In the Guardianship of God

levantly asking, "O Bisra! where is the Noose? Why didst not bring it back, son of an owl?" The thought seemed to have passe

ts--during a brief attack of fever which the changing season brought to the boy. But Bisram, bearer, hearing the little fretful wail, "O Bisra, where is the Noose? I want the Noose," stood s

, Shelter o

ked for his usual yearly leave. A week might do, but leave he must have at once. True, the year was not up, but the master would doubtless remember that his slave had deferred going at the proper season last time because of Harry-sahib's illness (Bisram, punctil

reaty in his dark eyes, so soft, so dark, that looking

Certainly not. I wonder he has the face to ask for leave when Sonny--I mean Harry--is down with fever. Not that it is anything, the doctor says,

dear, he i

nk of getting an English nurse for the child until I have--until I have to take him home," interrupted his wife, her initial sharpness of tone softening over t

have paused before a painful scene. "By Jove!" he murmured as if to himself, "I believe it woul

poke of the same separation quite calmly when, the very next morning the doctor coming early, found

that slow pathetic anxiety in his eyes, "wa

ht to go?" said t

, still calmly, though he held the child to him with a visibly closer strain. "The Huzoor him

s better already, and if he has another bout of fever his mother h

looked wistfully

evil. He must go far from Hindustan at once, Huzoor; and

?" asked the do

, but he never stirred

bearer, Huzoor. He will not nee

u can't fathom these people. Oh! I know he wouldn't abate one atom of his care, and it is simply wonderful. All the same, I believe that just now he would be glad to be rid of the necessity for

he boy quite cool to-morrow." He was not, however, and more than once, as he lay in Bisra's arms, the little fretful wail rose between sleeping and waking. "Where's the Noose, Bisra? I want

, Shelter o

hority slept for a brief spell, Bisra's answer to the request, whic

in the attitude of a suppliant, and

I could? But I have promised this, and they will not let me go for the other. Lo! Kali ma! be merciful and as

pathetic appeal which passed into a murmured lullaby as the restless

d in need of a little rest. The man smiled faintly when his mistress replied that it would be

" remarked the doctor, though

ed to go further than the verandah, had spent the night huddled up outside the threshold, within which his mistress refused

The child gets on better, and you are fresher for the day's nursing. Those thin, delicate-l

art he saw Bisram at his elbow. "The doctor-sahib thinks

t for him to-night. If any one can pul

id Bisram, s

he child's cot, one of its side rails removed, and in its place, as it were, the protection of Bisram's crouching figure. He did not touch the

ing but half-conscious sleep, half-conscious wakening to the child. Until suddenly, irrelevantly, j

nt it. O Bisram, bearer, bring t

tely to face these last words; the words for which he had been listening. Yet there was s

efore thee? Nay! thou knowest I have risked life itself to have thy tale of offering complete wh

nded in silence. But only for a secon

Remember I am ill. O Bisra! I want

sob; then joined hi

victim. Yea, Shelter of the World, Bisra

r that save the little contented si

emed to pass unnoticed as Bisra sate beside the cot, his hands listless, his eyes dream

t, a stealthy step glided in, a

with the ch

ng rather stiffly. "He hath slept sin

for a glimpse of the child's

ed. Thou hast do

being over, he paused to touch the foot-rail of the cot with

ght, awaiting him there. It was a man, naked save for a waistcloth, lean, sinewy, lithe; the head was clean-sha

ng involuntarily from one

let handkerchief twisted to a rope, and coiled in his curved palms like a snake. "The master, being learned, will know the Noose and its meaning. It hath brought Her many a blo

monotonous voice ceased. Then he sate down helplessly in his chair. In

cially when you had children. Perhaps he had let the little Shelter of the World creep too close to his heart, though he had striven to be just. At any rate Kali ma had become jealous. He had not known this, at first, or he would never have given the mistress that promise about the Noose, for if it had been in Harry-sahib's hands

agistrate, fighting against his growing conviction that the

carriage about this time last year? He had an up-country ticket on him, and as this was out of the beat of Stranglers, no inquiry was ma

aning with his head

en. Of course he was one of Kali's Stranglers. Did he not look one? Was he not born one? So how could he help being one? The argument brought no consolation to Sonny's father. But Bisram again was cheerful. He stood patiently between two yellow-legged policemen and told his tale at length, as if anxious to incriminate himself a

e question meant, and could not. The thought of his little son came between h

rangler, and therefore dangerous to life, was confined alone, he answered the question which the tall, naked figure stood up at his entrance to ask in the same words. Harry-sahib was better, and as for the

e helplessness before the mystery of this man's nature made the doctor feel inclined to throw pity to the winds and fall back on sheer common

he sound of the wistful yet calm voice made him answer as usual.

isram did not accept

t it will not come to

ay? What made you think of to-day? Ce

eted his sacrifice by strangling himself in his cell with his waistcloth. What else could he do, seeing th

up after his useless examination. "I'm glad

LL OF

guide to a ruined Rajput town, "is Hall of Common Audience, in more colloquial phrase, Court of Justice, built two, ought, six b

way that fool or I shall kill him. A man who be-plasters e

not, then I have never seen a girl in love. I wish to be absolutely fair in the matter, so I will confess that, as I went to meet her, I knew myself to be less emotional than I had been two years before. I had even vague qualms as to whether this sort of thing was quite wise. I was, to put it curtly, in the mental condition in which every man about to marry a fiancée whom he has not seen for two years must be. Presumably her mental condition was similar. But whereas I had to spend the three weeks preceding the irrevocable step in a jungle station where any novelty must necessarily be attractive, she spent it in an environment which gave her en

merely offered in my turn to be best man at the wedding, and was only deterred from doing so by the feeling that it was theatrical, and by Robbins suggesting that I had better have some ice on the back of my head. He meant well, did Robb

ancée before she explained the situation. As I sate opposite them I wondered savagely if my face had worn the idiotic smirk of sheer content visible on the man's, and I tucked my own new brown shoes under the seat. They looked so forlorn beside Robbins' big boots. For all that, I combated all condemnation of the delinquents for the first three days. The only honourable theory of marriage bei

scoundrel's offer and killed him? I was a good shot; and Robbins, as an army doctor, an e

awake, afterwards, debating half in jest, half in earnest, whether I should send Robbins back to the wedding with my cartel, or go myself with a set of silver salt-cellars in a velvet case. But underneath my jest and earnest lay a keen yet vague desire to understand, to find some solid spot on which to rest. I had still been debating the question, when, to

ands than his. Yet it was plain almost to bareness. Devoid utterly of any of that ornamentation telling of human hopes and fears, likings, dislikings, and ideals, which men all over the world strive wistfully, hopelessly, to make permanent by carving them in stone. But it was a miracle of light and shade, with its triple ranks of square stone columns--rose-coloured in the sunshine about their feet, blood red in the gloom of arches about their heads--standing l

finable charm of the place, when Robbins returned to

op of a hill like this. I won

eason of Grace-of-God. We who through merciful master's aid have acquired hydr

to be held responsible for my actions. Take him away and see the

The last words I heard were a quotation: "Boots not to say, O

ne even in this Hall of Audience, though it l

and looked at the sky, mirrored at my feet, w

t had been done there? What was it? What gave the place

ith a shaven head, and a very clean saffron-coloured cloth, coming through the pillared ranks with a brass poojah basket like a big cruet-stand in his hand. My mind misgave me instantly. He was far too clean for a real ascetic, a

head, startled at the sound. Then I saw he could not have known I was there, for he was blind. I saw al

, for I was a connoisseur in ceremonies, having sp

e accent of the master. "No one, Huzoor," he repli

choed. "Wh

ce. "It is a long story, Huzoor; but if the Cher

ed plaintively: "I tell it better than the baboo, Huzoor, but now-a-days he co

that the old man, who had squatted down again, had begun to thread th

to thread the flower

an who has died, but whose child has lived, that is use

" I asked irrelevan

zoor," he replied.

th, but small interest in what I was convinced must be some hackneyed tale I

t this plac

not know, Huzoor. It is about M

about the story, I must say. H

tma, sure enough. The Huzoor will se

e jasmine flowers and bid him f

t, the very first line of which gave pathetic answer to my irrelevant question,

has left, forget

the few, and though at the time I could naturally only gather the general outline of the chant, I subsequently took it down word for word from the old man's lips. Some passages still remain obscure; there are yawning gap

s it looked, then smiled or frowned. About her slender throat were gold-blue stones. Gold at her wrists; t

tars, by day the sun, wha

rvant sitting

all feet kiss t

er mirror's hea

eft, remember

her widowed mother wasting nine long mont

strike thy

ns for ever,

the crown thei

h a claim to-day 'gainst me or mine?' (There was a dainty jew

im'--her small,

strike thy

is sons

*

ir falling to fit the rhythm of her feet, and scent their warm life with the scent of death, or sail away upon the water's breas

*

d there are always stars about my head, or else the sun. Read me the riddle quick.' (There was a tremor in her perfumed hair which ma

a! rightly

en in heart an

straight folds.) 'Go tell your masters, tma needs no King. She is the Queen, her son shall be the King, and not the son to Kings of o

strike thy

ns for ever,

the crown thei

a loose gold circlet on her wrist, slid to soft resting as she raised her arm.) 'Oh! shame to brawl like dogs about a bone! Cowards to kill because a woman

strike thy

he incense cloud rose white upon the dark, and hid us from each other, hid all things save water and our hands--her hands in mine clasped in the cold clear pool.) 'Naught, oh my Queen! N

strike thy

d in heart and

g. The law allows adoption; be it so. From out God's children I have bought a son to be your King and mine. Lo! here he stands.' (Her arm about the sturdy, dimpled limbs drew the child closer to the cold blue stones clipping her purple robe to long, straight folds.) 'Some woman bore him--fair and strong and bold--b

all, and so I

a! shall

face? Oh! where

*

breaks in upon the ch

hese kings-

ple--nay! not

shame--no pit

like a snake asleep upon the floor, the sparkling jewel fast

es about her throat and waist, the loose gold circlet on her slender wrist, the jasmine-blossom chaplet i

and clasp them in a claim for vengeance due, w

a sign. I know the answer of the sun and stars. So send our heralds out, and bid these Kings come as Kings should, and not as murderers to plead their cause before the King, my son. Come with all state as to a wedding feast,

! wherefore

how wise thou

nd, how warm th

e cast a shadow on his small, bare feet, standing so straight beside the water's edge, where, half a

th the crown she had bespoke--stood wondering what need there was of all. A

) But the child bit his lip and took no heed, knowing his kingly part right royally; so, parrot-wise, he lisped the ordered words: 'My mother tma hath no need for love; since s

ipping and dancing on the waves it made, so that the loose, white blossoms of the pile f

! why was I

ce was there in

e, with cold dead

*

ft! to bring it

ft, forget not

. The jasmin

ind, wise face;

tones, and for

n the water--l

strike thy

ns for ever,

the wreath the

*

thout a pause. "The Huzoor will hear that it

-strung like a daisy chain upon a dead woman's hair and then tied to a circle--afloat upon th

of scent

ly it is all about tma; but you have

, and as one son is always blind, he stays at home--since he cannot earn m

ays blind?" I e

One is blind in each generatio

r ever! a strange

wine'?" I asked, quoting the words involuntarily and forgetting that h

, Huzoor, seeing w

d? My thought was interrupted

got a chant about some female called tma who had a lot of lovers, don't you know." Robbins pulled himself up hastily, and, to cover his conf

d that it was indeed absolutely unintelligible. New India evidently did not understand the old. I came to this

tendered the baboo five rupees as hush-mo

most sympathetic looks an

ver again, until in the dead of the night I could ask

nd flooded with cool, quiet, passionless light. And on the water lay the crown of starry flowers. It had drifted close to the edge, at the extreme end of the pool, beside a square projection in the

ng dizziness, or did a white, scented vapour close round me like a cl

Mai

*

o far as I am conce

not she

it is years since I saw, or fanc

ed and hurt in his feelings. So, before my wedding tour came to an end, I thought it kinder to give him somethin

n added heartily, "Upon my soul, old chap,

t married. I am waiting for a w

A

ding part of the great map of India which lay spread out five thousand feet below one of th

oment, nevertheless, the incessant deluge had ceased, giving place to one of those brilliantly fine monsoon days--

tle station beside the lake, which looks as if the least tilt would make it brim over and send it rolling like quicksilver to the sun-dry plains below, the sky was all

a rolling sea, through whose waves the knolls and peaks rose like islands; until the whole scene, lake a

ble in the verandah of a thatched bungalow, which, fenced in perfunctorily from a sheer precipice on three si

can hear nothing of the relief columns, and it is quite impossible for me to predicate the

n and a stir from a lounge-chair set in

ar bhoy," came with the yawn. "Sur

ked up angrily from t

. But I am the Brigade Major, and in the absence on duty of the commanding officer, and, I regret to say, all but a mere handful of

h and the finishing of some brandy and water ov

. Sure we haven't a fair chance, for a man keeps well without a doctor. It's when he thinks of dyin' he comes to us--an' nine toimes out of ten we can't help him. F

ishevelled, lazy figure, so diffe

portion of the rebels, which, there seems little doubt, are making for u

heir knowing how, like fayver or catarrh. An' it's no manner of use beginning to physic a patient till ye kn

the only other man in the place--for I don't count your miserable convalescents, of course

e office table, a tall, lank figure with a reck

h me grand-uncle, Macturk of Turksville, shot his wife's brother; so me salts and senna's ready. And, by the Lord, I'll exhibit it too whin the patient comes along--trust Micky Tiernay for that. But t

Mul, the ban

mutineers do come. There's only wan thing certain--there's but wan straight road from Nusseerabad up the hill to us. That's the tail end of it y

mar the

the little lake, at the wonderful Jain temples which made this h

ore in a fog than we are, for we know that we don't want the mutineers to come, and he is

nother knoll close by, yet the mist now lay almost level between it and him; for the curved waves had given place, like the fleecy flocks, to a new formation of

lishing a pair of horse-pistols and saluted; a trifle unsteadily, for he, though the best of the bunch of convalescents, was somewhat of a cripple. Had he not been so, he would not have b

, "for Corporal Flanagan 'e 'ave 'ad to 'ave a hemetic, sir, and the fl

el dressing-gowns were lounging about in their cots or out of them. They were an unshaven, haggard-looking lot, though on

their pallets with that other hosp

them asked eagerly: "Any news of the brutes to-day, sir? It

ldn't be in it wid the first shot. Faix even if I'd killed ye, ye'd do old Lazarus to spite me. Oh, Flanagan, there ye are. A bit white about the gills, me bhoy, but it's a foine th

ween a rift in the wet blanket; for that only connection between mutiny and helplessness climbed the hill perilously along a steep funn

n crutches. He was in the middle of bandaging it when an excited voice called him by name from the verandah, a

ineers were coming, but not by the road. They had been seen on the old

ure which had brought the news. It was that of a Jain ascetic with a muslin cloth boun

s face wavered. "They come t

ning, had come crawling on all-fours like a dog to the verandah), and began as it were to haul him in by rolling

protested the

ng round again

lping us to kill them? That sort of thing doesn't work. See you--he says there are five hundred of t

Koomar also, and

m money, and if I'm killed he won't get it. But if I were you I'd trust none of them. Even Hoshiar, compound interest a

id, very tight and

n independent medical charge of this convalescent depot, you can remain behind if you choos

ded and crawled to the verandah to listen. "Faix," he said, "their hear

ence must be at the defile--you know--about four miles from here. I shal

s sound, anyhow. Satan fi

n and children--I shan't give the alarm now; so--s

ed back and patte

hey can for the ladies and the babies--though wanst those murderin' villains set foot on the summit, it'

ightly above the mists, shone on t

Tiernay finish

s and hands, so that an hour must have passed before the doctor, wiping his hands with the curiou

ter Anne! th

with custom, had showed that tail end of the road for a moment, and showed some

sobbing like a child disappointed of his holiday; but Mike Tiernay had left him the horse-pistols by way of consolati

t long after we've been silenced; and a last shot is always a last shot." He was wondering what his would be as he led his company of crip

n the lower cluster of the bazaar were all bathed in sunshine, with the curious, translucent brilliance which

s helmet, wiped his fore

s plenty of time, for I can catch up the cripples in a jiffy." So, bidding his men march slowly down the road (saving themselves as much as possible, since their work would be cut out for them afterwards) until he r

to meet him, her six months' baby in her arms. "Dick isn't ba

thing badly. One or two other women, pale-faced, anxious, their little ones

ck comes back, or before that troublesome eye-tooth comes through. If

with your lancet, won't you?"

e--well, some kind of lethal weapon, I promise you. An' tell your husband, when y

he asked. "What

heerful laugh, "an' I must be affther them to stop them from ov

safer when I've seen him; and, you know, he can't really think there is any immedia

itions of his own cripples. "Are ye all there, wid as many legs an' arms as ye have whole?" he called, after he had given the order for them to fa

can't see us, so let's take them in flank at the zig-zag. Smith, out wid yur eng

or two. "Close on a mile, sir, mor

fourteen, for we had to leave poor Tompkins wid hi

the fog; "Tompkins present. Come a all

rder."--He paused for an odd catch in his breath, something between a laugh and a sob. "See here, ye gomer

of the fog broke

y assented wildly. "You've got it,

"Now, d'ye understand, men? open order it is--wan hundred yards or thereabouts, at the top zig-zag, and charg

ye?" or, "I'll throuble you, sorr, to respect me formation!"--the men were making their way, fast as crippledom would let them, towards their forlorn hope. And despite the witt

d of the zig-zag because they would the soonest come upon the enemy, and so on in varying gradations of convalescence, till the line of the suppo

hion"), were at the extreme angle. The unseen road lay below them, not fifty yards off, and b

upporter, "an' if we do, they'll rowl and rowl and rowl to perditio

through the fo

himself, and steadied his shaking hands on his musket as he listened. Another jingle. A

thud

estive of colonels and majors, regiments and wings, and companies. Finally, at the narrowest end, a call to fire and charge; a reckless volley into the fog

n his effort to give the Highland yell of a whole regiment. Yet beneath the gri

he said grimly, and the so

ce more the mist produced something, and two men

head!" came the cry. And above it rose those orders. From close at hand a dro

; disappearing down the grass slope to the next zag. Only at the turn where the doctor and MacTartan fought side by side, the difficulty of escape made resistance fierce from a knot of troopers, till, with a curse, MacTartan caught one horse by the bridle, and deliberate

you wounded?" cried

d MacTartan, stolidly, reachin

another, where the fugitives might be caught. So the battalion charged again and ag

earnest of it,

ached, and neither far nor near upon the hillside down which the battalion had charged

wiping his forehead once more, "so the wounde

ying him pick-a-back, on the ground that he, the doctor, was the

nds, he stood for a minute or two beside a

for everything, and everything in its toime; and no one, not even a tooth, knows what it would be at till

was close on the heels of his messenger c

p found the foes more easily than the battalion had done. But the foes were dead. Those

a bit of muslin swathed about his mouth, lest, inadvertentl

NKINCENSE

ipped a sort of nightgown over his trim lit

tonment--was applied in this instance both to the angelic robe represen

e the English aliens in the station devise a Tree for those still greater aliens--the Boer prisoners--who lived among them in the strange

s before, her husband, commanding a native cavalry regiment still quartered in the station, had been ordered to Africa on Staff duty, she had remained on in the big house, sharing i

as solemnly as they would have saluted his father; and it pleased her to perceive that the only regard these warriors had for

e "Christ-kind," the Bringer of good gifts at the Christmas-tree. There was no geographical or ethnological reason why this German custom should obtain among the Boers, but Boy's mo

he said softly. "Remember what I t

abbard the miniature sword of strict regimental pattern which--it be

r. "Remember what I told you about it--abo

rishmus shk

a tall man, who, farther down the verandah, was watching

scarlet-fingered poinsettia from the confused heap of flowers and greenery at thei

them at the interrupting voice, paused

oses," remarked the cross-maker a trifle hu

suggeste

es don't suit the climate

a actually in blossom to-day--close to my bungalow. It's not unlike a lily--as white, anyhow--and sweeter. Th

poisonous--besides, it doesn't

ry

ep each trivial word to another meaning, seemed suddenly to swee

ng towards them. "What a lovely cross, Muriel! And why, pl

sh I could get that righteous indigna

ifficult to manage," interrupted the w

n that he, an outsider sent but lately to drill a corps back to the discipline

e the subject, "that is a jolly

l, he'sh going to be my risshildar, 'cos you shee he was my Dad

ook of Boy's mother, continued: "He was a protégé of your husband's, I know--but he really has wind in his head. For h

ne?" She spoke

ho gives so much trouble, managed to get out again last night. I wish it had been any one else--for he's half

oy sword in his hand still, n

Vile John is. He is goin' to kill all the little English childre

evidently imitative that Boy's mother s

produced a sudden caress, a sudden glisten in her grey eyes. "Now, Boy of mine, let me take that th

, superbly, as, in unrobing, he shifted it from o

ked Colonel Gould; "a tri

mother, anxiously. "

ped it, so as I could kill Vile John if I met him, lik

g in a far corner

oor spea

nusually dark-skinned; this latter fact made hi

ented Colonel Gould, feeling the ed

rd-sharpener by trade,"

sly. "He can make--oh! all sorts of fings as deads pe

th a watchful look a

s, too! He can steal people's purses when they'se sleepin', an' make dicky-birds t

is slave has certainly told suc

rked Colonel Gould, carelessly

d Boy's mother. "He is Muriel's.

asked. "Perhaps, as you say, he will steal my jewels some day--or murder me. But, as Boy says, he's awful c

ily; "it is going to rain." This other woman, this childless w

mly. "Kunder! call my dogcart, and we can g

errand, looked up cur

r! Shouldn't wonder if he's a Thug--they use dha

lled by courtesy a garden. The lowering sky, of an even purplish grey, was so dark t

ly: "How I hate Christmas in India!--the sham of it--sham decorations--sham church, for it isn't real! The reality is ou

ear M

ady to murder you? Then that camp, right in the middle of us Christians, with how many prisoners eating their hearts out? And Vile John--as Boy has been taught to call him--half mad in think

prig of poinsettia she had fastened in her breast. It showed aga

nd goodwill!--Kunder with his 'fings as kills'; for the matter of that don't forget you and m

at storm brewing"--as she spoke a shivering seam of lightning shot slanting across the purple pall behind the dusty trees--"on

Colonel, drily. "But hadn't we better star

eight, Muriel, for we have to be at the camp by nine. Ayah will bri

torm in the sky, should not be if she could help it. They wer

nd that thought of Viljeon--childless, half-distraught--wandering about, liable to

uff of wind rattled the dry pods of the sirus trees, making them give out

ly as a snake does. There was a lou

" came a ste

lied Kunder, sinking

out a tiny paper packe

rom the Master--it

love-philtre women crave. I know their ways"--he gave a little soft laugh. "She will not

uld She

ain. "Who knows w

ad he known when, as a lad, he fought against the Sahibs, that one day the death of a Sahib's five-year-old son would be to him as the death of his own ch

led. He was, as ever,

this time, but hurried even i

an appeal to Colonel Gould before the limitations of an ope

ally. "He is ever here--after the mem! Wh

cum of the bazaars, or I break thy every bone. I give thee womenkind in gen

is cooked already. He told the mem so but now. 'No

orn!--a

ha!" A devilish malignity had seized on him; he

Whither ha

em! Thou wilt see! 'No pro

chuckler from him, and strode

wide sweep of gravel round it carriages were awaiting the owners, who were bu

ld see straight along the aisle to the altar; could see the cross

a Child

those of the decorators who were not remaining for choir practice came trooping down the aisle. Then he retreated hastily to where the

ncomprehending eyes, listenin

e all ye

and tri

oh! come ye t

ones became audible. He stepped back a pace or two, a

n the scented twilight were the new Colonel, the real Colonel's wife! What infamy! He set his teeth

heard you settle it. But if you two pick that dhatura tonight--'the last thin

! If it is not to-night--it must be soon. This life is ki

er to do this, for she loves you. Remembe

f it can! I mean to take her away and care for her--if I can.

ner could see the man stoop an

turning savagely on the figure whic

here, sir? You are under arres

" Hirabul's tone matched the mutiny in his he

t yourself at once--and, by Heaven! if you say a

speechless, and ere he recovered himself the C

hoirs of

n exul

recklessly through the garden, sought silence and solitu

than one heavy, curiously round drop fell on the dust thr

ireflies, began to sparkle among the straig

fractious, calling all things "shkittles," save the killing of Viljeon, who, he asserted, was hiding in the garden. To all of which Ayah, awaitin

er room, where he was conscientiously finishing h

age arrived, bringing wit

begun down the road like the storm of God. Bring

nce wings sewn on to his nightgown behind, his little

hem--were all over the garden, accompa

torrents, quenching his light, and washing him from head to foot. The chil

ith a brief order that the boy's mother was only to be told that the carriage had been unable to return, owing to t

ening, heard the tale as he skulked in the crowd, put up his revolver, and with a sob at the thought o

f incessant lightning to the raised roads, said to each oth

*

d Boy's mother, when the gift-giving was nearly over. "

*

into the belt of jungle adjoining it. He was not even frightened when, stumbling over the rough ground and his long white robe, he began to tire of his quest and tried to go back. It was not until the lightning wh

fast asleep, cuddled warmly on a big,

o was crouching to leeward of a big tuft of tiger-grass--a man whose head was buried in his crossed arms, but who sprang to his feet with a curse at t

ered in a foreign tongue

to kill Vile John with the sword as Kunder sharped; but now I'd wather, please, give the

man's bewildered face. "You wanted to k

don't want to now. I'd

downpour as from a bucket which comes at times after long drought; rain before which nothing can

wn tongue. "We shall be drowned if we stop here. Come,

es, its wide stretches of flood-land, was almost familiar. Seen, indeed, by the rapid shimmer of the lightning as he steered

his coat? Who was this child which he held as if it had been his o

ance made his heart softer, and his eyes grew keener, not only for

t of the child came uppermost. Safety for it lay on different lines from safety to a strong man untrammelled; and the ins

ll on a rising bit of land the lightning showed him a ruined mud hovel. It might s

rew the driest of this from beneath the leaking roof, and, placing it in the trough, laid the still sleeping child up

en cessation of rain led him to believe; for not two hundred yards away, in another cattl

in the dark upon Hirabul Khan, who in his turn was desperately seeking aid for

help--well! a man might be disloyal over women--who were the devil--yea! even to a real hero like the absent sahib

o jeers over Hirabul's mistake. Was he a fool not to know it was the other mem who lived in the ho

Colonel, so that when the latter was at last in comparative safety in the cattle-shed, he, too, foun

from Kunder, who was standing outside; and then across a stretch of shallowing water he sa

exclaimed un

irabul, but half awake, as he re

thou art not safe with things that kill, so 'tis well thou hast none. See!

is senses, to hobble across, while Viljeon stood gu

the manger," he said; "bring you

*

perhaps, or less wise, felt that his new virtue was better away from the proximity of the jewels he had left tied up read

*

s mother, softly, "Christm

ly. "We all brought our offerings-

RB

MINE

ngs, wife and child, earth and heaven,

arated the slip of open courtyard, ten feet by six, where there was just room for a crazy four-legged string bed between S

f silver hair from Surabhi's silver flank, as he squatted holding a b

be?" And then he would pop down the lotah and cease milking for a moment, so that both hands might be free for a reverential salaam to the old cow who, at the cessation, would turn her mild white face--the real Brahmini zebu face with its wide dewy bla

since the old man said right. There was not her like in the village. No! not even now that Govinda had brought home the brown cow with five teats, which had taken the prize at the Huzoor's big show. It was younger, of cour

less confused than old Gopi between facts and fancies, realities and unrealities; tied and bound, as the

ues, for twice a year at harvest time he would come back to the courtyard, like a squirrel to its nest, with so many handfuls of this grain and so many handfuls of that, so many bundles of wheat straw, millet stalks, or pea stems. And on these, and the milk she gave, he and Surabhi lived contentedly. He was very old

nd the whole day till sunset in gathering succulent weeds for the Great Milk-Mother's supper. It was his religion. And under the broad blue sky, edging a plan

nd Hope, and Charity all combined; since every one kne

fail him, and he would fall back on deeds,

nity--without a penny piece from that coffer being spent to save them from starvation. Yet she still, after the fashion of her race, gave milk and to spare. The latter went, as a rule, to folk poorer still than the old Brahmin, especially to children; but when he sold it, part of the money was always spent on a new charm for Surabhi's neck. And it m

, so that when, after a time, Govinda's beast fell off in her milk, Gopi's d

ed to wander about and pick up her own living like low-caste folk; while Surabhi bore

at came about which dried up every cow in the village

ns fodder, had been a scant one, the cattle were thrown entirely on the still scantier growth of grass in the waste land; and when that failed, custom did not fail. The herds were driven forth from the thorn enclosures every morning to the wilderness and take

d dry; but meanwhile the flocks and herds went out to graze on mud, and

indeed, and very soon he had to stint his own share, and rise an hour earlier to go weed-grubbing, and return an hour later, so that Surabhi should not low her discontent at short c

e strangers were lodged, announced that the famine had really come at last. Over in Chotia Aluwala there were piles of baskets and spades. Some Huzoors were there in white ten

dea of relief-works, and

rom Surabhi's stall, but of late Gopi had sc

d to its present resting-place, one hungry face after another came up in file to the distribution of food, old Gopi's frosted head was among the number. But he was bitterly disappoi

y the bulk necessary for the satisfying of those clamorous stomachs. He even chopped up the grass twi

already the Englishmen, who, in their khaki clothes and huge pith helmets were supervising the work, were saying tentatively, with a glance at the totterers, that it might have bee

es were given him that evening he hurried off with them to the contractor in the background, through whom the Huzoors had arranged for this supply, and

lky bundle of fodder for Surabhi. It was a fair exchange all round; even with the old cow, who turned the fodder in

ted to be the babe and suckling, as it were, of the Great Milk-Mother? The Great Wor

s went by; and as he milked her, Surabhi's black frothed tongue often licked more than his s

ark of Divine favour; and, as for the thinness,

ala relief-work canal had that thinness on his conscience. But

other and milk, doctors and dosing galore, it was not two months since he had

a lonely wife and mother, he rode forty miles after nig

beat me. I can't get the men in charge to mix that tin-milk stuff

im. Anyhow, he crossed his hands on the

er, at her touch

said; "I've--I've n

his eyes away. "Will you?" he said in an od

nows what, and such mother's lore as the dead child had taught her, she was

in her voice, when they brought her yet another whimpering black baby. "That is the end of it

in, in receipt actually of relief, was the possessor of a remarkably fine cow, if not in full milk, yet capable of supporting an infant or two. It needs the vicious flair of an underpaid chuprassi to find such chances for tyranny and extortion at the first throw off. But this one was f

t's notice. So that night he went supperless to bed. But in the white tent

ich milk! I would reward that man if I were you, hubby. I am

takes less to keep it

ugh in India, but it is difficult to give a

an experienced onlooker to be deceived. The result of that, therefore, was abuse and blows. Then he tried keeping back one dough-cake from his daily dole for himself, and only exchanging the other for fodder. That reduced the milk in reality, but it also reduced Surabhi to lowing; and his sense of sin, in consequence, became so acute that he was force

udulently obtaining relief, seeing that he was, amongst other things, possessor of a remarkably fine cow, whose milk he was selling to the Huz

walked off on her dainty toes into the rough outside wor

empty stall, feeling himself accursed

d not know. It was early afternoon when the white garment and brass badge of

king, and the mem is a fiend for temper. My badge

as no need to announce the arrivals. Surabhi declared who one was, almost ere he stumbled to the ground, stiff, dazed, bewildered. All the more bewildered for that vision of something undreamt of, un

and old Gopi muttered something about the Milk-Mother, the World-Mother, as, wit

But the lotah brimmed, and another had to be called for, while Surabhi's black

art of the shade, there was m

n the dust with dry, bright, wistful eyes fixed on the bottle

ly he gave a

rld, me too!" he said, like any child, and so fell fo

the end of

of the nursery, for by that time the whole story had been told, with the curious calm acquiescence of villagers in such pitiful tales of

as being given; "why, this morning I made him as happy as a king by letting him suck one of

?" asked the

e no little godli

ere was

OLD S

ed that the Major--though still standing in his usual place by the fire--was looking into the embers instead of warming his coat-

ory," I remarked aloud. H

o me that I ought. You see most of you are inclined to scoff at the story we have just heard; unwilling to allow anything but a rational explanation of the mysterious summons. I am not, simply because I happ

rains for brains, I knew no man who had made a better use of life than our Major. Not over clever, certainly not handsome, handicapped heavily by having to start at scratch in worldly matters, he had a distinct personality of his own which influenced every society he entered. You felt somehow that your estimate of tha

ncient Mariner; and if in so doing I bore you with a few uninteresting confidenc

is careful, economical way, and poking the fire, that our attention had

re in the universe when he tries to behave like a man in the little drawing-room she made so pretty. The twopenny-halfpenny fans put up to hide the bare walls--the little dodges to make the sticks of furniture look nice which seemed to you so clever, and over which you have both laughed so often--the unused basket thing done up with lace and frills over which she was so happy that last evening, while you sate by wondering if it could be true

e patrolled day and night in order to prevent smuggling. The cactus hedge had been cut down when the protection system was given up, but the road behind it was still passable, and the patrol houses, more or l

h me in order to avoid suspicion. My plan was to send the man on early with orders to do two stages, and have everything ready for me at night in bungalow Number Three; then I should have all the day to myself. Would it be

revenge on life by quitting it. My own pain being the axis of the universe, the world must surely be the loser by its removal. In fact, my mental position at this time might be fa

feeling that I ought really to have remained awake and brooded over my grief. But an unconquerable drowsiness was upon me, making me sleep like a child. How well I remember the ten-mile walk to the next bungalow! The afternoon shadows lengthened across the half-effaced road as I tramped along in solitary silence. I had nothing with me save my revolver and a small writing-case with which to inscribe my last words of defiance. My thoughts were full of what these should be, for I had now quite made up my mind that bungalow Number Two was to be the place, and that a very short time would rid me of all my foes. I felt distinctly easier than I had done before, and being, as it were, wound up to tragedy pitch, the cheerful appearance of Number Two as I came up to it in the sunset disappointed me. In cutting down the thorn and cactus hedge they had, as usual, left the kikar bushes, and these had grown into trees, forming an avenue, while a few more shaded the house itse

by hand stood a little child about three years old. I think, without exception, the loveliest little girl I ever saw. Great mischievous brown eyes, and fluffy c

a's a-teep. D

fond of children, and this one was of the sort any man would not

Dot, isn't it? But as she has run away she had bet

at she was in her nightgown--a straight white thing like they put

never af'aid. Dot's a b'

e, and the words were evidently a fo

the first curiosity that had ha

nds, and now stood on tiptoe opposite me. Her fair curls framed he

axingly. 'Dot wants to

e in that lonely room after the dull report rose up and blinded me. Somehow the coaxing babyish phrase fil

dusk I thought I saw some white forms flitting about the servants' quarters. I wondered faintly at the latter, for I had a half recollection of noticing that the huts were entirely in ruins. My mind, however, had now reverted to its original purpose with increased strength, and I returned to the room considering what had best be done. The child's words, 'Dot's not af'aid! Dot

d calmly all night long, keeping his 'clear soup, chikhun cutlet, custel pudden' hot for a dead man. I must have been less mad, for the humour of the idea struck me at the time, and I laughed. He gravely asked why I had not brought on my pillow and sheets, and I laughed again as I told him I meant to do without them in the future. Everything was clear now. Fate had settled on Number Four, so there was nothing to worry or

corner of the enclosure. Yet it was the best preserved of all the patrol-houses; perhaps because of its smaller size and greater compactness. Anyhow it needed little to fit it for habitation, and as I found out afterwards it was constantly used by the civil officers when on their tours of inspection. At the time, however, I was surprised to

out further delay. My hand sought the revolver, and fingered it mechanically to see if it were loaded. A sense of strangeness made me look at it, when, to my intense surprise, I found it was not m

es and various things lying about in great confusion. A few common toys were on the floor; on the bare string bed a bundle of bedding; on the table a heap of towels, and a basin of water ominously tinged with red. The fireplace was on the other side

Just then the woman looking up, showed me a young face

uld still hear that curious gasping sigh. 'Can I not help?' I asked. She gave no reply, so I went up and stood beside her. Still she seemed unconscious of my presence, for once more came the wail. 'Will nobody come? O my God! will nobody come to help?

e,' she said. 'No one ev

nt once more over her burden

or and suspense, so I gently raised

lled up from under the handkerchief which the woman held convulsively to the little white breast. One chubby hand t

on my knees the better to as

e seemed to rouse

t--only--wanted to ma

my entreaties that she should at least move to an easier position. At last, seeing I could do nothing, and acknowledging sorrowfully that nothing I could do was likely to be of any avail, I contented myself with waiting beside her in silence, until the end. And as I waited a coherent story grew out of what I knew, and what I guessed. They had come

an. 'Will no one ever come! O God; will no one ever come!' and alway

htmare, until suddenly the sighing ceased, and I became consciou

tice me in any way, so once m

asleep at last. It is your turn to rest. Give me the

me as I recognised an unmistakable change in features and voice; a dead

ry her in the sand--for it is sand below, and it creeps and creeps into the grave and will not leave room for Dot. And the night must fall--oh,

distraught. To soothe her I repea

ith one hand, and again replied

the dark digging the grave, and the sand slipping, slipping, sli

needed was not in sight. Surely it could not be delayed much longer. I was surprised to find how late it was: noon had long passed, and cool shadows were stretching themselves athwart the parched ground. One, darker an

nder if the enclosure had already been a resting-place. That might account for the mother's wish. Yes! the

read the in

E L

tle Dar

8

1840. Five-and-twenty years ago, and Dot had died but h

wn suspicions made me return to the house. How still it was! how desolate. I remember standing at the outer door listening in vain for some sound within; I

*

over the broken flooring between the two rooms, a

d between me and my madness, so that when I came to myself it was gone for ever. I

a man and bear up. And sometimes I would lie and smile. Then they said I was a trump with more pluck than they had. And as o

Somehow I never seemed to have looked at life before, whereas now everything interested me. So I went down to the flats and talked to the people. There was a cabin on one, carrying a few second-class passengers, and as I was walking along a gangway between some bales I saw an Englishwoman, holding a child on her lap. The crouching attitude struck me as famili

eously, for, poorly dressed as she w

t querulous voice. 'It's my granddaughter, but I

s head higher up on her arm, and I s

r own,' I continued at a venture

osity came to

So like--so wonderfully like. Sometimes it seems as if she had co

is a lo

many. But I never forgot Dot--she was so pretty! Ah, well! I daresay it woul

umber with a gentle rocking. It seemed to me

?' I remarked, cruelly anxiou

at me with that oddly

I was coming down the river not far from the place where the little dear shot herself--she was playing with her father's revolver, you know--and I seemed to go through it all again. Her father--he left the Salt soon after--was downright vexed with me because I fretted so. He said no good cou

stant sandhills wistfully and

nded, bidding all straggle

-morrow, if I may, I will come again and tel

flat had been left at its destina

as a lo

sked a somewhat tremulous

know is this. Somehow--God knows how--I saw that mother's

DOLL

suppose it is; but I had forgotten--there isn

rom the club, waited for its owner to return to the box-seat. He seemed in no hurry to do so, and his glance followed hers as he stood on the st

, in the growing dusk, the great scarlet hands of the poinsettias could be seen thrusting themselves out wickedly from the leafy shadows as if to clutch the faint white stars of th

with a bitter little laugh, "that there

ll man in a low voice, rapidly, passion

turned to a figure which at that moment came out of the soft rose-tinted light of the room within, and s

dn't come, my dear; but there was a beastly report overdue, so now I've only time for a spin on the bicycle before dinner, for I must have som

tic way, in seeing to the machine, which a red-coated servan

t written

anyhow. 'Pon my soul I'd forgotten it myself, Campbell, or I'd have made a point.... But there's the devil of a crush of work just now, though I shall clear some of the arrears off to-morrow. That's about

face behind him in the verandah, between the rosy light of

for ever," said the man, still in that

th that little half-nervous, half-bitter laugh. "I don

dogcart turned

med to him--as it so often seems to a man--that the woman did not know what she would be at. "It will be a jolly drive;

for an answer. It came aft

she spoke, passed into the rose light, and stood listening to the sound of the dogcart wheels growing fainter and fainter. When it had gone an intense stillness seemed to settle over the w

y as she stood alone, thin

rs from the creeper-hung porch there were children and to spare. Dozens of them, all ages, all

the ground. It consisted of a very old man, almost naked, with a grey frost of beard on his withered cheeks, and of a semicircle

o rudimentary indeed that as the passing flash of the lamps disclosed its proportions, or rathe

mild reproof: "Lo! brothers and sisters," he said, "have patience awhile. Even the Creator takes time to make His puppet

going to write up the daily account for the butler; since a man must live even if he has a University degree, and, if Government service be not forthcoming, must earn a p

s, but for their betters. This is for the little masters on their Big Day. To-morrow I will present it to the sahib and the mem, since the little sahibs themselves are away over the Black Water. For old Premoo knows what is due. This dust-like one, lame of a leg and blind of an eye, has not always been a garden coolie--a mere picker of weeds, a gatherer of dried leaves, saved from starvation by such trivial tasks. In his youth Premoo hath carried youn

k, was not strong enough to overbear the titter, and the dol

bald head, the pincushion body, the sausage limbs of his creature, yet found no flaw in it; since fingers and toes were a mere detail, and as for hair,

to the test, and he turned to the nearest of t

Gungi," he said pompously, "but have a care not to

of chubby brown hands closed in glad possession round t

its art with the years. A doll is a doll ever to a child, as a child is a child

monstrated the fat butler, who had joined the group, "ere giving i

e little masters lay in these arms, and there was favour to be carried by the dressing of dolls, such as he were ready to make them, male and female, kings and queens, fairies and heroes, mem-sahibs and Lat-sahibs after

for the giving of gifts, notably rag dolls! There was no vision for him in the velvet darkness of the spangled sky of angels proclaiming the glad tidings of birth; and yet in a way his old heart, wise with the dim wisdom whi

aves which he had swept up from the path that evening, and wrapping himself in his thi

it smiled at the sight. Humanity did, anyhow, as it passed and repassed from the servants' quarters to its work in the house. For in truth old Premoo's creation looked even more comical in the daylight than it ha

y. "I deemed it was a skinned fowl last nig

t be. Bala Krishna himself, for aught I know." Whereupon he salaamed; and others passing followed suit, in jest at first, afterwards w

y house, waiting for the master and mistress to come out into the verandah. Premoo had covered the doll's bed of withered flowers with some fresh ones, so it lay in pomp in its basket, amid royal scarlet and white and gold; ne

e. "This dust-like one has nothing else, but a doll is always

unded by offerings. But not for long. Some one laughed, then anot

pologetically; "but the twelve Imams themselves

gford, "we must really send that h

red hands of the poinsettias clung to its sausage legs. She brushed the flower aside with a smile which broadened to a laugh; for in truth the

d the unshapen thing in her arms

will certainly send it home to the little masters; and they, I am sure--" Here her

, where on the evening before the rose-shaded lamp had been. It was ridiculous, certainly, but beneath that there was something else. What was it? What had the old man said: "A doll is always a do

as Day--the children's day--she thought vaguely, dreamily, as she rocked herself backwards and forwards slowly. But the house was empty save for this--this idea, like nothing really

a child

--and then, with that sudden half-remorseful pity, she once more gathered

hat he saw. And something that was not laughter surged up in him; for he understood in a flash, unde

er!" she exclaimed, gaily tossing the doll back on the table. "But it has an uncanny look about it which fascina

, as men take their babies--and stared at it almost fiercely. And he stood there, stern, square, silent,

little Mrs. Greville. She starts this afternoon, you know, to catch the Messageries steamer. Sh

ce, but there was a worl

pause in which the one thing in the world seemed to her that

other pause-

was not quite steady; "but if you aren't, we might go together. My work can eas

ttle sound between

boys to have this"--she laid her other hand tenderly on

en first one and then another high dogcart drove past him. And when the second one had disappeared, h

end to the little sahibs, and the mem packed it up herself and went with him, instead of going in the Capt

l of withered red poinsettias int

KELET

the level plateau which stretches between B

ea, the mail train had stopped at a desolate little station which consisted of a concrete-arched, oven-like shed, made

when I took possession of the other at Bhopal. So we saw each other for the first time as we sate up in our sleeping suits among our blankets and pillows. As the train moved on, in a series of dislocations which sent half my tea into my

a cart, among dry bents and stunted bushes; curious bushes with a plenitude of twig and a paucity of leaf. Here and there was a still more stunted tree

elevant hillocks; both, however, trending almost imperceptibly upwards, s

telling where a spark from a passing train had found a wider field for fire than usual,

th a faint touch of fire showing like an eye to the snaky curves behind. A sinister-looking landscape, indeed, to unaccustomed eyes like mine. I sate watching tho

on, in such a curious tone of voice that,

pose it is," I began;

ground we were steaming quickly past a very ordinary dent of a dell, where, as usual, one of the

xtraordinary thing!" I exclaimed. "I could have sw

he other passen

-and there were tongues of flame." I paused again, looking out on what we were passing. "It must, of course," I continued, "have been

there were many such trees or bushes in the low jungle, all distinctly to be seen against the

, thus started, we talked over our tea, when h

gles after leopard and tiger. I hear it's first-class if you don't mind letting yourself go--getting right aw

been a long-cherished dream of mine, when

on

my surprise that he told

, Graham and myself. He was a splendid chap; keen as mustard on everything. It did not matter what it was. So that one day, when he and I were working out levels after late breakfast,

it again,' he said, 'and I

r I did not relish Graham's ju

ent, for a more forlorn little tragedy than that which

ead, after the manner of native cooks at work, on a low reed stool, brandis

ld man, wizened, bandy-legged, bandy-armed, whose white teeth showed in animal perfection as he ho

u are. In fact you are rather like him. There was a moment's pause, duri

It is but a few years. And grand-dad will hatch another. It is a sac

et should serve for the Huzoor's dinner. The old man's joy when it was released was purely pitiable. He would have reared another for his grandson, he asserted garrulously; ay! even to the hatching of an egg from the very beginning, with toil by day and night. But only the Great God knew if the child's heart would have gone

am himself supervised the dinner that night, in order, he explained some

plained to me in his lingo--for he was one of the jungle people--that he had come in exchange for that precious bird. One life or another mattered little. Grim-sahib had spared the child's heart's joy, which was now living with him in th

s he followed us. He was useful in his way, especially to Graham, who

urroundings, to which my fellow-traveller replied drily that he had e

get touched up by fever. Still, he continued working during the off days, and seemed little the worse until

once, Huzoor,' he said quietly, 'or his bones will

g unless they possessed a certain talisman. There were such talismans among the hill tribes, and those who fell sick of fever always wore one if they could compass it. That was not often, since they were rare. He himself

know he saw the

n I asked him what he had seen, he said: "It is gone. It must have been that stunted tree. But it looked like a skeleton, and

Graham couldn't shake off his fever, and more than once when he was delirious in the evenings he would startle me

lf. Only to old Bunder, who became quite a nuisance with his warnings, so that I was glad when, after a confused rigmarole about white cocks and sa

fever seemed to grip him. I used to sit up with him till twelve or one o'clock, and then turn in ti

gone away from the camp. His bearer, a lad whom he had promoted to the place in one of his impulsive generous fits of revolt against things unjustifiable, had failed to take alarm until his master's prolonged absence had made him seek and rouse my man. The latter was full of apologies

But no one had. And as there was no time to be lost in inquiries I dismissed the idea as an attempt on

ed to keep out of our way. So I pushed on and on in silence, through the bushes and bents, expecting the worst. But after all it was the best. We found him at dawn lying under one of those stunted trees fast asleep. So sound asleep that he did not wa

ain; and the bag held nothing but a bit of blank paper folded into four. He took the thing to England with him when he we

the engine told we were pulling up again. "Well," I

llaneous pile of belongings, such as Indian traveller

met you--for you remind

t was, I had not the chance of testing its truth. For, at my destination, I found a telegram recalling me

TNO

Ghazie--reli

ves call Freemasonry

e 3: Th

te 4: