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diff --git a/old/44583.txt b/old/44583.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..87c8bea --- /dev/null +++ b/old/44583.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7314 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Noble Queen (Volume II of III), by +Philip Meadows Taylor + +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/license + + +Title: A Noble Queen (Volume II of III) + A Romance of Indian History + +Author: Philip Meadows Taylor + +Release Date: January 4, 2014 [EBook #44583] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A NOBLE QUEEN (VOLUME II OF III) *** + + + + +Produced by Moti Ben-Ari and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + + A NOBLE QUEEN: + _A ROMANCE OF INDIAN HISTORY_. + + BY + MEADOWS TAYLOR, + C.S.I., M.R.A.S., M.R.I.A., &c. + AUTHOR OF 'SEETA,' 'TARA,' AND OTHER TALES. + + + 'O, never was there queen + So mightily betray'd!' + + _Antony and Cleopatra_, act i. sc. iii. + + + IN THREE VOLUMES. + VOL. II. + + + LONDON: + C. KEGAN PAUL & CO., 1 PATERNOSTER SQUARE. + 1878. + + + + +(_The rights of translation and of reproduction are reserved._) + + + + +CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME. + + + _BOOK II.--continued._ + + CHAPTER PAGE + + VII. FRIENDS IN COUNCIL 1 + VIII. THE NIGHT COUNCIL 15 + IX. A DAY IN THE PALACE 39 + + _BOOK III._ + + I. A RAPID MARCH 61 + II. A SUCCESSFUL SURPRISE 81 + III. ZUFFOORA-BEE COOKS THE GOVERNOR'S BREAKFAST 97 + IV. A NEW HOME 118 + V. AMONG FRIENDS 137 + VI. A DARING ATTACK 156 + VII. THE FIRST ALMS 175 + VIII. CASTING OUT DEVILS 192 + IX. THE SYUD TAKES TWO DEGREES IN HIS TURREEQUT 211 + X. BY THE WAY 233 + XI. SAINTLY HONOURS 242 + XII. DANGER 256 + XIII. DELIVERANCE 271 + + + + +A NOBLE QUEEN. + + +BOOK II.--_continued_. + + +CHAPTER VII. +FRIENDS IN COUNCIL. + + +At the loud cries of the Mirdhas and silver-stick bearers of "Burkhast, +Durbar Burkhast!" "The durbar is dissolved!" the various masses of +troops filed out of the square before the Hall of Audience in the same +gorgeous array as they had entered. Indeed, the effect was even more +gorgeous, for before the assembly the sun had been slightly veiled with +thin clouds, and had only occasionally shone out with full brightness; +but now the clouds had cleared away, and the sun's rays descended on +the glittering masses with a power which materially enhanced their +splendour. One by one the nobles left the hall, making their humble +obeisances to the Throne, and, joined by their retinues, passed onwards +through the citadel to the gate, and thence to their respective abodes +within and without the citadel. The prospect of immediate service in +the field, too, enhanced the spirit of the many different bodies of +men, and their party or national war cries arose from time to time, +mingled with shouts of "Victory to Abbas Khan!" which, entirely +spontaneous as they were, filled his heart with joy. The Queen again +reminding him that he was to return at the usual hour of council, +attended by the Portuguese priest, left the hall before it was emptied; +and when most of the nobles had gone on, he mounted his horse, and rode +home at a quiet pace. + +In truth, his wound was painful, for his shield was somewhat heavy; +and the rapidity and strength of the blows showered on him by the +Abyssinian had required his utmost skill and vigilance to parry. He +had no doubt, therefore, that the Padre's bandages had been strained, +as, indeed, they proved to have been on examination. In the heat of +the encounter, all pain had been forgotten; and it was now great +and increasing, and he longed for relief. But his mind was full of +joyous gratitude, not only for preservation in the ordeal, but for the +establishment of his innocence of cowardice or of treachery; and the +papers found on the Abyssinian might even prove more, since it was +evident, from the addresses on them, that they had belonged to Elias +Khan, and before the night had passed all would be clear. + +Thus Abbas Khan rode on through the streets of the fort which led to +his uncle's house, slowly and deliberately, receiving the salutations +of the crowds which filled them with grateful acknowledgments. As the +troops broke up from the durbar, great numbers of them had betaken +themselves to these streets; and the real joy with which they now +greeted the young nobleman, always a favourite, was more real and more +genuine, perhaps, than that evinced before the ordeal. Abbas Khan was +the popular hero of the day: women stretched out their arms from the +housetops and blessed him, and wished him a hundred years of life and +joy; stalwart veterans would not be kept off; and some kissed his feet, +others put portions of his garment to their lips, and with a blessing +turned away. It was almost too much to bear. + +At his gate he was met by the whole household, and the usual +ceremonies of welcome were performed ere he crossed the threshold. +Lighted lamps were waved over him, incense was burnt in the name +of the protecting saints, and vows of offerings at their shrines +promised by the venerable Moolla, who was present on behalf of his +aunt. As he dismounted from his horse, he caressed it fondly. As if +he had understood his warning, Sooltan had been steady and perfectly +manageable through the combat, and nothing but his perfect temper, and +the ease and certainty with which he had followed every turn of his +master's wrist or pressure of his knee or heel, could have ensured +victory. As he ascended the steps of the hall of audience all that +were present rose and greeted him; many came forward to embrace +him, and several poets of the city presented addresses in verse, of +a very florid and laudatory description, comparing him to Roostum +and the champions described in the "Shah Nama" with painstaking +fidelity, which, whatever the merits of the composition might be, were +sufficiently tedious. When these were finished, and suitable rewards +ordered, Abbas Khan, fairly wearied out, excused himself to the rest +of the company, and went at once to his aunt, who had already sent +several messages to him to come as quickly as he could; and truly it +was grateful to him to find himself once more encircled by the arms of +one so revered by him and so dear. + +"Oh! thou art safe, thou art safe, my son!" she cried, as she clung +sobbing to his neck. "I feared for thee; I wept for thee; I prayed for +thee to the Lord and His saints, and I was heard; and as soon as the +news was brought to me that thou hadst won the combat, I sent Fatehas +to all the mosques and shrines; and to-morrow, Inshalla! I will feed a +thousand poor people in the name of the Imams. And thou art not hurt, +my son?" + +"Not hurt, mother; but the old wound needs looking to by the Padre +Sahib: it is sore and stiff. It is he alone that can give me rest and +ease. He is waiting within, and I must go to him; for there are other +matters on which he must be consulted. I will come to thee at the +evening prayers, after which, when I have eaten, I must return to the +Queen for the evening council." + +"So soon," she said, "so soon to leave me; and I had hoped to sit and +talk with thee a whole evening! Well, thou must do thy duty to our +Royal mistress; and why should I regret that thou doest it? God forbid. +And she was gracious unto thee, Meeah?" + +"Mother, she wept; she could hardly speak as I went up to her; but I +saw that she believed in me, and she was happy. Happy, mother; and +your son was proud, too, when she rose and declared I was to lead the +division that goes to the King's aid. Ah! that was too much honour; may +I be worthy of it!" + +"I have no fear, Meeah," replied the old lady. "Go where she sends +thee, and win honour and fame as thine uncle has done; but go now and +get relief." + +Abbas Khan found the priest in his own apartment, who, after very +sincere congratulations, helped him to divest himself of the mail shirt +he wore, when he fell to an examination of the wound. + +"No doubt, my lord, it is sore and smarting from the weight and strain +of the armour; but it is sound, and there hath been no more bleeding. I +will change all these dressings now, and put on lighter ones, and in a +few days there will be no more danger of relapse." + +The new, cool dressings were a delicious relief, and left his arm at +full liberty for action of any kind. Until he reached the King's camp, +he should have no occasion to use it in any but the most ordinary +actions. + +"And now, Padre Sahib," continued Abbas Khan, when the operation was +finished, "make yourself ready to come with me to the Palace to-night. +The Queen-Regent desires to see you on a matter of much importance, and +I am ordered to bring you with me." + +"Do you know why?" asked d'Almeida. "Nothing in regard to the mission +at Moodgul could have given offence to Her Majesty? I wish we had had +longer notice; Maria might have made some sweetmeats, for an offering, +or some of her work. Yet I remember, she hath an exquisite lace veil, +and it could not be presented to one more worthy." + +"The matter is this," replied Abbas Khan. "On the body of the +Abyssinian was found a case of letters. Some of them are in Persian +and Mahrathi, others in your language; at least the writing is in the +Frangi character. No one that she can trust can read it, and assuredly +no one among the Portuguese artisans and gunners could translate the +papers. Do you remember anything which might give a clue to these +letters?" + +"I do," he replied. "Was your adversary a very tall, very powerful man, +with hard, black features?" + +"He was, Padre; why do you ask?" + +"Because, some months ago, soon after Dom Diego came, a man such as I +describe, mounted on a big chestnut horse, and with several attendants, +arrived at Moodgul. They came to me first, but the letter they brought +was addressed to my colleague, and I directed them to him. The man was +so remarkable that, as he rode away, I called Maria to look at him. +There was a renegade Portuguese with that man, who spoke to me in our +language, and interpreted what I said to him." + +"Ah! that is valuable, my friend; but you do not know of what passed +between him and Dom Diego?" + +"Nothing whatever, my lord. Once only the good Nawab, my friend, +hinted that some intrigue was in progress between my superior and +Eyn-ool-Moolk, but warned me against having any concern in it. But what +could Dom Diego do, even if he has engaged in intrigue?" + +"Ah! my friend, you are too simple," returned the young Khan, laughing; +"he could get money; he could promise your nation's troops." + +"Those he will never get," interrupted the priest. "Our Government has +declined from the first to mix itself up in the affairs of kingdoms +whom our nation esteems to be heretical. I have heard there have been +many offers by the Emperor Akbar, and others before him, but the policy +of our Government is consistent and friendly to all." + +"And yet you are a nation of valiant soldiers. It is strange to see +such without ambition." + +"Which might lead to our ruin, my lord. No; wise minds have determined +and guided our course hitherto, and we only defend ourselves when we +are attacked." + +"As we know to our cost, Senor Padre; and as they of Ahmednugger found +to theirs in the siege of Ghoul," returned Abbas Khan, laughing. "But +enough now; be ready when I send for you. And your sister is well, and +hath all she needs?" + +"All, my lord, and is grateful. She is busy preparing for her school; +and our poor folks are thankful for even the few ministrations we have +afforded them." + +"Only be careful, Senor, lest you excite bigotry among mine. Alas! +there is bitterness between Moslim and Nazarene; but you have only to +be careful." + +"Yet at Moodgul no one molests us, my lord." + +"There are many who would do so if they dared, my friend; but you +are under protection there by order of the State, and here it may be +different. I only say be cautious, and you are as safe here as there." + +The priest bowed and retired. What his young friend had said to him +he did not tell to his sister; but some of the castles they had been +building had already been shaken, and caution was at least necessary, +lest they should crumble down altogether. + +As the Padre left him, Abbas Khan threw a light sheet over himself, and +slept profoundly. The Lady Fatima stole in several times to see him, +and at last seated herself near him; and, with a light fan, drove away +the flies which would have settled on his face. How proud she was of +her boy. "The Lady Queen is as proud," she said to herself, "I know; +but she could not do this like me. Am I not the happier? for I can +watch him while every mood of his mind leaves its expression on his +features. See, now, there is a frown, and the fingers seem to clutch +something; it is his sword, and he dreams of the combat. And there! now +all is changed, and there is love on the moist lips and in the smiles. +Why dreams he of her? Ah, well! may she be worthy." + +So the young man slept, and so his good aunt tended him as she had +done when he was a child. And the time flew rapidly, and the muezzin +from the minaret of the garden mosque began to chant invitation to the +evening prayer, "Allah-hu-Akbar! Allah-hu-Akbar!" and then Abbas Khan +woke, and found his aunt sitting beside him, watching. + +"My sleep was sweet," he said, "because thou watchedst over me, mother. +Ah, so sweet! may God reward thee. But I must go to the prayer now." + +"There are many who wish to speak with thee, my son," she said; "and +one is very urgent, Runga Naik, a Beydur." + +"Bid him wait; he is, indeed, most needful. I will not be long away, +mother, or I will send for him." + +Entering the garden by the private door, Abbas Khan performed his +ablutions at the little fountain, whose cool, sparkling water refreshed +him. The garden was refreshing also; and, as he knelt down, a soft +feeling of grateful adoration stole over him. Many of his friends were +assembled there, and their salutations, with the warm grasp of the hand +which accompanied them, were more grateful to him than he had ever +remembered before. + +"I will attend ye speedily, friends," he said to them, "but I have some +private affairs to see to first here, and ye must excuse me;" and, +calling to an attendant, he bade him bring in Runga Naik, and seating +himself on the rim of the fountain, awaited his coming alone. Presently +he saw the Beydur chief enter, peering about as though he were in a +thick forest, but, directly he saw his young master, he bounded forward +with a cry of joy, and threw himself at his feet. + +"I was not in time, Meeah," he said, as soon as his emotion had +subsided, "to see thee slay that villain. Would I had been! But I could +not travel faster with the prisoners; and it was only at the last stage +that I heard thou hadst reached this the day before, when the Lady +Queen was hunting. What had delayed thee?" + +"Only the wound again, friend," said the Khan, laughing. "One day--it +was our second march--my horse, it was one of Osman Beg's, stumbled and +fell with me, the stitches of my wound burst open, and the Padre Sahib +insisted I should not travel till I was well. Notwithstanding his +skill, I could not move for more than a month; but I had good lodging +at Talikota." + +"So near to my town; and why did you not send for me, Meeah?" + +"I did send; but thou wert gone, they said, to Belgaum, and thou hadst +not returned when I resumed my journey." + +"Then you have heard nothing, my lord, of the old Dervish and his +child? Are they with thee?" + +"No!" replied Abbas Khan, starting at the question. "Not with me. I +have never even heard of them. By your soul, tell me what you know." + +"I had been absent from home, tracing our men who had deserted us at +Korla, and had three hundred of my best men with me. You were then +in Juldroog, and I heard afterwards you and the Moodgul Padre had +departed. There was one of our Beydur festivals to come on after +that, and I returned home for it, when I was suddenly sent for by the +Dervish, and I delivered Zora from the palace of Osman Beg, where she +was confined under the charge of two procuresses from Moodgul. Yes, +Burma Naik and Bheema and I did it; and to this day I regret that I did +not slay thy profligate cousin as he slept." + +"But, but!" cried Abbas Khan, horrible thoughts rising in his mind, +"she was safe, she had not been dishonoured?" + +"Thanks be to the Gods, she was safe, Meeah. There had been an attempt +at a marriage that afternoon; but the stout old Moolla refused to +perform it, and the ceremony was deferred till the morrow. I saw there +was time for me to do what was needed, and we three brought her away, +through the panthers' cave. Who dared to follow us?" + +"And then?" cried the Khan, breathlessly and anxiously. + +"Only this," continued the simple fellow; "I had a boat ready, and the +old man's property was placed in it as evening fell; and when we three +brought the girl away safely, we crossed the river, and I took them to +Kukeyra, where I have a house, and where I bestowed them safely, with +six hundred of my people there to guard them." + +"And they are there now, Runga?" + +"No," he replied, "they are not there; and that is what troubles me. +One of the Kukeyra men met me here to-day, and told me that the old +man had grown restless; and though Zora had entreated him to remain, +yet he had left Kukeyra and gone to our Rajah at Wakin Keyra, who was +protecting him; and that Osman Beg had sent spies across to trace them, +and even attempted to follow with his retainers: but who can cross the +river mother if the Beydurs say nay?" + +"Now may God be praised, Runga, for this protection of them! Oh, think, +if that child had come to harm! And it was a foul plot and outrage of +Osman Beg's, for which he shall answer to me as surely as the sun +shines or as the Abyssinian died. But art thou sure it was a forcible +abduction of the child?" + +"There is no doubt of that. Jooma and another carried Zora from the +bastion, as she sat looking at Chaya Bhugwuti; and only that the good +old Moolla refused, Zora would have been married by Nika, and would +have now been in thy cousin's zenana. Yes, that is true, Meeah; I heard +it from Zora, and others have told me since." + +"He shall answer this before the King and his mother," said Abbas Khan, +fiercely. "Ever treacherous! who can trust him?" + +"He has other things to answer for besides this, Meeah," was the reply. +"Look! here are more papers, more letters;" and he took a packet +from his waistband; "and I have secured all Elias Khan's Duftur, and +his scribe. There are plenty of Osman Beg's letters in it--and other +people's too, for the matter of that--quite enough to give him a seat +under the Goruk Imlee trees, and to find the executioner making him a +last salaam." + +"Then he should be summoned at once, Runga." + +"If you were not to go to your uncle and the King he might be; but as +it is, he had better remain. He thinks he is quite safe; and, indeed, +he is safe, for it is impossible for him to stir; but here he would +intrigue while you are away. He might even learn news of the old +Dervish, and carry off Zora in spite of us; but now I will send word to +my people, and to the twelve thousand, that her honour is your honour +and mine; and they know what that means. I, Meeah, go to the war with +thee, for the men here who belong to the Rajah are mad to go with us, +and I will not deny them." + +"Oh, true friend and brother!" exclaimed the young Khan, with a choking +sensation in his throat, and tears welling up in his eyes; "what can +I render to thee for all this aid, and thy good counsel? Yes, come +with me, Runga; we have fought before together, but none know thee but +me. Now all shall know thee, and thou shalt be honoured and rewarded. +First, let us do our duty to the King, and then," he continued, rising, +"I call the holy saints to witness, our duty will be done to others. +Hast thou eaten food, Runga?" + +"No," he said, "not since yesterday; but I have bathed, and am hungry. +Tell them to give me something from thy kitchen, Meeah; and suffer me +to eat here, where I can offend no one, and put my dinner on fresh +plantain leaves. Ah! that will be a luxury, indeed!" + +The servants brought to him portions of the savoury food which was +ready in the kitchen, and deposited it on a huge plantain leaf which +he had gathered. They saw him eat as it seemed to them voraciously, +but in truth little food had passed his lips for two days; and when he +had finished, they saw him wrap himself in the sheet which had before +served him as upper covering and waistband, and lying down on the bare +earth fall into a deep sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. +THE NIGHT COUNCIL. + + +As on the previous evening, Abbas Khan arrived at the entrance +to the council chamber at the usual hour, accompanied by Francis +d'Almeida. They had come in palanquins, for convenience sake; and, +on this occasion, Abbas Khan had dispensed with his inner mail coat +and soldier-like costume, and wore the ordinary Court dress of his +rank--simple white muslin, with a Cashmere shawl; and carried only +a light Court sword in his hand. He felt that there was no danger +now. The priest wore his best cassock and the gown of his order; and, +rejecting the advice of Maria, went in his bare feet, and sandals which +he could easily put off. His dress formed a strange contrast with +the flowing robes of his companion; and the heavy slouched hat made +it even more remarkable in comparison with the turbans of the Palace +attendants. Yet his frank, handsome face, bright fresh colour, silky +moustachios and beard, which, as a missionary, he had allowed to grow, +denoted at once elevated birth and extreme intelligence. Abbas Khan had +given him some general instruction as to his demeanour in approaching +the throne, and the worthy priest appeared by no means flurried or +anxious as to the result. As he knelt down on one knee, doffed his hat +gracefully, and bowed his head as he would have done to his own King, +the Royal lady was satisfied that the priest had seen Courts, and was +well born and bred; and her surprise was not a little enhanced by the +excellent Persian in which he replied to her inquiries after the health +of his sister and himself. + +"And you speak Canarese also, I hear?" she said; "and thy sister too?" + +"It is the tongue of our people at Moodgul and of our Church there, +which the beneficence of your Royal ancestor, Ibrahim, established," he +replied; "and it is more familiar to our lips than Persian, which we +have seldom need to use. In Canarese, my sister is as good a scholar as +I am, and we are now translating the New Testament, or Unjeel." + +"May I be your sacrifice," cried the chief priest, who was in his +accustomed place; "but the Nazarenes have no correct version of the +Unjeel. Did not the Prophet (may his memory be blessed) denounce them? +In chapter----" + +"Nay, reverend sir," interposed the Queen, "we are not met for a +religious discussion, but for State affairs; and I pray you to be +silent. Here, in the court of the refuge of the poor, my son, all men +are equal in His and my sight, whatever may be their faith. We leave +that to God, before whom we are all equal. Be seated, sir," continued +the Queen; "we have pressing business to do ere we can enter upon what +thou canst aid us in." + +It seemed as if there were no place vacant, except one close to the +chief priest, who evidently did not relish the idea of being touched by +an unbeliever; and he fidgeted in his seat, crowded as much as possible +into his neighbour's, held up his scarf to his mouth, and in every way +expressed his objection to any proximity to the Padre, who in his turn +was much embarrassed. But the Brahmin Minister of Finance, whose heart +had warmed towards the Padre in hearing his own language spoken so +fluently and so well, offered him his own seat, and took that assigned +to Francis d'Almeida. Thus peace was for the present secure, but when +it might be broken by the chief priest's intolerance it was impossible +to declare. + +It was a busy scene. Orders for the pay of the troops about to +march had to be signed by the Queen and by the heads of departments +present, to be paid from the treasury next morning; orders also to +district authorities on the road to provide supplies and forage at +each stage, and to have the roads made practicable for the artillery. +Public carriage cattle out at graze had been recalled; but more were +necessary, and Hyat Khan's requisitions were heavy on the city. These, +with the usual revenue and district papers to be signed and made +up, correspondence to be written, and drafts of letters to be read, +occupied a long time, and was watched by the Padre with the utmost +interest; while his neighbour the Brahmin kept up with him a lively +conversation in Canarese. He had heard of the Padre's learning from +other Brahmins, who came periodically for their dues to the Royal city; +and his manner was kind and considerate. At last, as his business was +concluded, and his assistant was tying up his bundle of papers, he +whispered to the Padre-- + +"I must depart, sir. Sit quietly where you are, and do not stir, unless +the Queen-Mother calls you or sends for you. Above all, beware of the +chief priest; for he would make no scruple of quarrelling with you, +even before the Queen. He barely tolerates our presence, being, as he +calls us, Kaffirs, and is certainly less tolerant of you, a Nazarene. +It would not be wise to cross him." + +"Yet if he should revile my Church?" + +"I say still, answer him not," returned the other, "nor speak at all, +except the Queen herself bid thee. He is most intolerant, perhaps +dangerous." + +"I thank you sincerely for your warning, and I will be very discreet, +you may be sure," was Francis d'Almeida's reply; but he was not the +less determined to bear testimony in the cause of his faith, should +it be needful. Was he not a missionary of Christ, and a soldier of +the Church militant? So he sat quietly, much amused and interested +in the scene passing before him, in the multiplicity of business, +and the ease and regularity with which it was conducted. Abbas Khan +was busy with the details of the force he was to command, giving +instructions to the various leaders of companies and divisions, and +was for the present absorbed in his work, now and then exchanging a +word with the Queen-Mother, and explaining to her what was being done. +Here also he learned more of the political state of the country than +he had ever known before, or was likely to learn elsewhere. Boorhan +Nizam Shah, King of Ahmednugger, who had supported the conspiracy of +Eyn-ool-Moolk, had been defeated by King Ibrahim of Beejapoor and +Humeed Khan. Subsequently his own son Ismail had rebelled, but was +defeated by his father, who, after the battle of Hoomayoonpoor, being +seriously ill, returned to Ahmednugger as his successor, and died +soon afterwards, having nominated as his successor his son Ibrahim, +a fractious and violent youth of sixteen. The Beejapoor army, after +repulsing the attack by King Boorhan, had taken up positions at +Sholapoor and Juldroog, otherwise called Shahdroog, during the rainy +season, and the King was with these troops; but the express received +by the Queen Dowager contained the important news that King Ibrahim of +Ahmednugger was making immense preparations for an immediate invasion +of the Beejapoor territory; and though this might possibly be averted +by negotiations, yet, considering the violence of the young King of +Ahmednugger's character, such a result as was desired did not seem +probable by any means, and troops must be hurried on without delay. The +Padre saw that Abbas Khan had been the best selection possible for the +purpose, on account of his present popularity, ability, and activity; +but the prospect of being left with his sister alone in the great city +was anything but agreeable. He had, however, acquired such entire +confidence in his young friend, that he was sure he would not be left +to the issues of chance, nor unprotected. + +At last the long sitting was concluded, and the Queen, rising, excused +herself for a while, and went into an inner chamber for refreshment, +while the courtiers chatted freely among themselves; and d'Almeida now +allowed his eyes to wander over the sides and fretted ceiling of the +beautiful room, to admire its rich Gothic architecture and the elegance +of its proportions and decorations; but there was an absence of light +to show all to advantage, and he thought he might perhaps, through +Abbas Khan, be allowed to see it by day. How he wondered, too, at the +immense blocks of buildings which formed the palace, for all was new to +him; and except the Palace of the Seven Storeys, and the roofs of some +of the edifices which he could see from the roof of the mansion where +he and his sister resided, he knew nothing, all else being hidden by +the high walls and towers of the citadel. + +When the Queen re-entered and took her seat, all present rising to +receive her, Hyat Khan, the Kotwal, produced a list of those persons +who had been tracked and apprehended by Runga Naik Beydur, who, he +said, was without, and could give a clear account of them. He was, +certainly, only a Beydur, but might be allowed to stand before the dais. + +"God forbid! God forbid!" cried the chief priest, putting his hands to +his ears, who was evidently brimming over with suppressed fury. "I have +been sitting in this durbar for two reigns of illustrious and pious +Kings, and I never heard of a Beydur being admitted to the presence. +Pah! thooh! an uncircumcised dog--not even a Hindoo--who lives on pig, +and whose breath would taint the air of a whole city. God forbid! God +forbid!" + +"And yet he is a good and faithful soldier of the State, and an honest, +God-fearing man," said Abbas Khan, stoutly. "I, for one, do not feel as +if I should be polluted by his presence. What say ye, noble friends?" +and he looked around. "As for our Queen-Mother, ye have already heard +her sentiments; and do we dare to dispute them? One thing is certain, +we shall know nothing of these prisoners unless he explains why they +were apprehended." + +"True!" said the chief Kazee; "and to hear evidence is necessary to +attain justice. I care not for pig----" + +If there had been any chance of a skirmish between the two learned +authorities, as some hoped who had witnessed such scenes, they were +disappointed; for the Kotwal, at a sign from the Queen, ordered +Runga to be admitted, and as he entered was shown where to make his +obeisance. And he finally stood after his own fashion on one leg, +pressing the sole of the other foot against the calf, and with his +hands joined in supplication. + +"You can speak to him, Abbas Khan," said the head Kazee. "Ask him to +tell the Queen who these men are?" + +"I represent," humbly returned the Khan, "that I am his commander, and +am interested, beside, in what may transpire. Can the interpretation of +the Padre Sahib be accepted? else some Brahmin might be sent for." + +"The Padre's evidence I could not take," returned the Kazee, "it is not +admissible by law; but his interpretation we can accept, my Queen and +my lords, if he swear on the Unjeel. Hast thou the book, O Padre?" + +"It is here, my lord," returned d'Almeida, taking a small copy from +his pocket, and removing the clean white handkerchief in which it was +wrapped. + +"Place the holy book on thy head, or as thou wilt, and declare that +thou wilt interpret truly," was the Kazee's reply. + +"Holy book, indeed!" indignantly snorted the chief priest. "Holy book! +sacred to Satan! Well, times are changed; a Nazarene priest and a +pig-eating Beydur before the Queen, in the Royal palace. What next, I +wonder!" + +Francis d'Almeida was burning to reply, but he remembered the words of +his Brahmin friend, and was silent. "I am ready now," he said, simply, +"and I will speak truly." + +"Let there be entire silence," cried one of the Court ushers by order +of the Queen, and Runga Naik began his history. We know most of it +already; but the latter portion, relating his rescue of Zora, his +tracking of the rebel members of Elias Khan's band, the escape of the +Abyssinian after a close pursuit, gave a new interest to the narrative. +Runga himself, though dazed at first by the beauty of the room and the +presence of the Queen, of whom he had heard so much, was now assured; +and the story was told with a simple modesty and confidence which, to +every hearer present, conveyed an assurance of truth and reality. Elias +Khan had endeavoured to tempt him into disloyalty; he had promised him +money and an estate if he would cut off all the Royal outposts on the +north bank of the Krishna. "But I did not do that, mother," he cried +to the Queen in his homely speech, and stretching forth his hands; "my +people have been faithful to Beejapoor since it was a kingdom, and was +I to turn traitor for villains like Eyn-ool-Moolk and Elias? Meeah, +there, and I were old friends, and he was my superior. I went to him as +fast as I could, and three hundred of my people were to follow on foot, +but they were too late; for the day after I reached him was that of the +fight in which he slew Elias, and was well nigh slain himself. I have +heard it whispered he was a coward, but who dare say that now? I could +not bear it, and hunted down most of the men who deserted him, but some +have escaped. Let the Kotwal Sahib tell what they have said to him." + +"I humbly represent to the throne," said the Kotwal, "that one and all +have confessed to having been seduced by messengers from Elias Khan, +and humbly beg their lives. They have shed no blood." + +"Abbas Khan," said the Queen, in reply, "if it please thee, I give +their lives into thy hands; do with them as it is good unto thee; +unless, indeed, the Kazee demands them for trial." + +"They have committed no murder, noble lady, that they should come +before me," returned the Kazee. "If they have offended, it is against +the State, and the State has power over all traitors." + +"Then I accept them as our Queen-Mother's gift," said the young Khan, +rising and making three obeisances at the foot of the throne; "Hyat +Khan will help me to arrange about them. I have no fear of them, and +they have been with me in many a fair fight. But we delay, lady; wilt +thou not order the papers to be examined which were found this morning?" + +"They are here, my lords," said the Queen, "and first we should hear +those in the Frangi character, and the Padre Sahib can translate them +for us. Approach, sir," she continued to Francis d'Almeida, "sit at the +foot of the throne." + +"Touba! Touba!" muttered the Peer Sahib, as the chief priest was +usually designated. "For shame! for shame! an infidel sitting on a step +of the throne! Inshalla!----" + +"I advise your reverence to be silent," whispered the Kotwal; "it is +necessary he should do so, and any interruption will not be allowed by +the Queen. You know what she can do if she pleases; and I say let her +alone." + +The Peer Sahib made no reply; but it was clearly visible to all, that +what had been said to him had increased his previous ill-humour. + +By this time the leather case had been opened by one of the Queens +secretaries, and the contents counted. The letters with the +superscription in Portuguese were then separated from the rest, which +were placed at the Queen's feet. "You will be pleased to read them and +translate them afterwards to Her Majesty. If possible in Persian; if +not, in Canarese, which she understands." + +"I will translate them into Persian," was the priest's reply, "for that +is known to all;" and he took up one of the letters and began to read +it. It was of no consequence, however, being from the authorities of +Goa to Elias Khan in reference to several points in regard to transit +duties, of which the secretary made a memorandum on the back. After +several others of trivial import, came one with an elaborate refusal +of the Government of Goa to assist the designs of Eyn-ool-Moolk and +Elias Khan on behalf of Prince Ismail, which it gave the Padre much +satisfaction to expound. He had heard of the refusal of his Government +to countenance the rebellion, but here was ample confirmation under +the signature of the Governor, Don Mathias de Albuqurque, and his +councillors; and threats of denouncing the conspirators to the King of +Beejapoor in case the correspondence was renewed. + +Prince Ismail's party, then, appear to have begun an intrigue with Dom +Diego, superior of the Moodgul Mission, imploring his advocacy with +the Viceroy, and offering not only increased powers to the Mission, +but large perquisites to himself; and these terms being recapitulated +from the original Persian letter, Dom Diego's own requests followed, +which the Padre read with astonishment, mingled with terror; for he had +demanded not only the large province of Dharwar as his own perquisite, +but four lakhs of hoons to maintain it and the European troops he +should need. He undertook to obtain presently two thousand Europeans +from Goa, and two thousand more from Portugal as soon as possible, +and with this force and those of the Prince he undertook to deliver +Beejapoor, with all its treasures, into the possession of Eyn-ool-Moolk +and the Prince. It was a cunningly devised scheme, and inside the +letter was found a copy of the Persian reply from Elias Khan on behalf +of his master, Eyn-ool-Moolk, agreeing to the whole, and urging Dom +Diego not to delay, and sending him a thousand hoons as earnest money +by the hands of Yakoob Khan, Abyssinian. Again the correspondence was +continued up to the time when the rebels were attacked by Humeed Khan, +and the death of Eyn-ool-Moolk; and when the translator had finished, +there was a general murmur of approbation and congratulation to the +Queen Dowager on the danger which the State had escaped, and of thanks +for the important services rendered by so able an explanation of the +letters; and the Queen herself was profuse in her acknowledgments, +given with the charming yet dignified manner of which she was so +admirable a mistress. + +Little used to such profuse compliments from so exalted a person, the +simple Padre was at first overwhelmed with emotion; but he gradually +took courage, and, rising to his feet, excused himself for ignorance of +Court customs in not having at first presented the only offering he and +his sister had to make, of which he now begged the Queen's acceptance; +and, drawing the small packet of lace from his breast, unfolded the +veil and laid it at her feet. It was at once evident that she was much +gratified as well as surprised at the delicacy and elegance of the +beautiful fabric, and examined the pattern with curious interest. Nor +could she quite credit the Padre's assertion that it was his sister +Maria's own work with her needle only. Having examined it, she passed +it round to those present, but the Peer Sahib would not touch it, and +folded his hands in his robe, as though he might be contaminated. + +"We can offer little in return for this priceless work," said the +Queen, when she received the veil; "nevertheless, if you will accept +this"--and she took from a cushion near her a costly Cashmere +shawl--"on behalf of your sister, we shall be gratified." And as she +spoke she handed it to one of the Court ushers, who, with the usual +dexterous flourish, threw it over the shoulders of the Padre, where it +formed a curious contrast with his plain black robe. But he could not +refuse the gift without offence, and again making an obeisance to the +Queen, allowed it to remain. + +Meanwhile the secretaries had been separating the Persian +correspondence, and arranging it by names and dates, and the Queen now +desired it to be read. All that related to those who no longer existed +were put aside, but that of Osman Beg contained painful revelations. He +had offered to give up his fort to the rebel troops; he had furnished +them with information in regard to movements of troops from Beejapoor +to the westward, and had advised Elias Khan to attack his cousin's +party, which guarded the main fords of the river, and cut it off before +the floods came, and when the road to the capital would be opened. But +we need not, perhaps, follow a detail which may have been anticipated, +while there was little doubt that the letters he had received from the +leader of the rebel faction were, possibly, still in his possession. +What should be done then? As was usual with her, the Queen left this +point to the determination of the Council, reserving her opinion for +the present, and an animated discussion followed. The treachery of his +cousin in regard to the State, in advising his destruction to Elias +Khan, the treacherous abduction of Zora, had sunk deep into Abbas +Khan's heart, and declining to be a party in the discussion, he took +his seat near the Padre, who, by this time, had taken his original +place; but he separated the Padre from the irate Peer Sahib, which was, +perhaps, fortunate. + +The question most important to be decided was, what to do with Osman +Beg? Was he to be recalled at once, or sent to some distant fortress, +or to Moodgul, for detention? or was he to be brought to the capital, +and imprisoned till the King's pleasure was known? There was no +question that he should be arrested without delay, and his successor, +Meer Kasim Ali, an officer who could be entirely depended upon, was at +once named by several in the council as the fittest person, and Hyat +Khan, the Kotwal, vouched for his leaving the city before dawn. He knew +Juldroog perfectly, and was acquainted with the garrison. There was no +doubt of his surprising Osman Beg, and placing him under detention, +pending further orders; and he was at once sent for, and arrived as +the reading of the correspondence was concluded, and was ushered into +the presence--a fine soldier-like young man, somewhat older than Abbas +Khan, but with equally bold and frank features. He was immediately made +acquainted with the duty assigned to him, and a grateful smile passed +over his features as he felt that his success would involve promotion +to the grade held by Osman Beg, and he received the Royal commission, +putting it to his forehead and eyes, and making a profound reverence. + +"And now," said the Queen, "we give our opinion and instructions at +once. We would not have Osman Beg, whose father is honoured among us, +and honoured by the King, imprisoned in a fortress, or sent to Dilawer +Ali Khan, at Moodgul, where intrigue may take place. We would have him +kept in Juldroog, under watchful care, till the King's return, when, in +full durbar, he may plead what he can in extenuation. You will, also, +Meer Sahib, inquire, and report to me, as soon as possible, under what +circumstances the venerable Syud, long known as the Dervish, and his +granddaughter left Juldroog, and where they are at present. Should +their place of residence be known, you are to despatch them to the +presence without delay." + +"And," added the Kazee, "with the Royal permission, we ask you to +ascertain from the Kazee and Moollas of the fort whether any ceremony +of marriage, Nika or otherwise, passed between Osman Beg and Zora-bee, +the granddaughter of the Syud Dervish, and who performed it." + +"The Royal orders are on my head and eyes," returned the young man, +"and I am honoured by them. Nothing shall be left undone." + +"And your escort?" asked the Queen. + +"I have twenty good soldiers of my own, lady," he replied; "and when +one not in favour is to be displaced, a hint is sufficient." + +"I would also ask you," continued the Queen, "to ascertain whether one +Dom Diego, the head priest at Moodgul, is still there." + +"I think I can answer that question, noble Queen," said the Padre, +joining his hands. "When Abbas Khan was ill from his wound, at the +village near Talikota, I heard that Dom Diego had left Moodgul for +Goa, being succeeded by two humble priests who had taken charge of the +mission; and this was confirmed by some of my flock who came to the +fair at Talikota, who told me they were satisfied with the new comers +until I could return to them." + +"And you are a physician, too, sir," cried the Queen, "as well as +a master of languages. Oh, that thou wouldst see the real Queen, +Taj-ool-Nissa, who languishes sorely, and can obtain no relief, though +we have sent even to Beeder for learned men. Will you see her, Padre +Sahib? it is not late even now, and she is still awake." + +"Before I entered the Church," replied the Padre, "I studied both +medicine and surgery in my own country and in Spain, from the Moorish +physicians, who are most wise. There I learned somewhat of Arabic also, +which, perhaps, led me to the East; and though I joined the Church as +a humble servant of God, I was not without hope, like many of its +missionaries, I might use my medical skill in its service. Yea, noble +Queen, I am ready to use any humble skill I possess in behalf of the +Royal Queen, your daughter." + +"There is no time like the present," returned the Queen; "our nobles +will excuse me while I conduct you to her. Rise, sir, and follow me." + +The Peer Sahib could contain himself no longer-- + +"Astagh-fur-oolla! God forbid! Touba! Touba! Shame! Shame! that I, a +humble priest of Alla and his Prophet, whose name be honoured, should +see this. Touba! Touba! that an infidel should have honour in the +palace of Beejapoor. He a servant of God! He, an eater of pig and +bibber of wine! He, an agent of Satan, a disseminator of the abominable +doctrines which Mahomed Moostafa, Prophet of God, hath cursed! He who +worships images, who----" + +It was in vain that Abbas Khan, the Kazee, and others present, strove +to stop this tirade, which, as the priest raised his voice, rose into a +shriek. + +"Be silent!" he cried; "hear the words of the Prophet," and he made +a long quotation from the Koran, which we may spare our readers. "I +forbid this! I denounce the lying Feringi! I doom him to hell! I----" + +The Queen stood erect on the pile of cushions which had formed her +throne, her slight figure appearing to dilate with excitement and +indignation as she stretched forth her arm and pointed her finger at +the insolent divine-- + +"Peace!" she cried, "Peer Sahib. This is the first time in my long life +that the piety or the hospitality of this great house was called in +question. Peace! know thy place before the throne, and be silent." + +But the Peer heeded not. "It is sorcery! It is sorcery!" he cried. "Was +not she, that woman, accused of sorcery in the time of Kishwar Khan? +Did he not denounce her when he sent her a prisoner to Sattara?" + +"This is too much insolence for your Majesty to hear. Pass in, we pray +thee, and leave us to silence him," said the venerable and blind Ekhlas +Khan, who sat nearest to the throne. + +"Nay," returned the Queen, "I never fled from man yet, noble Khan, and +I await the Peer's homage and apology;" and she reseated herself with +dignity. + +"If I allowed a harsh word to escape me in the heat of argument," said +the Peer, rising and crossing his arms on his breast, "I humbly beg +pardon; but as for that----" + +"You have said enough," cried Abbas Khan; "be content The Mother is not +to be trifled with, as you know. See, she speaks." + +"I forgive you," she said to the Peer, "because thou art a holy man; +but beware, for thy tongue is apt to transgress the bounds of respect. +And now, my lords, I rise again and take this respectable man of God +with me. I will not long detain ye." Nor did she. The young Queen's +apartments were close to the council chamber, and she was raised and +carried to the archway door, where a screen had been let down, and a +thin pale hand was put forth. D'Almeida feared the worst: there was a +low cough; the pulse was weak and thready, and the girl complained of +want of sleep and thirst. He could not then judge of her case, but he +could alleviate present symptoms. + +"Can your Majesty send anyone with me who can be trusted to bring the +medicine? I shall seal it up with my own seal, and it will not be found +disagreeable." + +"Certainly," replied the Queen; "I can send one of my own eunuchs, who +is known to Abbas Khan. But you have a messenger whom I desire to see, +that is thy sister Maria. Can she come to this poor sufferer and cheer +her? I will send a palanquin and an escort to-morrow, at noon." + +"She shall wait on you with pleasure. Anywhere that she can be of use, +Maria will go, as a point of duty to God and to her order. Yes, I will +send her to-morrow." + +"And she speaks Persian?" asked the young Queen, clapping her hands. + +"A little," was the reply; "but Canarese better." + +"Then we can all speak together, and she shall be my friend. And she is +beautiful?" + +"I think her most beautiful, lady; but she is my sister, and it ill +befits me to speak. You will see and judge for yourselves." + +"We may now rejoin our companions," said the Queen Regent. "And you +love Abbas Khan?" she continued, inquiringly. + +"I do," replied the priest, "as I would a son." + +"And have seen no fault in him?" + +"None. He is true and gentle, as a brave soldier ought to be. We were +by chance cast together when his wound broke out again, and I could not +leave him till he was fit to travel. He would have died alone." + +"And thy sister," asked the Queen, "do they know each other?" + +"Not at all, except by hearsay; and she hath never seen or spoken to +him. In the village where Abbas Khan was ill for a month or more we had +a different lodging; and, if abroad, she was always closely veiled. +Since we have been here we lodge with a painter, for whom Maria makes +designs." + +"Now may God bless thee for this assurance! I had feared that Maria's +beauty might--might----" + +"Nay, lady, she is bound to God by her vow, and he is too honourable +to think of her; but I may tell you, who are as his mother, that from +snatches of his dreams when he raved and occasional remarks, his heart +hath gone out to the child who watched him in his first attack at +Juldroog, Zora." + +"Ah!" cried the Queen, smiling, "it may be so. I saw him start when I +used her name; but keep thy secret, Padre Sahib, as I will keep it, and +we will see to this when he is gone." + +"I will be silent," he returned. "Had it not been that my sister hath +the same opinion, and that thou, noble lady, art as his mother, I had +not told thee; but Maria can explain all, better than I can, and I will +bid her make no concealment." + +The assembly rose as the Queen entered the council hall, and, as she +seated herself, again took their places. Francis d'Almeida, being +conducted by a eunuch along a side corridor, entered by a curtained +archway lower down, and took his seat as he had done before. Abbas +Khan was completing his business with the Minister of Finance and +various other officers, and the affairs of the sitting seemed well nigh +concluded. + +"Let all the officers of the army about to march appear at early durbar +to-morrow," said the Queen. "Inshalla! there need be no delay." + +"All is ready, may it please you," returned Abbas Khan. "My intention +was to make a short march to-morrow afternoon, and afterwards to hurry +on as fast as possible to the Royal camp, which lies somewhere between +Sholapoor and Puraindah." + +"We shall send to thy shrine at early morning, O Peer Sahib, offerings +to be distributed to the poor, and ask thy prayers for a victory over +the State's enemies. Alas! that they should be our near relatives." + +"My prayers and blessing will not avail much, I fear, lady, against +what I have witnessed to-night," returned the Peer Sahib, haughtily and +ungraciously. "Those that ask for them should obey the commands of Alla +and his Prophet; nevertheless, I will submit my poor supplications to +the Searcher of hearts." + +It was well, perhaps, that the Royal lady affected not to hear what had +been said, for she merely made an inclination of acknowledgment; and +directing the usual complimentary dismissal gifts to be brought, rose +after they had been distributed, and left the throne. + +"Have you been mad to-night, Peer Sahib? Was your afternoon dose of +opium too strong for thee?" asked Hyat Khan, who feared no priest, and +in particular despised the Peer. "It is well she did not order thee to +my humble dwelling." + +"Silence!" cried the Peer, furiously. "Begone! and let me pass;" and +gathering up the skirts of his robe, lest they should be polluted by +the touch of anyone, he struggled out of the hall, leaning on his long +staff. + +"His jealousy has been aroused by you, Padre Sahib, and he is spiteful; +take my advice and do not cross him again. I will send a guard of my +people to thy lodging, they can both watch and protect." + +As d'Almeida made his acknowledgments, Runga Naik, who had been busy +writing in a corner, in a large, sprawling hand, approached the new +Governor of Juldroog, and gave the letter to him. + +"Take my advice," he said, "do not attempt to cross by the western +ferry above the fall; turn off the main road at Talikota; make for +Korikul, which belongs to me; ask for one Burma Naik, or, if he be +away, for Kesama, my wife; give either of them this letter, and they +will give thee men and boats to cross the town ferry to the fort: this +will save thee more than a day's march. Thou wilt be landed privately, +close to the village; and the rest is in thine own hand, with three +hundred of my people to help thee." + +"If thou wouldst only go thyself, Runga," said Abbas Khan. + +"No, no, Meeah!" was the reply, the tears springing to his eyes; "where +thou goest I follow. If the Meer Sahib follows my advice, he will +secure Osman Beg ere he rises from his bed the day after to-morrow. +The people there will rejoice to be delivered from his insolence +and tyranny. By Krishna! do not send me, I should slay him; and his +life--well, it is in the Lord's hands, worthless as it is. No, not with +thee, Meeah; I must go to my people; I shall meet thee at the early +durbar." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. +A DAY IN THE PALACE. + + +It was late in the night before Francis d'Almeida reached his abode, +but he found his sister awaiting his arrival; and his account of the +events of the evening, after he had made up and despatched by the +Queen's messenger a sealed bottle of medicine for the young Queen, was +in the highest degree interesting to her. Francis had not intended to +tell her of the rudeness of the Mussulman priest, but she told him that +a guard of twelve men had arrived some time before, which had alarmed +the whole household as well as herself. Nor when she had ascertained +that they had been sent for their protection, could she imagine what +danger threatened them; or if there were no danger, were they to be +prisoners in spite of Abbas Khan's assurances? A few words from her +brother soon, however, explained all; and he made light of the Peer +Sahib's rudeness, which he told his sister was only what they must +expect to endure as Christian missionaries. + +"We have been spoilt too much," he continued, "by the good old Nawab +of Moodgul and by our friend Abbas Khan; and in a city like this, full +of fanatics and different religious bodies of Mussulmans, we may +hardly expect to escape notice. But we have a good friend in the great +Kotwal, and under the Queen Regent's protection we should have no fear. +You will see her and her daughter-in-law to-morrow, at their special +request, and we shall accompany Abbas Khan to the Palace at an early +hour. I think you may be of use to that poor sufferer, the young Queen, +whom they believe to be under a malignant evil spell; but who is either +weakened by fever, or by some insidious complaint, which I humbly trust +may not be decline, and yet I fear it. I want you to watch, since I may +not see her face; and the eagerness with which she bade me assure her +that you would come proves to me you will be heartily welcomed. Rise +early, therefore, as I shall, and prepare yourself. Take some drawings +and work with you, and I can promise you a happy and interesting day. +You will not see much of the great Queen Regent, perhaps; but after she +has given audience to the officers about to march to-day, she may have +leisure." + +Maria had no apprehension. Accustomed as she was to visit the harem of +the Nawab of Moodgul, and to friendly and intimate association with his +wife and children, she felt no embarrassment in visiting another Indian +lady, even though she might be a Queen. Accordingly rising at daylight, +she set aside what she needed to take with her; and her brother having +prepared the medicines he purposed to administer, they partook of an +early breakfast, and were ready when the palanquins sent from the +Palace arrived for them. + +More than ordinarily lovely did his sister appear to Francis d'Almeida +that morning. She had selected the finest of her lawn coifs and +kerchiefs to wear, and their exquisite whiteness enhanced the rosy +colour of her complexion, and harmonised with the purity of her fair +neck and arms; while her soft brown hair, in natural ringlets, escaped +from the coif and hung about her shoulders. To anyone who had never +seen a pure European lady, she must, in spite of the sombre robe which +concealed her graceful figure, have appeared a vision of beauty. + +Old Donna Silvia, the wife of the painter, took her in her arms as +she prepared to enter the palanquin, and kissed her affectionately +and warmly, and bade her fear naught; and throwing the Queen Regent's +beautiful Cashmere shawl around her head and shoulders, she entered the +palanquin, closed the doors, and proceeded onwards with her old servant +shuffling by her side. + +At the gate of Abbas Khan's mansion they joined in his cavalcade, +which, as well from his own retinue as the number of officers by whom +he was accompanied, was of an imposing character. Maria would have +liked to open the doors of her palanquin and look out at the richly +dressed crowd of officers, many of them in glittering mail--at the +magnificent caparisons of their horses, bounding and prancing as they +went, and of the huge elephants which accompanied them, the incessant +clash of whose bells was almost deafening; but modesty forbade it, and +she contented herself with such glimpses as she could obtain through +the small jalousies of the doors which let in light and air. She could +catch passing glances of Abbas Khan, whose noble figure and spirited +charger were remarkable over all by whom he was surrounded, and +inwardly prayed for a blessing on him, and protection in the new scenes +of war into which he was about to plunge. She had not forgotten poor +Zora, nor her apparently hopeless love. She could discover no trace of +her in the huge city; and far away as she must be, must inevitably, +she thought, be forgotten in the excitement of the young Khan's life. +She had not heard then from her brother the story of Zora's violent +abduction by Osman Beg, and her strange release by Runga Naik and his +companions. + +In this order the cavalcade passed on through the gloomy gate of the +citadel, till their palanquins were put down at the private door of +the female apartments of the Palace. Then, with cries of "Gosha! +Gosha!"--privacy--by the eunuchs, a high screen of cloth was raised, +and the door of Maria's litter was opened by her brother; and entering +the deep archway, she observed the tall figure of Abbas Khan at +the entrance of a wide corridor, beckoning them to advance. At the +curtained archway in front she saw him hold a brief colloquy with one +of the men who guarded it; and the curtain was raised to admit them, +as they entered what the Padre now recognised as the council room of +the previous evening. + +Involuntarily Maria started, as, looking up, she cast her eyes around, +and followed the clusters of pillars which led up to the groined and +fretted roof, covered with exquisite arabesque designs in pure white +stucco, the principal lines and rosettes of which were of burnished +gilding. Never could she have imagined so beautiful an apartment from +the plain and almost mean entrance; and her brother, who had only seen +it at night, when partially lighted, was equally charmed and surprised. + +"How very beautiful!" she said, in a whisper. "Can all the interior of +the Palace be like this? How exquisitely graceful is the tracery which +covers the panels of the walls, and, mingling with the light clustered +shafts of the corners and centre, leads the eye up to that richly +ornamented ceiling. Would we could linger here, and that I had time to +sketch portions of the designs." + +"The Alhambra, which I once saw," returned her brother, "is perhaps +more wonderful, and even more elegant; but this has been designed, +probably, by some Spanish Moor with equal skill; and I hope you will +have many opportunities of making drawings from it; but we must not +tarry now, for the Queen-Mother awaits us;" and, leaving the council +chamber, they entered the corridor by which the Queen had proceeded +the evening before, until Abbas Khan paused before the entrance to +the private apartments, while one of the eunuchs gave notice to the +Queen-Mother of their arrival, and returning immediately bid them +enter. It was an antechamber to the room in which the Royal lady was +awaiting them; and directly they approached her, she rose and greeted +them with evident kindness and interest, bidding them welcome. When +Abbas Khan had made his usual reverence to her, he said-- + +"I may leave my friends with you, mother, there is no need of me as +interpreter; and it is time I should take my place in the durbar, for +it is filling fast. I will return when your Majesty has dismissed it, +if I am permitted to do so." + +"Certainly, my son," she said; "but will not she take off her veil? +We are longing to see the face of one in whom we have so strong an +interest." + +"Not before me, mother," returned the Khan, smiling; "but I depart, and +commit them to your care;" and he left the room. + +With a modest confusion, Maria now removed the shawl which she had +thrown over her head, and also the embroidered veil by which her +features were concealed, the finely crimped coif of her order, and the +pure lawn handkerchief, being all that remained; but her soft curly +hair had escaped in some degree, and fell over her neck and bosom in +rich tresses, which, now the light touched them, shone like threads of +gold. + +"Power of God!" cried the Queen, "was there ever such beauty seen? +Rise, child; let me embrace thee! Wilt thou be to me as a daughter?" + +They both rose, and the Queen, stretching forth her arms, enfolded +Maria in a warm embrace, kissing her on the forehead and cheeks. "Sit +down beside me, and do not tremble. If I be a Queen to all, I can be +a mother and a friend to thee. How is it, Padre Sahib, that she is so +lovely? Is this rosy colour real, or is it the custom of ladies of your +country to paint their faces as we hear the Chinese beauties do? Nay," +she continued, laughing heartily, "I see there is no need to doubt, for +your fair sister's rising colour betrays her, and she blushes." + +"She is like our mother," he returned, "who was perhaps more beautiful. +But she is not used to compliments, which confuse her. Besides, she is +vowed to the service of God since her husband's death, and can take no +pride in self-adornment." + +"And your mother lives?" + +"We trust so," returned the priest; "but she hath other children near +her, who follow worldly callings. We two have devoted ourselves to the +service of the Lord, and are to her as though we were dead." + +"And your sister would not marry again, for she might have done so +under your law?" asked the Queen. + +"She might have done so to her worldly advantage," returned the Padre, +"for several, both nobles and wealthy, sought her at Goa; but she +preferred the service of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and took her vows +of poverty and relinquishment of the world upon her, joining me in +my humble labours at Moodgul, where we were so happy, till Dom Diego +insulted her, and Dilawer Khan sent us to your protection." + +"Ye are brave people," returned the Queen, with a sigh, as it appeared, +of admiration. "And ye desire nothing, and will accept nothing. Is it +not so? Ah! where shall I find such devotion among the priests of our +faith? The higher they are in rank and presumed holiness, the more they +desire--estates, gifts, houses, elephants, money. Have you none like +these in your Church?" + +"We have, indeed, lady. We have priests who live like princes, and +who rank as princes; who amass wealth and are greedy of honours. But +we poor friars, and Sisters of Charity, have no part with these great +dignitaries, and are content and happy with what God sends us, though +it be humble food and poor raiment, for are not our souls cheered and +warmed by Him; and care we know not." + +"And we honour ye the more for this; and had it been seemly to do so, +we had rebuked the insolent priest who was disrespectful last night. +When my lord the King returneth he shall know of this, and respect +thee, O Padre, as I have already learned to do, in truth. But come, +Maria, I must lead thee to my little Queen Taj-ool-Nissa, and leave ye +together, while I take my place in the great assembly." + +"I was about to ask, lady, whether she felt relief from the medicine I +sent last night?" + +"Ah! I had forgotten, Padre Sahib; and I fear it is Maria's fault; +or is it that our poor natures too soon forget the highest benefits? +She will tell Maria more than she has told me, I dare say; but her +cough was better this morning, and she rested quietly, and had no evil +dreams, and has eaten well. But come, we must lead thee to her, Maria; +she is sitting in the balcony above the throne, where I must take my +seat presently, and thou wilt see all that passes. Come!" and taking +Maria by the hand, she led her through another antechamber into the +young Queen's presence, bidding her make the same reverential salute to +her that she had done too herself. + +Taj-ool-Nissa was a slight girl, about seventeen years old; not so fair +as the Queen Regent, but with an air of good breeding and distinction +that could not be mistaken. Her seat of rich yellow satin cushions +accorded well with her full petticoat and tunic of heavy cloth of gold, +and the filmy brocade scarf of light blue muslin, which, confined +at the waist, passed over her head. Several strings of large pearls +and Venetian sequins hung round her neck, and her wrists and ankles +were ablaze with bracelets and anklets of diamonds. Her features were +decidedly pretty, though the expression seemed vacant. Naturally so, +it was possible, or under the influence of weakness, which was indeed +very visible. The contrast between the girl and the Regent Queen was +most striking; the one loaded with ornaments, yet not remarkable; the +other wearing only pure white muslin, yet with a noble, intellectual +expression which could not be mistaken. + +For an instant, while the two ladies embraced each other, Taj-ool-Nissa +did not see Maria except as a black figure taller than either of them; +but when the Queen Regent took her by the hand and presented her, the +expression of wonder and admiration in the young Queen's face was even +more decided than the elder lady's had been. + +Maria's expressive, soft blue eyes, her colour, the perfect whiteness +of her skin, her delicate hands and silky hair, were so different from +anything she had ever before seen, that her astonishment was even +ludicrous, for the Queen-Mother laughed heartily, and chid her for +apparent rudeness to a stranger; but this continued only for a moment, +for Maria found herself drawn gently to the young Queen's heart, and +held there. + +"I have no one to be a companion to me," she said, the tears rising to +her eyes. "Our beloved mother has too many cares and too much labour to +sit with a weak, ailing girl like me, and you would be as a sister to +me, Maria. And I hear you know so much, and can teach me so much, that +my heart looks to you as it would to a dear sister. Will you be one to +me, and never leave me? See how well I am to-day, owing to your good +brother's medicine; and I slept so pleasantly and did not cough. Oh, +Maria! if he will only make me strong and well ere my lord returns, he +will be rewarded by him gratefully." + +"My brother will use all his skill, lady," returned Maria; "but it is +only God who can restore you to health, and we will pray for you, if +Christians may." + +"Ye are both devoted to the Lord," she replied with feeling. "Oh! pray +for me, and He will hear; but be seated near me that I may feel and +caress you, and we can look out from the balcony into the great hall +while the durbar is held; for all you will see, warriors and chiefs, +are going to the aid of my lord and King. May God bring him to me +safely!" + +"My brother has sent some medicine for you," said Maria; "and if you +will call for the person who is to have charge of it, I will give her +directions." + +"It is too precious, Tajoo," which was the familiar appellation of the +young Queen, "to have any keeper but me," said Queen Chand, "and I will +ask your brother, Maria, what to do with it when I return. Till then, +sit here and see what we do, and he can feel Tajoo's pulse, if he will, +meanwhile." + +As she passed out they heard her speaking to Francis and a eunuch, who +a moment afterwards summoned them both to the door. Although he could +not see Taj-ool-Nissa, Maria's description of her was sufficient, and +her own assurance that she already felt better was very encouraging. + +"She has narrowly escaped the decline which precedes consumption, for +they have been keeping her too low; but as she gains appetite she will +eat freely, and will do well if the Palace doctors and old women will +let her alone." + +"What did your brother say?" asked Taj-ool-Nissa, eagerly. And when +Maria had explained it to her, she said, "He need not fear; I will do +faithfully all he directs, and my beloved mother will give the medicine +to me, and I will take it only from her hands. But tell him that I have +always been delicate. I was so at Golconda, of which my dear father +is the King; and he hoped I should be well here, which is a healthier +place. And for a time I was better, and have even been out hunting with +my lord and our mother; but lately I have fallen back again, and I have +mourned in my heart that I should see my dear lord no more. Oh, Maria! +he is so noble and so kind to me; he hath none else to love but me!" + +And as she spoke, her large liquid eyes filled, and she laid her head +on Maria's shoulder and sobbed gently, smiling through her tears. That +place seemed to be a refuge to her already. "Hundreds of the ladies +of the city come to visit me, and some pity me, Maria; but there is +no one to whom my heart goes forth but thee. But, hark! the nobut is +beating, and we must take our seats in the balcony." Then, drawing a +warm Cashmere shawl about her head and body, she took her usual place. + +They looked out over the wide, lofty hall of audience, which has been +described before. To Maria's perception it was a wondrous sight, both +in regard to the hall itself and its magnificent proportions, and +also as to the level space beyond, now a rich green sward filled with +troops, whose armour and weapons glinted and flashed far more brightly +in the unclouded sunlight than they had done on the day of the ordeal. +The interior of the hall, though in shadow, was brighter by far than on +that occasion; for the sunlight through the noble entrance archway--it +is ninety-two feet in span--reached a considerable distance into the +hall at that comparatively early hour. + +All the commanders and officers of the army about to march, attended +by their standard-bearers, had already taken their seats in rank down +the hall, which, as there were no pillars, arches, or other obstruction +to the sight, seemed almost to expand as the crowds of chiefs poured +into it. Then the deep kettledrums of the nobut began to beat; and as +the Queen Regent entered and took her seat upon the throne, all stood +up and bowed themselves before her with profound reverence. Abbas +Khan, who stood near the steps of the throne, as it were, leading the +movement. + +"Is it not gorgeous, Maria!" exclaimed her companion, clapping +her hands in joy. "Does not your heart swell at the sight? And +they are all my lord's, and will go and fight for him. Hark to the +shouts, 'Futteh-i-Nubba!' ('Victory to the Prophet!') 'Deen! Deen!' +'Futteh-i-Shah Ibrahim!' Oh, Maria! I feel as though I could go and +fight with them for my dear, my noble lord; and, oh, our mother would +go if she were at liberty, for when her husband was at war she was a +warrior too, and never left his side. But, ah! I have been weak, and my +king would not let me go. And I tell you truly, Maria, my father has as +many soldiers as my lord, but he has no hall like this. Our durbar is +a small place in comparison, but the troops assemble below the black +terrace, and we used to look at them from the terrace of the palace. +When the durbar is over I will take you to the rooms I like best, for +they are higher than these; and if you open the windows you can see the +whole city at your feet. All mine! all mine, Maria! because it is my +lord's." + +Thus she prattled on in high spirits, though Maria feared for the +excitement, while the business of the durbar proceeded. One by one, as +the names of the commanders were called, and the amount of their forces +cried out, they presented the hilts of their swords to the Queen Regent +and received her blessing; and many of them, rejoining their men, +marched them forth to the place of assembly. But some remained, and +Abbas Khan was the last to offer his homage and take leave to depart. +As he came up to the steps of the throne the Queen motioned him to +come to her, and with her own hands tied round his right arm a small +light green muslin scarf bordered with silver tissue, in which a coin +had been folded in the name of the Imam Zamin, as she whispered, "Go, +my son; honour and advancement are in thine own hands, and I know thou +wilt not fail me or the King. Go; may Alla keep thee and restore thee +to me as safely as I dismiss thee." + +Then, as the Queen rose, the kettledrum sounded again, and Abbas Khan, +stretching out his arm over his head, cried with a loud, manly voice, +"Victory to our Queen-Mother!" which was taken up by those who filled +the hall, and by the thousands without; and in a short time the hall +and plain beyond were empty, except for a solitary court usher, or +other attendant, who, flitting about singly, gave to the vast edifice +an appearance almost of desertion. + +As Abbas Khan passed the private entrance he sent word to the Padre to +come to speak with him, and waited in the street for him. "How is the +little Queen?" he asked. "Tell me truly for my lord the King." + +"She is very delicate," was the reply; "but I do not fear. If my +directions are fulfilled, she will ultimately recover; and, though she +may never be strong, she will pass an easy, happy life. But if she be +neglected, I fear the worst. My lord, I will see to her as much as +possible myself; and for part of every day Maria will be with her and +direct her." + +"And now farewell, my friend," said Abbas Khan, "for I have yet +business at home, and we must assemble at Allapoor before sunset. +Be careful of yourselves, and may Alla keep you. Do not cross the +ill-natured old Peer Sahib; yet do not avoid him, or show any fear of +him, nor, indeed, of anyone, for our noble Queen-Mother is your true +friend and protector. Do not stay long to-day, for she is excited and +wearied, but go every day to her, and take Maria with you; she can do +more for Taj-ool-Nissa's happiness and the King's than she imagines. If +you are at your house soon, come to me once more before I leave; but as +the third watch begins to strike, I must put my foot in the stirrup and +can wait for no one. Maria will often see my aunt at the Palace; let +them be loving friends, as they should be, and may God have you in his +keeping." + +"What can I say for your kindness, my lord?" returned the Padre. "Our +humble prayers attend you. Be not too rash if there be war, for a good +leader ought not to expose himself to undue danger. All else I will +remember, and the poor little Queen shall be closely watched. Maria was +once in a similar condition, and I feared for her; but you see how +healthy she is now." + +It was no easy matter to get away from the Palace. Taj-ool-Nissa had +taken Maria up to the set of her own private apartments she most +liked to live in. They were under the terraced roof, and were both +lofty and airy, commanding, as she had said, a view over the whole of +the citadel, including the elegant Palace of the Seven Storeys, and +the city, as far as the high ground beyond Torweh, a wide expanse, +which was filled with noble palaces, terraced roofs, with streets, +mosques, and minarets without number. To the north the huge mass of the +mausoleum of Mahmood Adil Shah towered over all; and beyond the wall +was the broad plain of Allapoor, dotted over with the white tents of +the army. + +They were interrupted by the Queen Regent, who appeared weary and +anxious, as she threw herself on a pile of soft cushions and pressed +her temples with her hands. "Alas!" she cried, "alas! and woe that +it falls to-night to despatch our army against my own kinsfolk of +Ahmednugger. Pity me, both of ye, my children! May such necessities as +mine be far from ye. But they are factious and desperate, and would +invade us if they were not checked. Yet I pray they may return within +their boundary before there be blood shed. So grant it, O Lord most +mighty!" + +Then she was silent for a while, and seemed to pray; but in a few +moments she looked up more brightly, and rose to a sitting posture. "I +have been taking my instructions from your good brother, Maria, about +Tajoo's medicine, and talking to him about his life, and about the +Dervish of Juldroog, and Zora. He says you have, or had, a drawing of +her made by yourself. Is it in your book? If it be, let me see it." + +Maria feared she had left it behind at her house, but found it in +the portfolio; and as she glanced at it, thought she had never done +anything more correctly. It was a faithful likeness of the girl, with +her sweet lips parted as if to speak; an earnest, glowing face, to +be loved at first sight. She put the drawing into the Queen's hands, +and observed her start visibly. "What a dear, loving face it is!" she +exclaimed. + +"Yes, it is all that," returned Maria; "and her heart is the same. I +could show you a letter which reached me only yesterday, which she +has written as she speaks, if your Majesty would like to see it;" and +taking a small case from the pocket of her robe, she placed it in the +Queen's hand. It was that we have already seen. + +"It is charming, indeed," she said; "and I think there is a clue in my +mind as to the person remembered." + +"Ah!" cried Maria, "I had forgotten that. I ought not----" + +The Queen smiled as she interrupted the fair speaker. "Have no +concealment from me, Maria; for he is my son, and I am her truest +friend if she can be found." + +"Found!" exclaimed Maria; "why she is at Juldroog, surely?" + +"Alas, daughter! man's passion has been busy there also. Osman Beg +offered her violence, but she was rescued by Runga Naik; and her +grandfather and herself are wanderers. Yet she is safe, and we may be +able to recover her. Osman Beg we have removed from his office, pending +the King's arrival and pleasure." + +Then Maria remembered the scene of the cataract, and the dead panther +lying beneath the bastion, and Zora's dread of the libertine Nawab; and +was thankful for her rescue and escape. "He ought to be rewarded, that +brave Runga, for he loves that child, and would give his life for her." + +"And he shall be rewarded, Maria; for he is, indeed, a noble fellow, +simple and truthful." + +"Who is Zora?" asked Taj-ool-Nissa; and she looked at the drawing, +which was wonderful in her eyes. + +"One who is very dear to Maria, and will, I hope, be dear to thee, +Tajoo; but let Maria go now, for thou shouldst take thy medicine, and +after it thou art ordered rest. I, too, am already weary, and would +sleep awhile before the afternoon sitting." + +"And Maria will come to-morrow, mother?" + +"Certainly," said the Queen, answering for Maria, who felt as if excuse +would be impossible. + +When Abbas Khan returned home he found his aunt cheerful and resigned +to his unavoidable absence. The family astrologer had predicted a +favourable journey, leading to honour; and it was Thursday when the +Rujub-ool-Ghyb pointed to the north, the way he was to go. Other homely +proceedings had removed all doubts. Yet the thought that to stay behind +would have been a disgrace, and the charge of so large a body of troops +would lead to high honour; above all, that her boy would be with his +uncle and his foster-brother, the King, comforted her. + +On his own part, he could only commit the Padre and his sister to +her care; and ask her if she heard of the arrival of the Dervish of +Juldroog in the city at any of the shrines to send for him, and offer +him her hospitality till he should return himself, as he trusted +shortly, and perhaps his granddaughter might be with him. + +So the dear old lady embraced him, and tied a coin, dedicated to the +Imam Zamin, in a green scarf upon his arm, with a fervent prayer. Her +cheeks were wet with tears, but she had never seen him depart with so +much confidence as now. Then as the Palace gongs sounded the third +watch he mounted his horse and rode out of the courtyard; and the +large nagaras or kettledrums of his household guards beating their +hollow booming notes, they were taken up by those of the force, some of +which through the north or Delhi gate were already in motion along the +Allapoor road. + +He had barely departed, when the Padre and his sister reached home, +and sent word to the old lady that they had to deliver a message from +the Palace, and would come, if permitted, through the garden; and a +kind answer being received in reply, they went to her. Maria had not, +as yet, seen the Lady Fatima, and found her just the dear, kindly +person she had imagined, and she was taken to her breast with unfeigned +affection. On Maria mentioning that her brother was without, she +desired a woman-servant to bring him in to her apartment. "I am too old +not to be seen by a man of God," she said, laughing; and as Francis +entered, she rose and saluted him. + +"Your sister and I have already dispensed with ceremony," she said, +"and I beg you to dispense with it also Senor Padre. I am a plain, +homely woman, and desire to know one who has rendered such inestimable +service to my son. And his wound is well?" + +"Almost," he replied. "I have no fear about it; and he will be careful +now, for it only requires rest." + +Then he delivered the Queen's message, that she would bring Maria +with her the next day, which she gladly assented to do; and gradually +leading them to speak of Juldroog and their hosts there, she said +frankly, "Ah! I fear Meeah left his heart there. Can you describe Zora, +whose name he murmured in his dreams?" + +"I can show you a poor likeness of her," replied Maria, taking the +drawing from her portfolio. "This is true, but it is not equal to her +beautiful, innocent face." + +"Ya, Alla! thou art merciful," said the old lady. "Such an one I had +dreamed of for him; and I am thankful that such a face lies at his +heart. May she be his in the end. And she loves him, Maria?" + +"Nay," she said, modestly, "I cannot say; but her letter, which I may +show to his mother, is, I think, true. Listen, and I will read it. Oh! +that the motherless child could obtain such a protector." Then they +conversed long upon past events, and Francis and his sister returned +late to their home, grateful but wearied by the events of the day. And +till the King's return the intercourse between Donna Maria and the +Royal inmates of the Palace continued to afford deep gratification +to all; while, under the skilful care of the Padre, the young Queen +regained health and strength such as she had not enjoyed for a long +time previously. She had proved an apt scholar in ornamental work, had +made progress in drawing, and in reading Persian under the instruction +of the old teacher who had taught her husband the King. Her former +lassitude, weariness, and petulance had disappeared, and, instead, her +bright, simple, ingenuous nature promised to be the foundation of a +happy and useful life. + + +END OF BOOK II. + + + + +BOOK III. + + +CHAPTER I. +A RAPID MARCH. + + +The new Governor of Juldroog was a bold, active young officer, by no +means likely to delay in assuming charge of the first considerable +office with which he had been entrusted. Taking with him ten picked men +of his own retainers, on whom he could thoroughly depend, and relying +on the effects of the Queen's commission upon the present garrison of +the fort, he left Beejapoor not long after midnight; for, accustomed +to move anywhere at the shortest notice, he had little else to do +than order his men to be ready, to give a few simple directions in +his house, and to warn his scribe and secretary, Jewun Rao, an active +young Brahmin, skilled in writing both Persian and Mahratta. All this +was soon accomplished, and before the day broke the little party, with +their lightly-loaded baggage ponies, were some miles on their road +southwards, travelling at a steady pace, as befitted persons who could +not risk failure by too great haste. They avoided, too, the larger +villages and small towns; and, as all knew the country perfectly, they +had no difficulty in following the nearest routes without guides. + +The day was cool and overcast, with a fresh breeze blowing from the +south-west, which rendered travelling pleasant; and as there had been +no rain for some days, the roads and the country in general were quite +dry, and easy to traverse. About noon the party halted under a grove +of mango trees, by which a small stream ran, and preparations were +made for a good meal, which, indeed, was needed, and welcome to every +one, for half the journey was already accomplished; and after taking +a little rest they again mounted and pushed on. Here and there, as +they passed near villages, the bastions were manned by matchlock men; +but the Royal flag, which the Governor used as his standard, was too +well known to be disputed, and as the evening closed in, they found +themselves on the borders of the Beydur territory, only a few miles +from their final destination, Runga Naik's town of Korikul. Now a doubt +arose as to whether it would be most advisable to halt where they were +for the night, or to proceed; but, all things considered, and to give +rest to their horses, they determined to stay where they were. + +The Patell, or head officer, who chanced to be a Mussulman, and the +other authorities being summoned in the Queen's name, came, humbly +offering forage and shelter and such food as the place afforded, while +the Moolla conducted them to the humble mosque, and bade them welcome. +The hospitality of an Indian village is generally very sincere when +those who need it belong to the ruling Government of the country, and +come in a peaceful cause; and the new Governor of Juldroog was no bully +to extort what he could obtain by conciliatory request. Comparatively +soon, therefore, a sheep was slain, and converted into savoury kabobs, +with the accompaniment of an excellent pilao, to which our friends, we +need hardly say, did ample justice, for their first meal of the day had +only been a very light and unsubstantial one. After it was over the +Patell was summoned, and questioned as to the nearest road to Korikul, +which none of the party had seen. + +"Korikul!" exclaimed the Patell, in amazement; "that is not your way +to Moodgul, if you are going there! Runga Naik's people are not used +to the sight of soldiers of the Queen, and are likely to give you a +rough reception, Meer Sahib. Of course I can give you a guide if you +wish one, and my own son shall attend you, who is well known there; but +still I advise you to avoid the place, and go by the high road, where +there are good boats at the ferry, for the river is not fordable yet." + +"But we have business with Runga's people; and with this," and he drew +the chieftain's letter from his breast, "we shall, I hope, have no +trouble." + +"It is, indeed, Runga Naik's writing," said the Kurnum, or village +scribe, "and sealed by his seal, and addressed to his wife, Kesama, +and to Burma Naik, who is in charge of the place; but for all that it +depends upon your business there, Sahib, what sort of a reception you +get; and the Patell's son, whom they know, will be able to explain all +you need. Or shall I come myself?" + +"If I can only get speech of them, I will explain my own business," +said the Governor; "and it is private, so that I have to tell it +myself. Settle among yourselves who had best accompany me, and be ready +before daylight; for as soon as the horses have had rest we ought to +proceed, and there will be plenty of light from the moon." + +"Yes, you should leave this soon after the second watch of the night," +returned the Kurnum; "and while you sleep we will settle who is to go. +There will be no trouble, Meer Sahib. You do not want any of them." + +"Not I," was the reply. "Runga and three hundred of his men march +to-morrow with the army, and I am to tell this, and something else, +which is, as I said, private. Now let me sleep, Rao Sahib, for I am +somewhat stiff and tired." + +"It is time to get up, Meer Sahib," said the Kurnum, some hours later, +shaking the shoulders of the sleeper. "I am ready myself, and the +Patell, who will not trust his son, is ready also. He and his wife are +seeing to a light meal which you had as well eat before you start, and +your men and servants are taking theirs. So get up, sir; your horses +are already saddled." + +"How I have slept, to be sure!" said the Meer Sahib, yawning; "and I +could have lain there till daylight; but I shall be ready directly;" +and a servant entering with a vessel, poured water over his hands and +feet, while the whole ablution was quickly completed, and the slight +breakfast was a savoury and unexpected pleasure. Then the stout old +Patell came ready equipped for travel, apologising for his early +disturbance of his guest. "But the road is long and very stony," he +said, "and I go with you because I know Burma well, better than the +Kurnum, for he hates Brahmins in general, and, if he happens to be in a +bad humour, will open the gate to no one. If he thought you wanted him +or any of his people to account for anything, your first welcome would +be a shower of matchlock balls which would empty some of your saddles." + +"I am heartily obliged to you, my friend," replied the Meer Sahib. "By +all means take the matter into your own hand. With any one but a Syud, +as you are, I should be suspicious; but I can depend upon you. Now I +am ready, Bismilla! let us proceed;" and with an echo of the cry from +his men, the party set out at as quick a pace as the narrow path would +allow. + +At first it led through fields; but when they ceased, a short thorny +jungle began, while so narrow was the path that only one person +could proceed at a time. This thorny tract was in fact the frontier +of the Beydur district, and was kept as unbroken as possible to +keep out enemies or marauders, as also parties of the clan who might +be returning pursued from freebooting expeditions in the adjacent +countries. Every path that led into the open country beyond was made +or left as crooked as possible, constantly breaking into other smaller +ones, which, unless the right one were known, led into wilder spots, or +ceased altogether. + +They were tracks, too, that could easily be defended upon any +emergency. Sometimes small breast-works, like low walls of rough +stones, crossed the road, which could be held against a large number +by a few men; and, again, similar breast-works occupied the crests +or sides of low rocky hills, or isolated piles of granite rock. At +night the tracks, the thorny bushes, and rude fortifications seemed +more formidable than they really were at daylight; and the dim moon, +partially overcast with clouds, made every object indistinct and +mysterious after a strange fashion. + +The young leader saw at once that, without a very competent guide, he +and his men might have wandered through these ever-varying tracks and +jungles, which continued for several miles, without a hope of finding +their way to their destination; and it was fortunate, indeed, that he +had chanced to find a friendly village and a hospitable Patell of his +own faith whom the Beydurs of Korikul could trust. + +"We could never have found our way, Sheykhjee," said the Governor, +"without you or without torches, and I am grateful to you." + +"You would not have discovered it with them, Meer Sahib," returned his +companion. "If torches had been seen gliding about in this jungle you +would have found yourselves beset speedily and helplessly. There would +have been no parleying with you; but, instead, you would have been in +the power of my not over scrupulous friends. It is, indeed, a mercy +that you did not attempt it. But see, the last small pass brought us +out of the jungle and the rocks; and we are now in the open country, +which, as you will see, is fertile and well cultivated; for the Naik +of Wakin-Keyra is careful of his people. Now we can push on faster, +Meer Sahib; and we shall be at the gates of Korikul by daylight, or +soon after; shall we not, Ramana?" he asked of his horn-blower, who was +walking beside his master's palfrey, holding on by the crupper. + +"Sooner, perhaps," said the man; "and you need not arrive before the +gates are opened for the day." + +So they proceeded, answering challenges from village towns and bastions +by a few notes on the Patell's horn, which seemed to be understood, +for they were not molested. Gradually the chill wind which precedes +dawn blew over the face of the country, and moaned through the trees +they were just clearing. Packs of jackals began their last howlings +before they went to rest, and others took up their cries, which +seemed to extend far and wide. Lapwings and plovers had roused with +the last watch of the night, and piped or wailed to each other as they +took their early flights; or, roused by the travellers, flew up into +the air, and, caught by the wind, flew screaming to leeward. The moon +was fast sinking into a belt of dark grey clouds near the horizon, +while the eastern sky showed a perceptibly brighter tint which spread +gradually over that region, though, as yet, there was none of the +colour of dawn. Then, on the banks of a small stream, the Patell called +a halt, waist cloths were spread, and the early prayer said by all the +Mussulmans of the party; and, after it, hookahs went round with many +a jest and laugh of good companionship. As the cocks began to crow +and the dogs to bark in a village not far off, they mounted again and +pursued their way. + +As daylight increased, it would have been difficult, perhaps +impossible, for the young leader of the party to have made his way +through the country without his guide, for at every village men armed +with long Beydur matchlocks manned the bastions and gate-towers of the +villages, as well as the central place of refuge, which, in appearance +and size closely resembling a Martello tower, commanded the village +and adjacent approaches. Drums were beaten, the village horn-blowers +blew quivering blasts upon their instruments, and men shrieked and +yelled in that peculiar manner which, when Beydurs are excited, is not +pleasant to hear; but a few notes from the guide's horn seemed to have +the invariable effect of quieting the commotion, and in most instances +parties of the village guards ran out to hold a brief colloquy with +the old Patell and his companions, only to be assured of peaceable +intentions and the Queen's service. The Governor saw that all the +villages, neatly built of the laminar limestone of this part, and +covered with thinner portions like slate, were evidently prosperous +and thickly inhabited; and that their lands were well cultivated and +bore heavy crops of grain and pulse, while the people were comfortably +clad and cattle were abundant. If the Beydurs were vicious and robbers +without their boundaries, as they had the reputation of being, they +were, at least, quiet and industrious within; watchful and prepared to +resist any irruption of marauders from without. + +The sun was just rising when the old Patell, who was leading, stopped +and pointed out smoke, which appeared above a grove of tamarind trees +at a little distance; and as they gained the summit of a slight rising +ground, the town of Korikul lay just before them. In the centre was +a castle, with walls about fifty feet high, and towers well built of +stone, from the highest of which floated the standard of Runga Naik, +being a large green field with a white border, and a figure of Hunooman +(the Monkey God) and patron saints of the Beydurs displayed on it; +while similar flags were flying from the gate towers and bastions. Some +neat buildings in the upper part of the castle, cleanly whitewashed, +were evidently the dwelling places of the family; and below was a large +open courtyard, which led into other yards--all surrounded with stone +walls, with bastions at intervals--and containing large stacks of grain +and forage. The entrance to the outer gate of the castle was intricate, +leading through a succession of narrow traverses between bastion +loopholes for musketry. Before modern artillery such a place could not +be held for an hour; but at the period of this chronicle the Castle +of Korikul was a strong place, and could be defended by a thousand or +more stout Beydurs, many of whom lived in the town and others in the +villages around, who held lands for their services--all forming part of +the numerous militia of the province, which was twelve thousand strong. + +The space around the outer walls of the castle, and between them and +the inner wall--which was also of stone, and protected by circular +bastions--was filled with narrow irregular streets, and stone houses +roofed with slate, tiles, or thatch, as it pleased the owners. One +street--broader than any other, and leading from the gate to the +castle, or palace as it was called--was pointed out by the Patell +as the Bazar, in which there were shops of cloth merchants, money +dealers, braziers, and grain and flour dealers. Beyond the inner walls +was a large populous suburb of weavers, each house having its yards +for dressing yarn for the loom; while, mingled with them, were dyers' +yards, where white yarn was dyed of various colours to suit the +manufacturers. A small stream ran past the town, the bed of which was +already crowded by bathers, washers of yarn, cattle drinking before +they went to graze, or standing and lowing in the shallow pools. +Altogether, with the fine tamarind and mango trees around, the low +rugged hills covered with brushwood, stretching into the distance, the +scene was cheerful, prosperous, and peaceful; and a softened beauty +seemed to pervade all the landscape. + +Such was the thriving town of Korikul at the period we write of. But +it is sadly different now. The outer walls and bastions as well as the +inner ones, are broken down in many places, part of the castle has +fallen in, and the whole is in a ruinous condition. The town is full +of heaps of stones and earth which once formed substantial houses, and +the Petta, or weavers' suburb, has almost disappeared. The chief, a +descendant of Runga Naik, no longer resides in the ancient castle, but +in one of the outlying buildings, which may have been that inhabited +by Burma. He retains his ancestral lands, and the Beydur militia on +the frontier are under his charge; but heavy oppressions and exactions +drove most of the families of weavers from the town; their places have +not been filled, and though some of the old stock remain, the amount of +manufacture is not a tithe of what it used to be. As to the Beydurs, +they have no forays now, no expeditions into more peaceful lands to +boast of, or wealth of spoil. They are reduced to the condition of +quiet husbandmen and farmers, retaining, however, their pride of race, +kept up by recitations by their bards of the deeds of their ancestors. + +From the rough character of the country beyond the town, and, indeed, +surrounding it on two sides, it was evident that the open cultivated +tract did not extend further; and this, we may observe, resulted from +the change from the trap and limestone formation to the rugged granite +hills, and strange piles of rocks, which continued to the ravine of the +cataract and to Juldroog, about eight miles beyond, to the south. + +As the strange party stood for a few minutes on the summit of the +ridge, it was evident that they were observed by the watchmen in the +castle towers, for drums were beaten, horns blown, and a general +stampede of people and cattle ensued from the river bed and fields +around. Then some matchlock shots were fired, and a ball from a heavy +wall gun or field-piece which stood upon one of the castle bastions, +which went whizzing over their heads at a high elevation. + +"That was not meant for us, Meer Sahib," said the Patell, laughing, +"but only as a warning. These poor Beydurs have many enemies, and they +need to look out carefully against surprises. Blow, Krishna," he said +to the horn-blower beside him; "let us see if that satisfies them." + +This time the blast was much longer and more elaborate, and ended with +a wonderful flourish, which did the performer much credit; and almost +immediately was answered by exactly the same blast from the tower of +the castle. "That is Krishnya's horn, and his master is with him. I see +the old man," said the horn-blower "and it was a friendly blast." + +"Who, then, are the Mussulman soldiers with him, and what has he to do +with the King's men?" said the head watchman. "Go and tell Burma Naik +or the lady, while I go to the gate and inquire. It seems something +uncommon." + +The lady Keysama had been long astir. She was an active, homely woman, +with a decidedly uncertain temper, amenable to none but her husband, +whom she feared as well as respected, and loved, in her own way, very +faithfully. In her Runga Naik had absolute confidence, for fear was +unknown to her; and had there been occasion at any time, she would +have defended the castle while one stone remained on another. The lady +was a practical and active housewife, too; and, on the churning day, +when ghee was to be made, and Brahmins feasted, and the whole house +must be absolutely pure, it was not likely that fresh plastering the +floors with liquid mud would be neglected. This was a duty which the +lazy hussies, who were her slaves, could not be trusted with; and +accordingly the town trumpeter found her overlooking the work, with her +sare tucked in above her knees, and a chubby child sitting astride on +her hip, in the long front verandah of the entrance to the castle. + +"What hast thou been blowing thy horn so much for, Bheema, disturbing +everybody? If thou wantest to blow, couldst thou not have gone into thy +fields and scared away the birds?" + +"But, lady, some people are at the gate and demand entrance in the name +of the Queen Chand." + +"Tell them to go away. If they don't go, wake Burma Naik, and tell him +to fire on them. Be off, and do not interrupt me! Ah! dost thou dare +to look up at my girls, Bheema," she continued, aiming a blow at him +with the long bamboo staff on which she was leaning. "Away with thee, +impudent, and do what I tell thee." + +"Unless Burma comes to her, I might as well talk to a stone," the man +muttered to himself, as he turned away; "and Burma is asleep after the +feast on wild hog he had last night. I hope Arjoona has awoke him, for +I dare not." + +That had apparently been effected some time, for as the horn-blower +entered the outer court of Burma's house, he saw him sitting in his +usual place. He was tying a checked handkerchief round his head, +loosely and very much awry; his face was bloated, greasy, and swollen; +his eyes red, and with evident signs that his potations had been +long and deep the night before. He was yawning, and spluttering +out Canarese oaths at every interval, and was, indeed, by no means +pleasant to behold. We have seen him before, a stout, active soldier, +assisting little Zora to escape; but now he was in a different mood, +and of different aspect. The vermilion marks on his forehead, nose, +cheekbones, and eyebrows, were blurred and partly rubbed off; his hair +was dishevelled, and hung about him in unkempt locks; and the scowl +on his face bespoke impatience of anything he might have to hear, and +vexation that his sleep had been broken. + +"The King's soldiers," he said, contemptuously, "what do they want? +What brings the King's soldiers here? What induced that meddlesome old +Patell, Sheykh Abdoolla, to show them the way? By the Gods! he shall +answer for it; let him look to his cattle pens. What does he say? what +does he want?" + +"He will not tell me," replied the man, "nor the Chitnees, who is +talking to him from the bastion by the gate. He says the jemadar of +the Royal troops has an order from the Queen, and a letter from Runga +Naik to our lady; but he will give up neither except to you and to her +together." + +"Some requisition for forage, or grain, or money, I suppose," returned +Burma, with a sneer; "for the Queen does not write to us except to make +a demand. Why did you not tell me this first, and they would have been +gone before now with a shower of balls flying after them." + +"But," urged the man, putting up his hands in supplication, "what about +the master's letter? There may be some order in it." + +"If there were," retorted Burma, "he would have sent some of the men +with it, not the Queen's jemadar. It is no letter of his, but only a +decoy. Go, tell the men to give them warning, and if they don't depart, +to fire on them." + +Thus it seemed very probable that no message would be delivered, and +the Queen's party and their guide driven away; but the last spokesman +to Burma Naik was pertinacious, and insisted that Runga's letter should +be received, even from the Mussulman leader. + +"Suppose there is anything important in it, and you turned it away. I +do not think you would be very safe, master, if my lord knew of it, +though you are Burma Naik." + +"Humph!" grunted Burma, "there is something in that; and what does the +lady say?" + +"She will have nothing to do with it, and you are to act as you please. +If there is anything addressed to her, you can come and tell her." + +"How many want to enter? And how many are there in all?" + +"Ten men and their leader, with old Sheykhjee and his Kurnum, and some +grooms and baggage ponies, and a Brahmin." + +"Sons of vile mothers!" exclaimed Burma, as he aimed a blow at the +horn-blower. "Could ye not have told me this before? By your long face +one would have thought there had been five hundred of the King's horse. +Go! Admit the leader, his grooms and scribe, old Sheykhjee and the +Kurnum. We shall soon get to the bottom of all. Tell the rest to remain +without." + +All this had taken much time, and the Meer Sahib's patience was well +nigh exhausted; but the old Patell kept him quiet. "Burma Naik was +drunk last night, I suspect," he said, "and was not easy to wake, nor +in good humour when awakened. Be patient, and we shall soon know." + +Nor, indeed, was it long before the horn-blower and his companion +arrived; and, speaking from the wicket of the gate, saluted the Meer +Sahib and the Patell, and informed them they had permission to advance +and present the letter. The ponderous gate was then opened, and, the +Patell leading, both entered the outer enclosure, and rode up the Bazar. + +The residence of Burma formed part of the entrance to the outer court +of the castle, for he was a near relative, and entitled to dwell in +the vicinity of the lord of Korikul. So they were ushered in. They +found Burma Naik more presentable than he had been--now washed, and +with plain but decent clothes. His usual seat had an embroidered cloth +spread over it, cushions were placed for others, and his sword and +shield laid out before him. As they approached he rose and saluted +them with an awkward but courteous gesture, and bid them be seated, +apologising for the precautions he was obliged to take against +marauding parties, which came upon all sorts of pretences. "And where +are the letters?" he asked. "They say there are some from the Queen, +and from my cousin Runga Naik, to me and the lady Keysama. Pray +deliver them. This, indeed, is from the Queen," he continued, observing +the Royal seal, and he put the letter to his head and eyes; "and it is +addressed to the lady Keysama in Persian, which I cannot read, and in +Canarese, which I can read, by Runga Naik himself. There is no doubt +now; may I open that addressed to me?" + +"Certainly," returned the Meer Sahib; "you will then see what is to be +done, for Runga Naik wrote it before me with his own hand." + +"Sure enough, it is his own seal and superscription," said Burma, +opening the cover, while, unfolding the letter, his eyes ran rapidly +over the contents. "Will I help, O Meer Sahib!" he cried, the whole +of his face brightening with excitement. "Ah, sirs, it is a welcome +service to perform; and you, too, are my lord now," and he rose and +saluted him. "Under Runga Naik's order, this place and all that are in +it are at your disposal. I grieve only that there was any semblance of +rudeness shown to you. I will send for your companions, and ye are all +to be the lady Keysama's guests as long as ye stay, yet ye ought not to +delay." + +"We are ready to go on now, sir," said the Meer Sahib, "if it be +advisable." + +"Not yet," returned Burma; "the boats have to be prepared, and some +men who are the oarsmen summoned. We require two more boats than are +now at the ford; but they will be all ready by the evening. Meanwhile +rest yourselves and take food; to-morrow we shall break our fast in the +fort, and you, sir, will be its Governor, instead of that false traitor +and tyrant, Osman Beg. What sayest thou to that, O Sheykhjee? Dost thou +not rejoice to hear it?" + +"I do, I do, with thanks to the Almighty," said the Patell, "who has +heard the prayers of his servants. If it were only for his violence to +my poor old friend's granddaughter, who should have been sacred in his +eyes, he deserves death. Would I could go with ye." + +"Thou wilt soon hear," replied Burma; "and if thou wilt remain till +to-morrow, when we are quiet, come to us. Thou hast done good service +in leading my lord hither direct, for if he had wandered to the upper +ford, Osman Beg would have heard of it, and filled the fort with loose +characters, of whom there are always enough and to spare. To do him +justice, the Nawab can fight, and we should have had much more trouble +than we shall have." + +"I will come down to Jumalpoor early to-morrow," was the old Patell's +reply, "and so make no delay. You had better fire a gun at daylight, +that will be enough for me; and perhaps when my lord writes to the +durbar he will mention the little service I was able to render." + +"That I will, my friend," said the Meer Sahib; "but come now to the +mosque, and you shall tell me about Osman Beg, and what he has done." + +"Certainly," returned the Patell, "I have some business in the fair +to-day, but that does not fall till late; come, and take my blessing, +and prayer for the success of thy good work." + +The lady Keysama did not appear. She could not admit strangers, aliens +in faith, while the holy ceremonies were going on, but she sent her +thanks for her husband's letter, and garlands of flowers with her +blessings and prayers for success. + +In the afternoon the whole party again set out, guided now by Burma +Naik, who took with him fifty additional men, and skirting the rugged +granite hills which border the Done, they reached the hamlet of +Jumalpoor, about two miles from the great river's bank, opposite to the +town end of the island fort, as night closed in. Then they heard that +the boats were being dragged up from below, and would be at the ferry +before midnight. + + + + +CHAPTER II. +A SUCCESSFUL SURPRISE. + + +"It is time for us to go on, Meer Sahib," said Burma, as he reached the +place where the new Governor was lying, under some trees close to the +half-ruined village. "Come." + +"And our horses; what is to be done with them?" + +"Leave them here, under charge of the grooms, and you can send for them +afterwards; if indeed you care to have them in the fort, where you +cannot ride. They will be quite safe here. At present they would be a +serious embarrassment to us; and if one neighed, the whole fort would +be alarmed, and I cannot tell what would happen." + +"And can you tell now, my friend?" + +"Pretty well. We shall land at a spot not far from the old Syud's +house. May God have him and his child in His keeping. I will send to +the Jemadar Sheykh Baban Sahib, and tell him to come to you with a few +men on whom he can depend. He has always disliked Osman Beg, but they +have been nearly at open feud since the night poor little Zora was +carried off, and was almost married to the Governor. Sharp words passed +between them on that occasion, and the act produced such indignation +among the garrison of the fort and our Beydurs who are on duty in it, +that I marvel Osman Beg escaped, or was not put to death. I am taking +thirty more of my best men with me, and, with yours and mine together, +we are more than a match for any who may dare to oppose us. But no one +will draw a sword, Meer Sahib," continued Burma, laughing, "except it +may be the four Abyssinian slaves he has and his actual retainers, +who are not more than ten in number, if there be so many. I spared +him once, the night we, Runga and I, and Bheema, the horn-blower, who +hooted like a horned owl as our signal, rescued little Zora, for Runga +would not let me go in and slay him as he slept; but if he crosses me +now, by all the Gods, he dies." + +"No, no, my friend, it must not be so," returned the Governor, +earnestly. "His life must be spared, for there are many accusations +against him, which our Royal mistress would fain have unravelled." + +"Ah! about Eyn-ool-Moolk and Elias Khan, and the Padre at Moodgul, who +is gone to Goa," returned Burma, laughing; "but we know all about that. +Why did not the Nawab send that fierce priest instead of the gentle +Padre, of whom all lament the absence? Then they would have found out +everything at Beejapoor. But it is an old story now." + +"Hardly, my friend. It is not three months since Abbas Khan slew +Elias, and Eyn-ool-Moolk was then at his busiest. To me it does not +matter, but the Queen's orders must be obeyed; and Abbas Khan could not +be sent here, as he has taken a division of the array to the King's +camp; and Runga, as you know, has gone with him." + +"Yes, so Runga wrote in the letter; and his wife fell to crying about +it, and would not see you. Runga, methinks, is a fool for his pains; +but he loves that boy as if he were his own son, and there is no use +in any of us trying to persuade him that he is a fool for following +him. But we loiter, Meer Sahib. Come! my people are already departing +in small groups, and your men had better divide and follow; we shall +meet them again at the river side, where the boats are." And after a +few directions to their followers, Burma and his companion entered the +narrow intricate path through the then thick jungle which led to the +water's edge. + +Very different now was the appearance of the Beydur Naik from that he +presented when he had been awakened that morning. He had bathed and +thoroughly purified himself from the excess of the previous night. He +had put off the gay clothes in which he had dressed himself at Korikul, +and was now attired in the usual war dress of his clan, the conical +leather cap, with soft leather drawers, leggings, and sandals. + +For arms he wore in his waistband a long knife-dagger, and a sword with +a long Genoa blade, while a small shield hung at his back completed +his equipment. Nor, indeed, were there many matchlock men among the +party, for the place, if it resisted at all, must be carried sword in +hand. No one spoke except in a whisper, and the Governor felt assured +that the men who were with him knew their work thoroughly, and were +confident of success. + +Such was the interest that this stealthy march excited in the young +Governor's mind, that they had reached the bank overhanging the Krishna +before he had thought it even near. He had not yet seen the fort, for +it had been concealed by trees; but he had heard the dull plashing +murmur of the river, and occasionally a deeper moaning sound which +mingled hoarsely with it, and for which he could not account. + +Presently the path rose a little, and the broad river and giant mass +of the fort were disclosed. Not clearly, however, for the waning moon +was dimmed with clouds, and none of the details of the rugged hill were +visible. What could be seen of it seemed to blend with the hills beyond +the river, indeed, to form a part of them. But the gloom, the strange +conical hill, and the rushing water of the river, formed altogether the +most impressive scene the young Governor had ever looked on. + +"Ha!" said Burma, in a hissing whisper. "Look! our friend up yonder +holds revel to-night, and the Gods favour us. O Krishna! I vow to thee +ten sheep at the Temple of Gopalswami, and to feed a hundred Brahmins, +if thou aid us, as thou didst Arjoona in the field of Kooroo Kshetra; +and to thee, O gentle nymph Chaya, a pooja and a feast to a hundred +Brahmins at thy shrine." And he held up his joined hands towards the +river, while, at the same time, he bowed his head in reverence. "She +lives there, Sir," he said, simply, "up in the rocks yonder, above the +pool; and we, who live here, reverence her, and propitiate her." + +"Her! who?" asked his companion. + +"Only Chaya Bhugwuti, who dwells in the cataract, which you will see +to-morrow. Now, I know she is placable and kind, as she was the night +we crossed for Zora; and she is always to be depended upon when justice +has to be done." + +"But you said he was at his revels. Who?" + +"Who? why Osman Beg to be sure. Don't you see the lights in the palace +up yonder, and torches flitting to and fro?" and Burma pointed to +lights which seemed high up in the sky. "That steady light is in the +palace; and hush! do you not hear music?" The sound was music, of +beating of drums, and of fiddles, and women's voices mingled, which +faintly reached them, as a light puff of wind blew from the fort. + +"What fun it will be, Meer Sahib! what fun!" cried Burma, rubbing +his hands and chuckling. "What fun to catch the Nawab Sahib and his +companions altogether. But we must wait awhile till they are properly +drunk. They are pretty well on by this time, and to judge from what I +have seen and tasted, the Feringi wine the Nawab gets from Moodgul is +not weak. Come down to the riverside and watch; I see my people there, +though to you they appear like so many stones," and they descended the +rocky path together. + +"Ye have done well, Nursinga," said Burma to a tall, powerful man, who +came forward as they reached the foot of the descent. "How many boats +have ye brought?" + +"There are six in all, four large and two small; and we should have +been here earlier but for people who will attend the anniversary +to-morrow, and two companies of dancing women who have vows to perform +and are singing to the Nawab. It took a good while to take them all +across and bring back the boats; but they are all ready. Will you cross +now, master? Chaya Bhugwuti is very quiet at present; but there have +been clouds in the west all day, and if rain has fallen, who can answer +for her?" + +"Is there any one in the house of the old Dervish?" asked Burma. + +"Not a living creature near it except Zora's pigeons. I went through +the place before sunset, for some of the dancing women wanted to put up +there; but I told them and their people that since the old man and Zora +left, ghosts and devils had taken possession of it, and tormented those +who went there. Then some of the girls looked in, and something moved +in a dark corner--I think it was poor Zora's old cat--and I cried out +'Tiger! tiger!' and they all ran away. Yes, it is quite empty, master." + +"Then we will cross as soon as the lights up there are put out, Meer +Sahib; and meanwhile I will send a small boat-load of men across. Go, +thou, Nursinga, send for some of our men from the village; and tell +the Jemadar that he must meet me with a few of his men on the King's +service, for there is some work to do, and that I will meet him in the +Dervish's house; and tell him what it is. Go at once, and, when you are +ready, light a small fire on the terrace roof of Zora's zenana." + +The man made a deep reverence, and stepping into the smallest of the +basket boats, in which six men were lying, roused them, and pushed it +into the stream; and it was anxiously watched over the rapid current +till it entered the backwater beyond, and was quickly rowed along until +it reached the landing-place close to the house we already know. + +Nursinga did not delay in his errand. First he ran to the house of +the head of the Beydurs who were on duty in the fort, and roused him. +"There is some work to do, brother," he said, "and the master is +waiting to cross. Take twenty men, and go to meet him at the Syud's +house." + +"What is it?" asked the other, anxiously. + +"How am I to know? Are we in Burma Naik's secrets? Enough that we +obey. Is Sheykh Baban Jemadar gone up to the palace?" + +"Not he, nor any of the men, except a few profligates who would go +anywhere after the women that dance. And they are drinking much; twice +have the cans come down for spirits." + +"Come, then; let us take the old man with us to meet the master, and he +will know what he wants." + +The house of the Jemadar of the garrison was close by, and the two men +went at once to it. Some persons on guard were sitting in the outer +verandah, near the door, smoking, who challenged them; but taking the +message to their master, he was soon aroused, and understood what was +required; and, having given orders for the assembly, very silently, +of his men at various points, so as to be within call, he, with a few +attendants, accompanied Nursinga to the deserted house. + +"May his house become desolate who made this desolate!" said the old +soldier to one of his subordinates. "How pleasant it used to be to hear +the holy Dervish preach the word of the Prophet, and to see Zora, like +a beauteous flower, among us! I say, Let his house be desolate who made +this desolate; for Alla is just, my friends--just and watchful!" + +"Ameen! Ameen!" was the response from several as they sat down in the +verandah so well known to all, and began to smoke, while the Beydur had +proceeded to the roof of the cloister, collected a few dry sticks and +leaves, and, striking a light with a flint and steel, blew some tinder +placed between dry leaves into a blaze, and lighted the little fire, +which flamed up for a moment and went out. + +"That is enough, Meer Sahib," said Burma, who had been watching. "Now +we know that Sheykh Baban is there, my men are there, and the lights +have been out some time in the palace. There is no need for delay now; +come. 'Bismilla!' as you say; or, as we Beydurs cry, 'Hari Bol!' Let us +embark and lead, and the boats will follow in turn, one after another. +Bring half of your people with you, the rest can follow, and with me +and some of my folk the boat will be heavy enough. Now, friends, sit +close and sit steady. Jey Chaya Bhugwuti! Jey Krishna Mata!" he cried, +throwing water into the air at each invocation; while the boat danced +down the rapid for a little, and was soon turned into the backwater by +its powerful rowers, who worked with muffled paddles. An instant more +and they had landed, and, under cover of the thick wood, were making +the best of their way to the house, while two of the rowers pulled the +boat up the stream, and fastened it to some bushes near the back of the +old house. + +The movement had been so silently effected that those who were +concealed there knew nothing of the arrival of the new party; and it +was not till the burly form of Burma Naik stood among them that they +were aware of his presence. All had started to their feet, but their +apprehension was at once relieved when the Naik, in his hard Canarese +tongue, so that all should understand, said aloud, "Sheykhjee, I bring +you your new Governor from Queen Chand Beebee; come and kiss his feet +and salute your new chief, for he is honourable and worthy." + +There was not a moment's hesitation, dark as it was. While the Jemadar +Sheykh Baban offered the hilt of his sword, and grasped the hand of the +new-comer in an earnest "Salaam Aliekoom," his example was followed by +all the Mussulmans present; while the Beydurs, after their own fashion, +touched the Meer Sahib's feet and neck, and thus swore fealty to him. + +"Make a torch of straw," said Burma, "and let the Governor read his +own commission and show the Queen's seal before we advance, which will +assure all that this act is done on the part of the Government, and +not as robbers or rebels." The materials were soon found, and as the +twisted grass burst into a blaze, the commission was well read by the +scribe whom the Meer Sahib had brought with him; the Queen's seal, and +the green official paper on which the order was written, were examined +by all. + +This brief process formed a strange scene; the figures of those present +stood out from the black darkness beyond with vivid distinctness, while +their faces, in which wonder and excitement struggled for mastery, wild +and strange as many of the Beydurs were, formed a sight which none who +witnessed ever forgot; and a shepherd boy who had paid an early visit +to his fold declared next day that witches and demons were holding +revel like the Nawab above, and that he had seen forms moving about in +a bright flame that was burning, which wonderful story was confirmed in +the minds of many simple folk by seeing that day the black ashes of the +fire scattered about the verandah. + +"Now then, Sahib, I humbly represent that I and mine are ready," said +the old Jemadar. "Any one the noble Queen sends to us is as our father +and mother; and, as your face is bright and kind, we hope you will be +good to us, your servants, and protect instead of oppress us; and so +your name shall be honoured while in future our evening lamps will be +lighted in your name. Bismilla! Come on!" and, drawing his sword, he +led the way to the gate of the village. + +In the little market-place many men had gathered together, doubtful as +to the real nature of the movement; but it spread quickly from mouth to +mouth, while the three leaders pressed on up the steep ascent without +pausing, being joined by parties stationed in various bastions and +guard-houses, one after another. + +At the last division of the ascent, where the party must emerge +from the narrow pathway overhung with rocks, by which they had been +concealed hitherto, there was a brief colloquy among the leaders and +a division of the work made to each. Burma Naik with his men were to +turn in by the broken wall, near the kitchen; the Meer Sahib and the +Jemadar were to carry the front court and verandah of the palace, while +a third party of Beydurs were to prevent all chance of escape on the +north side. + +As yet no one had given an alarm; but a man posted on the highest +look-out tower fancied he smelt the smoke of match-rope and heard low +whispers, and looking over the edge of the parapet saw the forms of +men gathered together in groups. His vision was not very clear, for he +had been drinking hard; but there was evidently no doubt, for the men +below him were moving, and he fired his matchlock. Happily the ball hit +no one, or the consequences would have entailed bloodshed; as it was, +and in the condition in which those in the palace were, the report had +little effect in arousing anyone, and the approach of a hostile party +was of all events least expected. + +As Burma turned into the rear entrance, the Governor and his men were +in front, and with a sudden rush they leaped upon the basement of the +palace and burst open a door of the audience hall. Johur and another +of the Abyssinian slaves tried to oppose those who entered, but it +was only for a moment, when they were bound and passed outside to +be guarded. The hall itself was a strange sight. As the latter part +of the night had been chilly, the dancing women--when the dancing +ceased--and the musicians and followers lay down where they were, +wrapped in sheets, and had fallen into profound sleep; and now one +and then another of those sleeping figures awoke, rubbed its eyes, +and, in the case of the women, rent the air with piercing shrieks and +cries for mercy. First it appeared as if a band of dacoits or robbers +had surprised them, and the loss of their jewels and ornaments was the +least they expected. There was a dim lamp burning in a niche which +partly revealed the scene, and the agitation of some thirty helpless +women now huddling together on the ground, and imploring mercy. It +was well that the entrance doors were guarded by the Meer Sahib's +retainers, for the Beydurs would have had little scruple in tearing off +all the women's ornaments as their spoil. + +Meanwhile Osman Beg lay in his private chamber. He had sat in the +audience hall as long as he could, but the strong European liqueur +and its pleasant flavour had beguiled him, and at last he had rolled +over in his seat insensible, and was carried by his slaves to his bed. +Then it was that the music had ceased, the torches had been put out, +and all, rolling themselves in their sheets, lay down where they were, +like swathed corpses; and it was thus the Meer Sahib had found them. +When the shot was fired from the high tower, the two servants who had +remained by their master, conscious of some imminent alarm or danger, +tried to arouse him, and even raised him up, but with a muttered +curse he fell back again. In this condition--entering from the back +passage--Burma Naik found him. As he entered the chamber, the Nawab's +servants fled, and, conscious of a strange presence, Osman Beg tried +to rise, but with a drunken hiccup fell back on his bed. + +"It would be easy to end thy vile life, Osman Beg," said Burma to +himself, "but I leave thee to the Lord. God forbid that my hand should +slay one who cannot help himself. Look here, Sahib," he said, as the +Governor entered the chamber; "there lies this disgrace to his faith +and to his office; do as thou wilt with him, he is in thy hand." + +"Let him lie, my friend, his fate is not in my hand; but he is helpless +now. All I want are his papers, and the accounts and moneys of the +fort; and these, especially the papers, must be found. Had he no +servants?" + +"My lord," said a man who emerged from a bathing room, "I am one; and +if my life be spared will tell you all." + +"Fear not," replied Burma Naik, "I know thee; and your new lord will +not hurt any one who is faithful; but beware if thou attempt deceit." + +"Well, then," replied the man, humbly, "the private papers are all in +a leathern case on the floor under my master's head; he would allow +them to be nowhere else. See, here it is;" and kneeling down, he drew +a small leather travelling box from its hiding place. "The key of that +box is round my master's neck, and the key of the treasury is tied to +the string of his drawers; they can easily be removed; and the moonshee +has the accounts. I have charge of all his valuables, and can give an +account of them, or show them if it is ordered." + +"We will have an inventory made of them before your master, and they +will be sent with him to Beejapoor when the King's order comes. +Meanwhile they will be under attachment," said the Governor. "I will +leave thee with thy master, and some men of mine to guard him when he +wakes." + +"We have done all we can do at present, Burma Naik," said the Governor; +"even to getting the papers, which can be examined presently. Meanwhile +the day is breaking, should not we give the signal?" + +"Certainly, my lord; I will see to it immediately. One of the fort +gunners ought to be without, and," continued Burma Naik, "I have sent +word to the authorities of the fort, those who have to recognise all +new governors, and they also will be here before sunrise, or soon after +it. Meanwhile this hall may be swept out, for everyone has departed. +Ho! without, bring the Furashes, and let them lay down the cloths for a +durbar." + +While this was being effected, the heavy gun on the highest bastion was +fired with a tremendous report, which rattled from side to side of the +ravine in a thousand echoes, and at last died out among the hills far +away. + +"You do not know where you are, my lord, as yet," said Burma Naik; +"come and see;" and he took the Governor down the steps of the +verandah to another short flight that led to a small but elegant +pavilion perched upon a rock, from whence the glen could be well seen +in the daytime. Now, however, it seemed as though they looked into +unfathomable darkness, and the effect was almost painful; but as the +dawn rapidly advanced, the agitated river, the rocks, the rugged sides +of the glen, and the cataract at its head, gradually grew into form, +and the Governor stood gazing at them in a silence which partook of +awe. + + + + +CHAPTER III. +ZUFFOORA-BEE COOKS THE GOVERNOR'S BREAKFAST. + + +Osman Beg's cook, whom he had brought with him when he came, an old +slave of his father's house, was a practical woman, well used to camp +life, sudden alarms, and long marches, and in any emergency was ready +to prepare food for considerable numbers. She and several helpers, +boys and women, had betaken themselves to the shelter of the kitchen, +which, being situated in a yard adjoining the "Palace," had beyond it +another yard, where was a small dwelling house, in which, as her own +peculiar property, the old lady lived. We call her lady, because she +was invariably styled so by all. No one dared, except her master, call +her Zuffoora, which, having been born on a Thursday, had been chosen +as her name--but "Bee," as short for Beebee, or "Lady," was always +added; and those who did not know her well, or were afraid of taking +liberties with her, called her Beebee Zuffoora, which, no doubt, was +most pleasing to her of all. + +Zuffoora-bee had been seriously exercised in her mind the day before. +Her master, in one of his wild fits, had, without any previous notice, +taken into his head to invite all the dancing girls who came to the +Saint's festival, with their musicians and attendants, to dinner that +evening; after which the women were to sing all night, relieving each +other. Now the dancing and singing did not concern the old dame at all, +but the dinner did, for her master had sent word by Johur that some of +the dishes were to be of her very best style of cooking, for himself +and the chief singers; and for the rest, pilao and hot kabobs would +suffice. + +To do her justice, Zuffoora-bee had done her best. Sundry dishes that +we could name were delicate and delicious, whether fish, flesh, or +fowl; and her master had sent her a present of two rupees as a token +of his satisfaction, an unusual occurrence, which Johur explained by +several of the dancing women having declared they had never tasted such +food before, and insisting that Osman Beg should then and there send +his cook a liberal present, on their behalf, which was accordingly +done. I say, then, if this had been all, Zuffoora-bee would have been +highly delighted, and might even have invited one or two of the girls +to come and eat pan with her in her own house. + +But the proceedings of the evening had disgusted her. She was very +strict in the observances of her faith, also regular in the performance +of stated prayers five times a-day. And no Moolla could have possessed +a more perfect knowledge of the details to be observed at festivals, +the ablutions and purifications of women at such seasons, and also +of the needful fasts; or, on the other hand, the cooking necessary on +such occasions. As to strong liquors or palm wine, she held them in the +utmost abhorrence, and would as soon have cooked and eaten a piece of +the abhorred animal as taken a drop of spirit into her mouth. + +Her person was always scrupulously clean and neat; her almost white +hair braided so that not a straggling lock appeared, and the rest +neatly tied up in a simple knot behind her head. She had two satin +petticoats for grand occasions, one green, the Prophet's colour, the +other red, and both were striped with white. But for every day wear +she used petticoats of soosi, a common kind of cotton cloth, which was +made everywhere by village weavers, and could be bought in any village +fair or market. This stuff was very neat and durable, and was worn, +in various colours and degrees of fineness, by all Mussulman women of +the lower classes. Zuffoora-bee was rich in possessing four of these +petticoats, three of which were always put by nicely washed and ironed. + +On the upper portion of her person she wore, first, a boddice, and over +that a shirt of stout muslin, which descended a little below her waist, +covering the band of her petticoat; and over all a doputta, or scarf, +of tolerably fine muslin, which, tucked in at her waist, was passed +round her head, falling gracefully over her back and hanging down over +her right arm. + +Zuffoora was a widow, and therefore wore few ornaments; and what she +did wear were chiefly of silver, such as bracelets for her wrists, a +silver ring round her neck, and silver rings on some of her fingers and +her toes. She had also one very precious massive silver ring, which +she wore over her right ankle. This had been given her by the King Ali +Adil Shah of blessed memory, when, on one occasion, she had cooked a +delicious meal for him after a battle, when his own servants had lost +their way. The old lady was always eloquent on the subject of this ring +of honour as she called it. "To men," she said, "the King gave estates, +and lands, and jewels, and why should he not give them to good cooks? +because if there were nothing to eat, who could fight? and there was +nothing so valour-sustaining as a good pilao and well-spiced kabob." + +The proceedings and mode of life and temper of her master had long been +distressing to Zuffoora-bee; and if, by any possibility, she could have +escaped from him and returned to Beejapoor, she would have done so; +but she felt she was virtually a prisoner. When Abbas Khan had arrived +sick and wounded, she had not only nursed him through his illness, but +cooked the most delicate and nutritious food for him; and when the +young man was about to depart, she begged permission to return to the +great city and the old family house; but her master was cruel to her, +abused her in vile language, and called her slave, and had told Johur +to beat her with a shoe. Johur dared not do that, and besides loved +and respected the good dame; but one of the vile eunuchs had done it, +and the insult had rankled deep in Zuffoora's heart, as an act which +years of protection could not atone for. + +We have not mentioned Zuffoora-bee sooner in this history, because when +Abbas Khan came to the fort she was incessantly occupied by his needs. +She had a perfect knowledge of his family, and respected it, and most +particularly his aunt, the Lady Fatima, so that she did not go to the +old Syud's house as usual; indeed, perhaps had some misgiving in her +mind as to the presence of Christians there; but, like all others, +she had a great reverence for the old Dervish, and especial love for +little Zora, to whom she had taught numbers of savoury dishes, such as +it delighted the old man to eat, and which could be made out of very +simple materials. + +When the two women we know of came from Moodgul, she did not like +them. She thought Mama Luteefa had more the air of a common procuress +than of a decent God-fearing agent for matrimonial arrangements. Her +clothes were too gaudy, her look too bold, her conversation too free. +She never said her prayers, not even once a-day. She ate too much +pan; the bells on her anklets were too loud, even louder than those +of a dancing-girl; in short, she was offensive to her in many ways; +and finding Zuffoora-bee independent, and by no means inclined to be +dictated to or to be schooled in the manner of cooking her dishes, +sent her orders to the women under the cook, and was gratified in +having garlic and red-pepper enough in her kabobs to suit a labouring +woman; and Zuffoora-bee was obliged to complain to her master that the +marriage agent was insolent and overbearing. But when poor little Zora +was brought up to the palace by force, the grief and indignation of the +worthy dame knew no bounds. Her master was well aware what she would +think of the act, and set eunuchs and some of his garrison to guard +the kitchen and Zuffoora's house, and not allow her egress, lest she +should come and upbraid him--for we take upon ourselves to say that +Zuffoora-bee's remonstrance would have been neither weak nor timid, +but, on the contrary, unflinchingly bold and defiant. + +During the whole of the day Zora had been confined to the palace +Zuffoora-bee had prayed and wept by turns, but that she knew was +useless; but, when the pan-seller's wife came to her in the evening, +she gave Zuffoora-bee a hint, though others were by, that Zora was not +without friends; and when the alarm that she had escaped was given, +Zuffoora fell on her knees and thanked God that it had been so, and +that her master's wicked designs had been foiled. She was not afraid of +him. He loved her good food too much to deprive himself of it, either +by putting her in confinement or sending her away. + +In either case, who would supply her place? But she had not spared +him; she had appealed to his honour, to that of his noble father, +entreating him to reform his evil ways, and to abandon the vicious +courses into which he had fallen. She who had nursed him as a child, +who had attended on his mother, to see her son degenerating into a +drunken profligate! "Better he were dead, far better that he were +dead," murmured the good old dame. "I could say the last salutation +to the dead as they covered up his body, and wish the peace of God +to attend him, rather than I could join in the adulation which these +miserable men and women pay to him. Touba! Touba! for shame, for shame!" + +When the party under the new Governor and Burma Naik, with the Jemadar +of the fort, was passing the wall which bounded her own court, she was +already awake, preparing to rise and perform her ablutions previous to +the early morning prayer, and the shuffling tramp of the men sounded +ominous to her. What can it all mean she thought! Then the shot from +above followed, but there was no response, and in a few moments more +the shrieks of the dancing-women came loud and fast. She was not +afraid, and got up, went through the high-arched kitchen to the door, +unbarred it, and looked out into the yard, where several Beydurs whom +she knew, and Mussulmans of the Governor, were standing, the latter of +whom saluted her civilly as she asked them what had happened. + +"Nothing," said one of the men in reply; "nothing, but that the +new Governor is come, and we have a new master. The new Nawab came +from Beejapoor, and has taken possession, and the old Nawab is a +prisoner--that's all." + +"And who is the new Nawab?" + +"Nay, mother, we know not yet, for we have not seen him. But they say +he is a God-fearing man; and so he appears to be, for when the Azan +was proclaimed, he spread his waistband, and knelt down and said his +prayers in the little pavilion on the rock before the palace. And his +men love him, and declare he is a true, kind man and a brave soldier, +and that is the reason he was sent here." + +"It is a lonely place to come to," returned the old dame; "but he is +married, perhaps?" + +"Oh, yes, mother! and has two children; and he will send for them +by-and-by." + +"From Beejapoor?" + +"No, mother, from Juldroog, where he has been serving." + +"I know it well, friend. My lord, that is his father"--and she pointed +with her thumb to the palace--"commanded the troops there, and I was +with him and the Begum Sahiba. Ah! times are changed since then. Well, +such is the will of God. And Osman Beg?" + +"He was found asleep, mother, and they did not harm him." + +"Asleep! Not drunk, I hope?" + +"I fear he was, mother; quite without sense." + +"Fie upon him! fie! How can he waken and show his face to pious men? It +were better that he died; but he must fulfil his destiny, good or evil +as it may be. I must, however, see to breakfast for the new lord and +his people. Some things are left from last night; they will do for his +men, but he shall have everything fresh, and as good, too, as Zuffoora +can make it." + +The old dame had gathered all the information she needed, and now +retired to her own private room, where she dressed herself in an +entirely choice suit of clothes, braided her hair, and put on her small +stock of ornaments; and, thus prepared, crossed the court, and entered +the women's apartments of the palace. They were quite empty, but +littered with faded garlands of flowers, broken pan leaves, and jars +which had held palm wine, the stale smell of which was very offensive. +Then she rolled up the curtains of one or two of the open arches to +let in the wind, and called to the eunuchs to come to her. No one, +however, replied, and she went on through the passage. The door of +Osman Beg's chamber was open, and she looked in. He was still on his +bed, snoring loudly, and two strange men were guarding him, and his two +personal attendants were by him. They had thrown a warm coverlet over +him, but she could see his face, which was flushed and bloated, and in +Zuffoora's sight he was disgusting. + +"Come to me, Boodun," she said to one of the servants, "when he wakes, +and I will send him some kicheri." Then she peeped into the hall of +audience, which was a busy scene; and as it was quite light, though +the sun had not risen, she could see everything. The new Governor was +sitting in Osman Beg's seat, and the Moolla, the physician of the fort, +the old Jemadar of the garrison, and some of the inferior officers, +were sitting near him in their usual places. Others were coming in +and presenting their nuzzurs, or offerings; some seating themselves, +and others, retiring after having made their reverence, went out. +There were two moonshees present looking over papers, of which one +recorded the dates and addresses, and the other read them out to him; +and beside these, there were the agents of the Zemindars who chanced +to be in the fort, the Hindoo Patell and Patwari, and many others; +so that the hall presented a busy aspect. Zuffoora-bee did not very +well know what to do. Who was to tell the new Nawab that the cook was +there, asking for orders; and the question would sound so odd amidst +all the grave business going on, that she hesitated, but not for long. +She was no coward, and she would at least show that she had the means +of sending him food of which he must be in need, of ordering him a +bath, and generally providing for his comfort. She therefore slipped +forward confidently, yet modestly, and watched her opportunity till the +Governor should look up, for he was reading a Persian letter, with a +shade of anxiety upon his handsome face. + +"Who art thou?" he said, with a pleasant smile, when he put the paper +down, and looking up saw a neat, respectable-looking woman saluting him +with due reverence. "Who art thou? Thou art not such an one as I looked +to find here!" + +"Your slave, Zuffoora-bee, is the cook, my lord, and offers her +services. My lord must be hungry, and she wishes to know what he +prefers, what his usual dishes are, and she will do her best to please +him." + +"Thou art thoughtful and kind, Zuffoora-bee," he replied. "Any other +woman would have run away, but thou art here and doing thy duty. Why +dost thou trust me?" + +"I can trust one who is kind and gentle, as I hear my lord is. I can +trust one who greets a poor slave with a smile instead of a curse, and +who accepts her homage instead of having her pushed out of the durbar." + +"You are a flatterer, Zuffoora-bee," said the Governor, laughing; "but +go now, we are busy; send me anything you like; I am a plain soldier, +and can eat anything God sends me; and if you will show my people where +I can bathe now and sleep to-night, I shall be thankful. When my food +is ready, you can send it." + +"I will bring it myself, my lord, and see to the chamber and bath for +you directly, for you must bathe ere you can eat comfortably," and +making another respectful salutation, Zuffoora-bee walked proudly +out. Inshalla! she, at least, had done her duty, and had been kindly +treated, and now she would have her proper place in the new household, +for she held her allegiance to the fallen Osman Beg to be already +dissolved. + +The Furashes, who had been witnesses of her reception, were again her +obsequious servants; the women's chambers were washed out and purified +by pastiles; one of the spare beds was set out, carpets were spread, +and the bath prepared; and when the Governor had bathed, put on clean +light clothes, and sat down on the soft cushions prepared for him, he +felt invigorated and refreshed; while in regard to his assumption of +his charge of the fort and its dependencies, there was nothing to be +desired: all had been perfectly successful and satisfactory. + +Then when Zuffoora-bee brought what she had prepared with her own +skilful hands, some delicate kicheri, fresh fish from the river, some +savoury kabobs, and an omelette, and spreading a neat dusturkhan, or +dining-cloth, set the viands before him, and encouraged him to eat, he +felt as though his lines had fallen in pleasant places, and that even +among those rugged rocks he could be perfectly happy. He might, too, +hear something of the old physician and his granddaughter, whom he had +been directed to trace if possible, and in regard to whom his first +report to the Queen must contain intelligence. Whether, however, he +could obtain any from Zuffoora-bee or not was doubtful; and if it were +given, it might not be true. Women of her standing were but too often +ministers to their master's worst vices; and though the Moollas and +all respectable persons in the morning durbar gave Zuffoora-bee the +highest character, yet who could speak to her inner life? There was, +however, no time to be lost; and after the excellent breakfast had been +fully extolled, the Governor opened at once the subject of Zora and her +grandfather. + +Now, if there had been one subject more than another on which +Zuffoora-bee desired to open her heart fully to one in power, it was +that of poor little Zora and the old man, her grandfather; and if her +account were prolix, it was interesting to her hearer, and the details +were given with tears and sobs which attested their sincerity and +truth. Yes, often and often Osman Beg had endeavoured to persuade her +to entice the girl to the palace, and become the means of her forced +marriage and ruin; but since the old Dervish had--in consequence of +his great astrological science and Osman Beg's character--declined to +receive him as a husband for the girl, and as Zora herself feared and +detested him, nothing was done till the women came from Moodgul, and +Johur and Yacoot carried her up to the palace. + +"Then," continued the old dame, "the Nawab confined me to my own +apartments, and the entrance to the kitchen was guarded. Zora and the +two women lay in this room, and I was near. Oh! to hear her! Yet what +could I do? If she had even sent me a message, I might have helped; and +perhaps she did, for I heard the pan-seller's wife insisting on being +allowed to pass to me, but she was turned out. I warrant, however, that +she it was who sent word to Runga Naik, and then at night Zora fled +with them. At least some say so, though others believe she fell into +one of the deep holes between the rocks, and will never appear till the +Day of Judgment. But I think she fled; and I, old as I am, would travel +to Delhi if I thought there was any chance of finding her." + +"Yes, she fled, Beebee," said the Nawab, with a sigh; "but she cannot +be traced now. Runga Naik has been absent. Burma Naik, who has also +been absent, did not find her on his return; and now no one knows where +she is gone." + +"Send me, my lord; send me; I will find her wherever she may be hidden +away. God knows," she continued, sobbing, "she was so beautiful and so +helpless that anyone might have seized her; and as to the old man, he +is not only blind but hopelessly simple, and yet very obstinate. Ah, my +lord! the more I think the more I fear." + +"And was Zora so beautiful?" + +"I never saw anyone like her," returned the dame. "I don't know what +it was, but there was a sort of witchery about her ever since she was +much younger than she is now, which no one could resist; and Osman Beg +always said she was his fate, and he would have her even if he went to +hell after her, for that was the wild way in which he talked to me." + +"And she escaped free and unhurt, and with her honour?" + +"She did, my lord. Osman Beg made a wild attempt to marry her the night +Johur brought her up, but the Moolla protested against it; and though +the buffoon Pundree, who is a Hindoo, my lord, made some pretence to +be a Moolla, and to say the blessing, it was of no use, and Osman Beg +waited till he could get the Kazee from Nalutwar. But send for Johur, +if he likes he will tell you the truth; but you might cut him to pieces +before he would say a word if he did not please." + +"I will examine him before you, Zuffoora-bee;" and, calling to an +attendant, he bid Johur, the Abyssinian, be brought in. + +The slave's arms had been tied behind his back, because he had made +some resistance, and bound so tightly, that he was in pain; and he +piteously besought relief by loosening of the bonds. Two of the eunuchs +who had charge of him, on being directed to do so, at once loosed the +rope; and the Governor could see the tears spring to the slave's eyes +as he knelt down, rubbed his forehead in the earth, and rising, stood +before him, with his chest heaving and his cheeks wet. + +"Why are you kind to me, my lord? Do I not deserve death? Bid some of +thy people behead me, then I shall not see Zora as I do now." + +"It is of her we would speak to thee, Johur; fear not, and tell the +truth." + +"My lord," he replied, "your slave will tell everything truly. Often +had I been asked to entrap the child, often to bring her here, but I +would not. I was flogged for that, but never mind, I could bear it; +see, here are the marks of the whip. Then Jooma was ordered to go; and +he, too, refused, and was instantly beheaded before Osman Beg himself; +and I can show you the hole between the rocks where his bones lie, +where the stain of his blood is upon the rocks; even the rains have +not washed it away, nor the sun bleached it. Then, again, when the two +women came from Moodgul, he sent for me, and said, 'Go and bring Zora; +if not, yours will be Jooma's fate before nightfall.' I was a coward, +my lord; I ought to have slain him; but I trembled and I went; and +Yacoot and I brought Zora and put her here, with the two women. But I +watched. If he had attempted violence I would have slain him, for I +never quitted his side. When the Moolla refused to marry him, my dagger +was loose in its sheath. I watched him all that day, without taking +food. I lay down at the head of his bed at night, only when all were +asleep stealing out into the court here to see if the child slept. I +was here when the owls hooted, and I watched her steal out silently, +step over the eunuchs, cross the court, and pass on through the broken +wall. I saw her last when she paused once on the top of the gap, and +looked around her, and the moonbeams rested on her sweet face, and it +shone like that of an angel. Oh, my lord, I am only a poor Abyssinian, +and have no proper speech to tell thee all; but that is the truth, and +I would have followed her then, only that one owl hooted again, and +I knew she had friends to help her, and was safe. Harm! no harm came +to her, my lord. Osman Beg was afraid of what the Moollas, the old +jemadars of the fort, and the worthy men who sate in the hall said to +him; and he knew there would be a mutiny if he dared to dishonour the +girl. Indeed, had she not escaped, there would have been one when the +second attempt at marriage was tried. And now, my lord, bid them give +me water, for my throat is dry; and do not have me bound, for I can +be true to thee, my lord, and can help thee to find Zora, my pearl, +my lily, my Peri. Oh, my lord! how I love her! I, the poor slave, and +would give my life for her. Will you not answer for me, Mama Zuffoora?" + +"I will," said the old dame, earnestly. "Let my lord send us both to +find the child and the old man, and we will go. Inshalla! we will bring +them back, and the old house shall be desolate no longer." + +"I will think about it, Zuffoora-bee; and when all means here are +exhausted, I will send ye on their track, well believing your faith and +love for the child. But, hark! they are calling me into the audience, +and I must go. Come with me, Johur, and I will make thee over to my +people." + +As the Governor entered the hall, he saw that a violent struggle was +going on. Osman Beg had awakened from his drunken sleep with confused +intellects, and seeing strange faces beside his bed and none of his own +attendants, had risen, suddenly pushed away his guards, and rushed, +half naked as he was, towards his usual seat in the hall; but he was +held fast by many of the new and old garrison, and the new Governor +advancing, bade him sternly return to his apartment. Osman Beg, who +was a very powerful man, still resisted violently, and could he but +have possessed himself of any weapon, would have done serious injury. +It was in vain that the new Governor explained who he was, and even +showed him the Queen's warrant. Osman Beg was in no humour to hear or +to understand, and the struggle was renewed. After several warnings, +therefore, and being obliged to listen to all the vile abuse poured +out against him, to being called a coward, and a Kafir, a traitor, +and a slave, the Governor directed the attendants to tie Osman Beg's +arms behind him easily with a soft turban, and to take him back to +the room whence he had come. It was the act of being tied, perhaps, +which first really awakened him to a clear sense of his position, +and after a time he began to weep. No one came to him, none of his +slaves or servants, and he was parched with thirst, with a craving for +food. Now, therefore, the services of Zuffoora-bee were called into +requisition; she had food and some cool sherbet ready for him, and +when he became more reasonable the Governor went to him. They had been +old acquaintances, and knew each other perfectly well; and Osman Beg, +promising to be quiet, was relieved from his bonds, which had only been +loosened when he ate. + +"So long as it is not my virtuous cousin, Abbas Khan, who has been +sent to relieve me, I do not care," he said. "The Queen has a right to +appoint whom she will, and to recall whom she will, and you, sir, are +welcome, though you have come in a rough fashion. I think you will find +all the records correct, and I now give you the key of the treasury;" +and he felt in his waistband for it, but neither was it there nor that +of his private papers, and his countenance fell. + +"I have possession of all your private papers also, my lord," said the +Governor. "It was for them that the surprise was made, and I already +see that they are important. Nay," he continued, "may even imperil your +life, my lord, and tally sadly with those which were read before the +Queen in council the night that Abbas Khan slew Yacoot, the champion of +Elias Khan, in the combat of ordeal. Hyat Khan, the Kotwal, found them, +and I was present at their examination." + +"When did this happen?" asked Osman Beg. + +"Three days ago, my lord; I was present on duty at the palace that +night, and I left the city before daylight next morning." + +"Then give me my papers, Meer Sahib, and let me depart to justify +myself, and seek my wife, whom Abbas Khan has spirited away." + +"Your wife, my lord; who is she?" + +"She is Zora," he replied, "who lived here. Oh, Zora!" he cried in +bitter pain, "this comes of thy sorcery. Let me go, sir!" he shouted +fiercely. "Let me go! by what right do you detain me?" + +"By this, the Queen's warrant," replied the Governor, "which my +secretary will read to you. You will see that your person is to be kept +securely; your papers sealed up and sent to Court, where you will be +summoned when the King's pleasure is known. I am not in the habit of +exceeding my orders, or of using hardly men of rank superior to my own. +Your papers are even now being fastened up, and two of my own men, with +a party of the garrison and some Beydurs, will escort them to the city." + +From that time Osman Beg gave up hope, and fell back on his bed with a +groan, covering his face. Had he possessed a dagger he might, perhaps, +in his despair have stabbed himself; but as the first excitement was +blunted, he grew sullen, would speak to no one, and refused for several +days the food which Zuffoora brought herself, and vainly tried to +persuade him to eat. + +Meanwhile, Zuffoora and Johur were impatient to be gone. Johur had +discovered that Zora and the old man had left Korikul, and Burma Naik +had even traced them beyond Kukera, on the way to Sugger. It was +most likely that they were there; and the old dame, provided with a +comfortable litter, a strong pony for an attendant, and her little +baggage, and Johur, and ten stout fellows of the garrison, were +despatched one day to their great joy with the almost certainty of +recovering the child and her grandfather. They followed them easily +for several days by slow marches. They heard of them at the shrine +of Sofee Surmurt at Sugger, but beyond that there was no trace. A +worthy weaver's wife told Zuffoora that a good matron of Gulburgah, +when on her pilgrimage to the shrine, had taken charge of Zora and her +grandfather; but as she belonged to a city beyond Gulburgah, who could +tell where she might be? And thus it was that Zuffoora-bee and the +Abyssinian returned to Juldroog weary and disappointed. + +Had Abbas Khan spirited away the girl on any pretence? The Governor +could not believe what Osman Beg repeatedly asserted; but still it +might be so, and he doubted. Otherwise the affairs of the fort went on +regularly and comfortably. The Governor received deputations from the +Nawab of Moodgul and the Beydur Naik of Wakin Kera, and all respectable +neighbours round; but the only thing in which he had failed was not +being able to trace Zora. We, however, who have much interest in the +child and her old grandfather must endeavour to do so. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. +A NEW HOME. + + +I need hardly take the reader back to the day when, rescued from Osman +Beg's vile designs, Zora and her grandfather abandoned their peaceful +home. All the incidents relating to that event will, I think, not have +been forgotten, and need not be recalled. It was a piteous sacrifice, +but it was well for the girl that it had been, as it were, forced on +her grandfather and herself, and that no compromise was made with, or +trust reposed in, the unscrupulous tyrant of the fort. + +I say it was well that they had abandoned all, and fled. They were +indeed passive instruments in the hands of a more experienced and +powerful person who long before had taken a just measure of the Nawab's +violent and treacherous character, and most especially dreaded his +designs against the orphan girl who, as all knew, had no friends among +her own people, except the poor inhabitants of the village in which +she had lived all her life, and they were helpless to protect her. +The result justified Runga Naik's extreme measure. No sooner was the +escape of Zora known to the two women who had charge of her, than their +shrill cries aroused the eunuchs, who were supposed to be keeping +watch outside, and instant search was made for her among the rocks in +the vicinity of the palace, but in vain. They then in turn raised an +alarm, and Osman Beg himself, it being now daylight, was roused by his +attendant, and a new search was begun, which, as we know, ended in +disappointment. The two eunuchs who had already been pinioned, and were +expecting no less punishment than death, were put into heavy chains, +and flogged till they could bear no more, and thrust into a dungeon. +There one of them had died of his wounds and of neglect; the other, +worn to a skeleton, being released by the new Governor as soon as his +place of confinement and condition were known. + +After the two eunuchs had been disposed of, Osman Beg, attended by his +Abyssinian slaves and some of his retainers, descended from the palace +to the village, where every one with whom Zora or her grandfather +was known to have associated was flogged, or otherwise tortured, to +disclose the place of their concealment. The old house was ransacked +in vain, and every hiding place among the rocks that was in any way +accessible searched for the fugitives. It was soon known, however, that +they had crossed the river, and that Runga Naik and Burma had carried +them off; and the Nawab would willingly have seized the Beydurs of +the fort if he had dared; but they set him at defiance, and he was +too weak to attempt interference with more than a hundred stout, +well-armed men. Nor, indeed, was the proper garrison of the fort in at +all a placable mood. They were, for the most part, Mussulmans, and were +disciples of the old Syud, and had Osman Beg meddled with them in any +way, he might not have escaped with his life; and he wisely retired to +the palace, while Zora's friends contented themselves with drawing up +an account of the whole transaction, and transmitting it to Beejapoor, +but not at once; for in Indian subjects of this kind there are always +discussions as to the expediency or otherwise of complaint. + +If successful, remedy is obtained; if otherwise, the complainants +fall into an infinitely worse plight than before. In this case the +formal petition of the garrison, the village people, the Moollas of +the mosque, the acting Kazee, and all other respectable persons, had +reached Beejapoor the day after the new Governor had left; and the +Queen Chand Beebee, already in possession of the facts, had given a +very gracious reply to the petitioners, promising them justice as soon +as the officer whom the Government had despatched should make his +report. + +From all this it may be inferred that had poor Zora and her helpless +grandfather not been taken away, very serious consequences might +have ensued. If there had been an attempt to conceal the girl in the +island, and she had been discovered, there can be no doubt that the +last indignity would have been inflicted upon her. If, again, she had +been openly protected by the garrison, much bloodshed might have taken +place; and though Runga was sure of his own Beydurs, he was by no means +so sure of the Mussulman portion of the garrison who might adhere to +their Governor. + +For himself and Burma he was quite regardless of consequences. He was +too strong at Korikul and Kukeyra, as well as in every village of the +frontier, to be meddled with. He had no fear of Beejapoor, to which he +was rendering important services every day; and he knew that Osman Beg +dare not complain against him, because of the forcible abduction of +a holy Syud's granddaughter, and the connection with Eyn-ool-Moolk's +conspiracy, the threads of which Runga held in his hands. Osman Beg, +though he would have given all he possessed to be revenged upon Runga +Naik, knew him to be beyond his reach; and perhaps the most unbearable +indignity he suffered on his deposition from power, was the hearing +from Burma's own lips in the public cucherry the story of the rescue +of Zora, and the means by which it had been accomplished, which was +corroborated in every point, and which, delivered with infinite zest +and humour, caused roars of laughter. + +There was, however, one point on which Osman Beg seemed to be +inflexible. He declared that though the Moolla and Kazee of the fort +had refused their offices in regard to Zora's marriage to him--and +those present on the occasion gave equally clear and convincing +testimony as to the non-performance of the ceremony, and the indignity +put upon all by being asked to partake in such a mockery--in spite +of all this, Osman Beg steadily persisted in asserting that Zora +was his wedded wife; that he had had means in private of having the +ceremony performed, to which Zora had consented; and that wherever, and +howsoever, he might meet her or find her, he would claim her as his +wife before the King, the Queen, and all the ecclesiastical or other +courts of law in Beejapoor. + +The Governor could not account for this, and he could not obtain +the evidence of the two women from Moodgul. Osman Beg, in his blind +fury, had, without reflection, had the hair of both cut off, their +faces blackened, and mounted them barebacked upon asses; they, with +the money he had given them, which he was too proud to take back, +were sent across the river towards Moodgul. There they had complained +to the Nawab, who declined to interfere; and all that was known of +Mama Luteefa and her confidential servant was, that they had gone +to Golconda, to pursue their avocations in a place where they were +unknown, or at least were not remembered. It is possible, I think, if +Osman Beg had retained them in his service, or had not ill-treated +them, he might have instructed them how to support his unvarying +assertion that Zora was his wife, though she had escaped from him, +as he believed, to join his cousin Abbas Khan, with whom she had +had communication while he was confined to the fort by his wound. +Day after day did the Governor return to the case, and had gradually +accumulated all the evidence procurable, which was attested by the +Moollas, Khadims of the mosque, and Sheykh Baban, the Jemadar, all of +whom expressed not only their willingness, but their desire, to be sent +to Beejapoor should the case go to trial in the head Mufti's court. Of +this, however, there will be more to say hereafter; and in this seeming +divergence our only wish is that the reader should lose no point of +importance in the thread of this history. + +On the night, or rather the morning, of Zora's escape, she and her +grandfather had been taken from the bank of the river direct first +to Jumalpoor, and afterwards to Korikul. The old Dervish had been a +passive instrument in Runga's hands. He had heard with the utmost +terror of Zora's abduction; he had cried to the Lord in an almost +perpetual moan for the child's protection, and he had wandered from the +house to the mosque to pray, and, finding no comfort, had returned to +the house and moaned there. He had searched all the women's apartments, +and called her name repeatedly, almost to the weariness of old +Mamoolla, who had chidden him for not putting better faith in God and +in the child's friends. Had not the pan-seller's wife twice come and +declared that as yet the child was safe, and would be rescued before +any harm could reach her. But all in vain. The old man could not be +brought to understand how the Nawab, with all the forces of the fort at +his disposal, could be outwitted by at most two or three men; how his +darling could be brought to him openly through the fort, even though +it might be by secret paths. The poor old man's mind was a chaos of +utter misery and despair, which found no rest or hope in any assurance. +He suffered Runga's men to remove all his property, which they did +carefully and honestly; and, as even Mamoolla said afterwards--for +she, also, was too much excited in her mind to be capable of any +thought--without losing an end of a thread or a bit of string. All the +old Syud's books, his drugs, his medicines, his charms and amulets--in +short, everything that he prized on earth--had been carried away. + +And so it was with Zora, her two cows and the goats, her books and +simple clothes, and the strong box which contained some gold and +ornaments which had belonged to her mother. And when they reached +Korikul, which they did the next day, Runga Naik had all opened in her +presence, and his Brahmin scribe made inventories of what belonged to +both, as also did Zora at the same time. So far, therefore, all was +well; they had lost nothing, but the change was very sad and very hard +to bear. From the first glance at her, the Lady Keysama had taken a +prejudice against poor Zora, who appeared to her like a young dancing +girl; and although her clothes were poor, not to say mean, and she +had no ornaments, indeed, presented only the appearance of an ordinary +Mussulman's daughter, yet, with all, there was a look of intelligence +and of superiority in her glorious eyes, in the carriage of her head, +and her figure in general, which at once separated her from anyone of +inferior grade to herself. + +The Lady Keysama did not like this. She even felt jealous of poor Zora +when she arrived and was led in by Runga Naik, preceded by two Beydur +slave girls. Keysama had, indeed, risen to salute her, bade her be +seated, asked a few questions, to which Zora had replied timidly, for +the fame of the lady's fiery temper was notorious through the country, +and was not unknown to her, and almost immediately dismissed her with +the gift of a new sari, a muslin scarf, and a piece of soosi cloth, +with some pan, hoping that she would find comfortable lodgings and live +happily. In truth, the dame had already entertained a violent jealousy +against Zora, and, in the course of a day or so, told her husband that +she doubted the whole story of the abduction, and that it was evident +he had brought her for his own purposes. + +The Lady Keysama was not, ordinarily speaking, a jealous wife, but +she was suspicious, and mistrustful of anything out of the ordinary +course, such as the rescue of Zora; and as she said to herself, if the +Nawab had carried off any one from Korikul, would not her lord resent +it; and what did it matter to Runga whether the Nawab married the +pale-faced girl or not, it was no business of his, and his bringing +her to Korikul was, in her estimation, entirely unnecessary and +unjustifiable. I do not mean to say that she openly accused her kind +lord of infidelity to his face, or that he had to endure lectures upon +the subject, but what has been recorded was in her thoughts; and it is +not extraordinary, if the tempers of Eastern women be considered, that +she set herself to watch, and that her ears were open to any reports +and conjectures which her humble friends might bring to her. + +Meanwhile for some days Zora and her grandfather were very comfortably +established by their friend in an empty house which had belonged to a +weaver, who, for reasons of his own, had left the town and established +himself at Sugger; and as the house he had lived in was the property of +the lord of the town, it was now at Runga Naik's disposal. True, it was +not so commodious as that at Juldroog, but it was more than sufficient +for them. It was close to the mosque, and a door from a spacious yard +behind opened into the ground which surrounded the mosque, part of +which was a cemetery overshadowed by some fine trees. The Moolla lived +hard by on the other side, and his wife was a kind, motherly woman, +and paid them frequent visits. As usual with most mosques, there was +a large colony of pigeons attached to it; there were parroquets and +mynas, with other birds in the trees, so that Zora and her grandfather +were soon at their ease, and rested thankfully under the shelter of +their protector's hospitality, and the old man soon began to find his +way to the mosque at prayer-time; and as Mussulman weavers are for the +most part pious persons, there was always a good attendance, especially +at afternoon prayer, when the day's work was done. + +The fame of the sanctity of the aged recluse of Juldroog had for years +past been spread throughout the country even to a distance; and though +he had not assumed the title of saint, or made any pretensions to be +one, yet had he died in Juldroog, there is little doubt he would have +received all the honours of one after that event. Miracles would have +been asserted as proceeding from the worship of his last resting-place, +and there is no doubt it would have risen in popular esteem. Indeed, it +was evident that, even in this strange place, the veneration for the +old Syud was increasing. + +As he sat daily in the mosque, and discoursed eloquently upon the +sublime subject of "Turreequt," or path to Heaven, he charmed and +delighted his hearers; and the rank of the old recluse as a Syud, his +eloquence and kindly manner of teaching, had a wonderful effect on his +audience, who had never listened to words like his before--unless, +indeed, they went on some pilgrimage to any celebrated shrine, where +holy and learned men assembled and instructed the people in sermons. +Then the Syud's fame as a physician was perhaps among the lower +orders even greater than that of his learning, and was not confined +to Mussulmans but extended to Hindoos, to whom, although they were +unbelievers, he was as charitable and attentive as to his own people. + +Thus between morning prayers and noon, and frequently afterwards, he +was asked for advice; and he wrote charms, amulets, exorcisms, and +the like, with the help of Zora, who, except when he was expounding +doctrines in the mosque, never left him. Every day at the hours of +prayer, when the muezzin had cried the Azan, or invitation, Zora used +to lead him forth by the door in the yard-wall; and some considerate +poor folk had made a smooth path from thence to the steps of the +mosque, where there was always someone present to help him up; and Zora +would either return to old Mamoolla, or, folding her scarf over her +face, say her prayers in some corner of the building where men did not +look at her. + +Runga Naik did not come to them very often, he had many things to +look after--his people, and their caste, and other disputes, such as +shares of land and produce--and for this purpose he sat daily on a +chubootra, or platform of earth, which had been made hundreds of years +before, around the trunk of a venerable neem-tree, and where his father +and grandfather, and ancestors long ago, had sat before him. This, +indeed, was his public court, open to all comers; and was simple and +effective, because he was patient and listened to everyone, either +giving a summary decision himself or referring cases to arbitration. +It was a patriarchal mode of proceeding, which was the custom of his +clan; and if there were no lawyers, no agents, no pleaders, nor indeed +anyone but plaintiff and defendant and their witnesses, perhaps the +justice meted out was none the less efficient, and, at all events, the +people desired nothing more. Sometimes Runga was absent for a few days +on business with his chief at Wakin-Keyra; sometimes he went with a +large escort to collect his dues or blackmail in the district west of +his own territory; and whenever he did go, he provided liberally for +his guests during his absence, and they had rations of flour, pulse, +ghee, and vegetables direct from the house, with which the Lady Keysama +did not interfere. She only, and that perpetually, threw out hints to +her husband that "that great girl Zora ought to be married; that she +was ashamed of seeing her come to the house (for Zora did pay a visit +sometimes to the Beydur lady, though her castle was an unclean place to +her), and that he ought to insist upon her grandfather's settling her +in life; and no doubt some worthy man might be found who would gladly +marry one so learned and so beautiful." + +But Runga Naik had no such intention. I think he remembered that first +night at Juldroog, and that Abbas Khan desired no better blessing +in life than to gain Zora for his own. Before he attempted to bring +that about, it was necessary to follow up the scattered parties of +Eyn-ool-Moolk's rebellion, especially the members of Abbas Khan's +troop who had deserted him; and, as he thought, allowing ample time +for his young friend to reach Beejapoor, he set out for the western +districts in the direction of Belgaum; and yet at that very time, +within a distance of thirty miles, Abbas Khan was lying in a small +village grievously ill with the return of his fever and the reopening +of his wound, of which the reader has already been informed. But so it +is in life, when a blessing, above all things precious, lies at our +very doors, we often fail to know of it, or even of its very existence. +Runga had no time to lose, he thought, and his desire was to hasten to +Beejapoor direct, should he have any success in his expedition. Should +he have none, he could return and take on Zora and her grandfather to +Beejapoor, that the old man might lay his complaint of ill-usage before +the Queen, or the King if he had returned. Runga had no idea of who the +old Syud was--that was known only to Abbas Khan, whose intention was, +as we know, to have him sent for; but the gracious message of the Queen +had gone too late, and when all attempts to discover Zora and the old +man were fruitless. + +Before he left Korikul, however, Runga Naik and his wife had come to +extremities about poor little Zora. We need not detail the gradual +increase of acerbity and jealousy on the part of the Lady Keysama. Now +he was going away (she put the matter in that light), who would be +responsible for the girl? She herself--and she put her hands to her +ears, and called all the gods to witness--would not, and could not. +She had enough to do in attending to her own poor folk, about whom she +knew, or could find out everything, whereas about these strangers she +knew nothing. He might be very fond of the girl, there was no doubt of +that; but an unmarried girl of her age and appearance, with nobody near +her but a feeble old servant--well, she would say nothing herself, but +let him ask the neighbours, let him ask the Choudhree of the Momins, +and hear what they said about Zora, who, she thought, was only fit now +to become a public dancing girl, and if she took to that profession +she would be welcome. Had she not been heard singing words that no +one understood to unknown tunes? Where did she learn them? As to the +defamatory part of the Lady Keysama's tirade, we decline positively to +enter into it. When a woman of the Lady Keysama's temper, whatever be +her station in India, or whatever her caste or sect, condescends to be +abusive, her words cannot be translated, or even paraphrased; and such +was the excitement the lady worked herself up into, that Runga, who +had never been subjected to the like before from his wife, got fairly +alarmed. "They must go," he said; "but how to tell the old man and +Zora!" + +Yet it must be done. With Zora and his old friend he must part; but +with his wife, the mother of his children, the admirable mistress +of his house, the respected and beloved of all, he could not part; +and she had distinctly said that if the girl were not sent away, she +herself would go to her father's house at Wakin-Keyra, and tell the +story so that all should hear. Her father was the brother of the Rajah +of the clan, whose enmity Runga Naik dare neither risk nor provoke; +and he knew enough of his wife's determined spirit to believe she +would do exactly as she threatened if he did not do as she requested. +No; on those hard conditions he could not afford to protect Zora; her +grandfather, whom all, even his wife, loved and honoured, could not be +separated from her, and, therefore, they must go. + +So several days before the Brahmin astrologer had predicted one +favourable for the departure of his little expedition, he went +privately to the old man, knelt down reverently at the threshold of his +door, and confided to him what has been recorded, and besought pardon +for the apparent rudeness he was obliged to commit. The tender-minded +fellow's heart, as he said, was broken by his wife, who, without cause, +had put this shame on him privately, and was ready, to her own shame, +to make it public. Now it was known to his friend only, and he might +offer counsel in his extremity. + +The old Syud was inexpressibly shocked and grieved. The very last thing +he had thought possible had come to pass. Was, then, Zora, his little +Zora, so much advanced in girlhood that it was immodest or dangerous +to allow her to go about unveiled and untended, as she had used to +do? Was she, indeed, of marriageable age, and in permitting her to go +abroad was there even a suspicion of immodesty? He could not see, and +his experience of worldly matters had faded out. Still Runga Naik, and +above all his wife, could not be mistaken. Else why should suspicion +and jealousy have arisen? And now a horrible thought flashed into the +old man's mind. Could Runga have carried off Zora for his own purposes? +It might be so; otherwise, why did his wife suspect him? "Ya, Alla +Kureem, protect us!" he cried in his misery. "We are but two helpless +creatures, a girl and a blind man, trying to serve Thee! Oh! suffer us +not to fall into misery, which Thou alone canst avert!" + +Zora was visiting the family of the Choudhree, or head of the weavers, +that day; and she was fond of doing so, as his wife was in reality kind +and motherly, and much interested in her helpless condition. That day +she and her children had insisted on bathing Zora, dressing her hair, +and putting on her a suit of new clothes, for which her husband and +his men had woven the materials, and his wife had made them up. And +when Zora, duly dressed and anointed, was placed in the seat of honour, +and the children were decking her with garlands of jessamine, and +calling her bride, their mother said gravely to Zora, "And it is time +thou shouldst be so in reality, darling, to be able to live a decent, +respectable life, and bear children. I was not thy age, Zora, when I +was married; and what has thy grandfather been doing that he has not +arranged this long ago? It is time thou, child, shouldst no longer have +the mantle of reproach cast over thee." + +"Of reproach, mother?" said Zora, her lips quivering and tears starting +from her eyes. "No one has ever reproached me; no one wants me; no +one has ever asked me in marriage; and many have told me, that one of +the noble Syud race would have honour in putting on the green dress, +and renouncing the world, living a humble and devout life, doing good +works. Oh, mother! speak no more to me about marriage, for I cannot +bear it." + +"Well," said the dame, "I will tell my husband what you say; but of +late both he and I have been distressed by hearing things that ought +not to be spoken." + +"God help me!" said the girl, "for I trust in Him. I will speak to Abba +when I go home, and pray him to take me away from this. No, mother, +wherever we go we are Fakeers, and the world is open to us, and the +ears of the Hearer of prayer are never shut. Yes, I see it all, mother, +now, and we must go." + +"And have you any means of support, my child?" asked the dame. + +"Oh, yes," returned Zora, "God feeds Fakeers as He feeds the ravens and +the wild birds, who cannot work. True, I can embroider, and do many +things for myself if there be need; but Abba can be rich if he pleases. +The offerings he receives every day amount to many, many rupees, and +yet he refuses almost all; and those he keeps are only what I take up +from his carpet, when people leave them. No, mother, there is no fear +of want; only to beg for our daily bread is painful, and we take only +what the merciful Alla sends us." The dame could say no more; and the +children were awed into silence at seeing their mother and Zora so +grave; and though Zora tried to be merry, and did what she could to +amuse her little companions, even to singing Maria's songs, her heart +was heavy and sad, and the children instinctively clung to her and +tried to cheer her, when they saw the tears welling from her eyes and +coursing each other down her cheek. Zora did not rally, and went home. + +Meanwhile, Mamoolla had come from the Bazar, and her master called her +to him, and questioned her in regard to Zora, and as to whether any +remarks about the child had come to her ears. Of course they had. Who +could keep a great girl like that in the house, and allow her to go +about without restraint, and not hear reproach. At Juldroog everyone +was accustomed to see Zora abroad, but here, in a populous place like +Korikul, it was quite another matter, and people would talk; who could +stop their mouths? As to the child herself, there was not a suspicion +of immodesty about her. She was as pure as an infant, but still that +would not help her if the world were uncharitable. + +Mamoolla was talking to her grandfather when Zora returned, escorted +by two stout journeymen of the weaver's; and as she threw off the sheet +that had covered her, she hastened to her grandfather, and laying her +head in his lap, burst into tears. + +"I know, I know, my darling," he said, putting his trembling hands upon +her head, "thou, too, hast heard the foul reports, and may God forgive +those who set them on foot. Ameen, and Ameen." + +"Let us go, Abba," she cried, sobbing. "The world will not have us as +we are, but the merciful Lord is our refuge. Let us go, Abba; whither +He guides us we cannot fail or perish." + + + + +CHAPTER V. +AMONG FRIENDS. + + +The next day being Friday, or the Sabbath, there was a larger +attendance than usual in the mosque, for all God-fearing men, and some +women with them, did no work, and attended the stated prayers. After +the noontide devotions, there gathered round the old Syud a great +number of people, and he thought it a good opportunity to take leave of +them. Accordingly, after begging all to be seated, he addressed them +much as follows:-- + +"You have been kind to me, friends," he said, in a voice much broken +by emotion, "and, had it been the will of the Disposer of all events, +I would have remained with you till I died. But man's will is not +God's will, and my heart tells me, nay, whispers to me unceasingly, +by the Lord's prompting, 'Thou hast not attained what is desirable +and necessary for those who aspire to perfection in the holy calling +of a true Syud. Thou callest thyself a Dervish, and some call thee +Mushaekh, or holy one, but thou hast not attained even the rank of +a Fakeer. Thou hast never been elected; thou, old as thou art, hast +never chosen a leader in the way of heavenly life (Turreequt), and +that above all things is needful for thy acceptance before God. Thou +hast led an easy life, never undergoing privation, and it is only in +relation to thy charity and good works that thou hast been protected +so far; and thy removal here was an act of divine mercy, and thy first +step in the Turreequt, which thou must fulfil. Seek, therefore, some +godly saint of great knowledge and experience in holy mysteries, and +tarry not till thou hast found him.' 'Tarry not! tarry not,' my heart +cries to me day and night. 'Thou art old and growing feeble, and if +thou delayest, a blessed portion may not be thy lot. Death may claim +thee, and after this warning what answer canst thou make to Moonkir and +Nukeer, the angels of death, who will examine thee in the tomb? and +how wilt thou be enabled to cross the bridge Al Sirat, sharper than a +sword?' Therefore, O beloved friends and brothers, my soul trembles as +it dwells on these divine truths. I cannot rest under them; I must seek +rest; I must follow the path of eternal life which has been opened to +me. I must not fear to meet the angels of death. + +"I have been spared nearly eighty years, and have been idle and +slothful. True, I can plead that I was a prisoner and had no free will +of my own; but I am a prisoner no longer, and must go forth and speed +on ere it be too late; and therefore I go as I am, guided by the Lord, +and must not tarry, lest I be too late and fail." + +Then the whole congregation burst into passionate weeping, and many +cries arose of "Stay, stay with us, and fear not, for thou art holy +and aged, and the Lord will have mercy on thy infirmity! Thou art +leading us as no one ever led us before. May the Lord reward thee!" + +But the old recluse had prepared himself for all this. If it were +necessary for him to leave the town on Zora's account, and that +seemed to him imperative, he had for some years past meditated the +assumption of the order of a Fakeer leading to that of a Mushaekh. +He had applied for permission to visit some holy shrine and make +his public profession, but in vain; no one had had the authority in +Juldroog to grant such permission to a State prisoner, even though +his name and rank were unknown; and the Nawab Osman Beg's denial, on +his application, had been peculiarly offensive and discourteous. Now, +however, he was free; and, although that might have been a matter of +accident, the old man had come to the conclusion in his own mind that +it had been appointed by the Lord, and he reproached himself bitterly +that he had ever murmured against the seeming violence, and, indeed, +dishonour, which he had had to undergo on his sweet child's account. + +The people saw it was no use to urge the old man further. He had +determined upon his own course, as most believed, by divine influence, +and who dared to oppose that? He told them finally that his friend, +Runga Naik, their lord, had provided him with a residence at the quiet +village of Kukeyra, where he should rest for a while in solitude, and +that any of his friends who desired ghostly council, or medicine, or +amulets could visit him there. Then he got up, and placing his hands +upon the heads of the children who were brought to him, and on those +who surrounded him, he departed amidst the prayers, blessings, and good +wishes of all. + +On his return home he found Runga and Burma without, sitting under the +tree in the court-yard, who came forward and touched his feet with a +lowly reverence. + +"I have taken leave of them all," said the Syud, with emotion; "but it +is well, it is as God wills, and whatever our destiny may be, it must +be fulfilled. The Lord has vouchsafed to me a much clearer view of my +duty than I had at Juldroog, and that, whatever betide, I must follow. +My only anxiety is about Zora; and I have no fear, for the Almighty +will raise up friends to her; the orphan will not be deserted. To Abbas +Khan I have confided who I am, which even you must not know yet; and, I +think, he will help her, wherever she may be, when I have passed away." + +They could only weep, for the old recluse was dear to them both, +notwithstanding their difference of faith. And the old man continued-- + +"To you, Runga Naik, I commit what worldly property I possess, which +is all in the box we have sealed up; and I pray you to keep it, to be +reclaimed by Zora if ever she is in a condition to do so. Keep it +in your own treasury. There is not much in it; some ornaments of her +mother's, some gold that belonged to her, and such jewels as I was +presented with when I was at the King's court in honour. If I die, my +child's rank would be known by them. Now she shares my condition of a +Fakeer, and we can live on the alms the faithful may bestow upon me. +And you spoke of a temporary resting-place at Kukeyra, is it ready for +us?" + +"Burma has been arranging it, and it is now ready for you, Huzrut; but +it is a poor place, only a thatched dwelling, in which an old Fakeer +lived for many years, and died lately. It is in a little garden by +itself, just outside the village gate; but my men there have orders to +watch it day and night, and no harm can come to you. You will be nearly +alone, for except the Moolla, who is very ignorant, there are but few +Mussulmans, and they are only poor weavers and cultivators. Ha! who +are these? Some visitors to ask your blessing, Huzrut; are they to be +admitted? By the Gods! I see men from Juldroog, and one of the Nawab's +slaves, what can it mean?" + +"Has Zora returned?" asked her grandfather. "Mamoolla, is the child +there?" + +"I am here, Abba," she replied, coming to the door of the house. "What +need you?" + +"Runga tells me that some persons have come from Juldroog, thou hadst +better keep thyself close;" but, as he spoke, the women entered by the +outside door; and as she slunk back into a dim corner, she saw that the +arrivals were Mama Luteefa and Shireen-bee, her servant, who saluted +the old man with respect. + +"We have a letter from the Nawab," said Mama Luteefa, "and he has sent +us to deliver it and to plead for him." + +"As-tagh-fur-oola! God forbid!" cried the Syud, putting his hands to +his ears, "that any message should reach me from that bold, bad man. +Leave me; I will not hear you." + +"He is penitent now," returned the Mama, wiping her eyes. "He will do +whatever you please." + +"He is worn to a shadow," said Shireen-bee, sniffling and blowing her +nose. "He will die of grief, Huzrut, for Zora-bee. Will she not relent? +Osman Beg will have the grandest marriage performed." + +"Here," interrupted Mama Luteefa, "if Zora wishes, in the midst +of her friends. He will come without a following, and place +himself--he--he--in voluntary captivity to the beauteous Zora. He will +settle on her a dower of fifty thousand rupees, and an elephant could +not carry the clothes he has provided. If my lord will read his letter +he will see that I tell the truth." + +"Let Zora open and read it," said the old man, gently. "She can choose +for herself. I will say nothing, for rank and wealth may have favour +in her sight, though they have none in mine. Zora! Zora!" and she came +forth, veiling her face, and sat down beside him. + +"Read this," he said; "it is from Osman Beg; and I would that these his +emissaries heard thy decision from thine own lips. Open the letter and +read it to me." + +The epistle was from Osman Beg himself, whose orthography and spelling +were none of the best. He had evidently not trusted his moonshee to +copy it. It contained all that Mama Luteefa and Shireen had enumerated, +and much more in a fulsome style of flattery; and he would come to +Korikul, with his body servants only, to celebrate the marriage at any +time, or by any person, that might be approved of. + +It was as much as she could do to read the letter. Zora's face flushed, +and her eyes glowed at the remembrance of the insult and indignity +which had been put upon her; and when she had read it and put it down, +she burst into a violent flood of tears. "He might have spared thee +this last indignity, Abba," she sobbed, "knowing, as he does, that we +have been obliged to fly from his tyranny and become wanderers. And +these women, who failed to persuade me once when I was in their power, +might have guessed what the result of their mission would be when I +was free. Yet you are not to blame, Mama Luteefa. You were following +your trade, and he was giving you gold. He has even bribed you again. +Enough that you think it honourable and good. Now hear the last words +I will speak to either of you. Go! tell your master that I am now, +even as I was then. No wealth can tempt me, no threat can terrify +me; I go whither he cannot find me, and am henceforth a Fakeer with +my grandfather, whose lot I share, whatever it may be, till he passes +away. Go! and trouble us no more." + +"And that is your answer, Zora-bee?" said Mama Luteefa, somewhat +scornfully. "You refuse, child, all that I had contrived for you." + +"I have spoken," returned the girl; and she sat still, idly picking up +pebbles from the sand. + +"And how didst thou cross the river, Mamajee?" asked Runga, in his +rough Dekhan dialect. + +"What business is that of yours?" said Shireen-bee. "My mistress does +not speak with Beydurs." + +"Perhaps she would speak; perhaps she would be made to speak if I had +her head shaved and she were set on an ass. I am master here, and can +do justice after my own rough fashion. Will ye answer the question?" + +If it had not been painful to witness, the terror of the two women +would have been ludicrous. They looked hither and thither without +seeing the possibility of aid, and at last fell down before the old +Syud in an agony of alarm. "Mercy! mercy!" they cried frantically. +"Spare us; we are only poor women earning our bread. There in the fort +he threatened us; here we are also terrified. Mercy! mercy! let us go, +and we will hasten away." + +"Ye have not answered my question, Mamajee," rejoined Runga. "How did +ye cross the river?" + +"The Nawab sent us by the lower ferry, and we said we were on a +pilgrimage from Moodgul. We went round a long way before we could reach +the place. They would not let us cross from the fort." + +"Good," said Runga, with a smile of content. "Then our people are not +to be tempted; and we must secure the boats below, Burma. As ye did not +come by the upper ferry, ye shall return by it," he continued to the +women; "and when ye get back offer fatehas that your hair is on your +head. Take them, Burma, and despatch them by Jumalpoor; and if ever I +see you again here, or hear of any of the Nawab's people being on this +side the river again, I will have their ears cut off and tied about +their necks." + +"And there is no answer to our master's letter?" said Shireen, somewhat +impudently. "And what shall I say to him from thee, my fairy?" + +"Begone!" shouted Runga. "Up, and begone! Else beware! I am not used to +have my will disputed;" and seizing them by the shoulders, he pushed +them out of the door into the street; and in a few minutes more, with +fresh bearers for Mama Luteefa's litter, they had passed the gates +under an escort of Beydurs, and were on their way. We need not detail +their reception in the fort; suffice it to say that two days after +Osman Beg directed their hair to be shorn, and, riding on asses, as we +have already mentioned, they were expelled the fort. + +"Shookr! Shookr! Thanks, a thousand times, that they are gone. Runga, +I owe this to thee; else they had persecuted me, and Zora, too, poor +child. Do not weep; you are safe now. Blessed be the Lord! Safe from +persecution! Hast thou the letter, Zora?" + +"It is here, Abba. What shall I do with it?" + +"Keep it for me," he replied; "I would fain have it shown to Abbas +Khan. Wilt thou take it, Runga?" + +"Nay," he replied, "I should but lose it; let Zora keep it safely. And +now, Huzrut, be led by my advice. Meeah must have reached Beejapoor +before this, and some of my people are going for their yearly State +services. As I have told thee, I am obliged to go westwards; but they +will escort thee safely, and make ye both over to Meeah if he be there; +and if not, get ye a lodging near the Chishtee Saint, in the quarter of +the Dervishes." + +The old Syud shook his head. "No," he said; "the path of my salvation +lies to the east, and the Murdan-ool-Ghyb points thither on Monday, +when we must depart. I cannot, under the revelations made to me, change +my direction or my purpose; and after what has happened to-day, I feel +as if there were additional pressure put upon me to depart speedily." + +"As you will, Huzrut, as you will," said Runga, kindly; "only I wish +it were otherwise. I wish you would go direct to Beejapoor, and sit +down at the palace gate till you are recognised and relieved. This +travelling is a sore trial both to you and the child; and who have you +to help you?" + +"Do not care for me, Abba," said Zora, with a sweet smile. "Now they +are gone I have no fear--none. And you know we shall have Ahmed with +us, Runga Naik; he refuses to leave us, and says he will become a +Fakeer with Abba. So we shall not be alone. And perhaps I shall become +one also, if Mamoolla does; but I have not felt the call yet, and shall +wait awhile." + +"Take my advice, my child," said Runga. "If I am not wrong, and my +Brahmin astrologer is not wrong, there are better things in store +for thee than the skirt of a Fakeer, even if there be some pain in +attaining them; and Vishnu Punt is a strangely wise man, who can tell +everything. Shall I bring him to thee?" + +"No," she said, quietly. "That might not be lawful for me. Nothing can +possibly turn Abba from his purpose, and I should only be perplexed and +terrified if your Brahmin's directions were different from his. No; let +me be. I do but follow my fate, Runga Naik; and be the way rough or +smooth, it must be travelled in faith and trust." + +No more remained to be done. All Saturday and Sunday there were other +sad services in the mosque, and during both days visitors were +constant, begging for charms, amulets, and medicines; and by many small +gifts of money, vermicelli and other simple necessaries were provided. +Finally, early on Monday they left Korikul, soon after daylight, +after partaking of an early meal which the Moolla and his wife had +prepared. Burma Naik, with an escort, accompanied them, the old Syud +and Zora riding easy ponies with saddle-bags, which Runga had procured +for them, with Mamoolla mounted on another, which carried their small +amount of cooking utensils, while the simple Ahmed drove another pony +laden with their worldly goods. So the little procession was formed, +which went out of the gate of the town eastwards to Kukeyra, and which +was followed with dim, tearful eyes by Runga. "When shall I see them +again?" he murmured. "Whither may not the old man's new projects lead +him? Free, after years of seclusion, he will not now readily settle +down, even for Zora's sake, and in respect to her is as simple as a +child. May the Gods protect them, and lead them safely." + +It was a fresh pleasant morning when the little party left Korikul, and +the strange, novel motion was delightful to Zora. All her life she had +been confined to the gloomy fortress and its rocks, with the roaring +or murmuring river ever in her ears. Now there were green fields and +luxuriant waving grain; cotton with its bright yellow blossoms, and +wayside plants and flowers all new to her. In place of the frowning +rocks of the ravine of Juldroog, there was an open fertile country, +with some low hills on the left hand, and a level plain to the right +which sloped gradually down to the great river, which could be seen at +intervals gleaming in the sun, while the rugged peak of the fortress +seemed to rise out of the basin of hills and rocks; and Zora could +even see the small white pavilion on the high rock before the palace, +where, in days gone by, she had often sat to watch the cataract and +the boiling foaming river beneath it. Should she ever see them again? +Even her grandfather, generally so silent, was stirred by a new sense +of freedom which he had not known for years. Ah, so many now! Aged as +he was, he felt a new strength and power as the stout beast he bestrode +with the air of a cavalier walked on firmly and speedily. "This is +delicious, Zora!" he cried. "No longer the few steps between the house +and the mosque, no longer the close stifling air of the narrow ravine +of Juldroog, but the free fresh air of the country and the fields. I +cannot see them, child, but their perfume refreshes me, and I feel new +life and vigour. Surely it is a blessed beginning of the path we have +chosen; and thou, be thankful then in thy heart, child, as I am." + +"I am thankful, Abba," she replied, urging her pony up to his side. +"And I am free, too, from the danger that threatened me. I could never +have been at peace in Korikul after those women had found us out; and +Burma tells me there is no danger now, for there are Beydurs in every +village, and there will be orders given to pass us on from stage to +stage, and to guard us always. So we can go miles and miles, further +and further; and he will take care of the cows and the goats while we +are away, and send them to us when we return, or wherever we may be." + +And thus they travelled on their first stage of a few miles, chatting +with each other, while the old man every now and then recited portions +of the Koran, or from Persian poets that he remembered, and even +passages in Arabic of the Turreequt, which at last he had undertaken. +Presently Burma Naik, who had been riding in advance, stopped and said +to them, "Yonder is the village, and my horn-blower will sound a signal +that we approach. It is my own village, the Beydurs there belong to my +division, and my wife and family live here, but when Runga is away on +his duty I reside at Korikul. Is not my home pretty? I think it the +most beautiful of all our villages, and there is not one empty house in +it. But you will see it better when we get nearer." + +Even from the distance they were, the appearance of Kukeyra was very +inviting. It seemed like a large cluster of houses rising towards the +centre, and was embosomed in trees and gardens. To the left the low +range of hills rose considerably, and were covered with wood, part +of which extended along the road by which they were travelling, and +being without underwood or jungle, looked like a park. Cattle were +grazing in large numbers on the short green sward, or lying under the +shade of large trees. "This is our hunting ground, lady," said Burma +to Zora, "and there are plenty of wild hogs in the small ravines up +there; and when they are driven from thence they take to the islands +in the river, so we always know where to get them when we have a hunt. +And look! yonder are antelopes grazing in a herd, and there are hares +and pea-fowl among the grass, and my people protect them all. You have +never seen these things before." + +"No, indeed," replied Zora; "how could I in the fort? But I have seen +panthers and bears climbing about, and pea-fowl sometimes came down to +the river side to drink, and I and other girls used to look at them." + +"Well, you shall see all here, if you like--that is, if Abba does not +object. But here no one is veiled, for we are all Beydurs, except a few +farmers and weavers, and but seven families of Mussulmans, one of whom +is the Moolla; but he is not like Abba; he cannot read or write, and, +indeed, is not very different from a Beydur, and he is a capital shot." + +Zora's eyes opened wide at the idea of a Moolla who could only shoot +well. "And there is no mosque, then?" she asked. + +"No, lady, not even one; there is only a thatched shed which is used +for the Mohurrum, which the Beydurs keep as well as the Mussulmans; but +you will see all yourself. Now blow thy horn, Bheema," he said to the +trumpeter, when they had reached the summit of a slight elevation, +which gave them a better view of the village. "Blow stoutly, that +they may hear;" and the blast was long and varied, with a peculiarly +strange cadence at the close. It was evidently heard, for after a short +interval, during which they remained where they were, a similar blast +was blown from one of the towers of the gate, on which there was a red +flag with a figure of Hunooman, the monkey-god, on its field in white. +"Well blown, Krishna," said Burma, laughing; "'tis a hearty welcome to +you, Huzrut. If the Rajah himself had been approaching it could not +have been more complete; and hark! there are the pipes." + +As they neared the village, Zora saw how prosperous it looked. All the +houses to be seen were perfect, and the wall itself was perfect too, +and its bastions firmly built of stone. Gardens filled the space up to +the wall, among which were some graceful clumps of bamboos, with mango +and tamarind trees, with gardens of lemon trees for supplying the dyers +at Korikul with the juice of the fruit, as well as the population for +domestic use. Here and there, too, a solitary cocoa-nut tree waved its +graceful foliage in the air; and as to date palms, they were numerous +in groves to the south. Zora expected to see their new home at every +turn, but there were only solitary huts in the gardens, for watchers +and labourers. + +At last, near a large bright green sugar-cane field, they met the +village procession and the musicians, who kept up a spirited but +shrill piece of music intended for a welcome, accompanied by their own +drummers; and four Beydurs, with their large tambourine drums, leaped, +strutted, circled round and round, and performed their most elaborate +exercises. The din of the music prevented Zora from asking questions, +and the party could only follow the lord of the place, who rode first. +At the gate of the village, however, was the real reception. Pointing +out the venerable Syud to all, the authorities, that is, the head man, +or Patell, who was not a Beydur, the Kurnum or accountant, a Brahmin, +the blacksmith, the carpenter, and many others, touched the old man's +feet and Zora's, and bid them welcome; and they waved trays with +lighted lamps in them, and flowers over their heads; and when this was +all done, the little procession formed once more, and proceeded through +the main street of the village, which was cleanly swept, and the houses +ornamented with bright cloths which hung over the parapets of their +roofs. + +The street was lined with men and women, holding up their children to +see the holy man; and Zora already saw several faces among the women +that she knew, who had come to Juldroog for medicine for their children +or their husbands; and it was evident she was not forgotten. Every one +was dressed in their best, and the whole place seemed what it might be +at a festival. Thus they passed out of the eastern gate of the village, +and almost close to it, a little withdrawn, was the Tukeea, or "Pillow +of residence," which was to be their abode. + +It was a low, long thatched cabin, whitewashed without, standing in +a small piece of ground by itself, and shaded by a noble banyan tree +and others about its precincts. A cloud of parroquets, green pigeons, +mynas, and other birds, rose from the giant branches, and flew +screaming into the air as the music passed from under the gateway, and +gladdened Zora's heart. When had she not had birds about her? Then +Abba was lifted from his pony, and a carpet spread in the shade, and +everyone came and bowed before him, and bade him welcome. Even little +children were held out by their mothers, that the old man might lay +his hands on them. And the Moolla was there, who looked like a Beydur +soldier more than a priest, and besought Abba to teach him something. +Then the time came at which they might enter the house, which, it must +be told in secret, had been fixed by the Brahmin astrologer, as there +was none other; but he was present also, as were others belonging to +the temple, to welcome one for whom all the country round had respect +and affection. Indeed, it was a moving sight to see all these people, +strangers in faith and previously unknown, receive the venerable Syud +as they did, and pay him honour; and Zora's heart was stirred within +her, and she wept tears of joy as she sat behind part of the trunk of +the giant tree and heard women calling to her, "We bless you because +you helped the sick and denied no one." + +Then her grandfather was led into the house by the Moolla and the +Patell, as accepted by the whole community; and Zora and old Mamoolla +followed, and found the place neat and clean and very commodious, +for there were three comfortable rooms, that in the centre being the +largest. There was a kitchen behind, a shed for the two cows and the +goats, and a verandah along part of the front, in which her father +could sit. There was a well near the house, where many people from the +village came to draw water. Above all, it was very quiet, fitted for +religious meditation, and, as Zora thought, the very place for her +grandfather in his present frame of mind. And when all had retired, and +the beds they had found ready for them were covered with their thin +mattresses and quilts, and the old man lay down to take rest after his +unaccustomed exercise, he called Zora to him, and she went and put her +head into his lap, and he said, with a quivering voice, "The Lord has +been good to us, my child, forget not this in thy thoughts;" and he +lay down, and slept peacefully. Without were the songs of birds; the +cooing of ringdoves and pigeons in the great tree; the fresh breath +of the sweet air came through the doorway, and the murmur of voices +in the village seemed assuring. Without, a bed of purple amaranths +and marigolds glowed in the sun, and pretty lizards basked in it, and +chirped, or sometimes looked towards the house as if to say, Who have +come to disturb us? Yet it was a pleasant place, and full of rest and +peace; and she was thankful, very thankful. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. +A DARING ATTACK. + + +It is very probable that the readers of this tale have never even +heard of the Beydurs who have some part in it; but their history and +position are interesting, and at the risk of a short digression we will +endeavour to explain enough of both to help to assure the reader that +they are real people, and not mere invention. + +The Beydurs, under the name of Veddur, still used by the wilder part +of the tribes who inhabit the mountains and forests of south-western +India, are what is termed ordinarily one of the aboriginal races, as +seen in their native condition in the forests of Travancore and Mysore. +They are savages, wearing little or no clothing, cultivating no land, +except in isolated instances, and subsisting upon fruits, roots, and +the like, and collecting honey, bees-wax, and other forest produce, +which they exchange for such articles of clothing and such necessaries +as are indispensable. These portions of the tribe are now comparatively +few in number, and altogether unimportant. They have been driven at +some ancient period from the plains into the mountains of the west, and +have not emerged from their original barbarism. + +Other portions of the tribe which remained, in the plains of southern +India and in Mysore became, in some respects, civilised, and at one +time attained a considerable degree of power, which, however, was +shattered by the great Hindoo dynasties that gradually arose long +before the Christian era, and the Veddurs, now adopting the appellation +of Beydur, became soldiers and tillers of the soil, but never artisans, +or reaching any degree of education. Under chiefs of their own, some +small principalities were formed westward of Madras, some of which +still exist, but most have disappeared in wars with the first Mussulman +invaders and with ourselves. In North-Western Mysore, also, the Beydurs +attained considerable power. They held many strongholds, and were +feudal vassals of several Hindoo dynasties before the arrival of the +Mussulman invaders in the twelfth century; and although the last of +these dynasties, that of Beejanugger, fell to the Mussulman arms after +the battle of Talikote in A.D. 1564, yet the chiefs of the Beydur +tribes submitted to them, and became powerful feudal vassals. + +The wars between the Hindoo kingdom of Beejapoor and the Mussulman +kingdoms of the Dekban had continued for several centuries, and their +great field of battle and object of contention was the province which +lies between the rivers Krishna to the north and Tamboodra to the +south, the capitals of which are Moodgul and Raichore. It was sometimes +in possession of the Hindoos and sometimes in the Mussulmans'; +thus the allegiance of the Beydur clans became divided; and as the +Mussulmans confirmed their hereditary rights and privileges, many of +the Beydur chiefs entered their service; and, as the tribe at large +were the best infantry soldiers of the period, their service was always +valuable. + +This portion of them were the allies and servants of the great Bahmuny +Mussulman dynasty of Gulburgah and Beedur, and rendered essential +service in guarding these southern frontiers, as well as in many +general actions; and from having in the early period been confined +to the frontier of the Tamboodra river, they gradually extended +themselves over the Raichore Dooab, and their chiefs formed small +principalities which originally must have been independent, or held +in feudal service, but which how exist only in name. In northern +Mysore, the chieftainships of Chittledroog, Hurpunhully, once powerful +minor states, were overwhelmed by Hyder Ali and Tippoo Sultan, and +the present representatives are now pensioners under the British +Government; and the last Beydur state, Shorapoor, situated in the +Dooab, which lies between the Bheema to the north and the Krishna +to the south, having rebelled in 1858, was attached, and is now the +property of the Government of His Highness the Nizam. + +At the close of the sixteenth century, however, the period of our +tale, this Beydur principality held a high position. A portion of the +tribe had at first, probably about the fourteenth century, crossed +the Krishna, and their earliest settlements were at Korikul, Kukeyra, +and the villages on the left or northern bank of the river; thence +they spread all over the province, their chief or naik selecting +Wakin-Keyra, a village at the extreme end of a rugged chain of +hills, where there was a strong position, as his capital, which he +fortified. The tribe then could muster twelve thousand well-armed +infantry militia; and beside these the Rajah had a force of other +soldiers, horse and foot, amounting to about four thousand more. His +revenues were not derived from the land only, but from dues in various +provinces, being a percentage on the revenues--this, in most instances, +being literally the Beydur's black mail; and as the militia not only +assisted the reigning King of Beejapoor, but protected the whole of his +eastern frontier against aggression by the King of Golconaa, the tribe +was held in high estimation, and certainly fought bravely wherever they +were employed. + +Thus, in this history, we find them not only at Juldroog but at +Beejapoor, and marching under Runga Naik to the King's camp, which was +in the field north of the Bheema. These intimate relations between +the Beydurs and the kingdom of Beejapoor continued till its fall +before Aurung Zeeb; and almost the last resistance the great Emperor +encountered in the Dekhan was at Wakin-Keyra, which, after a noble +defence, through several separate sieges, fell at last under the +attack of a very large army which had been summoned from the south of +India for the purpose; and the Rajah, finding Wakin-Keyra too weak and +too confined for a permanent residence, took up a new position in a +secluded basin of the range, and founded the town of Shorapoor, which +is the present capital of the district. Shorapoor had held its own +against the Nizam, the Mahrattas, and Tippoo Sultan. It had avoided +collision with any one, and had increased in wealth; but of late years +it had been misgoverned and oppressed, and the name only of its former +power remained, and it at last fell to rise no more, under the effect +of a foolish attempt on the part of its Rajah to attack a British +force, in which he suffered a disgraceful defeat. + +The Beydurs as a people are essentially different from ordinary +Hindoos. Some of them attend Hindoo services and conform to the +ministrations of Brahmins, but for the most part they are followers +of the Lingayet doctrine, or hold to their ancient aboriginal worship +of natural objects, glens, water-falls, rocks, trees, and the like. +They do not accept or desire education in any form, and are of a +freer, bolder type--both in manner and customs--than ordinary Hindoos. +They are great sportsmen in all respects; bold in following tigers, +panthers, and bears on foot; and ordinarily they live upon whatever +game they can shoot or snare. In person both men and women are +remarkably neat and clean, and their homes and villages well kept. +They are also industrious cultivators and farmers, and own a great +quantity of land in their province. They are likewise public carriers +of cotton and salt to and from the coast; and, in short, are rarely +idle, and by no means dissipated. Formerly they were dreaded for raids +on their neighbours, and in cattle-lifting especially were most daring +and expert; but those times and deeds have passed away, though their +memory lives in many a song and legend. + +Beydurs hold themselves to have no caste, and they eat everything +except carrion, and such birds or beasts as feed upon it. They also +object to beef, because the slaughter of kine is offensive to Hindoos, +and especially to Brahmins. They marry exclusively into their own +tribe, and rarely have more than one wife, though their chiefs take as +many as they can support. + +Perhaps we need not follow the Beydur clans further, and we have +recorded enough to explain the position they occupied at the period of +our tale in the country in which its action is laid, and where the clan +still exists, not in its former rude splendour and strength, but as +peaceful and industrious inhabitants. I may mention that I had intimate +experience of them for eleven years, when, during the minority of the +late and last Rajah, I ruled over them and their province alone. But to +resume. + +The time passed pleasantly and quietly in the new home, and there was +no jealous wife to disturb it. Burma's wife was his second, a fine +young woman of hardly twenty as yet. His first wife had died while yet +very young, and had born him no children. The present, Enkama, had +two, and her home was a happy one. She managed her great good-natured +husband admirably; and so long as she did not interfere with his office +as part guardian of the frontier and head of the Kukeyra portion of +the tribe, she had full liberty to do as she pleased with household +and farming affairs. She had many buffaloes and cows, and her dairy +produce was large. She was fond of her gardens, in which all kinds of +vegetables abounded, which she sent regularly to the market at Korikul; +and when the river was fordable, even across the river to Goorgoonta +and other towns. She superintended the ploughing of the land, sowing, +weeding, and gathering in of the crops, with a delight she did not +conceal; and while ready to punish lazy labourers, men or women, was +kind and considerate to those who served her well. Most charitable was +she, too, and kind to all; and, as the people said, there was ever a +blessing following her, and increasing her store. In the house or out +of the house she was never idle. When the morning meal had been served +to all, consisting of piles of jowarree bread, pots full of boiled +pulse, and vegetables, of which she and her husband partook also, +and the floors were plastered with liquid clay, she sat down to her +spinning wheel with her servant, and so worked till it was cool enough +to go out again. Sometimes she rode a strong pony; at others, with a +long staff in her hand, trudged over ploughed fields, or watched the +weeding of crops which, without her supervision, would be carelessly +done by the lazy hussies who were hired to do it. A clever cotton +picker, too; not ashamed to work all day in the field, and carry home +a bundle on her head bigger than any one else's. Withal a pleasant, +cheery woman, of no particular beauty, truly, but of an upright +graceful figure, whose lines were like those of a Grecian statue, with +a pleasant good-natured expression of face, and the whitest teeth. Not +fair in colour, but a rich ruddy brown, which had strong healthy blood +coursing under her skin. + +Here was a new friend for Zora, for whom she took a great liking, and +whom she constantly came to see, bringing with her whole baskets full +of household sweetmeats, vermicelli, fruits, vegetables, and whatever +she thought would be liked; and she always enjoyed a short chat with +the girl under the verandah, or most generally, when the ground was +dry, under the great banian tree. Enkama knew nothing, so to speak, +except tales of the deeds of the Gods, especially of Krishna, and +scraps of the Mahabharut and Ramayun, as she had heard Brahmins and +bards recite them; but she was a great authority upon the subject of +the old wars between the Hindoos and the Toorks, as she called the +Mussulmans, and could recite the ballad legend of King Firoze Shah and +the Goldsmith's Daughter of Moodgul, and the death of King Majahid +Shah, who had broken the image of Hunooman at Humpee. She was thus +a pleasant companion to Zora, and Zora in turn appreciated the good +dame's sound practical sense, industry, and kindness. They could not +be intimate friends, because Enkama saw how much she was below Zora +in knowledge, and how different were the courtly manners of the girl +from those of her own Beydur class; indeed, Zora's language in ordinary +conversation was so refined in comparison with her own, that she felt +birth and intelligence had separated them very far. Very often she +sent her children with the servant to play under the great tree, and +would find Zora with other girls, making dolls'-houses or dressing up +dolls, and making dolls' feasts to amuse the little ones. Reader! there +is the same common humanity everywhere, and a Beydur child with a rag +or wooden doll and a pennyworth of sugar to feed her companions is as +proud and happy as the aristocratic child whose doll has cost, we will +not say how much, and whose cradle is trimmed with lace and covered +with eider down. + +Then there were a few Mussulman girls in the village who, though +young, could learn something; and their mothers, who knew nothing, +gladly brought them to Zora, who could teach them sewing, to mend +their father's clothes, how to knit his drawers-strings, and to +begin embroidery. Zora had sold all her stock of embroidered caps +and boddices, and had gained a good many rupees by them, and she +was working others as fast as she could to get more. So these were +pleasant occupations, and she had pleasant, innocent company; and, +besides all this, she had to help Abba in his "Turreequt, or path to +Heaven;" and, as he could not read, and the books he had were Arabic, +she had to follow his recitation, and when he missed a passage or a +word, to spell it for him as well as she could, when he would give her +the proper pronunciation and explain the meaning, and thus she felt, +if he persevered, that she should gain some superficial knowledge of +that language which might be of use to her hereafter. And was Maria +forgotten? Ah, no! but was the more preciously remembered; and when +Zora was tired of reading or working, and lay back on the little carpet +she had spread under the giant tree, she could look up among its +interlacing branches and watch the doves and wild pigeons, the flocks +of paroquets, flying in play from branch to branch; the old horned owls +come out of the holes in the tree and peer about, the little grey owls +twitting and constantly on the move, and the beautiful lizards chasing +each other from hole to hole along the deep furrows of the bark; and +listen, too, to the pleasant singing birds, who, though seldom to be +seen among the deep foliage, yet twitter songs of their own which were +pleasant and soothing to listen to. Yes, those were happy days, and +they passed smoothly and uneventfully for some weeks, and as if they +were never to come to an end. But Zora knew better than this. She +knew that her grandfather's restlessness would again come on him, and +that the Turreequt could not be fulfilled in Kukeyra. Meanwhile, her +dreamy life continued; nor will we say how much the night scene with +the wounded and delirious Abbas Khan mingled with it. Had he forgotten +her? Ah, no! she hoped not, for he seemed ever present with her; but +their lives had drifted so far asunder. And Maria had not replied to +her simple little letter, to which an answer might have arrived by one +of the messengers who constantly brought letters from Beejapoor before +she left the fort. Yet still she trusted and hoped, and the faith of +the girl was not shaken. + +Nor was her grandfather idle; and though he was evidently becoming more +and more absorbed in his religious meditations, he had not given up +the concerns of the world. There were only a few families of ignorant +Mussulmans in the village, most of the members of which could not even +repeat the Belief; but these were gathered together on Friday (the +Sabbath) for instruction such as they could comprehend; and as Friday +was the weekly market-day of the little town, many Mussulmans came with +their field and garden produce, and weavers with their manufactures; +and then the old man had larger gatherings and regular prayer services, +and preached to them on simple subjects, most especially against +drinking palm wine, which, not being wine or spirits, was held to +be excusable and allowable. So the residence of the Syud and his +granddaughter at Kukeyra was not devoid of usefulness; and, in spite of +its being a Beydur town, and therefore held to be generally unclean, +their lives were peaceful and undisturbed. But this was not to be of +long continuance. + +Huleema, the eldest daughter of the Moolla, a handsome and intelligent +girl, and Zora's most advanced pupil, had long been betrothed to the +son of the Moolla of a town some miles to the north, where resided the +only Kazee of the province, and where a number of Mussulman weavers +lived. Now, the period of marriage was fixed, the Kazee had consented +to perform the ceremony, and had appointed the day. Invitations had +been issued to all friends, but that to the old Syud was brought by the +girl's father and mother, who besought of him to come to their house +and pronounce the final blessing. There would be such amusement in the +course of the evening as poor folks could provide, and there was an +empty room at his service, while Zora could remain with the women of +the family. + +The old man demurred at first, but Zora pleaded that he should go. She +had promised the girl to be with her at her marriage if her grandfather +remained at Kukeyra, and as yet he had not signified his intention of +travelling onwards. + +The day arrived, and in the afternoon Zora, casting a sheet about her, +led her grandfather through the village gate and small Bazar up to the +Moolla's house, which was in one of the principal streets, and from +the high roof of which there was an extensive view to the south, west, +and east. A screen of bamboos, covered thickly with date palm leaves, +had been erected as a sunshade, and here most of the women guests +were assembled, who received Zora with homely courtesy and welcome; +but Huleema could not spare her friend, and Zora was soon engaged in +the preliminary ceremonies of bathing, anointing with ground turmeric +and sandal wood paste, similar offices being performed by men for the +bridegroom, and these ceremonies, of which we spare the reader the +detail, necessarily occupied some hours. + +Meanwhile the old Syud was very happy. The men, and especially the +Kazee of Kembavee, had received him with affectionate courtesy, and +they had placed him in the seat of honour, and offered him sherbet to +drink. Of course there was no one so learned as himself, but the Kazee +was a man of some education, both in Arabic and Persian, and had read +some religious books of an easy character. He had also a knowledge +of law and logic, and a slight acquaintance with ordinary works on +medicine. He had studied in the colleges of Beeder and Beejapoor, +and from the high court of the latter held his diploma as Kazee. The +appointment he occupied was a lucrative one, as his dues extended all +over the province. Some other intelligent guests were present, and +the evening passed pleasantly enough. Then the Shubgusht, or marriage +procession, formed before the house, and the bride being seated in a +palanquin, her husband followed on a stout pony, both being dressed in +red muslin garments as gaily as possible. It was a public procession, +the gates of the village were open, and strangers from other localities +mixed freely with the crowd that thronged the streets. Burma Naik, who, +being a Beydur, could not take a part in the ceremony, nor sit among +the chief guests in the house, had nevertheless held a court of his +own in the outer portion of it, now headed the procession on his fine +horse, and was accompanied by a number of his men, who fired their +matchlocks and cheered the bride with those strange shrieks and yells +in which the Beydur youth delight. Thus, what with these, the blasts +of many horn-blowers, the pipes and drums of several villages, and the +general noise and clatter, nothing could be distinctly heard, and all +was merry confusion. + +The procession was to pass along part of the Bazar, then traverse the +main street to the west gate, and, returning by the only other wide +street to the Bazar again, proceed as far as the east gate, whence a +deputation would convey an offering to the old saint's tomb, which was +under the Banian tree. Such had been the programme, which was rudely +interrupted. As the procession had reached the western gate, a sudden +shouting of "Thieves! Thieves! Dacoits!" was heard, and several shots +were fired. There had been strong guards posted at both entrances, and +some of the armed men ran up the Bazar to reinforce the eastern gate, +while Burma and about fifty of his men dashed through the western gate, +and guided by the shots and shouts, passed down a lane which ran round +the south side of the village among the gardens. Here was a point at +which several roads separated, and here he stationed some of the men, +posting himself opposite, so that no one could escape. It was evidently +an attack by Dacoits, under cover of the noise and merry-making of the +marriage procession, but against whom? And he set his teeth, drew his +sword, and awaited the approach of the fugitives and their prisoners, +and in a few moments they had arrived, some twenty men, a strong band, +who might have overpowered by their sudden rush any weaker persons +than those who now met them face to face. Crying to his men to spare +none, he attacked the strange party, and in a few moments several were +wounded, two killed outright, and six taken prisoners. The rest, many +or few they knew not, escaped through the hedges which lined the road +into the thick gardens and sugar-cane fields, and were beyond pursuit. +But Burma had as many as he wanted, and the men's hands being tied with +turbans, they were escorted to the village gate, where the Chaoree, or +town hall, was situated. This was common ground, and Beydurs, as well +as others of all castes, crowded into it. Among those who had come down +from the Moolla's house were the Kazee of Kembavee, some respectable +Moollas and weavers, with Brahmins, and generally most of those who +had not joined the procession. A few, however, remained with the old +Syud. + +"I was about to send for you, Kazee Sahib," said Burma Naik, "and you +must help me to inquire into this. And do ye all, sirs," he continued +to others, "assist me to do justice. One of my men, a fine young +fellow, first in the pursuit, has been speared by one of the Dacoits, +and is already dead; another, I fear, is dying. This is murder, and +justice must be done. Were I alone, indeed, I should dispose of them at +once without mercy; but as the representative of the King is present, +I shall do nothing till he has spoken. Bring up the prisoners. Ha!" +he continued, as one was led forward, "thou, Kalloo! Methought thou +wouldst not have tried thy hand here." + +"Be quick," said the man, a tall, powerful fellow, who still held a +spear shaft in his hand, from which the blade had been removed, "be +quick; hear what I have to say, for I am dying. Give me a drink of +water;" and someone handed a vessel full to him, from whence he drank +greedily. "Enough!" he said, as he gave it back. "Listen, Burma Naik, +you know me, Kalloo Jutt, and I deny it not. I have done my last deed. +There, read that, and you will see why I did it, and what it was to +have been. Ah! I was a fool to disobey the omens, but there was no time +to delay. I can speak no more." + +Then the Kazee opened the paper in which a letter was wrapped, and +which the robber had taken from his waistbelt. It was in the Mahrathi +character, and the village accountant was called upon to read it. Twice +he cast his eyes over it, and seemed as if afraid to do so, when Burma +Naik snatched it from him, and said, "Now come and read it, while I +look over it with thee. But, Kazee Sahib, it bears the seal and the +signature of Osman Beg, the Governor of Juldroog, and I can guess what +its purport may be." And the document ran thus:-- + +"To Kalloo Naik Jutt, from Nawab Osman Beg, Bahadoor, greeting, and +health and grace from Alla attend you. + +"Whereas Zora, the granddaughter of the Syud Dervish who lived here, +has escaped, and is now at Kukeyra, under the protection of the rebel +Burma Naik, and lives in a house outside the entrance gate of the +village, you are therefore to go there with your men and take her up +and bring her to me, without hurting even a hair of her head. I do +not want the old man, he is useless to me; but if he resist he can +be slain. These are my orders; and if this service is well done, and +without hurt to Zora-bee, who will belong to my harem, I will hold you +free from all question by the Government in case any trouble shall +arise; and I will give you, on receiving Zora-bee aforesaid from your +hands, the sum of five hundred hoons of gold. + +"You are to believe this fully, and act on it fully, and without fear. + + "The seal and signature of Osman Beg, + son of Heidur Beg, Toorcoman." + +"How strange!" cried the Kazee; "I received a letter from him only +yesterday, asking me to come to Juldroog to-morrow, and having rested +here to-night, should have gone to him." + +"Yes!" said the dying man, faintly, "Mother Bheemee, from Raichore, was +to have received her; and I sent my aunt Chimee to find out about the +marriage here." + +"I thought I had seen the old witch once in the Bazar, and only that it +is not safe to cross her, would have had her head shaved." + +"It was a narrow escape," said the Kazee; "the Lord be praised for it, +and that I am delivered from seeming connection with this sin." + +"And I say," continued the robber, who sat up, with staring eyes, as +if making a supreme effort, "I say, and bear ye all witness, that the +Nawab told me to get the child to him before morning, and he would +dishonour her. That the Kazee was only a sham, and would not be allowed +to cross the river;" and then, with a violent effort, he tore away the +bandage which had for the time restrained the bleeding from the wound +in his neck; the blood rushed forth, and with a shrill scream he fell +back and died. + +"A sad event for a merry marriage," said the Kazee; "but it is evident +to us that the innocent are protected by the Almighty. Let no one tell +the lady or her grandfather; let them sleep in peace. As to the rest of +the prisoners, deal with them according to border custom. There is no +law in the case." + +"Yes," said Burma, grimly, "I will deal with them; and see, this has +been brought from beneath the banian tree." + +It was a common rough bedstead, with bamboos at each corner tied +together. Underneath the place where they joined one large thick pole +had been introduced to carry it by, and over all a thick black blanket +was cast, which would have at once concealed and secured the inmate; +and had anything occurred to prevent Zora going to the marriage, the +expedition of the Jutts might have been successful. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. +THE FIRST ALMS. + + +The old Syud had heard nothing of the alarm of the previous night, +which had been carefully concealed from him and also from Zora; and +after early morning prayer, they took their leave and returned home +with Ahmed and their old servant, Mamoolla; but as soon as they +arrived, Mamoolla's tongue was at once loosened when she saw that the +chain and padlock of the door had been cut in two, and two of the +Beydur guard at the gate followed them to ask if anything were missing. + +"Oh, Zora-bee!" cried the old woman, who seldom spoke except on small +domestic matters, "only to think that robbers attacked the house +last night, and have carried off my two best cooking pots that were +tinned newly last Bazar day, and were as bright as silver. How shall I +cook your breakfasts? Where shall we get others? Alla! Alla! And the +master's quilt and mattress are gone, and your petticoat and scarf that +I had washed and hung up to dry! Oh, Zora-bee! And they have taken +everything, perhaps, and we are Fakeers in earnest. Oh, child! ask Abba +to return thanks for our deliverance, for had we been here we should +all have been murdered. What would have become of thee, my child?" +And the old dame flung her arms about Zora and wept plentifully; nor +was Zora herself less affected. She saw at a glance that violence had +been done; but the door of her own chamber, which had been locked also, +had not been disturbed, and all her grandfather's books, papers, and +medicines were safe. + +"Why are ye both wailing?" cried the old man, petulantly. "What is +there to cry about? Where are my quilt and mattress, and my prayer +carpet?" he continued, feeling for them in their accustomed places. +"Who has taken them? Cannot that meddling old dame let them alone? +Bring them to me quickly, I need them." + +Then Zora went to him, and put her arms round his neck, and sobbing as +she was, said to him, "Abba! why have we enemies? We have been robbed +while we were away last night. Let us return thanks to God that we were +not here when they came, or we might have perished." + +The Syud was soothed at once. "In the path to Heaven," he said, +reverently, "there are many dangers to be encountered, child; pitfalls +everywhere to the soul and to the body; weary rocks and stones to +travel over; and whatever happens must be endured. O Alla Kureem! I +thank thee," he continued, raising his joined hands, "for this thy +deliverance. The enemy truly came, but thou hadst provided us with +help, and in thy name we will distribute Fatehas." + +"What enemy, Abba?" asked Zora, trembling, as her heart suggested only +one. + +"I may be wrong," replied the old man; "but my heart tells me plainly, +nay, as if that bad man had said it to us, that none other can have +done it but Osman Beg and his men; or perhaps he himself came, under +cover of the noise, and shouting and firing of guns last night." + +"Let us go, Abba; let us go wherever God leads us; we are ever safe +with Him; but not so near our persecutor. Let us go now, to-day. Oh, +Abba, do not stay!" + +Just then there was a sound of many footsteps near the door, and Burma +Naik cried in a cheery voice, "Is all well with thee, Huzrut?" and +the Kazee of Kembavee and others cried out, "Is all well with thee, +Huzrut, and the child? Arise, and come to us, for we have much to +say to thee." And the old man, led by Zora to the door, went and sat +down in his accustomed seat, while all present crowded round him with +congratulations. "And see," said Burma, "here are thy mattress and +pillow, and quilt, and two cooking vessels, and some other things which +the robbers dropped in their flight. Here, Ahmed, carry them inside." + +They were, indeed, all that had been taken; and old Mamoolla hugged +the vessels to her heart, kissed them, and cried over them like one +distraught. No, they had lost nothing but Zora's muslin scarf, and that +was an old one. + +"Now shut the door, Zora-bee," cried Burma, "for we have that to say +to thy grandfather to which thou must not listen. He can tell thee +afterwards if he lists." Then Burma proceeded to relate how, when the +bridal procession had passed out by the west gate, some men had been +observed by the guard on the east gate bastion moving about the trunks +of the great banian tree, but were not noticed at first; but when the +door of the house was broken in, and a torch lighted, it was certain +they were Dacoits, and the whole of the guard rushed upon the robbers, +firing their matchlocks at them to give an alarm. Then one Beydur +related how the gang had fled, and were pursued and overtaken, on which +a combat, hand to hand, took place, and one of the Beydurs had been +speared to death and another badly wounded, and several of the robbers +were wounded and two killed. How, then, the gang, which consisted of +about thirty men, again fled, and was met by the Naik himself, and all +was soon over. + +"My men at the gate were watchful and brave," said Burma; "and when any +man of mine does a gallant act I reward him after our simple fashion. +Is it your pleasure, Huzrut, that they should receive what I have +prepared for them? and will you honour the poor fellows by giving it to +them with your own hands?" + +"Surely, surely," said the old man, much affected. "Where are they, +that I may bless them?" + +"Here are four silver armlets for those who fought best, and here are +the men; put your hands on their heads, and give each one." When this +was done, a bundle of new turbans and scarves was brought, and one of +each being laid together, some twelve or fourteen sets were distributed +as the armlets had been. + +"I have to feed them, too, Huzrut," said the Naik, laughing, "and give +them plenty of sendhee (palm wine) to drink; and they will all be happy +after the poor lad who died has been burnt. Now, away with ye all!" +he cried to the crowd of Beydurs assembled. "Away!" And the pipes and +drums struck up a wild march, and played them into the town. + +"We are now alone, Huzrut; and the Kazee and I would tell thee what we +have discovered. The durora was one planned by Osman Beg." + +"Ah! if that could only be proved," interrupted the old man, sadly, "I +could take it before the Queen, and pray for justice." + +"We have proof enough," said the Kazee; "proof that I, a humble +servant of God and the State, can testify to, if needs be. But it is +hardly required, for we have a document, signed and sealed by Osman +Beg himself, addressed to Kalloo Naik, who died before us last night, +and which he gave up of his own free will, else we had not, perhaps, +discovered it. I have appended a Persian translation to it, and a +certificate as to the manner in which it was found; and before the +King or the Queen, or the Mufti at the court, that testimony cannot be +shaken." + +"Ajaib! wonderful!" exclaimed the old Syud. "When we see the finger of +the Lord following us and directing us, O Kazee Sahib, can we doubt?" + +"Indeed no, father," returned the Kazee, simply; "but there is still +more. Here is a letter from Osman Beg to myself in his own handwriting, +bearing his seal, which is exactly similar to that on the other paper, +and the writing, too, of the Persian letters agrees perfectly. This +is an invitation for me to come to Juldroog to-day, and perform the +ceremony of marriage with one Zora-bee. But how was I to understand +who that might be? So it is clear, if the Nika was to be performed, +Zora-bee must have gone from hence, for there is no other Zora-bee +that I know of, and it is not a common name in these parts. But if I +had even gone," continued the Kazee, "as we all heard from the man who +died, it would have been too late, for the last dishonour that woman +could suffer would have been inflicted upon her. Nay, even a litter had +been provided to carry the child away." + +"And it shall be hung up in the Chaoree as witness against him," said +Burma, "just as it is." + +The old Syud turned from one to another of his informants with wonder +and thankfulness expressed in his aged features, and the tears were +coursing down his cheeks as he listened to the details of the affair +as given to him by the speakers. "Alla, the merciful and ever-present, +protected the child before, and will ever protect the helpless and the +orphan; and we owe our lives and honour to Him, and, next to Him, to +thee, O Burma Naik. Wouldst thou belonged to Islam, as we do!" + +"My ancestors were Beydurs, Huzrut, before Islam existed," returned +the Naik, proudly. "No, Huzrut, we are better as we are. But now, what +shall we do for thee and Zora, whom all love here, as she is loved +everywhere? What dost thou think, O Kazee?" + +"If I may speak, and advise one so superior to me in wisdom and +learning, I should counsel thee, O Syud, to proceed at once to +Beejapoor; lay thy complaint, and Zora-bee herself, at the foot of the +throne, and cry for justice. Our noble Queen Chand Beebee would not, +could not deny justice to an old man, and a holy Mushaekh like thyself, +O Syud! Consider this, and go. To remain here is only to run a fearful +risk; and worse than that, to endanger strife between the Juldroog +troops and the Beydurs, and so lead to reprisals and blood feuds. It +would be well to prevent any chance of bloodshed, Huzrut." + +Had not the worthy Kazee used the title Mushaekh it is most probable +perhaps that the Syud, thoroughly alarmed, might have proceeded at once +to Beejapoor, where he knew Zora desired to go--if only to meet Maria +once again; and he felt sure of justice whenever he might appeal for +it. But the mention of the title sent his thoughts on their old errand. + +"Sir," he said, "for many years I have been preparing myself for the +Turreequt, and without that I can be neither a poor Fakeer or rise to +the dignity of one of God's divines, a Mushaekh. The Lord has directed +my path hitherto by wonderful events, and I follow the Eastern way; +but I see the need of changing it; and you, Kazee Sahib, to whom such +mysteries are known, can direct me to the proper course." + +"I see but one," he replied. "There is no saint in all these provinces, +but the descendant of Syud Geesoo Duraz of Gulburgah, to whom thou +couldst go for reception into the Divine order. All other shrines are +inaccessible to thee, Huzrut, on account of their distance and thy +venerable age. Within a short time is the oorus (anniversary) of the +holy saint, Syud Sofee Surmust, at Sugger; and there thousands of +Fakeers assemble, of whom many go on to Gulburgah. I can direct thee to +Sugger, where I have many friends and some humble disciples; and they +will guide thee, and further thee on thy way. Let me see! Thy route is +changed to the north, therefore-- + + Kunujgin Bamshin, Kunujgin Bisma, + Kunujgin Bamshin, Kunujgin Bimash.[1] + +"And then"--and he counted rapidly on his fingers--"Wednesday will be +your day for proceeding on your journey, and the Rujub-ool-Gyb will be +in the northern quarter, which is good for thee, at the first watch of +the day, which is convenient. And if ye all eat a little sour curds for +your breakfast, the journey will lead to a happy result. But there is +no other good position of the Rujub-ool-Gyb for many days after that, +and in a strait like this ye should risk nothing." + +The Kazee was an experienced director of journeys and well versed in +casting nativities, selecting proper days for marriages and betrothals; +and in these respects there was no one who could compete with him; +and as the old Syud saw that he was not a pretender, he put the more +confidence in his directions. + +"I would you could see my granddaughter's horoscope which I cast at her +birth myself, or perhaps you have not leisure?" + +"I have leisure before me ere it is time to depart, and you will do me +a favour if you will show it to me, Huzrut. I will return after I have +broken my fast; and the food is even now ready in the worthy Moolla's +house, and I must not disappoint his hospitality." + +"I have been thinking," said Burma, "how we can best convey the holy +Syud to Sugger; and I have a plan in my mind which, if it is approved +of, I will put in execution. Syud Moostafa, the Persian secretary of +the Rajah, is my friend, and Daood Khan Bhylmee, the leader of the +Bhylmee division of horse, is a chief to whom my force is attached. +I will write to them now, if I may, and beg that an escort of horse +may be sent to meet Huzrut at Hoonsigee, where he should sleep, and, +rising early, go on to Wakin-Keyra; and this could be done without any +fatigue. From hence I can send my own palkee, and a litter for the +child, and my people as escort." + +"A good thought," said the Kazee; "I do not think Huzrut will make any +objection." + +"Indeed, no," returned the old man; "ye are only too kind to one who +has been a trouble to you both. But before we proceed to make other +arrangements, may I inquire whether any of the Dacoits are here, I +should like to ask them some questions. Who were they?" + +"Jutts and Kaikarees," replied Burma; "the boldest of all Dacoits and +robbers; and who would not be tempted by the sum assured? The leader +was Kalloo Naik, a bold, reckless fellow, whom I wounded last night in +the scuffle; and, as the Kazee Sahib knows, when he had thrown that +paper to us, he tore the bandages from his wound, and died at once. The +rest the Kazee Sahib gave over to me, and as one of my people had been +slain, they were all hanged but one. It will be a lesson to the tribe +not to attempt dacoity here, and recently there has been more than we +liked I only sent away one, a boy, who was, perhaps, a spy; and I wrote +a letter to the clans that for every durora they committed inside +our boundaries, I would hang two men, one Jutt and one Kaikaree; and +this will keep them quiet for some time, for they know that Runga and +I always do exactly as we say. If we did not, none of us could sleep +safely in our beds. Care for nothing, Huzrut, all shall be prepared for +ye, and my wife will come to Zora presently, and comfort her." + +After a while, therefore, the good lady came, bringing with her bags +of rice and vermicelli, baskets of sweetmeats, and provisions enough +to have lasted them for months. She told Zora all that had happened, +and other women dropping in, related every event of the night with +wonderful increase of incidents at each narrative. The Kazee, too, +returned, and Zora's horoscope was produced and discussed. We will +not trouble the reader with particulars of astrological predictions +in regard to her, but no doubt certain dangers, as well as strokes of +good fortune, troubles, and joys, were set forth, which, as they will +have their places in this history, need not be anticipated. On taking +his leave to depart, the worthy Kazee gave the Marathi letter of Osman +Beg to the robber, and that to himself in Persian, to Zora, bidding her +keep them about her person, for the time might come when they would be +of use. + +Although they had been in Kukeyra less than two months, yet they left +the place with regret. Zora and her grandfather had both established +separate interests in the place. It was one in which Zora could +go about at all times of the day as she had done in the island +fortress, and all her old vocations found ample scope for exercise; +for in attendance on the sick, and in distribution of medicines, her +charitable heart knew no difference between Beydur and Hindoo, or +Mussulman. Then it was pleasant to stroll with Burma's wife to her +pretty garden, and sit among the cool plantain groves, and under the +shade of great mango trees, and hold her little school there, when Abba +could spare her; or, when at home, to dream in her seat by the old +saint's tomb, under the great banian tree, and watch the lizards and +grey squirrels at play, and the shy and pretty tree birds hop silently +from branch to branch. But Zora would not have remained after the +incidents of Friday night; she dared not. The unscrupulous attempts of +her enemy to possess himself of her, the narrow escape she had had of +capture--perhaps death, or worse--caused her to shudder as she thought +of them; and all she wished for was to be at rest, far away; where she +cared not, so she and Abba were safe. + +Even Beejapoor, Burma said, was dangerous, so long as her position was +unassured; and he explained to her how lawless bands of men existed +there who were ready to undertake any villainy for money, and who, in +any number, might be hired by Osman Beg, and prove more successful than +the robbers had been where she was. It had been a weary thought, this +wandering of her grandfather's, but under the terror that possessed +her it had even become welcome now, and Zora accepted it as part of +her fate which could not be averted, and must be endured. Every hour, +as the day of departure drew nigh, her grandfather grew more and more +petulant and doubtful. They must walk, he said, for they were Fakeers, +and had no right to ride. They must beg their daily bread, for they +had no need to care for food, and the good Alla would send them what +they wanted. At every village they should sing an invocation or a +hymn, and he had by heart a great number of these; or they should go +about villages and towns with a wallet collecting handfuls of meal, or +rice, or pulse. And the old man's determination on this subject seemed +unalterable. He even one day sat down at his gate, and spread a sheet, +and blessed the passers by, and some threw pice and others cowries, +and in the evening Zora came and took them up; but there was hardly +a rupee's worth in all. That, however, was only a trial, the old man +said, in a place where they were known to be well provided, and they +would do better elsewhere. Still it was a dreary prospect. + +They had not to walk, however. During the night before the day of +proposed departure, a small party of horse arrived from Wakin-Keyra, +and informed Burma that two litters with bearers would meet them at +Hoonsigee. So Burma provided his own palanquin for the old man, and a +light litter for Zora, and the ponies were driven on by Ahmed, and the +little baggage was distributed as before; but Zora gave the two pet +cows and the goats to Burma's wife, with many tears, and that good lady +kissed her feet, and the children wept aloud at parting with their kind +friend. Finally, before noon of Wednesday they set out, and travelled +to the end of their stage comfortably; nay, so luxuriously, that the +old Syud declared it was more like a nobleman's journey than a poor +Fakeer's, and would have no more such after he reached Wakin-Keyra. + +So, passing low hills and rocky ground, but with many pretty villages +surrounded by green fields and gardens, they reached their destination; +and the old Syud, who had been thinking about it all the way, as soon +as they arrived at the gate of the little town, desired his litter to +be set down. Zora spread a sheet before him, and seated herself on +one side, but rather behind him; and Ahmed, giving up charge of the +ponies to Mamoolla, bid her go into the mosque, where they were to put +up, and unload the animals, with the help of some of the horsemen's +grooms. Then, to the astonishment of the horsemen, one of the little +invocations was sung every now and then by all; and, as people began +to collect, small contributions were thrown upon the cloth till it was +fairly covered; and after her grandfather sung a thanksgiving, though +his voice was thin and quavering, Zora gathered the ends of the cloth +together, and, leading him, she carried it to the mosque, where he +first took the cloth as it was, and, kneeling down before the pulpit +steps, offered the whole to God, and then sat down to count it. There +were more than seven rupees in all, and he gave two to the Moolla and +Patell of the town to distribute in charity. "We can live on less +than five rupees a day," he said, chuckling, "and we can save two for +the expenses of the Turreequt. Oh, blessed day that I departed from +slothfulness and idleness; and blessed be Alla, the gracious, who thus +leads me, a poor sinner, to his salvation." + +It was pleasant, too, in the evening to find people gather about him +in the mosque. Zora and Mamoolla, with Ahmed's help, had nailed up a +carpet across a corner as a screen, and sat behind it close to him, +and warned off those who would have disturbed his meditations by idle +questions; but after he had gone through his daily exercise on the +points of salvation and the means of its attainment, people came in, +and the conversation became general, and to the Syud delightful, for +several of the horsemen belonged to Beejapoor, and some had family or +clannish surnames which were familiar, and it was difficult to preserve +the entire _incognito_ which he had assumed. Presently the call to +evening prayer was well sung by the muezzin, and after a plentiful +meal they lay down and slept. Not for years past had Zora remembered +her grandfather so cheerful or so full of hope. He woke early, for +the azan was proclaimed; and they prayed together, for none else had +arisen. Then he said to Zora, "Come, child! we must do our duty;" and +taking a long piece of strong cloth, used to make a bundle, she held +it by the four corners, and they went their way through the streets, +with the simple cry of "Alla dilaya to leonga"--"if God gives I will +take." Now and then they stopped to sing an invocation, and the clear +voice of Zora sounded sweetly in the fresh morning air. Good housewives +were grinding at their mills with many a rough unmelodious song, +but none refused to put a handful of meal, or pulse, or rice, into +the extemporised basket, which soon became so heavy that Zora could +scarcely carry it, and they returned. When it was all poured out, it +formed a goodly heap, and the Syud patted it with his hand and was +thankful for it. "We could not eat it all in two days, child," he said; +"and we have the money besides. Why need we fear, so long as we put our +trust in the granter of prayer?" + +After they had all eaten they proceeded as they had done the day +before, and the road was less stony and rugged; and when they had +passed through a small range of rocky hills and over the embankment of +the pretty irrigation lake of Bohnal, with the widespread waters to +the west sparkling in the sun and the green rice fields to the east, +the fortifications of Wakin-Keyra at the termination of a high and +rugged mass of mountains fell on Zora's sight; and one of the horsemen, +dashing up to the Syud's palanquin, told him that he was going on, and +that if he would remain for about an hour under the shade of one of the +great banian trees of the embankment, and then follow, he would find +all prepared to receive him. So the litters being placed together, they +got out of them and sat down, while the waves of the lake dashed among +the stones which formed the facing of the earthen bank, with a pleasant +refreshing murmur. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] Letters which denote points of the compass. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. +CASTING OUT DEVILS. + + +It was but a short distance, barely more than a mile, to the entrance +to the strange fortress in which Pam Naik, the Beydur Prince, held his +Court. All that could be seen from a distance were two separate forts +on each side of what might be called the gate, well built of granite, +and picturesquely and commandingly situated on the summits of high +rocks, much after the fashion of the bastions of Juldroog. From these +forts, and from bastions below them, two lines of fortification had +been carried along the face of the hill to the top, where they were +lost in woods that crowned the summit. Flags were flying on all these +towers and bastions, which gave the grim-looking works a cheerful +expression; and the great standard of the Beydur flew out from the +highest tower, fluttering in the western breeze. At the barrier itself +the friend of Burma Naik, Syud Moostafa, the Naik's Persian secretary, +with others, were in attendance, who received the old man with profound +salutations, while some respectable-looking mamas in like manner +saluted Zora, and bid both welcome. They were to remain in the Syud's +house, where apartments had been prepared for them; and while her +grandfather was carried off, much against his wish, to visit the great +Naik himself, Zora was conducted to the house in which they were to +stay. + +Wakin-Keyra was a strong place. Inside the second barrier of huge +natural rocks the valley extended into a considerable bay or basin, +filled by a small artificial lake formed by damming up a stream which +descended from the hills. This lake was nearly circular, or perhaps +more of an oval shape, and was surrounded by a short sward, always +green, except where rocks jutted out from the mountain side, and dipped +into the water. All round the sides of this natural basin were the +houses of the inhabitants, of all castes, built of stone, cemented +with clay or mortar, according to the ability of the builder, and with +terraced roofs of lime or clay. The houses seemed to end with a level +piece of ground at the eastern end, but from its height, the houses +that covered it, and extended to some distance among the woods, could +not be seen. The Naik's house, or palace, occupied the greater part of +the south side of the amphitheatre, and, though it consisted of a great +number of separate buildings and courts, could hardly be distinguished +from other private houses that adjoined it, being built in the same +manner, in very homely fashion. + +The old Syud's account of his reception by the Beydur Rajah Pam Naik +was amusing. He had accompanied the Persian secretary to the palace, +as it was called, and had been ushered into the presence of the +Prince, to whom he made his salutation. "I would have given much to +see him, as he spoke kindly to me in Canarese--his own language--but +that was impossible; so I had to listen only, and the secretary and +a Brahmin Moonshi, who spoke good Persian, interpreted for me. The +Rajah had a number of wants, which I must try to satisfy. In the +first place, the new part of his palace, where he wishes to live, is +at present haunted by sprites and demons, who must be exorcised and +sent away. He has tried many Hindoo exorcists, Brahmins and Bairagees, +and some Mussulmans, of whom a saint, who is called the Kala Peer, or +Black Saint, was partly successful in one building; but in the others +the spirits answered that they would not depart, as they were very +comfortable, and they remained. Then the youngest Ranee is troubled +with bad visions and dreams at nights, and has become thin and weak, +and several children in the house are ailing and the Prince himself has +low spirits; and I found his pulse very irregular. So all these things +have to be looked after; and thou wilt have many amulets, charms, +puleetas, and exorcisms for the house to copy for me, Zora, and I shall +be several days at the work. I have told the Rajah that I cannot begin +so arduous and delicate a task without purification and some fasting +for three days; and our host, who knows a little of the science, will +afford me every facility. And besides, Zora, he is rich, this Prince, +and will give me a great donation, and that will help me in the +Turreequt. Ah, child! we shall win that, by the blessing of Alla, and +live happily till death." + +"If you will show me which figures you wish for," replied Zora, "I will +get the book, and copy them for you." + +"Not yet, not yet," replied her grandfather. "I have to ascertain +what sort of spirits they are who have taken possession of these poor +people, who are but low caste infidels; and they must be questioned in +order that they may declare themselves. And thou wilt have to come too, +Zora, to help me with the women, for they are in private, it seems, and +cannot see a man, though I am old and blind; which is foolishness. But +they are very ignorant, I fear. And how hast thou been received and +cared for, my child?" + +"Very kindly, Abba," replied Zora; "and we have several rooms, and this +open verandah to sit in, from which we can see over the whole of the +strange city which lies before us--the strangest I ever saw or heard +of. There are not so much as ten ells of level ground in it, and the +streets are mere paths up the mountain side, and they rise from the +pretty tank which fills the bottom. All appears to be a mass of houses, +tier above tier; and there is no level ground except at the top, where +I see more houses and trees, and green grass. But they are all Beydur +houses, they tell me." + +"Then where can we go for our evening and morning begging, child? Once +we have begun that, we must not abandon it." + +"I know not, Abba; but why beg now? More food has been sent from the +palace than would last us a week; and the Brahmin clerk who came with +it said the same quantity would come every day." + +"I tell thee, child, it must be, even if we sat at the door in the +street. Once a vow is vowed to the Lord, can it be recalled? God +forbid! Our host is too pious a person to object to it, and I will +explain all. Now I must bathe. Tell Mamoolla and Ahmed to prepare the +hot water while I lie down for a while to meditate, or perchance sleep. +At the time of evening prayer the secretary will return home, and we +can go together, for it is but a step from hence. Perhaps letters may +be sent for us." + +On her own part Zora was curious to see the ladies of the Beydur +Prince's family, and the deportment of a perhaps barbarous Court; and +as she arrived at the palace in a closed litter, several women servants +took charge of her, and she was conducted up a flight of stairs which +led to an open gallery, fitted with transparent screens of fine bamboo +work, about the middle of which sat the Ranee of the family and several +children, who rose courteously to receive Zora, and--owing to her +perfect knowledge of Canarese--put the girl at her ease at once. Never +had she met with any persons so loquacious and inquisitive. + +They had heard of Juldroog; and an elderly woman present had even paid +a visit to Chaya Bhugwuti in fulfilment of a vow, and seen the river +mother in her fury. And Zora had lived within sight and sound of it +all her life. Was she married? Was she even in seclusion? And why not? +She was too old and too beautiful to be allowed to go abroad into the +world. Had she no jewels, no fine clothes? nothing but the coarse +soosi she wore, and coarse muslin over it? No, Zora had replied, they +were Fakeers, and every day they begged for alms in the name of Ali, +the commander of the faithful. Long they had talked thus, and in the +evening lamps were lighted, and Zora could see how homely everything +around her was, except the ladies' persons, for they were covered with +valuable jewels and diamonds, which flashed in the lamplight, while +they wore magnificent saris of silk, with rich gold borders and ends, +very valuable. + +Then, after a while, her grandfather's approach was announced, and the +ladies rose and retired into an inner room, and the Rajah entered, +followed by the old man, led by the secretary and some Brahmins and +Beydurs. He did not notice Zora, who had retreated into a corner with +some of the women servants or slaves, and was awaiting the result of +her grandfather's visit with some anxiety as to what would happen. +Presently he sent for her, and bade her sit by him, and observe for +him. + +The Rajah, a short, stout man, of fair complexion for a Beydur, seated +himself, after a proclamation of his titles by his silver mace-bearers, +who then withdrew; and the girl who was possessed by the evil spirit +was sent for, Zora having been cautioned to observe exactly what +happened. As he had seated himself, her grandfather had called for +a censer and some incense powder; and as Zora told him the girl was +entering the room he threw it on the live charcoal with a paper charm, +and a great smoke arose; during which time he was muttering Arabic to +himself. Zora noticed that the girl, who might be about her own age, +now trembled violently, and seemed slightly convulsed. She had made +efforts with her arms and hands as if to put away the censer, and even +to cry out and escape; but she was held firmly by her attendants. + +"Bring her to me, that I may breathe upon her," said the old man. "I +will not hurt her, but that evil spirit must come out of her, else she +will suffer and die. At present it is living in her life." + +But the girl would not move; and though they raised her to her feet, +she sank down again, shivering and screaming; but the women took her +up, and laid her on the carpet before the old man, so that he could +place his right hand on her head. Then he said to her in a gentle +voice, after repeating another charm, and casting more incense into the +censer,-- + +"Who art thou that possesseth this girl? Speak!" But there was no reply. + +"I adjure thee, in the name of Solomon, son of David, of Jibbreel and +Azraeel, and of ye, O Abd-ool-Zadir, Zadir Jillaneo, Bhytab, Hunmuntoo, +Nursimha, and Bhyraon; speak, and give me thy name!" + +Then the girl foamed at the mouth and cried with an exceeding bitter +cry, "I am Bassuppa! let me dwell in peace. I love this body, and +will remain." The voice was hoarse and deep, like that of a man, +and contrasted fearfully with the slight girlish form from which it +proceeded. + +"Who was Bassuppa?" asked the Syud, but the girl did not answer; she +only groaned and sighed bitterly, "Let me alone, let me alone, lest I +kill her." + +"Who was Bassuppa?" asked the Syud of the Rajah. + +"He was her attendant bearer when she was young, and he loved her much, +as she did him. He died, and they carried him on a bier down from his +home to the burning place, and she saw his body from this balcony +over the gate, where the nobat plays. She was immediately attacked by +convulsions; and when again she became sensible, declared that Bassuppa +had turned his head, opened his eyes, and looked at her, and had +remained in her ever since." + +"Enough! I understand now what is to be done," said the old man to the +Rajah. "It is a powerful spirit, but one over whom I have command. Fear +not, thy child shall be well in three days, and restored to thee." + +"She is my pet, my darling," replied the Rajah, with emotion, "and her +mother's too. If thou drivest this spirit from the child thou shalt +know that a Beydur Prince can be grateful." + +"Speak not, my lord, lest you break the spell; it is already working, +as I see the child's lips moving. Listen!" + +"I must have time to think," she said. "Let me alone till the third +day, then I will answer thee." + +"Keep her very quiet," said the old man; "let her be amused; make a +doll's feast for her, or take her to some garden where she can play, +and I will send my granddaughter with some powders that must be given +to her as she goes to sleep at night, and as she rises in the morning. +And now, Rajah Sahib, may we depart?" + +Then pan and uttar were brought, and garlands of flowers; and on a +silver tray, covered with brocade, were a few pan leaves with five +large gold coins on them; and the old man, when Zora whispered to him, +took them up and tied them in the end of his scarf. But in regard to +his vow of begging he would not relax, and when they reached their +house her grandfather called to Zora and said, "We must go, my child," +and she led him into the street, along which he walked with difficulty +nearly to the palace gate, where they stopped to sing one of the +invocations; and Zora's voice was so sweet, that many of those who +came to the evening Court dropped money into her bag; and after a while +they returned, and she found that there was more in it than had ever +been before. + +Zora saw little of her hostess, who was a proud woman of a high Syud +family, relations of the Wallee, or saint, of the city, and she had by +no means approved of her husband inviting the old Dervish to her house. +"Thank the Lord we are people of family," she said to him, "and in my +father's house. I never heard of a Fakeer being invited to reside in +it, or to be attended by our servants as if he were a Nawab. They used +to live without, and take what was left of our meals, and that was good +enough for them. But this old Syud has very fine notions; his servant +and grandchild must cook for him all sorts of dainty dishes, which, I +own, they do very well; but they are Fakeers all the same; and though +they earn riches, ay, riches every day, they go out at night when that +great girl ought to be shut up, and go and sing and bring back a bag +of money. I saw them count what they had gained, and there were many +rupees, and even some hoons among the coppers. Can this be right?" + +"Peace!" said her husband; "thy mouth is bitter, Sitara-bee. Thou +shouldst not complain, for all that comes from the palace goes to thee. +I tell thee, learned as I am esteemed to be, I have never met his +equal yet, whether in medicine or exorcism. Peace, therefore! the time +will come that thou wilt esteem it an honour to have had such a guest +beneath thy roof." + +"And the girl embroiders caps and knits drawers-strings," cried the +dame, with a sneer, "and sells them; and bodices too. Is that a holy +occupation?" + +"Peace, I say again, Beebee! Thy mouth is bitter and thy tongue long, +and it is not good to speak evil of a holy Syud;" and he went out +before his wife could reply, as he saw she was determined to have +the last word; but she sat down to her spinning-wheel and grumbled +notwithstanding. "Shall I ask the girl to get me an amulet against +barrenness?" she said to herself, after a while. "I am yet young +enough. I wonder what it would cost, or whether the Dervish would give +it in exchange for his lodging. I must see about this, for such things +are." And she stopped her wheel and sat meditating, with her forefinger +between her teeth; while, by the smile that spread over her face, her +thoughts were apparently pleasant ones. + +The Ranee and the children had departed to the garden at Bohnal, where +they were always glad to go to escape the confinement of the palace. +There they played about, sat under the shade of the fine trees, went to +fish in the lake, and had a play performed by some strolling weavers +and stone-cutters, who had joined together for the occasion. They +represented scenes in the life of Krishna, the tutelary divinity of +the Rajah's family, and their performance always afforded a great +treat. The girl who had been affected by demoniacal influences was +now the merriest of the party, and her mother, with a thankful heart, +recognised the improvement with gratitude. But what would be the final +result? Would the science of the Dervish prevail over, as she believed, +the Satanic influence? Well, the third day had arrived, and they +returned early in the morning; and soon after a message was brought to +the Dervish that the child had fallen down in a fit, and was talking +and raving incoherently. A palanquin had been sent for him, accompanied +by the secretary, and he was to come directly. But he did not go. He +sent word that he had to keep himself pure during the day, and must +remain in prayer till evening, when he would come. Meanwhile the child +was to be kept quiet, and would most likely sleep. + +Zora heard him during most part of the day repeating incantations, or +verses from the Koran, but he would eat nothing. Altogether Zora was +anxious; and though she continued at her embroidery all day she was +not the less disturbed, for how many stories had not her grandfather +told her of failures in exorcism when the demon had, in spite, entered +into the body of the exorcist. "What charm would her grandfather use?" +and she had the book on the science, written by His Excellency Mahomed +Ghous, upon her knee, when her grandfather called to her. + +"Child," he said, "my soul is troubled, for I do not remember a passage +in the holy book that I need to recollect. Refer to it, and follow me +while I repeat the exorcism entirely. If I fail anywhere, stop me. The +puleeta to be used is one where the demon is strange and unknown, and +begins, 'Whoever ye are.' It is a square, with a smaller square at the +right hand upper corner, which is divided into sixteen even portions." + +"I have it here, Abba; say on." + +We need not quote the incantation, but the old man repeated it +correctly, and was pleased. "Inshalla, child!" he said, "we shall gain +the victory. I ought to wield the charm myself, but there is no help +for that, blind as I am; thou must do it for me, and as I shall recite +the incantation very slowly, thou canst copy the figures, which must be +burned while the ink is wet. Meanwhile study it well, that thou make no +mistake." + +In the evening they proceeded to the palace, where the girl was still +moaning in her heavy sleep. All those around her could distinguish, +were the words, "He must not come! I will not depart!" The old man +had prepared an earthen pot with a cover, which contained some fruits +and seeds, and placed some silver pieces of money in it, and smeared +the inside with ground sandalwood paste. Then he passed his hand over +the child several times from head to foot; and as the earthen lamp +placed on the top of this vessel was lighted, three kinds of oil being +used, those sitting around observed the girl become restless, flinging +about her arms and sighing deeply. Her mattress, which had been laid +on the floor, was now removed, and the place washed with liquid red +clay and cow-dung, and she was taken up and laid upon it; then the +exorcist passed his hands over her again, and incense and perfumes +were lighted, which cast up volumes of smoke, so that the old man's +face as he sat at the girl's feet could hardly be seen. When this had +subsided a little he told Zora to be ready; and she, taking up the pen +that had been provided, rapidly drew the outline of the charm large +enough to admit of her writing the incantation. The group formed a +strange and solemn picture. The girl, lying restless and insensible, +extended on the floor, with the venerable old Syud, with his anxious +yet benevolent face and long white beard, sitting at her feet, with +Zora by his side. At the patient's head were her mother and several +other ladies and servants, weeping bitterly, while the Rajah himself, +with the secretary, who was a privileged person, watched the result +with intense interest. The room was dark; except where the lamp cast +a dim yellow light upon the group, and wreaths of smoke still eddied +about the ceiling and walls, seeking egress. The only sounds were the +sobs of the women, the occasional low moans of the patient, and the +grating sound of Zora's pen as it passed over the paper. At last the +old man, with the usual invocation, "In the name of God most clement +and merciful," began the incantation, "Whoever ye are;" while Zora +plied her pen as fast as she could, copying from the book before her. +Every name pronounced was cried with a loud voice, and a considerable +pause made, so that Zora was not hurried, and the whole ceremony being +repeated three times, her grandfather took the pen, and Zora directing +his hand to the place, he wrote the concluding words and breathed over +the whole. Then the paper was sprinkled with some scented powder, and +rolled up tightly, a thread of fine cotton being passed round it; then +it was lighted, and as the old man recited passages from the Koran, +green and red-coloured flames issued from the burning roll, which all +could see; but the girl opened her large eyes, shuddered, and tried to +hide her face in the floor. As the paper burned out, she was convulsed +for a short time, and then lay still; finally she sat up, opened and +rubbed her eyes, and stretching out her arms, said quietly to them all, +"Where am I? What has been done to me? There was something sitting on +my chest," she continued, innocently, "and it is gone!" + +"Shookr! Hazar shookr! Thanks, a thousand thanks!" exclaimed the +Dervish. "Lord, thou hast heard my prayer. Friends, he that possessed +the child is gone, but he is here among us!" + +At this announcement every one shuddered, and the old exorcist called +to the spirit to reply; but there was no answer. He then asked the +girl whether anything had been said or whispered to her, and she +replied innocently, "Yes. Bassuppa told me he was going away for ever, +and would never return; he could not remain, because some one was too +powerful, and he cried very much, and I saw him no more. Then I awoke +and saw you all;" and she arose, went to the Dervish, and prostrating +herself, kissed his feet, and laid her head against them, and then +kissed Zora's feet, and then her father's and mother's, and sisters' +all round; and all of them wept tears of joy, while her mother became +so excited and hysterical that she was led away for awhile, and the old +man gave directions as to where a strong charm was to be pasted up over +every door and window; and, calling the girl, he placed another amulet +in a handkerchief, and bound it round her arm, till a proper silver +case could be made for it; also one to be worn round her neck, attached +to her necklace. And he put his hands on her head, and wished her joy +and peace in her life, and children to cheer it. + +(Perhaps some of my readers will say, Why was this piece of +superstitious observance introduced? To which we reply, that it is +only as one instance of the many strange beliefs in supernatural +effects which exist among Mussulmans and other classes of the people +now, and have done so from the earliest times. Many curious and +interesting episodes of lives turn upon them, and the belief in them +is universal, with exorcisms of evil, mischievous and malignant demons +and spirits. There are charms supplied against every mischance of man +or womanhood, youth or age, against haunted houses and the evil eye. On +the other hand, there are charms for evil purposes, which are believed +and practised as much as the others. The incidents of the exorcism +described here took place in presence of the writer of this tale when +in India, and he could adduce many equally strange and affecting, or, +in some instances, detestable.) + +"We can ill repay this kindness, Huzrut," said the Rajah, as they +adjourned into the hall of audience, and sat down; "but if you will +accept of what I offer, and keep it in remembrance of me, I shall be +thankful." + +"I would rather, my lord, wait till I am assured that what I have done +is effectual," replied the old man, respectfully; "and I must see your +daughter every day." + +"As you please," returned the Rajah. "I will have my gifts sealed up, +and the day you have to depart they shall be given to you. As to your +granddaughter, I must leave her to the Lady Ranee, and you must promise +me not to interfere with her." + +"But at least you cannot refuse this to shield you from the chill +night wind," he continued; and he threw a delicate white Cashmere +shawl of some value over the old man's shoulders. As to Zora, she +was newly dressed by the good Ranee; and when she emerged from her +palanquin at the secretary's house, she appeared in a gorgeous green +silk sari, delicately shot with crimson. She had a valuable gold ring +round her neck, and a gold pair of bracelets, and the whole formed +a very costly gift. "Would that I could see thee, Zora," said her +grandfather, as he felt the soft rich silk and its heavy gold borders, +and touched the ornaments; "but they befit thee, and some day----" +and here he broke off suddenly, and was silent. As to Zora herself, +perhaps, there was a touch of vanity as well as gratification in her +mind, for she did not take off the grand clothes immediately; and old +Mamoolla came and peered at her all over, and went and lit another +lamp; and the secretary's wife came and looked also, and cried aloud +her congratulations in wonder; but she was jealous and envious in her +heart, and I am afraid her husband had much to bear in her accusations +of idleness, in that he was not so good an exorcist as the venerable +old Dervish. "Those people get money by their work," said the dame, +with a sneer. "The girl has presents worth hundreds of rupees; when +wilt thou give me a gold neck ring and bracelet, or a sari like hers? +And who knows what the old Syud has got besides. Touba! Touba! Thou a +Syud, and a man of letters, shouldst be able to do as much as he." + +The secretary did not vouchsafe a reply. He had been looking at Zora's +glorious eyes and expressive face all the evening, as they sat around +the ailing child, and I think that more beautiful visions than his +wife's shrewish face excluded thought of her more than she would have +liked. + +The fame of the old Dervish's cure, or, as some now called him, the +Hukeems, or Physician, spread not only through the town but through the +country, and applicants for relief thronged upon him, making offerings +which were sometimes considerable; but from most people he would take +nothing; yet to Zora's perception they were growing rich, and, as +Abba said, with a look of satisfaction, there was enough to make the +Turreequt easy; and, after that, to settle in some pleasant place and +to become a Wallee, or saint, at whose tomb people should come and pray. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. +THE SYUD TAKES TWO DEGREES IN HIS TURREEQUT. + + +For a few days there was nothing more to be done. The Rajah's child +was well, and her complexion was already changed from the grey, livid +colour which had before existed to a healthy ruddy tint, and she +slept without waking. Every day the old Dervish visited her; and the +child, now fearless, nestled in his lap. What if she were a Beydur! +The haunted rooms had been freed of evil spirits; and by way of giving +assurance to all, especially to the servants, the family went and +slept there without being disturbed. A packet of medicines was made up +for the Rajah by the old man and Zora, and the use of them explained. +Finally, the day arrived on which they must depart. The oorus or +anniversary, of the Saint Syud Sofy Surmust would take place on the +third day; and among the crowds present, it would be difficult to find +lodgings. Finally, the Rajah proposed that his secretary should attend +the old man, and see him safely through the festival. "And," added that +worthy person, "if your friend the Kazee of Kembavee is there, so much +the better." Then the presents to the old Syud were brought from the +treasury; and the seals, as they had been made on them, were inspected +by the Rajah and broken, and the list that had been placed inside +read out. It was, indeed, a princely gift, suited to the age and holy +profession of the recipient; and with a bag of five hundred rupees the +list closed. + +"Nay, but I protest against this," said the old man, earnestly. "I +exercise my art not for gain; but for the love of God and His name." + +"Well," replied the Rajah, "if thou wilt, give it away in charity. A +gift cannot be recalled; and so I pray thee take it for the remembrance +of one who, though he is only a Beydur, can at least prove grateful." + +And after this no more objection was made; it would have been an +insult. Then, as the Syud rose, the Rajah rose also, and went and +touched the dear old man's feet; and the Ranees were called and did +the same; and the child, with many tears, hung about his neck, and her +hands wandered over his face; and it was with difficulty that he and +Zora got away, under the blessings showered upon them. But all was +finished, and the secretary's wife had obtained the dearest wish of her +life, and drank a charm, which was washed from the paper on which it +had been written into a silver cup filled with water, in entire faith +in its efficacy. And now the Turreequt awaited them at Sugger, and +they must go. The money that had been given them was converted into +the small gold coin called hoons, which were then in circulation, +and could easily be carried; and Wednesday being the proper day for +proceeding northwards, according to the Rujub-ool-Ghyb, and a fortunate +conjunction of planets to boot, they took leave of their hostess and +departed. The day before, when they had gone to pay their respects to +the Rajah, he said he had provided two palanquins for the old Dervish +and Zora; and though this interfered with the vow to walk the whole +distance, yet it had become evident to Zora that her grandfather's +life would be endangered by fatigue; and, after much remonstrance, she +agreed to a compromise, that on approaching Sugger or any other town he +should alight from his conveyance, spread a sheet on the ground before +him, sing the invocation, and await the alms of the passers by. So with +Ahmed and Mamoolla mounted on their ponies, the baggage animals loaded +and led behind, a guard sent by the Rajah, and the secretary mounted +on a palfrey of his own, the little procession passed out of the gate +of Wakin-Keyra amid the blessings and prayers of a crowd which had +assembled there. + +The road to Sugger lay through some low rocky hills for a while, and, +passing through a natural gap in them, the valley and town of Sugger +came in sight, at the distance of a few miles; a pretty scene, for +the town seemed embosomed in trees; several considerable tanks for +irrigation lay blue and still in the hollow, and the bright green +rice-fields below them formed a pleasant and remarkable feature in +the landscape; while the newly-erected mausoleum of Ankoos Khan, a +late Minister of Beejapoor, rose in an imposing mass above all. To the +right were high, rocky hills, which seemed to increase in height till +they broke suddenly into the plain a few miles to the east, and were +composed of rocks like those so vividly remembered by Zora at Juldroog, +piled on each other in huge masses. On the north side of the valley +was a still higher and more massive range, which the secretary pointed +out to her as he rode by the side of her palanquin, and told her that +the great fortress of Shahpoor occupied a portion of it. All over the +valley between the two ranges the land was well cultivated, and the +early crops were now ripening, while others were still green. To Zora, +who had never seen such a sight before, the whole valley appeared a +perfect paradise; and, indeed, under the glowing sunlight, it was no +doubt very beautiful. + +A strange feature in the latter portion of their journey was the +number of touters who now met them, crying the praises of the rooms +they had to let; and these soon increased to a crowd. The occurrence +of the annual festival was a source of profit to all in the town, and +everyone who had even a vacant cowshed to offer, cleaned it out and +proclaimed it a palace. Lodgings had, however, already been provided; +and the Moolla of the great mosque hearing from his friend, the Kazee +of Kembavee, of the proposed visit of the old Dervish and Zora, had +kindly offered such accommodation as his house afforded. Now, as they +approached the town the procession halted, and the arrangement Zora +had proposed was carried out. Near the great mausoleum of Ankoos Khan +was a grassy bank shaded by a large tree, and they sat down and sang +the invocation, while on the sheet spread out cowries and copper coins +soon began to rattle as they fell; and the result, as the old Dervish +declared, as he stroked his long beard, was evidence of the goodness +of the Almighty. "There will be many poor folks at the evening prayer, +child," he said to Zora, "and thou art to distribute all there is to +them." Then, after a while, he rose, and led by Zora, for he would +allow no one else to perform this office, he walked slowly on. + +The Bazar, and indeed the whole of the town, was full of people; and +the sight of the venerable old man, led by his beautiful grandchild, +created no little excitement. "Who is the holy Dervish?" cried some. +"We welcome your holiness to our town in the name of His Highness the +Prophet and Sofy Surmust, on whom be peace!" cried a body of Mussulman +weavers, all with long beards as though they were Dervishes. "That is +the holy saint who cast out devils at Wakin-Keyra," cried others; "may +he live a hundred years! And that is his grandchild, who leads him +everywhere, bless her sweet face!" And it was, indeed, sweet to look +upon. + +Zora had had a green dress made for herself at Wakin-Keyra, and this +she wore that day. It was a tunic like that of a man, with loose +skirts. She wore a turban of green muslin, into which her beautiful +hair was gathered and bound up. Her loose trousers were also green, and +the scarf which was tied round her waist, crossed over her head; so +that, if needful, she could at any time conceal her face. Women, as she +passed them, held out their children to her, and, stretching out their +own hands, kissed the tips of their fingers, or cracked their knuckles +against their temples. "God defend thee from evil glances, holy one," +cried some. "Ah! she has taken the vows of a Syudanee," said others, +"and is not ashamed." Ashamed! no, indeed. Zora seemed triumphant. She, +too, had her humble place in the Turreequt, and, God willing, would +go on with it, leading her beloved grandfather to the last. No wonder +she was admired, nay, almost reverenced, as, with a firm, confident +step, and a look of modest reliance in her great brown eyes, she passed +through the thronged street. Even the soldiers who were lounging about +respected her, rose at her approach, and saluted her humbly. Thus they +passed on till they were near the mosque, where their friend the Kazee +awaited them, attended by their host the Moolla; and they were led into +the great court of the mosque, and then through a door into a private +enclosure, which was always kept, as the Moolla told them, for visitors +of distinction; and Zora at once saw that there was ample room and +privacy for all. While behind was a yard which would contain their +ponies, Ahmed, and the men they had hired to accompany them. + +Presently the call to afternoon prayer was sung from the roof of the +mosque, and crowds began to assemble--Fakeers, weavers, soldiers, +and many strangers. The Kazee had requested the old Dervish to give +a discourse, such as might suit the people assembled, and he had +consented; and after prayer was ended, he recited a verse of the Koran, +and began his sermon on the Turreequt, or path of salvation. Never had +such a discourse been heard in that mosque. It seemed as if, translated +by his enthusiasm above the ordinary life and occupations of men, as +indeed by his blindness and reverential spirit he had been for so +many years, the Dervish was like one inspired, and his eloquence, so +pathetic, so practical, and so truly fitting his subject, powerfully +affected his audience, and many groaned, many wept; and at the close +of the address all his hearers crowded round him to interchange the +salutation of peace which is exchanged among Mussulman worshippers. + +Thenceforward the afternoon services at the mosque were attended by +crowds; and when she led her grandfather to his apartment, to take +rest, Zora could not help exclaiming, in ardent tones of love and +admiration, "Oh, Abba! I never heard thee speak as thou hast done +to-day. May the Lord bless and sustain thee to make the people like +thyself." But he could not reply; his own heart appeared too full for +words. That evening, too, he performed his vow of begging, and people +said, "That is the Dervish who preached to-day, and his child; they +have a vow to beg." And so no one molested them as they sang their +invocations; and Zora carried her wallet on her arm, receiving alms +from those who heard her sweet thrilling voice, whether they were +Mussulmans or Hindoos. + +But it was necessary to choose which association of Fakeers the old +man should belong to. What had he to hope for in the world? What had +Zora? Her religious enthusiasm had been aroused, and she, too, would +fain have made an open profession of her faith, but her grandfather +objected. "It is not in thy horoscope, child," he said, as she urged +him to consent with sobs and tears. "In that are children, and the +rank thou art entitled to. These cannot come through profession as a +Fakeer; and shall we, who have given ourselves up to the guidance of +the Lord, dare to misinterpret His will? Be patient, then, my child, +and fear not, for I believe that what will come to thee will come out +of thy faith and thy endurance." So she was silent, and wept no more; +but, instead, dwelt upon his form whom she had once watched, and which +seemed to rise to her mental vision more vividly than ever. + +It was, however, necessary to decide this serious question of election. +Our old Dervish, by his first and subsequent discourses, had given +proof of his fitness for any grade, even the highest one of Mushaekh, +beyond which only remained that of Wallee, or saint, and, in concert +with his friends, a whole day was spent in deliberation on the subject. +At Sugger were assembled representatives of all the hundreds of sects +of Fakeers existing in the country, of which we spare the reader the +enumeration of, to him or her, unpronounceable names. There were some +who sung odes and hymns, some who danced, some who played instruments; +many who led lewd, riotous lives, and pretended to do miracles; +others who walked through thorns and danced on hot embers, or took +red-hot chains or ploughshares in their hands, and, dipping them in +powdered resin, wiped off the blaze with naked hands. Some kept bears, +or tigers, or monkeys, which they had tamed and taught to perform +ingenious tricks; others had tame snakes living in their sleeves or in +the breasts of their tunics. Again, there were others who seared their +tongues with hot wires, or scored their arms or breasts till the blood +flowed, or put live scorpions into their mouths. + +In short, if I, the writer of this chronicle, enumerated all the sects +and their particular professions and means of getting their livelihood, +my readers would see plainly, as the old Dervish did, that these were +but contrivances to get money, or to lead dissolute lives under the +pretence of a godly vow. "And what," he said, "could a quilted cap and +an iron rod like the Kullundurs, or black turbans and clothes like the +devotees of Shah Zinda Mudar, signify as aids to the Turreequt?" He +therefore said to his friends,-- + +"All these divisions of Fakeers are delusions, my brothers, and many +of them are delusions of Satan, and work for the ruin of souls. My own +faith is simple, and my course of life is also simple. Whatever I have +been able to do, either in the relief of the sick or the casting out of +evil spirits, I have effected under the invocation of the noble Saint +Peer-i-Dustugeer, the Prince Syud Abd-ool-Qadir, on whom be peace! +Should there be any professors of his doctrine or ceremonies in this +great assemblage, I pray ye, friends, bring him or them to me, that +I may make a public profession, and be received into the sect as a +Moorsheed (scholar, or novice). I shall henceforward be a Fakeer, and +fight for the faith under the banners of my chosen Lord." + +The Moolla of the mosque, the secretary, and the Kazee, who had each +become devotees of other sects, would fain have had the old man join +that which they themselves had professed; but after much earnest and +learned discussion they could not succeed in weakening their guest's +resolution, and they let him have his way. A professor of the Qadirea +doctrines was soon found, who was a respectable and learned man from +Golconda, who had taken the degree already, and, in conjunction +with our old friend, a fitting day was soon named and fixed. What +a pleasure, too, it was to receive visits from the officers of the +troops stationed at Sugger, who were mostly Dekhanies! How pleasant +to hear the old surnames, which he had not heard for years! For here +were Bylmees, Alla-ool-Moolks, Siah-poshas--white standards, black +sunshades--and many others, whose familiar war cries he had heard +in the field. And the commander had the Akhbars, or news-letters of +Beejapoor, and left them for Zora to read to her grandfather. + +How pleasant it was to hear of old names, and of the King's progress +against the armies of Ahmednugger; watching every movement of the +enemy, yet not striking a blow; but striving to bring them to reason. +Then in one of the latest, the arrival of Abbas Khan was mentioned, and +the accusation against him and the trial by ordeal, and the praises of +the young man and description of his noble bearing before the Queen, a +stripling as he appeared before a giant, were, you may be sure, dear +reader, read by Zora with feelings of exultation she could not repress. +She even set to work and copied the whole passage. Then also Meeah's +appointment to command the reinforcement for the King, and his march +out of the city; and that Runga Naik accompanied him. So he was well, +Zora thought, with glistening eyes and beating heart, and has cleared +himself before all, even his Queen. I think her grandfather was too +much bound up in his Turreequt to care much about the Beejapoor news, +though he appeared to rejoice at Abbas Khan's victory; but in the +Akhbar of the next day, in which the discovery of Osman Beg's treason +was detailed, and read by Zora with emotion, and that he would be tried +before the Queen, the old man suddenly burst out into an unexpected +display of feeling. Hitherto he had not complained of the outrage to +Zora, except at first, but now he was passionately excited. "Spare me, +O Lord!" he cried, raising his hands to heaven. "Spare me to help thy +justice before men; then Thou wilt give me tongue to speak his shame +who purposed shame to my child--yea, shame and insult. Ameen! Ameen!" +and again he relapsed into silence. "Thou dost not say Ameen, girl," he +said at length. + +"The Lord, who forgives our sins, can do as He wills, Abba, in this +matter, and forgive if it be good," replied Zora, gravely. "Yet I can +say in truth Ameen and Ameen to whatever He willeth. Doubt not, Abba, +that truth will be declared, for so my heart tells me daily, and that +this our journey is the way to its attainment." + +He was again silent for awhile, and then said, "And hast thou forgiven +him, Zora?" + +"I have forgiven him," she replied, humbly. "He can do me no harm; and, +under the protection of the Lord, he did me none. For what he purposed +to do, Alla will judge." + +"And where didst thou learn this, child?" + +"From your own lips, Abba," she said, humbly; and going to him, bent +down and kissed his hands and his feet. "From your own lips, Abba. Dost +thou think I forget thy teaching, when all who hear remember it?" + +"I am rebuked, Zora, and justly so. If I do not what I bid others do, +of what use is this Turreequt? Let him be mentioned, no more between +us. No, he cannot harm thee now; and let the Lord deal with him as He +pleaseth;" and the old man lay down and fell asleep. + +Everything had been arranged as to the initiation. The Mushaekh from +Golconda, who was a learned and wealthy man, who lived in an ancient +saint's garden and shrine near that fort, and was much respected by +the King, had been one of the audience when the first of the Dervish's +sermons was preached, and he had continued his visits to the mosque +every day, and after the last he was brought into the old man's +apartments, and introduced to him. He had believed that the venerable +preacher was already a Mushaekh of high degree, and was considerably +surprised by his request to be now allowed to enter the order, and +fixed the second day afterwards for the ceremony, giving a detail of +what would be needful. And we will not say what culinary preparations +were made under old Mamoolla and a staff of cooks, who were hired and +put under her orders; but there were sundry pilaos, birianees, kabobs, +and other savoury and delicate viands. + +The cooking, which was for over a hundred Fakeers of all +denominations, had begun early in the morning, and before noon the +Mushaekh arrived, accompanied by his friends, and took his seat in +the mosque. Then our old Dervish came forth, and many wild-looking +Fakeers, who had assembled, were led by the Kazee and the secretary, +and being presented to the holy man, they placed their hands on his +head and bade him welcome. Being asked whether his choice of the Saint +Peer-i-Dustugeer was a true one, the old man produced a diploma he +had received in Tunis, where he had become a disciple, and which had +been sealed with the seals of eminent men. This the Mushaekh put to +his forehead and eyes, and kissed it; and it was handed round for the +edification of all who were present; and no other certificate of the +performance of the first ceremony being needful, the admission to the +second was proceeded with. + +Strictly speaking it would have been advisable to have had all the +hair shaved from the old man's head, beard, eyebrows, and chest; but +because of his age this was dispensed with, and a few hairs were cut +from each with a pair of scissors, and his nails pared. Then he was +bathed carefully, and his new garments, carried before him, accompanied +by chaunts from the Fakeers, were given to him one by one, and certain +texts of the Koran repeated. Lastly, his crown, or cap, which had been +beautifully embroidered by Zora, was placed on his head. It was of +green velvet, and his new tunic was of green muslin, with a green scarf +over all. After that he had to recite the four forms of belief. He was +asked three times whether he acknowledged the Mushaekh his spiritual +leader and guide, and the whole of the assembly as brethren, and he +replied he did. Whereupon a loud shout arose that he was welcome in the +name of all the saints, each man calling out that of his own. + +After that the crown, which had been removed, was solemnly put on his +head again; his grave cloth was hung about his neck with spices and +perfumes; a new loongee, or waist cloth, was put on, and a round piece +of mother of pearl tied round his neck. When all this was completed, +the Mushaekh took several sips out of a cup of sherbet, handing it to +the old man, who drank it all, while the Mushaekh at the same time +bestowed the new name which he was to bear hereafter. This was Luteef +Shah, or King, every properly elected Fakeer bearing that title; and +when the new name was pronounced, every one greeted it with a joyous +shout. Then the feast began, which had been so liberally provided, that +hundreds of the poor of the town were satisfied as well as the Fakeers, +and the installation of Luteef Shah was long remembered. + +"When you have remained three days in your present grade," said the +Mushaekh, "we will raise you to our own, for we are more in number +here than is needed by the order; but it will be a simple matter +in comparison with this, and confined to our degree alone." We may, +however, spare the reader the detail of these ceremonies, which were, +in truth, simple enough. They all paid a quiet visit to the tomb of +Sofy Surmust, which is a short distance to the north of Sugger, and +is a most unpretending earthen mound, whitewashed; and a carpet being +spread, the head Mushaekh delivered a short address to the old man, +requiring him not only to repeat the confession of faith, but confess +all the sins of his life to be known to God, and to declare in the +presence of the Almighty and that assembly that they would never again +be repeated. + +After this had been done, the instructor repeated all the names of +the chiefs of the sect as they had descended from the founder and +inherited; and a copy of this, which is called "Shujra," was given +to the novice, who was asked whether he acknowledged. A few gold +pieces, as part of the ceremony, were presented to the Moorsheed, for +the old Dervish was still rich; and the sale of Zora's pretty caps, +drawers-strings, bodices, and other articles, had produced much more +than she anticipated, and the evening collection more than sufficed +for their maintenance. In any case they had still enough to bear the +heavier expenses at Gulburgah, for the highest order of all, which the +old Dervish, under his new title of Luteef Shah, was determined to +attain from the descendant of the most celebrated saint in the Dekhan, +Syud Geesoo Duraz, the lineal descendant of the original Wallee, who +had come from Northern India years ago, and become the spiritual leader +of the Moslems' Bahmuny Kings. + +"I am going there myself," said his new friend, "for the Syud is a +great man, and what is more, a truly devout man, which some of his +race have not been. He will welcome you warmly, I know, for he is, +besides being my superior in a religious sense, my truly loved and +intimate friend. I think he will not object, and I have met with none +so worthy of the highest honour as yourself. The representatives of the +Saint Syud Abd-ool-Qadir, of Oodgeer, and of Sheykh Fureed, of Gooty, +and perhaps others, will be present, who knows? The anniversary at +Gulburgah is a very world of religious zeal, where, if I mistake not, +your daily discourses in the mosque will be attended with the best +results; you had better therefore come with me, for my hareem is with +me, and your child may need both society and protection. We are well +guarded, too, for your kind Sovereign sent soldiers with me, who are +enough to protect us both." + +The proposal was a welcome one, and, after explaining the vow he had +made to beg his way to his destination, wherever that might chance to +be, our old friend finally agreed. It was impossible for him to walk +long stages day after day, but he could at least do as he had done when +he and Zora entered Sugger. "Yes," he said, "the Lord carries us on, +and finds new friends and protectors as we go; we desire He will lead +us to some resting-place, where, like our friends from Golconda, we may +find peace." + +As to Zora, she was supremely happy. The wife of the Mushaekh who had +performed the ceremonies was a comparatively young woman, related to +the Saint of Kullianee, a man of the highest temporal and religious +distinction. She had heard of Zora through her own women, and welcomed +the girl kindly. Zora had gone to her in her Syud's dress at first, and +was shy, as she always was; but when her Abba was in the mosque, and +when she could gain time, she ran across the street to the Mushaekh's +lodgings, and soon became intimate with her; nor was it the less +pleasure to the lady that during the journey onwards she should have so +pleasant a companion. + +Gulburgah lay to the north, and, therefore, the day of the +Rujub-ool-Ghyb was again Wednesday. Before that, however, a curious +scene occurred between the secretary and her grandfather, which Zora, +who was seated in the inner chamber of the house, working diligently +to complete an order for some new caps, which she had to finish before +she left, overheard involuntarily. The worthy secretary was speaking +with her grandfather on the subject of the Turreequt generally, and, +indeed, as was his wont, using gross flattery, which the old man always +detested, and checked sometimes in not very mild language. + +"If I were the blessed messenger of the Lord Himself you could not +flatter me more," said the old man, roused out of his ordinary +submission to such inflictions. "I pray you cease, and be silent, as it +behoves a modest man like you to do, Meer Sahib. If you want to pray, +why not step into the mosque, and offer your prayers to the Most High?" + +"But your holiness can assist me in my desire. You can intercede for +me, and without you my prayers will gain no favour." + +"I object to two things in your speech, Meer Sahib. First, that I +should be called your holiness, which is a title for Wallees and Owleas +only; and secondly, to knowing aught of your prayers and desires, which +I cannot assist." + +"But you can assist them," persisted the secretary. "Huzrut, Huzrut, I +am beside myself; unless you help me I shall go mad." + +"Now, God help thee, poor man," returned our friend. "Why shouldst thou +go mad? Art thou poor, I cannot help thee; art thou rich, pray Alla to +send thee grace to spend it. Thou hast no children! Well, I have given +thy wife a powerful charm, and I pray it may be efficacious; but still, +once more, if any fair one hath captivated thee, go to the gipsies, and +others who sell charms, and they will take thy riches for them; but +come not to me, my friend, for in that case thou wilt become my enemy." + +"Oh! say not so Huzrut; say not so," said the man, prostrating +himself. "We are alone, and I fear, yet I would conceal nothing. I love +Zora-bee, your grandchild, and I cannot live without her. Pity me, +and grant my prayer. See, I eat dust, I cast it on my head; I am your +supplicant, and our friend the Kazee is here, and we could at least be +betrothed, and I would follow you till----" + +Now, while Zora within was bursting with suppressed laughter at +seeing the little fat secretary sprawling on the ground before her +grandfather, she saw too, through the screen, ominous signs of a storm +gathering upon the dear old man's face; nor was it long before it broke. + +"Thou, Meer Sahib, thou, to ask for the only child of one who is vowed +to God. Hast thou considered her birth, her position, and thine own? +Hast thou no perception of thine own meanness? Oh, good man, verily +thou hast eaten dirt, much dirt, and I feel the helplessness of age and +blindness to be a bar against thy chastisement for the insult. Hast +thou said aught to her? Get up and speak!" + +"I--I--I. No--no. I could not be so rude; but if thou wilt permit me, +I will send a vakeel to her to-morrow." + +"Thou shalt do no such thing; she can tell thee herself. She hath seen +thee often, and is not afraid of thee. And thou hast another wife, O +mean blockhead! Zora! Zora!" he shouted, "come hither. God forgive me +if I have been rough with him," he continued, as Zora approached the +screen hanging across the door, and said, "I am here, Abba, but I must +stay within." + +"Nay, I cannot tell thee," said the old man; "it is too ludicrous. +Let the Meer Sahib speak for himself." And without further ado, the +secretary got up, adjusted his turban, which had become awry, pressed +his waistbelt down on his hips, twisted up his moustachios, and, in +short, improved his appearance as much as was possible, and began to +address the girl in the most high-flown language he could command. He +quoted line upon line of Persian poetry, comparing her to the rose +and himself to a nightingale. He discoursed on the loves of Joseph +and Zuleeka, Potiphar's wife, of Abraham and Zuppoora, and would have +proceeded after the same fashion, but the old man burst into a peal of +laughter so hearty that the tears rolled down his cheeks. + +"Enough, enough!" he cried, "O Meer Sahib; I am not used to laughter, +and thy speech is irresistible. What sayest thou, Zora, wilt thou have +this jewel among secretaries, whose tongue is sweet as honey, to be thy +husband, and share his love with the lady we have left?" + +"He is very kind to me," said Zora, with a mischievous tone of raillery +in her voice. "Very kind, and I am utterly unworthy of him. Should so +great a man as a Rajah's secretary stoop to a Fakeer's granddaughter? +Touba! Touba! Fie! Fie! And what would his wife say?" And Zora could +hold out no longer, but laughed in her turn. + +"Come, Meer Sahib," said the old man, "let us be friends again, and +forget this folly. Return to thine own wife and comfort her. Thou +knowest thy life would not be pleasant if she heard of this. Go, +now, lest others tell her. Go, and God's peace be with thee, and my +blessing, though it is little worth. Go." + +So the poor man departed not a little chagrined. But there is an old +proverb, that men with small round heads, and thin, long beards, do +foolish things, and in this case, at all events, there was no error. + +Zora was coming in to speak to her grandfather when the Kazee entered +the court. "What have you been saying to the Meer Sahib, Huzrut? I met +him in the street crying. I think I can guess; but no matter." + +"What did he tell you?" asked the old man. + +"Well, that my services might be required, and I was not to return +home." + +"Indeed! It is a strange conceit," returned the other, and the +conversation passed into other subjects. They were to set out on the +morrow, and it had been arranged to travel by Shahpoor and Gogi; for +when the old Syud had heard that that town was so near, he could not +resist the opportunity of paying his devotions at the tombs of the +Kings he had served; and in the morning the whole party mustered by +the mosque and set out on their way northwards. Next day he would +be at Almella. Would anyone be alive who could recognise their once +prosperous master? + + + + +CHAPTER X. +BY THE WAY. + + +At the gate of the thriving town of Shahpoor, a few miles distant, +they were met by the Governor of the fort, an officer of the Beejapoor +Government, and pressed to stay to dinner and such entertainment as +he could provide in the evening; and they consented, and an excellent +house was placed at their disposal. The town lay at the north-east +corner of the great mass of hills which Zora had seen from the pass +by which they had entered the valley of Sugger; and the curious fort, +surmounting enormous bare masses of granite rock, stood out with +wonderful effect against the sky. Groups of soldiers appeared on the +bastions; the Royal flag of Beejapoor waved from the citadel, which +contained the excellent house of the Killadar, or commander, and it +was evident the place held a numerous garrison. Shahpoor had been +originally built by the Bahmuny Kings of Gulburgah, and contains many +of their inscriptions; and being a natural position of great strength, +in fact, impregnable, it served at once as a frontier fort and to keep +the Beydur population in check. There was a nautch in the evening, at +which our friends excused themselves on account of their religious +duties; and the long wide streets of the town being level and well +kept, Zora and her grandfather had no difficulty in following their +hitherto practised vocation; and, as before, the invocations were sung, +and the wallet, now a consecrated one, carried from one end of the town +to the other. + +The day following, they all went on together to Gogi, where the +mausoleum of the earlier Beejapoor Kings was situated. They found +it a thriving place, full of weavers, and the station of a large +body of cavalry, on account of the excellent forage with which the +neighbourhood abounded; and though by far the greater part were absent, +there were enough to form an imposing force, which received the holy +men as they arrived. Very interesting to them was the cemetery of the +great Kings, and the college attached to it, which was in daily use.[2] +It consists of one large interior, with chapels at the junction of the +sides of the octagon; and the architecture of this, as well as the +gateway and front of the building, is, perhaps, the finest specimen +of florid Gothic in the Dekhan, built entirely of black basalt, +exquisitely ornamented and finished. One by one the graves of the Kings +behind were shown to them by the attendant priests, and these, with the +tombs of their wives and some dependants, occupy a considerable area +enclosed by a wall. When they came to that of Ibrahim Adil Shah, under +whom our old friend had served, he kneeled down beside it and began to +sob and beat his breast. Zora tried to soothe him, for not, even as +yet, knowing his history, she feared he had been taken suddenly ill, +and would fain have run for medicine; but he put his hand on her arm, +and said-- + +"I have not forgotten what you said to me when I called for vengeance +upon Osman Beg. Here lies one who did me injury more than thou knowest, +Zora; at the remembrance of which all my worst passions rise into +active being. And yet I thank Thee, O hearer of prayer," he continued, +reverently raising his turban, "that Thou enablest me to say here I +do forgive thee, O King and Royal master, and pray thou mayest have +been accepted through His grace for all the good works thou didst to +thousands. Peace be with thee, and the blessings of the Most High!" + +"What was he to thee, Abba?" asked Zora, in wonder. "The attendant +tells me that there have been many Kings since he died." + +"What he was to me, child, thou wilt know hereafter, perhaps soon now; +but no matter! In the great King Ibrahim I had a friend who loved me. +Since him there have been two Kings, and the present one, whom I may +be spared to see, bears his name. And yet, O once beloved master, my +heart is even now with thee in the grave, where I must follow thee; and +I bless Thee, O my Lord, that I have learned to forgive even through my +child." + +On the western side of the cemetery was the embankment of an irrigation +lake of some considerable area, and the rain having fallen plentifully, +it was full of water. Then they went and sat by it, and the soft +south-west wind brought the tiny waves to their feet, and sighed in the +noble trees which shaded the cemetery and the college. They had brought +a slight refection with them, and ate it together, while the old +Dervish discoursed on the mysteries of holiness, or told many a tale of +the past, when he, in King Ibrahim's suite, had halted for the day and +performed ceremonies at the tombs of his ancestors, while the ground +for the college was being measured and the architect explained the work +he proposed to undertake. They attended the afternoon prayer in the +college, which was filled to overflowing with the people and soldiers +from the town; and our old friend addressed them in one of his loving, +persuasive sermons, in which, perhaps from the unlooked-for occurrences +of the day, he was even more eloquent than ever. + +The Fatehas at the Kings' tombs could not be made ready that day, and +as their companions had no objection, but, indeed, the contrary, they +remained and formed a little procession to the cemetery, spending a +day of quiet peace, such as Zora thoroughly enjoyed. She used to say +long afterwards, when she was an old woman, that her second day at +Gogi was one of the happiest of her life, because one of the most +thoughtful and impressive; and how sweet it had been to her to find her +beloved grandfather's mind softening to an habitual cheerfulness and +submission. "Truly," as he said constantly to her, "truly, child, I +feel as if the Lord were leading me in this Turreequt, and that, too, +by means of thee, O beloved! from the first." + +The country from Gogi to Gulburgah is uninteresting, but very fertile +and well cultivated, and for some portion of their first march many +of the Royal cavalry and townspeople escorted them; for the fame of +our old friend had gone before him, and all were desirous of paying +him honour and receiving his blessing. Crossing the Bheema river by +the ferry at Ferozabad, Zora saw the palace fort of the famous King +Feroze Shah, situated on a high bank of the river above one of its long +deep reaches. But it is now only a ruin, and was even then in poor +condition; and towards the close of the following day the minarets and +domes of the holy city of Gulburgah were in sight, and it was quickly +reached. + +Nothing could persuade our old friend that it should be treated like +an ordinary town. His heart was full of reverence and thankfulness at +having reached the end of his pilgrimage in safety and honour, and his +new friend was equally reverential. So within a mile of the entrance +gate they dismounted from their litters and performed a prostration +ceremony by the wayside, and walked on together, Zora, as was her +wont, dressed in her pilgrim's dress, leading her grandfather. Near +the gate the old man had his sheet spread for alms, and it was not +till the time for evening prayer was nigh that he arose and, guided by +one of the Mushaekh's servants, followed his friend to the final place +of destination, which was in a suburb which belonged to the spiritual +Prince of the place, the descendant of the Geesoo Duraz family, who +reigned. The noise and bustle of the crowded Bazar was therefore +avoided. + +Zora, whose ideas of a city were of the most limited practical nature, +and to whom Sugger, Shahpoor, and Gogi had appeared immense, was +fairly confounded when, in company with her new friend, they ascended +to the terrace of the house which had been assigned to them by the +Prince. Before them were the fine mausoleums and domes of the original +Geesoo Duraz, and the cemeteries attached to them, the Prince's palace +and pretty gardens, with their fine rows of cyprus trees. In the +middle distance the massive group of the mausoleums of the Bahmuny +Kings, standing apart on an elevated piece of ground, and forming a +picturesque group, with the still populous city lying at their feet; +while to the left was the strong fort, with its regular fortifications, +and beyond a considerable artificial lake, which the King Feroze, the +merry Monarch of Dekhan history, had had constructed for his aquatic +amusements. + +Gulburgah was, however, an ancient city, for when Zuffir Khan, the +Viceroy of the then Emperor of Dehly, Mahomed Toghluk, founded the +Bahmuny dynasty in A.D. 1347, the old Hindoo city was selected by him +as his capital in the Dekhan, and continued to be so until, in 1435, +nearly a century afterwards, a new city was built at Beeder, which was +finally adopted as the seat of the Royal Government. During a hundred +years of prosperity, however, under the early portion of the dynasty, +Gulburgah had become a rich and thriving city. It was the mart for +local produce and importations from the coast. Merchants of Arabia and +Persia, nay, of Turkey and the Levant, resided there, and the courts +of the early Bahmunies were magnificent and wealthy. Thus the city +was ornamented with many public buildings, caravanseras, and mosques, +almshouses, hospitals, and the like, and the fort constructed there was +by far the strongest and most regular in the Dekhan; and within it the +great mosque, which was to have been the exact counterpart of that at +Cordova, in Spain, was begun, and roofed in; but never completed. + +All these principal edifices are still extant, but much decayed and +ruined. King Feroze's once superb palaces in the fort are masses of +shapeless ruins; but the mosque is as it was left by the masons and +architect, and could be finished were there anyone to undertake it, and +the fort is perfect. The mosques and other buildings in the city are +tolerably preserved; but the mausoleums of the once haughty Kings are +deserted, except by grazing cattle and goats, which shelter there from +the noon-day heat; and no one lives who bestows a lamp and its oil to +light at night the interior of these noble edifices. + +At the period of the visit of our friends, the city belonged to the +kingdom of Beeder, which, after the extinction of the Bahmunies, +remained in possession of the capital. Gulburgah was one of the chief +cities of the kingdom, and was garrisoned by a large body of its +troops to guard the frontier of the Bheema river against the armies of +Beejapoor. If not, therefore, equal to its former prosperity, the city +was yet in good condition, and the religious and other edifices were in +perfect preservation and in constant use. + +Nearly three hundred years have elapsed since the time we write of, and +Time, the spoiler, has been busy. The city has dwindled to a provincial +town; the buildings are extant, but many of them in decay. The tombs +of the Kings, so solidly built, are, perhaps, with the fine old fort, +the least changed of all, and the lake below the palace of King +Feroze sparkles as brightly as ever in the sun. The only building and +premises as perfect now as they were three hundred years ago are the +mausoleums of the Geesoo Duraz family, for their possessions have been +continued to them, and they live in their old prosperity and religious +honour, and the attendance of pilgrims at their shrine is as large now +as perhaps it ever was--as devout and as full of faith. But Gulburgah +has a new honour never dreamed of, truly, in the dim past. It is now +a station of the railway line from Bombay, and from it diverges one +branch to Madras and one to Hyderabad--the old capital of the Golconda +kingdom. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[2] The college and cemetery are still perfect, but the former is used +no longer, and is forsaken except at the anniversaries of the several +deaths, when prayers are said in it. The tombs of the Kings are covered +by printed cotton cloths, which are renewed annually. Certain families +of weavers and printers in the town, descendants of the original +executers of these articles, still contribute them, and are paid by +the proceeds of certain lands and rice fields with which the tombs +were endowed at first, and certain payments from the Customs dues; and +to the last the Rajahs of Shorapoor were the hereditary almoners of +this bounty, and disbursed it regularly on every anniversary either in +person or by deputy. Gogi now belongs to the Government of His Highness +the Nizam, and it may be hoped that the ancient custom has not been +discontinued, and that the interesting and beautiful remains have been +kept in repair. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. +SAINTLY HONOURS. + + +The sun was just rising as Zora and her companion, the Mushaekh's +wife, looked forth on the splendid scene spread out before them. Thin +blue smoke was hanging over the distant portion of the city, veiling +the details of terraced houses, minarets, and mosques, and other +pretentious buildings, and then passing into the grey distance which +melted into blue and violet lines up to the horizon. Nearer objects +were more defined, and the mausoleums of the Kings, the fort, and the +blue lake, were clear and beautiful as the sun's rays touched the white +and glistening surface of the massive domes, the slender spires of the +minarets, and the tops of the noble trees which stood around in almost +every direction. From a higher elevation the view might have been +more complete and extensive, but it would have lost the charm of that +lovely combination of objects of all descriptions which their present +situation afforded. + +Zora's face was flushed and excited, and her large brown eyes were +half filled with tears as she looked around. "Abba cannot see it," she +murmured to herself; "but he may have seen it before, when he was +young, and I will ask him; but, oh! it is so beautiful." + +"I used, lady," she continued to her new companion, "to think our +old grim fort and its rocks beautiful; and the deep ravine, with the +cataract, was beautiful, too, only so wild, that they used to make me +tremble very often; but this is more soft and loving, and one seems to +be wrapped in all around, and to feel it in one's heart. I shall be +sorry when we can stay no longer." + +"So shall I," returned the lady. "When I was a barren woman, with no +hope, my husband brought me here, and the saint blessed me, and my +firstborn followed. He is now four years old, and we have come, as we +vowed, to return our humble thanks for him, and to pray for his welfare +always in the future. When thou hast one like him, Zora, the only thing +thou wilt ever care to look at will be his eyes; and thy time will +come, too. If thou hadst a mother, she would have arranged this long +ago." + +"Perhaps," said Zora, timidly, a manly face she well remembered rising +to her thoughts. "Perhaps; and what is written in my fate will come to +pass." + +"True, child," returned the lady, "but fate needs help sometimes, +though truly before fate contrivance can do but little; still it may be +tried. Now, my husband and I have a little plot against you both, and +that is to take you with us to Golconda, where our lord the King is, a +devout and learned man, who hath great veneration for holy Mushaekhs +and Dervishes; and he would be charmed with your grandfather, and would +never let him depart; he would give him estates, and he would take the +rank that is due to him. What think you? As to yourself, I have the +noblest husband for you. He is commander of ever so many horsemen, and +holds estates and lands for their maintenance; and so he is very rich, +and has a beautiful palace in the fort, and gardens. When I parted with +him, he said, laughingly, 'Oh, aunt, bring me the most beautiful woman +you can see, for I have had every girl in Golconda inspected, and I +love not what I hear of any of them.' I said, 'You are laughing at me, +Shere Khan;' but his face changed, and he said, 'I am not; I swear to +thee, by Ayesha, that I am entirely in earnest.' And who do I know, or +ever saw, but thee, Zora, who would be worthy of him? Dost thou know +how lovely thou art, with that soft curly hair of thine hanging about +thy neck, and the ruddy glow in thy fair, sweet face? Did no one ever +tell thee how beautiful thou art? Hast thou had no friend in thy young +life?" + +"Maria used to tell me so," replied Zora, shyly, "and I used to chide +her." + +"Maria! Who is Maria? That is a Nazarene name, surely." + +"She is a Christian lady, one of God's servants, whom chance sent to us +at Juldroog, and she and her brother lived with us." + +"And she wanted thee for him, and made thee a Christian?" + +"No," said Zora, gravely, "she did not make me a Christian; and for her +to think of me for her brother would have been foolish. He, too, has a +vow to God, and could not marry even among his own people. No, she was +only a dear friend, and I owe to her all that I know, and all that I +can do." + +"And where is she now, child?" + +"I know not, lady; alas! I know not. She went from us with her brother +to Beejapoor, and perhaps has gone on to Goa." + +"Thank God!" said the lady; "then there is the better chance of my plan +succeeding, and I will ask my husband to apply to your grandfather." + +"I know he hath urgent business in Beejapoor, lady, and hath urgent +need to see the King; but what it is he never told me, and I know +nothing of his life." + +"Well, then, as God wills," said the lady; "but if I told Shere Khan +of thee, he would follow thee, I know, as long as he could trace thee +through the Dekhan." + +I will not describe the ceremonies as the travellers paid their +devotions at the mausoleum of the departed saints, or their respects to +the present reigning incumbent. These were no places for our old friend +to display his genius, his eloquence, and his learning. These and the +doctrines of his teaching only shone forth in addressing crowds in +mosques, and on special occasions, when, as it seemed, inspiration came +on him; but one day, when he was in the large mosque for prayer--it +was some minor festival day--and there was a crowd of worshippers, and +the Prince was present, he asked leave to deliver the sermon, and the +service was thankfully accepted. + +As the old man took his place on the upper step of the pulpit, clad in +his green dress, and, leaning on his staff, stretched out his arms, a +murmur came from the assembly which cheered and excited him; and with a +short text on the love of God, his words poured forth in a stream, not +in the soft Persian he had adopted of late, but in the rugged Dekhan +tongue--which had little of ornament or hyperbole in it--which became +a torrent of alternate entreaty, reproach, and assurance, the like of +which had never been heard before then by any. There were no sophisms, +no mysteries, no display of profound erudition, incomprehensible except +to a few; but there was instead instruction on the true Turreequt, +the true path of salvation. He pleaded humility before God; charity, +pity, and love to God and man; absence of any spiritual arrogance, +which was but too prevalent, and of self-conceit and display. He +spoke of the softer graces of habitual piety, of truth to man and to +God, and of sobriety, patience, and endurance; tenderness in home +duties and abroad; in short, attention to all the godly precepts of +the book of God's messenger, who had inspired it, as he believed, and +enjoined constant thought of the day of judgment, and the trial then +of all profession. Be not offended with me, O Christian reader, for +such things can be taught out of the book you have been told to hold +in scorn, apart from the mystery and sensual doctrines which are so +strangely mingled with them. + +When he concluded, and the blessing was delivered, those present did +not form into knots, to shake hands and give the salutation of blessing +one to another as usual, but, as if by inspiration, shouted, "A saint! +a saint! a miracle hath been done, for such words were never heard!" +and the Prince was as much excited as any one else, and joined with +the rest. Then he called for his own conveyance, which was a nalkee, +or sedan chair, with two poles and eight bearers, and our old friend +was put into it, and accompanied by the multitude, with torches and +blue lights, and firing of guns, for it was now dark, the procession +passed on to the palace of the Prince, with cries of "A saint! a +Wallee! A miracle, a miracle! Deen, Deen!" burning clouds of incense, +throwing handfuls of perfume powder over him, and in every way possible +testifying their respect and admiration. Then the Prince took his seat, +and called up the dear old man, and in a voice full of emotion said to +him, "Come hither, for I salute you in the title of Wallee. Thou hast +done a miracle, and the people have seen and acknowledge it, and the +Lord accepts it. Listen while I repeat the sacred words of the order. +And now drink of this cup of sherbet, which, sipped and breathed on +by me, becomes to thee the sherbet of salvation. Verily, the Lord hath +brought thee to the end of the Turreequt, and all ye who are present +are witness to this. Ameen! Ameen! It is the Lord's will." + +And all cried aloud, with a hoarse shout, "Ameen! Ameen! So be it!" + +During this time our old friend had been in a state of which he +remembered very little. He recollected, and afterwards repeated, the +last words of his sermon, and he remembered his being carried out of +the mosque and seated in the nalkee; but of the wild procession, the +shouts, the torches and blue lights, and the Prince's address, he +recalled very little until he received the cup of cool sherbet, which +tasted as if from Paradise itself. Now he was weary of the excitement; +and after attempting to utter his thanks he seemed to waver to and fro +as he sat, and while the Mushaekh and others supported him he stooped +heavily forward and fell to the ground. Then a palanquin was brought, +and they carried him to the house where he lodged; and, revived by the +fresh air, he was able to alight and walk slowly to his chamber, where +Zora, already made anxious by the sudden rumour that her grandfather +had fainted in the great assembly, received him in her arms and laid +him down on his cushions. As he had been carried out of the assembly +the Prince rose, and cried with up-lifted hands before all-- + +"Pray God that He do not take the saint from us in this his present +ecstasy!" And all present cried "Ameen!" + +"Pray God that he may live to lead and instruct many." And again they +cried "Ameen!" + +Then the Prince gave the blessing to all, and they departed; and the +precincts of the palace and cemetery soon resumed their quiet, peaceful +character, as the stars shone out in the calm and fresh atmosphere of +night. And Zora sat and watched. + +For a time her grandfather seemed to sleep calmly; but he became +gradually restless and feverish; and from time to time she gave him +sips of a sherbet of pomegranates, which he took eagerly. Still he +did not appear to recognise her, which much distressed her. It was +evident that the events of the evening had been too exciting; and his +impassioned sermon, followed by the procession from the mosque, the +glare of torchlights and noise of guns, the clouds of incense smoke, +and the final acceptance as a Wallee, had been altogether more than he +could bear. From time to time he muttered sentences of the Koran, and +seemed to pray. Again he cried aloud, "Karamat! Karamat! A miracle! a +miracle!" and tried to lift himself up from his pillow, and wave his +arm. + +Zora could not weep, her eyes were dry and burning with anxiety; all +she held most dear on earth lay helpless before her, and if he passed +away in this ecstasy what would she do, whither could she go? Who +would care for the obscure, friendless girl who did not even know her +own origin? But she could not wish they had never come. If Alla pleased +to take him, it would be at the crowning point of his earthly life; +that which it seemed his only desire to reach, and which had been +attained. Her new friend, the Mushaekh's kind wife, came to her and +sat with her, and told her freely and compassionately that she must be +prepared even for the last; and taking her in her arms, laid her head +upon her breast, and told her she would be a mother to her, and she +was not to fear; and her husband, who also came, bade her not to fear, +for if the Lord took her Abba she would be his and his wife's child +thenceforth. But all these alarms of that strange night disappeared +by the early morning. For the latter part of it the old man had slept +peacefully, like a child; and as the muezzin was crying the invocation +to early prayer, and the sentence, "Prayer is better than sleep! Prayer +is better than sleep! God is victorious!" he woke, and, to Zora's +infinite joy, sat up with a gentle, smiling face, such as she had not +seen for a long time, reminding her of earlier days. Then she assisted +him to rise and to perform his devotions; and as he again sat down, she +crept to him, and very timidly congratulated him on his new dignity, +and the honour he had received. + +"Then it was not a dream, child?" he said. + +"No, Abba; it was a blessed reality. Zeenat-bee (that was the name of +the Mushaekh's wife) and I were sitting on the terrace above, after +evening prayer. The air was so cool and fresh, and the city looked so +quiet and peaceful; and suddenly we heard a great hoarse cry arise, +and we looked, and blue lights were burned, and the tombs of the Kings +flashed out of the dusk brighter than day. Then gradually the crowd +appeared, and the tumult was fearful--men struggling with each other +to approach the nalkee; and other palanquins and open litters were in +front and behind, and we thought it was only the customary honour done +to the Prince. But as the procession passed beneath us, and I saw it +was thee, O Abba, to whom they were doing honour, I cried with all the +rest, and Zeenat and I embraced each other. But when they brought thee, +and I looked at thee, and laid thee down, I feared, yea, I feared thy +time had come; yet the Lord hath spared thee, and thou art a saint now, +one that men may worship without sin." + +There was, indeed, no doubt on that score. All the day, the highest in +holy rank, the Wallees, the Owleas, the Mushaekhs, doctors learned in +the law, and private persons in crowds thronged about the house and its +courtyards, and would be content only by the assurance that the new +saint would once more preach to them in the mosque, and return thanks +to Alla the Most High. And on the third day the old man went in company +of the Prince, and took his place, after prayers, on the upper step +of the pulpit. To those present it appeared that he was taller and +more dignified than before; but the Wallee's sermon was not the less +passionate that day. It affected him less, though it seemed to affect +his hearers more; and after it was over, his friend, the Mushaekh, led +him about, and he shook hands with many and gave them the blessing. +Then the great procession of the Prince's anniversary followed; and +though on the grandest scale, accompanied by the troops, and midst +the firing of cannon and matchlocks, and blare of sonorous trumpets +and horns, with rockets and blue lights continually discharged, yet +it had not the excitement of the sudden frenzied rush of the Wallee's +recognition, nor the spontaneous enthusiasm of the crowds that had +accompanied him; and their journey to the mosque, and subsequent +return, were of the same majestic but monotonous character. + +As they were all sitting together quietly after they had returned home, +Ahmed entered somewhat abruptly, and cried out, "I have heard news. Our +King has won a victory, and the King of Ahmednugger was killed." And on +being further interrogated, he said he had heard it from some soldiers +of Beejapoor, who had a vow to be present at the Prince's procession, +and had obtained leave to come the day after the battle, and the dead +were being buried. + +"Go early," said the old man; "see those men, and bring any that +will come to me;" and before mid-day several men came and gave a +circumstantial account of the whole action. Abbas Khan and some +Beydurs had been foremost in carrying the guns. The young King of +Ahmednugger had charged madly to recover them, but had been shot dead, +and the whole army fled to Puraindah and sent ambassadors for peace; +and when all was completed, the King would return to Beejapoor--he +might even now be on the way. + +"This decides me at once, Zora," said her grandfather. "The Mushaekh's +intentions were truly kind, and I will acknowledge them; but thy proper +home is with Queen Chand, and till I give thee to her my mind will not +rest. After that let it be with us as God willeth. Let us prepare to +go." + +There was yet one ceremony to perform, which was a solemn leave-taking +of the Geesoo Duraz and his fellow spiritual princes who were at the +festival, and many others; and Zeenat-bee had to present Zora to the +Prince's wife and other great ladies who would be with her. But poor +Zora's wardrobe, if plentiful for her wants, was not that of a fine +lady. The valuable clothes given to her by the Ranee of Wakin-Keyra +were of Hindoo form, and, therefore, for the present useless. Her best +petticoat was of fine soosi, her best scarf only plain muslin, not over +fine; and the new friend looked over the clothes in despair. "None of +these will answer," she said; "thou shouldst have satin at least, but +it should be cloth of gold." + +"I have no better," Zora said; "I have never known better. What is +cloth of gold (kumkhab)?" + +"And thou hast never seen it, O simple child? Stay, I see it all now." +And she went to her apartments, and her servants returned with her, +bringing a bundle. "That is kumkhab," she said to Zora, shaking out +a gorgeous petticoat of the material, "and thou shalt wear that, my +child; the grandchild of Luteef Shah Wallee is a princess, and should +be clad as one." It was in vain that Zora protested she ought not to go +at all; but there was no escape. + +How beautiful she looked when Zeenat-bee came and dressed her. The +cloth of gold, the delicate scarf of brocaded muslin, and all beside +seemed, indeed, as the natural costume of the sweet girl; and as she +entered the assembly of ladies with a modest yet dignified grace, there +was not one present who was not struck with her beauty more than they +cared to acknowledge. Nor would her kind friend receive the clothes +back from her. "If my Shere Khan cannot see thee in them," she said, +"you will need them for your Queen, and they will remind thee of me, +Zora. I see thou canst not come with us, for thy grandfather's business +with the King is urgent, so I will send thee away, though my heart +aches as I do so." + +And when the time came, for the day of the Rujub-ool-Ghyb was Thursday, +for the march southwards, they took leave of all with much emotion; +and, after paying for what they had used, the balance was invested +in an order by a local banker on Beejapoor, for they had been warned +of robbers, gangs of whom frequented large assemblies like that at +Gulburgah, and dogged the footsteps of the returning pilgrims. + +Nothing was wanting on the part of the local authorities to do honour +to "Luteef Shah Wallee," the humble Syud and Dervish of Juldroog, now +the new and accepted saint of the faithful, to be worshipped whenever +he might give up his spirit to the angels of death, and henceforth to +live in Dekhan history, as many as humble as he had done before. With +all his yearning for Beejapoor, he had yet longings after Golconda, and +should his petition be rejected, there was at least that refuge to be +looked to for Zora as well as himself. Well! they would soon see, and +it could not be many days before he knew his fate. As before, the four +baggage ponies were laden by Ahmed; and as the "Geesoo Duraz" insisted +on supplying one palanquin and the Governor of the town another, +besides a few horse and foot soldiers as far as Almella, where there +was a station of Beejapoor troops, they were to travel in comfort and +security. But the old man said to Zora, as she was making her last +preparations to depart, "Child, we have been dazzled by our prosperity; +may Alla forgive us for having neglected our duty as Fakeers. This we +must resume, and therefore keep our old dresses ready for us." + +"I have already prepared them," she said; "and whenever thou wilt we +will sing the invocation again." Then they set out for Afzulpoor, near +the river Bheema. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. +DANGER. + + +The journey from Gulburgah to Afzulpoor was altogether a pleasant one +to the travellers. The morning they left the city was cloudy and cool, +and the soft south-west wind blew refreshingly in their faces as they +proceeded. The plain, after the stony environs of the city was passed, +was rich and fertile, lying on a gentle slope towards the river Bheema, +which ran through its broad valley in a tortuous course; but unseen, +as the floods had declined, on account of its high, steep banks. The +soil was rich and fertile, and luxuriant crops of jowaree, bajree, and +other cereals, with pulse, oil seeds, and mustard, now in bright yellow +flower, were pleasant to behold, while the air resounded with songs +of the cultivators, who were ploughing and otherwise preparing their +fields for the autumn sowing of cotton, the larger jowaree, and other +products. With the husbandmen it was the busiest time of the year, and +to travellers almost the pleasantest, for the rains had given place to +occasional light showery weather, which did not affect the roads, while +the fleecy clouds tempered the sun's rays, and the climate was hardly +warmer than that of an English summer day. Larks were singing in the +air, birds were chirping in every tree, flocks of mynas and paroquets +flew cheerily about, and the whole face of nature was joyful. Our old +friend was very happy. His excitement was gradually subsiding, and his +thoughts were assuming the serenity of his ordinary life. Though he +had been raised to the highest spiritual dignity he could receive, yet +there was nothing of the zealot or bigot in his nature. If it pleased +God, he prayed mentally, to let him remain at Beejapoor, he might by +his teaching temper some of the fierce intolerance which he knew used +to exist there, and might still continue. He could select some quiet +place in which he might make a garden and build a dwelling sufficient +for his small requirements; and by services at the great mosque, by +public alms, and the donations of the King and nobles of the city, +he hoped even to build a small mosque, and establish a school and +college, in which he could teach himself, and thus employ his spare +time pleasantly and profitably to others. Possibly, also, some quiet, +respectable family might propose marriage with Zora. "They tell me," +he murmured to himself, "that she is growing up and is beautiful; but +when I asked her whether I should accept the Mushaekh's offer on behalf +of his nephew at Golconda, which, indeed, appeared to be an offer in +every way worthy of her and of me, she wept, and said, 'No! no! no! +Abba. Not away from you; I could not leave you. But if it be the will +of the Lord that thou stay not at Beejapoor, then do with me as thou +wilt.' No, she hath no tie to Beejapoor, no expectation there; so let +the issue be as the Lord willeth!" + +Perhaps, however, the fair Zora's thoughts were of a different +character. Beejapoor had to her always seemed the goal of her desires. +Every one around her, even at the old fort, had always spoken of the +city as though they belonged to it. She knew that her father had +been an officer in its army, and she had gathered enough from her +grandfather to believe that he had once served there, though in what +capacity she knew not, and she dare not risk the chance of vexing +him by asking. He had promised that one day he would tell her all, +and she had left the time to his own inclination; now, however, that +they were going there, he might break, perhaps, the long and painful +silence. But this was not all. Despite of apparent hopelessness, and +no knowledge whatever of Abbas Khan's circumstances, her heart was +with him always; and from the news of him she had heard at Gulburgah, +she appeared to have gained new hope. He was evidently a man of rank; +he was near the King, and if her grandfather went to the King, Meeah +would hear of her and inquire about her. She had no idea that he could +have forgotten her; that the excitement of war, possibly of some other +attachment, might have driven her from his thoughts altogether; or +that he might already have been betrothed in his youth. Any or all of +such contingencies never occurred to her, and she still believed that +she was not forgotten. If it were so, indeed, she would continue as she +was, and in the vow of the green dress would be her refuge. Had she not +seen others take it at Gulburgah? And Maria, too, she might be there, +and be able to direct her. In short, more than ever her goal appeared +to be Beejapoor; and though anxious and excited, Zora was full of hope; +which, if it was vague and undefined, still was hope at her heart, that +had of late grown more vivid than before. + +Mid-day was past, and near a small village there was a garden field, +and a well, overshadowed by a huge peepul tree, where the party halted +for rest and refreshment. Zora and Ahmed drew the Syud's small mattress +and carpet from the palanquin, and spread them in the shade; and from +her stores old Mamoolla produced a cold refection she had prepared at +Gulburgah over night. The cool, fresh air and the easy journey had +made the old man hungry, and he enjoyed what had been provided very +heartily. Zora had not seen him so cheerful for a long time past, not, +indeed, since they had left Juldroog; and it was evident to her that as +he neared Beejapoor his hopes grew brighter and clearer; but of what? + +"They say, Huzrut," said the leader of the little party of horsemen, +"that the ferry-boat at Afzulpoor makes only two trips across the +river on each day; one from this side, when travellers arrive about the +third watch, and the other from the further side before noon. Now as we +cannot reach the town in time to-day, I have, therefore, sent on two +of the horsemen to arrange that the boat should wait till you arrive +to-morrow, and to send word by the first basket boat crossing that you +are coming, and that lodgings are to be prepared for you in Sinnoor, a +considerable village, where you will be very comfortable." + +"Then we had better move on, perhaps, sir," returned the old Syud. "I +am grateful for your thought of me, and the mid-way stage cannot be far +distant now." + +"It is only a few miles; there is no need to hurry, my lord," was the +reply. "It will be only my infinite regret that I shall not be able to +take the whole of my party with you to Beejapoor; but it is difficult +for horsemen to cross the river when it is full, and we belong to a +different Government; the foot soldiers will, however, accompany you. +You can get them relieved at Almella, which is customary." + +"Once I am there, sir, I think I can send your men back, for I am +known, or--or--used to be." + +At Almella, thought Zora; who can remember him there? + +"Zora," said her grandfather, when they were alone, as Ahmed and the +old woman were packing up what had been used, "Zora, listen to me, +child, for it will relieve me to tell you. We have not preserved our +faith with the Lord; we have been exalted by spiritual pride; we seem +to be no longer humble Fakeers, but to have changed into princes. +Though I cannot see, yet I feel that everyone salutes me. I am called +'Your Holiness,' or 'My Prince,' or 'My Lord,' and this I regret. We +have not begged alms as we should have done, and as I vowed to do; and +I fear that the Lord will punish me for this great omission." + +"True, Abba," said Zora, laughing, "we have not begged every day, +for at Gulburgah you said you could not take me among the crowds, it +was not safe; but did I not spread the sheet for you at the gate of +the Prince's palace, when the worshippers were entering, and in the +cemetery, near the grave of the old saint? And when Ahmed spread it for +you in the mosque, was it not always full? and when people came to the +house to get charms or amulets, and ask for your blessing, did they not +leave alms? Then, grandfather, we have much money, much more than we +need, besides the order on Beejapoor. Why should we beg for more? Is +it not avaricious to do so? Thou hast only to say Luteef Shah Wallee +wants, and riches would be bestowed upon thee. But, O Abba, we do not +want them; we were quite happy when we were poor." + +"Nay, I am not avaricious," returned the old man, humbly; "but for +my breach of vow I fear. Let us resume our wonted habit, Zora, from +this evening where we rest for the night, and give all we get in the +wallet to the poor; and to-morrow, as we wait for the boat, we may +as well sing an invocation, and spread the sheet, and we can make a +distribution there also." + +So it was arranged, and they went out to beg that night, and proceeded +next day to Afzulpoor. The people came out in crowds to see the new +saint, whose fame had preceded him, for there were many Mussulman +weavers and husbandmen at the little town, and some of them had heard +the Syud preach, and been witness to the wondrous excitement when he +was taken up and carried in procession. They would fain have had him +stay with them and preach, for the next day was Friday, the Sabbath; +but he could not be persuaded to break his journey, and must go on as +had been arranged. When he came to the river side, and his sheet was +spread on the green turfy bank, he addressed the people for awhile +in his own homely way, and the sheet was rapidly covered with small +contributions. Then he took a kind leave of all, and delivered the +amount of the collection to the Patell and authorities of the village +to be distributed in charity to all the poor, and applied to the +expenses of the festival which he knew was at hand. Thus his mind was +assured that he had at last done right, and he would continue the +custom; and when he landed on the other side, it was with a silent +prayer that thenceforth to his destination nothing might interfere with +the tenor of his vow. + +The men who had been sent forward had been able to make arrangements +for our friends, and they were soon comfortable. They had arrived +before the time for evening prayer, and their dwelling-place adjoined +the mosque, where most of the men and some women of the village had +assembled; and now, too, came an opportunity of saying a few kind words +to them all, and the lights were being lighted in the village before +they got up, and Zora led her grandfather back to their apartments. He +was quite cheerful then and quite satisfied with what had been done. +Zora and old Mamoolla pressed him to take his dinner, but he laughingly +said he had eaten so much of the old woman's good kabobs at the well +that he needed no more, and as soon as the cattle had all come in he +would go with Zora, as the streets would be quiet. + +Gulburgah during the festival had been full of thieves of every +description; indeed, the place had an evil reputation for robbers +at all times. There were not only the ordinary cut-purses and +pick-pockets, pilchers, and night prowlers of such gatherings; but +there were Thugs from the neighbouring counties of Allund, Gunjooty, +and Kullianee, as well as those who lived in the city itself, carrying +on apparently honest trades and occupations, who marked parties for +plunder, joined with them as they departed homewards, and slew them +when they had gone a little distance with them. For miles, indeed, in +every direction were the unhallowed graves of hundreds, and thousands, +perhaps, of those who had been thus decoyed and destroyed. There were, +too, Dacoits who attacked the lodgings of pilgrims, or waylaid them on +the high roads, and plundered with little regard to consequences. Among +the latter were many Jutts and Kaikarees, peaceful-looking people by +day, but terrible by night. + +Our readers will not have forgotten, perhaps, the attack on the old +Syud's house at Kukeyra, with the intent to carry away Zora; and some +of that gang who had escaped, and who lived in small villages somewhat +to the south of Almella, were pursuing their usual avocations in the +festival; by day selling small prayer-mats to pious Mussulmans, or +their women worked bodices, new and old, or made winnowing fans for +cleaning rice and other grain; but both by night and by day pursuing +their hereditary avocation of thieving. Among these was the boy who +had been released by Burma Naik and sent back to his people with the +grim notice already recorded. He had seen the old Syud at the public +mosque on several occasions; also at the gate of the Prince's palace, +when Zora and her grandfather spread the sheet at night, and had dogged +them to their lodging. There nothing could be done, for they were well +guarded; but the determination to exact a heavy revenge for their +leader's death and the execution of their comrades had not lessened; +the only point undecided being how it was to be carried out. Some of +the gang were in favour of a sudden attack in a village where the Syud +should rest for the night; but when they found out that the old man +was proceeding to Beejapoor, their plan was formed rapidly. They would +not rob the holy man; that would be a sin, and bring misfortune on +them; but they could carry off Zora, and give her up to Osman Beg, whom +they believed still to be at Juldroog, and demand from him the reward +he had promised. Some of the gang had crossed the river by a basket +boat early in the morning, with a small litter they had prepared, and +which could be easily carried. Several actually crossed in the great +ferry-boat (who could have suspected them?), and watched our travellers +to their resting-place. Their habit of begging through villages on +their journey in the evening was the best opportunity afforded to the +robbers' plans, and they were determined to follow them up, even to the +gates of Beejapoor, rather than forego their chance. The village had +one large gate to the south, that which opened on the Almella road, +and was in a direct line with the centre street. Two men had usually +charge of this gate, who could be easily overpowered. It would be +impossible to make a rush through it so long as the village cattle were +coming home; but, after that, there would be no obstacle, and it was +with secret satisfaction that the scouts watched the old man and Zora, +dressed in the Fakeers' garb, leave their lodging alone, and wander +about the streets, singing their appeals for alms, receiving such as +they were given, and so passing on. At first they had walked through +side streets, Zora always leading her grandfather, and warning him of +stones and other obstacles; and at last they emerged into the broad +way, not far from the gate, where there was a space without houses, +which appeared to Zora very lonely and desolate, and there were no +persons moving about as in other parts of the village. + +"I do not like this, Abba," said Zora; "it is so lonely, and you would +not let me bring Ahmed with us. Let us turn back towards our home. The +wallet is already heavy with meal and rice." + +"Why fear, child?" returned the old man, gaily. "Who ever molests the +Fakeer?" + +The words were scarcely out of his mouth when about twenty men, some +of them carrying a small litter, emerged from behind a wall which +concealed a narrow lane, and came running towards them, crying out, +"Clear the way for the bride!" Zora thought they were part of a village +marriage procession, especially as there were two torches lighted; and +drew her grandfather aside to let the people pass; but almost before +she could think, she found herself seized, a gag thrust into her mouth, +and her grandfather prostrated by a severe blow from a staff. She was +then swathed in a saree and lifted into the litter, the bearers of +which hurried on at their utmost speed. No noise had been heard of the +slight scuffle; no alarm was given. The two door-keepers were in the +act of shutting to the ponderous gates, which required their utmost +strength, and were taken completely unawares. One of them tried in +vain to stop the foremost of the robbers, and was pierced by a spear +before he could cry out; the other, who attempted to gain the bastion, +was struck down on the first step, and there died. Then the whole gang +extinguished their torches, rushed on down the main road till they came +to a side path which turned more to the east, among the tall fields of +jowaree, pursuing their way in utter silence for the most part, only +interrupted by occasional whispers among the gang. + +Poor Zora was utterly helpless. The gag which had been stuffed into her +mouth nearly choked her; the cloth by which she had been swathed up +to her throat prevented her moving her hands. She remembered when the +slaves of Osman Beg took her up at Juldroog they had done it gently, +and she could at least breathe freely and scream for help; but this +attack on her had been more savage, more determined--was this also her +enemy's contrivance? She could not but think so; and his emissaries +must have followed her even from Kukeyra. Whither were they taking +her? She could see nothing, for the cover of the litter was of black +coarse blankets, and was tightly fastened down. Without, too, the night +was dark, and a drizzling rain had set in. She felt stupefied by her +position, and her thoughts could take no coherent form whatever. For +several hours the gang pursued their first rapid pace, not halting to +relieve each other under the pole of the litter, but one displacing +another, as necessary. The men were not professional bearers, with +their regular step; but persons unaccustomed to carry loads, and, in +consequence, the poor girl was sorely shaken and bruised against the +sides of the narrow crib. She could breathe, but that was all; and any +chance of making herself heard was impossible. At last they stopped and +set down the litter. Zora could hear the gentle rushing of water, and +supposed the gang had halted to drink, as one of them, slightly opening +the side of the litter, felt about until he found her face, and, to her +infinite relief, drew the gag out of her mouth. To her surprise the man +was civil, and said in good Canarese,-- + +"You will be thirsty, lady, and here is water; drink. But if you +attempt to call out, I cannot answer for your life; you must die. Do +you understand?" + +"Where am I?" she asked, faintly; "and what have you done with my +grandfather?" + +"Make yourself easy about him," said the voice; "he is safe where you +left him. Ask me no questions, for I cannot answer you; and you will +know the rest in time. No harm will come to you, and we dare not injure +a hair of your head; but you must save yourself by being perfectly +passive. If you cried out so as to cause alarm, my brothers would spear +you, and leave you as you are." + +Zora drank eagerly of the water, and felt refreshed and strengthened. +The gag was not renewed, and with her teeth she contrived to bite +a small hole in the blanket covering. She saw the gang at a short +distance sitting together, and their hookah passing round among them. +It was too dark to distinguish individual figures, but the sound of +the gurgle of the hookah, and its bright light when drawn, showed her +their position, and occasionally flashed upon the water which flowed +by. Again the man who had before spoken said, "Wait till daylight, and +I will bring you some roasted corn. The grain is full and sweet now. +You are likely to get little else for two or three days, and if you are +quiet you may be let out for a few minutes." + +Zora could not reply. With the drink of water her senses had revived, +and the agony of her position became more and more clearly realised. +She did not lose her presence of mind; but the impossibility of +escaping from so many active and unencumbered men was not to be +thought of for a moment. All she could do was to commend herself to +the merciful Alla, who alone could effect her deliverance. Strange to +say, she had still hope, which her faith served to increase; and if she +sobbed and wept almost unceasingly, there yet seemed to be something +whispering at her heart, "Fear not, for I, the Lord, am with thee!" + +Presently the men took up the litter and moved on, but more slowly than +before. They were unaccustomed to carry such a burthen, and already +some were complaining of chafed shoulders. Would they put her down +and disperse? Then daylight broke; but the rain did not cease, and the +fields of corn and cotton, through which they held their way, grew +muddy and soft, and the men could proceed with difficulty. + +"We must seek for some shelter," said a voice, which appeared to have +authority among the gang. "We are now on the lands of Kohutnoor, and we +may find a shepherd's hut somewhere; and two of you run to Hippurgah +and see if some of our people will come, for we must go on again at +nightfall." + +After this speech Zora found her litter put down, and the opening of +the covering was untied; then she was taken out, and carried into +a rude field hut and laid on the ground, but the bandages were not +loosened. There we must leave her for the present, and relate what had +befallen her grandfather. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. +Deliverance. + + +As we have already stated, there was no alarm at the gate of the +village when the Syud was struck down. Of the two watchmen, one was +dead, the other senseless from loss of blood. Ahmed and old Mamoolla +were, however, now anxious about their master and Zora, and Ahmed went +to the village Chaoree to ask if they had passed that way. "Yes," said +the watchmen on duty for the night; "we heard them singing a long +time ago, and supposed they had gone home, as the singing ceased all +at once; but we will come and look--some one has doubtless asked them +to remain." But they could not be found or heard of, and all were in +much fear and perplexity. Could Zora have stepped incautiously into a +well, and drawn her grandfather after her? But no, there were only two +wells in the village, and though lights were lowered into them nothing +was seen. At last a cry was heard near the gate, and then someone, +who had wished to go out to his field, gave the alarm that murder had +been done; and Ahmed and the rest ran with lighted torches, saw the +two bodies of the watchers, and looking about, found the old Syud, +lying where they supposed he had fallen, near the wall. At first, +as blood had issued from his head, they all thought he had died, and +they took him up reverently and carried him to his lodgings, where +they discovered signs of life; still he had no perception of anything, +and was not able to speak. The barber, who had been summoned, said +the wound was slight, but that the blow had caused insensibility, and +fomentation must be continued. + +So the night passed, and the whole of the village was disquieted and +alarmed. The idea of so holy a person as Luteef Shah Wallee, the +new saint, being killed in the place, and his granddaughter carried +off, was almost beyond belief. Several parties of the villagers, +accompanied by the Gulburgah escort, went out to search in the fields, +but returned. What could be done in the darkness and rain among the +tall heavy crops? They must wait till morning; and in the morning +consciousness came to the old man, though it seemed to those around him +that it would have been more merciful if he had died. Who could console +him? Who could satisfy him about Zora? Who had taken her, and why? Not +for her ornaments, for she had put on only those she usually wore, of +small value, all the rest were packed up. When the day dawned some +light was thrown on the affair by the tracks of a number of men in the +corn-fields, and by broken stems of the corn, and they continued as far +as the boundary of the next village, through which they evidently went; +but it was no concern of the watchmen of that village to trace the +thieves unless they were well rewarded; and who was to pay them? + +Meanwhile the old man raved, and called on Zora without intermission. +At times he even became frantic, and with difficulty could be +restrained from attempting to proceed on foot. "Take me to Zora! Take +me to the child! Take me to Almella! Lay me at the feet of Chand +Beebee, she will give me justice for my child. Oh, Abbas Khan! she +watched by thy side; go to her, save her, and give her into my arms. Am +I not Luteef Shah Wallee now? and my blessing or my curse are at least +powerful. Yea, I will bless thee!" + +"It is no use keeping him here," said the barber; "his case is beyond +my skill. They have a surgeon and a doctor with the soldiers at +Almella, take him thither;" and the litter was soon made ready, and the +sad procession departed. It was nearly evening when it reached Almella, +where it was met by a crowd of people who had heard of the outrage; +and a comfortable lodging had been prepared, where the old man was +reverently deposited. He was now calmer, but grief lay heavy on him, +very heavy; and what could console him? When he could think coherently, +he accused himself of neglect of his vows; he accused himself of +incautiousness; and if she returned not, he prayed for death, Here, +whence the Lord had taken him in his prosperity to blindness and +poverty, would be the fitting place for him to die. Towards evening he +became calmer, and asked if any of the people of Almella were present, +and the Patell, and the Putwari, and the Moolla of the mosque came to +him. + +"Are any of ye old?" he asked; "as old as I am?" + +"No!" replied the Moolla; "but my grandfather, who is very old, can be +sent for." + +"Ay, that will be Sheykh Oomur, perhaps; yes, send for him." They +wondered why the name should be remembered, but sent for him. When he +arrived, the Syud, taking his hand, said, "If thou art Sheyhk Oomur, +thou wilt not have forgotten Syud Ahmed Ali." + +"Syud Ahmed Ali, the physician!" cried the Moolla, peering into the +other's face, for he was nearly blind himself. "Yes, it is he! it is +he! Oh, master! I, thy pupil, have not forgotten; and to see thee here, +and in this sore plight. Ah! it is the Lord's will." + +"Tell them all--all," cried the old Syud, with fresh vigour, "that I am +here once more. God, the Highest, hath brought me to recover my child +and my honour. Go! arouse all to bring Zora back to me or I shall die." + +"It is the Syud, surely," said many old people who looked on the aged +features with compassion, and well remembered them; and the authorities +of the little town and of the detachment of soldiers sent out parties +in search, one of which found the track, many hours old, as they +knew from the state of the broken herbage and corn, and returned +unsuccessful. And the old Syud, becoming hopeless in his grief, though +relieved of much of his pain by the doctor who had been summoned, was, +they thought, going to turn his face to the wall and die. But still +he had not asked for the prayers for the dying to be recited, and was +constantly crying out, "He will not take her to shame or death; he will +restore her to me. Zora! Zora! come soon, else I die; and I have told +thee nothing." Once he said to the Moolla and others who sat nigh him, +"Oh, friends, if I die, bury me here; but take my child to the Court, +lay her at the feet of Queen Chand, and say I, Luteef Shah Wallee, sent +her for justice." Then, as if he had no more to say, he turned on his +side and appeared to sleep. + +Just as day was breaking he sat up suddenly, but with vigour, and +putting his hands to his ear, said, in a strong voice, "I hear a +Beydur's horn; I hear the Beydurs' drums; and they bring me my Zora! +Oh, my child, come quickly, lest I die of joy!" At first those who +heard him--the kind doctor, Ahmed, old Mamoolla, and others--thought +what he had said was part of his delirium; but Ahmed rushed out, ran to +the top of the house, and looking southwards, saw the blaze of torches +and about fifty dusky forms approaching at a rapid pace, while the +creaking of the gate of the town showed that it was being opened. As +the procession approached nearer, the sonorous drums of the Beydurs +beat a joyful march, their horns blew a victorious blast; and Ahmed +ran down again to the apartment, and cried out, "It is true! it is +true! Rejoice!" and fled forth to meet the lost girl, weeping like a +child. And onwards came the body of men encircling a good palanquin, +and the town musicians had mingled with the Beydurs, and the din and +clamour were deafening. Then, as they put down the litter at the steps +of the house, Zora stepped from it, and standing erect on the highest, +cried out, "The Lord bless ye all, friends, for I am safe. By your aid +ye have saved me from dishonour and from death." But she could hardly +speak, and her cheeks were wet with tears, which glistened in the +torchlight. In an instant more she had crossed the little courtyard, +reached her grandfather's bed, and exclaiming, "Abba! Abba! God has +saved me, and brought me to you again when I had no hope left!" But the +old man could not speak coherently; indeed, the revulsion from a dim +hope to a blessed reality had almost cost him his life. + +They sat together the whole day, Zora scarcely stirring from his side, +and only urged by pressing hunger to leave him at all; for Mamoolla had +said, "Poor dove, they only fed it with green corn and milk, and that +was not food fitted for her; and the best I can cook shall be hers and +the master's, who, after all, has only a broken head; but then he is +not a wrestler or a sword-player." Zora's story was not a long one. +When she was put into the hut with only two men to guard her, the rest +of the gang dispersed into the corn-fields to hide themselves, as the +husbandmen would soon be abroad. Now the hut was nearer to Kokutnoor +than Hippurgah, and a shepherd boy who had been watching sheep all +night had seen the procession, and saw where something, he could not +tell what, had been deposited. Over night a large body of Beydurs, on +their road from the King's camp by Sholapoor to their homes, had put +up at Kokutnoor; and the lad, well knowing their habits, went to the +leader and told him that Dacoits had halted in the fields and hidden +their booty in a solitary hut. "They are Kaikarees and Jutts," said the +lad, "and the brother of Kulloo Naik, who was killed at Kukeyra, is +their leader." + +The Beydur chief who was in command of the party was soon aroused, and +among his men were some of Runga's and some of Burma Naik's people; +and it was at once determined that the Dacoits should be surprised and +their booty captured. So, through the cover of the tall grain fields, +they were guided by the lad until they came close to the hut. The two +men who guarded it were speared without mercy, and, said Zora, "I +expected no less than death, when several of the men who had served at +Juldroog found me, bound as I was, and were distraught with joy. They +took me into the air, unbound me, and chafed my arms and my legs. They +carried me into Kokutnoor; then bearers were sent for from Hippurgah, +and I was fed, and had milk to drink, and I am quite well, and it is +like a new birth to see your dear face once more." + +What could he reply? What more could Zora say? And so they sat without +speaking much till the day waned, and the fatehas they had ordered +were ready, when Zora arose to distribute the money offerings to the +poor, and the alms that had been in the wallet were part of her liberal +donation. + +The next day, the Beydurs having remained as their guests, and enjoyed +a great feast, all those that belonged to Runga and Burma's divisions +declared they would attend the Syud to Beejapoor. Runga would never +forgive them if they did not; and there was no hurry about moving, as +the King was yet detained north of the river. In the evenings, then, as +the old Syud sat in the porch of the house, under pretence of begging, +for he was weak still, and could not walk, the Beydurs came and told +him tales of the war, and how Abbas Khan, Runga Naik, and his men had +carried by storm the great battery of Ahmednugger guns, and Runga had +been made a noble on the spot, while the blood was yet wet upon his +sword. Poor Zora! how her heart swelled at the narration, and how hope +was revived, which for a time had appeared dead. + +When the time came they moved from Almella, and reached Allapoor the +day before the King was to enter the city. Thousands were passing on +horseback, thousands were going to meet friends long absent, and no one +noticed the blind old man and a girl, dressed in pilgrims' clothes, +who, as they entered the gate of the great city, kneeled down, and +gave thanks to God. The old Syud's face beamed with gratitude and joy. +As to Zora, the splendour of what she saw almost overpowered her; but +she led her grandfather forward in the direction of the citadel, and +on a piece of close green sward, near the open road by which the King +would pass, they spread their sheet, and began at intervals to sing the +best of their holy chants; and passers-by threw alms to them liberally +and freely, begging the old man's blessing. Gradually the booming sound +of the King's kettledrums, and the huge pair which were carried by the +standard elephant, were heard, and the old man remembered them, and +said to Zora, "They are near now; let Ahmed keep the sheet, dear, and +you will see the King." Not long afterwards the people on the towers +of the gates, the bastions, and in every available place they could +get to, began to shout and wave scarves; and every house within sight +hung out costly shawls, cloth of gold, and rich garments out of windows +and over the parapets of their houses, till the city was like a garden +of tulips. Following the procession were hundreds of war elephants, +dressed in their richest caparisons, their bells jangling with a +strange clamour, and the music of the nobat playing a march of victory. + +These, however, were of little interest in comparison with the King's +own circle, which occupied nearly the centre of the procession, and +having entered the gate, advanced more slowly. In the midst rode the +young King, wearing, like the Queen, a tunic of dazzling white cloth +of gold, and a morion with a crown of flashing jewels. He was smiling, +as he greeted the people with constant waves of his hand, while his +beautiful horse caracoled beneath him. Near him rode Abbas Khan, and +other officers of rank; and Zora could see Runga Naik in his new +uniform of cloth of gold. The horses pranced and curvetted, tossing +their heads and neighing; and the King, drawing rein for a moment, +pointed out the Syud and Zora, asking apparently who they were, when +Abbas Khan, who now saw them also, dashed up to the King, and said, "It +is Syud Ahmed Ali, of whom I spoke." At the same moment the old man, +who had been standing, rushed forward over the sheet, and with a loud +cry of "Daad! Daad!" tottered and fell on his face, nearly across the +Royal path. + +"Bring him on with you, Abbas," cried the King; and the young man +turned at once to his old friend, throwing a glance at Zora, which +rested on flashing eyes bedewed with tears of joy, and cheeks burning +with excitement, as he cried to her, "Zora! is it thus we meet? Fear +not now, for all will be well!" + + + End of the Second Volume. + + + _Spottiswoode & Co., Printers, New-street Square, London._ + + + + +Transcriber's Notes + + +Obvious errors of punctuation and diacritics repaired. + +Hyphen removed: waist-band (p. 14), waist-belt (p. 231), white-washed +(p. 226). + +Hyphen added: horn-blower (p. 72). + +P. 7: "chesnut" changed to "chestnut" (a big chestnut horse). + +P. 28: "obesiance" changed to "obeisance" (making an obeisance to the +Queen). + +P. 47: "to" changed "too" (that she had done too herself). + +P. 69: "irrruption" changed to "irruption" (resist any irruption of +marauders). + +Pp. 75-76: "Shekh" changed to "Skeykh" three times. + +P. 139: "a" added (might have been a matter of accident). + +P. 160: "seiges" changed to "sieges" (through several separate sieges). + +P. 186: "villany" changed to "villainy" (undertake any villainy). + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Noble Queen (Volume II of III), by +Philip Meadows Taylor + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A NOBLE QUEEN (VOLUME II OF III) *** + +***** This file should be named 44583.txt or 44583.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/5/8/44583/ + +Produced by Moti Ben-Ari and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + +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. 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