Read The Jungle Fugitives: A Tale of Life and Adventure in India Page 17

  CHAPTER XVII.

  ALMOS.

  Mary Marlowe was an obedient daughter, and when her father checked hermove to go to the aid of the imperilled ones on the boat, andperemptorily ordered her to wait where she was, she obeyed withoutprotest. She would have been glad to bear them company, but knew shewould be more of a hindrance than a help.

  It was less than five minutes after the disappearance of her father andbetrothed when she was frightened by hearing a slight sound directlybehind her in the path. Her thought naturally was that some wildanimal was stealing upon her, but the first glance told a more dreadfulstory. Five men, who, from their ragged, scant attire, their darkcomplexion and wild expression of features, she knew to belong to theterrible bandits called Ghoojurs, had come upon her unnoticed, andpausing within a half dozen paces, were looking fixedly at her.

  The sight was so startling that the young woman gasped and recoiled.She would have fled after her friends had not the leader made agesture, accompanied by the command:

  "Stay where you are or you shall be killed! I know you as the daughterof the doctor, and we seek you and him."

  Each of the Ghoojurs carried a long, muzzle-loading gun, and every onehad a yataghan thrust into a girdle around his waist, the weapon beinga foot or more in length, and with a point of needle-like fineness.The leader spoke in Hindustani, which was as familiar to the youngwoman as her own tongue.

  The young woman possessed quick wit. She could not doubt that thefive, including Almos and Mustad, were now her deadly enemies. Whetherthey had taken part in the massacre of those left on the boat could notbe conjectured, but the probabilities were the other way, since itwould have been well-nigh impossible for them to reach their presentposition from the river without colliding with Dr. Marlowe and JackEverson.

  Mary showed her shrewdness by acting as if the two men were the friendsthey had always shown themselves when their former meetings took place.

  "Why, Almos," she said, forcing a smile in which there was no pleasure,"we have not met before since you came to my home and my father gaveyou medicine that cured your illness. How do you do?"

  And she had the courage to advance a step and offer her dainty hand,but the brute refused it. With a shake of his head he retreated a stepand said:

  "My caste will not allow me."

  "But it allowed you to take drink and food from my hand and medicinefrom that of my father," she said, stung by the repulse.

  "I did evil, for which Allah has pardoned me; the faithful have beensummoned to drive the infidels from India; the followers of Islam haveheard the call, and they are flocking to the banner of the Prophet fromall parts of Hindostan; not one infidel shall be left in all the land."

  During these few moments Mustad stood directly behind the leader, witha fixed grin in which there was a certain shamefacedness, for with allhis fierce fanaticism he could not forget the gentle, sweet nature ofthe one who had become a prisoner nor the unvarying kindness he hadreceived at her hands. True, the devil in his nature was roused, andthere could be little question that he was acting as guide to thesemurderers while they hunted for the doctor and his family.

  "And do you mean to help kill those who have been your friends,Mustad?" she asked, with her penetrating eyes fixed upon him.

  Had the two been alone, it is possible the edge would have been takenoff the response, but with four Ghoojurs at his elbow, and one of themthe furious Almos, he dared not be behind them in savagery.

  "This is a war for our deen; when we fight for that we know none butthe followers of the Prophet! The Inglese loge stole our homes and ourland from us! They have put lard on the cartridges of the Sepoys thatthe faithful may become unclean and be shut out of paradise! I hatethem all! I have no friends among them! I shall never sheath my knifenor stay my hand while one remains alive in India."

  "Let it be as you say," she calmly replied, seeing that it was uselessto hold converse with the wretch.

  Her wish was to keep the party where they were until Jack and herfather could have time to return. Here would be an opportunity for theyoung man to make a few more bull's-eyes, but Almos was too wise to runthe risk. He was not afraid to fight two men, even though not so wellarmed as they, but his wish was first to place the young woman beyondtheir reach--for when the fight came it would be to the death.

  "No harm shall come to you," said the leader in a gentler tone. "Walkforward over the path and we will guard you against harm."

  "Whither do you intend to take me?" she asked, debating whether to obeyor to make a fight then and there and force matters to an issue.

  "To Akwar."

  "Why there?"

  "To place you among friends that your enemies may not reach you."

  "Why not take me to my home?"

  "It has been burned and the men are hiding among the trees that theymay slay you when you and your father return."

  After a moment's hesitation she obeyed, taking the path along which herparent soon after pressed in the desperate effort to recover her fromher captors.