai, your lips first touched hers and your +arm pressed her to your side, the joy that was yours was as the joy of the +immortals."</p> + +<p>Ram Lal paused, and Isaacs, who had been sitting by the table, stony and +dry-eyed, hid his face in his hands, clutching with his white fingers among +his bright black hair—all that seemed left to him of life, so dead and +ashy was his face. He remained thus without looking up, as the old man +continued.</p> + +<p>"Think not, dear friend and brother, that I have come here to dwell +needlessly on your grief, to rouse again the keen agonies that have so +lately burned through and through you to the quick. I love you well, and +would but trace the past in order to paint the future. All that you felt +and knew in those short days of perfect love on earth was good and true and +noble, and shall not be forgotten hereafter. But last night closed the +second of your three destinies—as true love always must close on earth—in +bitter grief and sorrow because the one is gone before. Rather should you +rejoice, Abdul Hafiz, that she is gone in virgin whiteness, whither ere +long you shall <a name="Page_313"></a>follow and be with her till time +shall chase the crumbling world out over the broad quicksands of eternity, +and nought shall survive of all this but the pure and the constant and the +faithful to death. There is before you a third, destiny, great and awful, +but grand beyond power of telling. Body and heart have had their full cup +of happiness, have enjoyed to the full what has been set in their way to +enjoy. To the full you have enjoyed wealth and success and the sensuality +of a refined and artistic luxury; to the full, as only a few rarely-gifted +men can, you have enjoyed the purest and highest love that earth can give. +Think not that all ends here. The greatest of destinies is but begun, and +it is the destiny of the soul. Two days ago if I had told you there was +something higher in you than the loving heart, you would not have believed +me; now you do. It is the ethereal portion of the heart, that which longs +to be loosed from the body and floating upwards to rejoin its other +half.</p> + +<p>"Your love has been of the best kind that falls to the lot of man. Not a +single shadow of doubting fell between you. It has been sweet if it has +seemed short—but it has really lasted a long time, as long as some +people's lives. You are many years older than you were when it began, for a +month or two ago—or whenever it was that your heart first awoke—you were +entirely immersed in the material view of things that belonged naturally +enough to your position and mode of life. Now you have passed the critical +border-land wherein love wanders, himself <a name="Page_314"></a>not +knowing whither he shall lead his followers, whether back to the thick +green pasture and heavy-scented groves of sensual existence or forward to +free wind-swept heights of spiritual blessedness, where those who are true +until they die walk forth into truth everlasting. Yours is the faith and +the truth that abide always, yours henceforward shall be the perfect union +of souls, yours the ethereal range of the outer firmament. Take my hand, +brother, in yours, and seek with me the path to those heights—to that +pinnacle of paradise where you shall meet once more the spirit elected to +yours."</p> + +<p>Ram Lal stood beside Isaacs, whose face was still hidden, and laid his +hand with tender gentleness on the weary head. The old man looked kindly +down as he touched the thick black hair, and then raised his eyes and +looked out through the door at the brightening landscape over which the +morning sun was shedding warmth and beauty once more.</p> + +<p>"Brother," he continued, "come forth with me. You have suffered too much +to mix again with the world, even if you wished it. Come forth, and your +soul shall live for ever. Your grief shall be turned to joy, and the +sinking heart shall be lifted to heights untried. As now the sun steadily +rises in his unerring course, following the pale footsteps of the fleet +dawning, and fulfilling her half spoken promises a million-fold in his +goodness; as now the all-muffling heaviness of the sad dark night is +forgotten in the gladness of day—so shall your brief time of darkness <a +name="Page_315"></a>and dull distress perish and vanish swiftly at the +first glimpses of the heavenly day on which follows no creeping night nor +shadow of earthly care. I come not to bid you forget; I come to bid you +remember. Remember all that is past, treasure it in the secret storehouse +of the soul where the few flowers culled from life's abundant thorn are +laid in their fragrance and garnered up. Remember also the future. Think +that your time is short, and that the labour shall be sweet; so that in a +few quick years you shall reap a harvest of unearthly blooming. Fear not to +tread boldly in the tracks of those who have climbed before you, and who +have attained and have conquered. What can anything earthly ever be to you? +What can you ever care again for gold, or gem, or horse, or slave? Do with +those things as it may seem good in your eyes, but leave them behind. The +weight of the money-bags is a weariness and soreness to the feet that toil +to overtake eternity. The flesh itself is weariness to the spirit, and soon +leaves it to wing its flight untrammelled and untiring. Come, I will give +you of my poor strength what shall carry your uncertain steps over the +first great difficulties, or at least over so many as you have not yet +surmounted. Be bold, aspiring, fearless, and firm of purpose. What guerdon +can man or Heaven offer, higher than eternal communion with the bright +spirit that waits and watches for your coming? With her—you said it while +she lived—was your life, your light, and your love; it is true tenfold +now, for <a name="Page_316"></a>with her is life eternal, light ethereal, +and love spiritual. Come, brother, come with me!"</p> + +<p>Slowly Isaacs raised his head from his hands and gazed long on the old +man. And while he gazed it was as if his pale face were transparent and the +whiteness of the burning spirit, dazzling to see, came and went quickly and +came again as flashes in the northern sky. Slowly he rose to his feet, and +laying his hand in the Buddhist's, spoke at last.</p> + +<p>"Brother, I come," he said. "Show me the way."</p> + +<p>"Right gladly will I be thy guide, Abdul," Ram Lal gave answer. "Right +willingly will I go with thee whither thou wouldest. Never was teacher +sought by more worthy pupil; never did man embrace the pure life of the +brethren with more single heart or truer purpose. The way shall be short +that leads thee upward, the stones that are therein shall be as wings to +lift thy feet instead of stumbling-blocks for thy destruction. The hidden +forces of nature shall lend thee strength, and her secrets wisdom; the deep +sweet springs of the eternal water shall refresh thee and the food of the +angels shall be thine. Thy sorrows shall turn from bitter into sweet, and +from the stings of thy past agonies shall grow up the golden flowers of thy +future crown. Thou shalt not tire in the way, nor crave rest by the +wayside."</p> + +<p>"Friend, tell me what I shall do that I may attain all this."</p> + +<p>"Be faithful to her who has preceded you, and learn of us, who know it, +wherein consists true happiness. <a name="Page_317"></a>You need but little +help, dear friend. Banish only from your thoughts the human suggestion that +what you love most is lost, gone irrevocably. Rejoice, and mourn not, that +she has entered in already where all your striving is to follow. Be glad +because she looks on those sights and hears those sounds which are too +bright and strong yet for your eyes and ears. Some of these unspeakable +things you shall perceive with your perishable body; but the more perfect +and glorious remain hidden to our mortal senses, be they ever so keen and +exquisite. Believe me, you shall reach that state before I do. My poor soul +is still bound to earth by some slender bonds of pleasure and contemptible +pain, fine indeed as threads of gossamer, and soon, I trust, to be shaken +off for ever. Yet am I bound and not utterly free. You, my brother, have +been wrenched suddenly from the life of the body to the life of the soul. +In you the vile desire to live for living's sake will soon be dead, if it +is not dead already. Your soul, drawn strongly upward to other spheres, is +well nigh loosed from love of life and fear of death. If at this moment you +could lie down and die, you would meet your end joyfully. Very subtle are +the fast-vanishing links between you and the world; very thin and +impalpable the faint shadows that mar to your vision those transcendent +hues of heavenly glory you shall so soon behold. Look forward, look upward, +look onward—never once look back, and your waiting shall not be long, nor +her watching many days. She stands <a name="Page_318"></a>before you, +beckoning and praying that you tarry not. See that you do her bidding +faithfully, as being near the blessed end, and fearful of losing even one +moment in the attainment of what you seek."</p> + +<p>"Fear not, Ram Lal. My determination shall not fail me, nor my courage +waver, until all is reached."</p> + +<p>The light of another world was on the beautiful brow and features as he +looked full at his future teacher. What strange powers these adept brethren +have! What marvellous magnetism over the souls of lesser men—whereby they +turn sorrow into gladness, and defeat into triumph by mere words. I myself, +bound by thought and word and deed to the lesser life, was not unmoved by +the glorious promises that flowed with glowing eloquence from the lips of +that gray old man in the early morning. They moved toward the door. Ram Lal +spoke as he turned away.</p> + +<p>"We leave you, friend Griggs, but we will return this evening and bid +you farewell." So I was left alone. Another comforter had taken my place; +one knowing human nature better, and well versed in the learning of the +spirit. One of that small band of high priests who in all ages and nations +and religions and societies have been the mediators between time and +eternity, to cheer and comfort the broken-hearted, to rebuke him who would +lose his own soul, to speed the awakening spirit in its heavenward +flight.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>As I sat in my room that night the door opened and they were with me, +standing hand in hand.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_319"></a>"My friend," said Isaacs, "I have come to bid you +farewell. You will never see me again. I am here once more to thank you, +from the bottom of my heart, for your friendship and kind offices, for the +strength of your arm in the hour of need, and for the gold of your words in +time of uncertainty."</p> + +<p>"Isaacs," I said, "I know little of the journey you are undertaking, and +I cannot go with you. This I know, that you are very near to a life I +cannot hope for; and I pray God that you may speed quickly to the desired +end, that you may attain that happiness which your brave soul and honest +heart so well deserve. Once more, then, I offer you my fullest service, if +there is anything that I still can do."</p> + +<p>"There is nothing," he answered, "though if there were I know you would +do it gladly and entirely. I have bestowed all my worldly possessions on +the one man besides yourself to whom I owe a debt of gratitude—John +Westonhaugh. Had I known you less well, I would have made you a sharer in +my forsaken wealth. Only this I beg of you. Take this gem and keep it +always for my sake. No—do not look at it in that way. Do not consider its +value. It is to recall one who will often think of you, for you have been a +great deal to me in this month."</p> + +<p>"I would I might have been more," I said, and it was all I could say, +for my voice failed me.</p> + +<p>"Think of me," he continued, and the bright light shone through his face +in the dusk, "think of me, not as you see me now, or as I was this morning, +<a name="Page_320"></a>bowed beneath a great sorrow, but as looking forward +to a happiness that transcends this mortal joy that I have lost, even as +the glory of things celestial transcends the glory of the terrestrial. +Think of me, not as mourning the departed day, but as watching longingly +for the first faint dawn of the day eternal. Above all, think of me not as +alone but as wedded for all ages to her who has gone before me."</p> + +<p>Ram Lal laid his hand on my arm and looked long into my eyes.</p> + +<p>"Farewell for the present, my chance acquaintance," he said, "and +remember that in me you have a friend. The day may come when you too will +be in dire distress, beyond the skill of mere solitude and books to soothe. +Farewell, and may all good things be with you."</p> + +<p>Isaacs laid his two hands on my shoulders, and once more I met the +wondrous lustre of his eyes, now veiled but not darkened with the last look +of his tender friendship.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, my dear Griggs. You have been the instructor and the genius +of my love. Learn yourself the lessons you can teach others so well. Be +yourself what you would have made me."</p> + +<p>One last loving look—one more pressure of the reluctant fingers, and +those two went out, hand in hand, under the clear stars, and I saw them no +more.</p> + +<p>THE END.</p> + + + + + +<p><a href="#rfn1" name="fn1">1.</a> Sir Gore Ousely, <i>Notices of the +Persian Poets</i>.</p> + +<p><a href="#rfn2" name="fn2">2.</a> A fact, as is well known.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mr. Isaacs, by F. Marion Crawford + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MR. ISAACS *** + +***** This file should be named 13340-h.htm or 13340-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/3/4/13340/ + +Produced by Kevin Handy, John Hagerson and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away—you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/13340-h/isaacs001.png b/old/13340-h/isaacs001.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..89ea81d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13340-h/isaacs001.png |
