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Then the majesties of High Himalaya and the distances of star-lit night, poured forth from Dhoop Ki Dhil's lifted lips. Cadman and Skag followed her among the people going back to the village. Once she whirled with an inimitable movement, flinging her fingers toward Skag, in a gesture that seemed to focus the eyes of the whole world upon him.
As they walked slowly into the open, listening to the voices of the child-people, the name "Rana Jai" recurred often. "I haven't heard what that word means yet," Skag said. "Rana Jai?" Cadman repeated. "The exact translation is Prince of Victory; but Dhoop Ki Dhil made her meaning clear Son of Power; a great deal more." After that, they had little to say.
"The Noor Mahal was always in seclusion." "Her name?" Skag questioned. "She had no name," the Doctor answered, "but she was called 'Dhoop Ki Dhil' Heart-of-the-Sun; possibly on account of her voice. There has been none like it. The master-mahouts of High Himalaya, their voices pass those of all other men for splendour; but I tell you there was none other in the world, beside hers.
Some of his training had been in the use of his eyes to control animals under stress. So he ran with his arm about Dhoop Ki Dhil's shoulders, the flame of his volitional power burning straight up into those pitiless, lidless eyes till he came into a sentiency that had no cognisance of time.
They found him strangely clothed in soft brown, surrounded by youngsters; and asked for all he knew about Dhoop Kichari-lal and Koob Soonder. That is the name of a colour which the woman from far wears; she whom Jiwan Kawi loved and would have wed.
The gods, all-beneficent, have preserved him Jiwan Kawi, the man of men! He met her in the night-paths; and he goes now with her to her own people. Jiwan Kawi, the man of men! The Grass Jungles are in her heart, like dead rose-leaves; their perfume in her blood, is forever before the gods remembering Son of Power and his guardian. Dhoop Ki Dhil touches their holy feet.
Certainly Cadman would never forget the length of time he had seen the looming head less than two feet from Skag's face the incredible power that flamed up out of the young man's eyes. Certainly Skag was full of content as to the safety of the people. But all realisations were lost in a gnawing depression about Dhoop Ki Dhil.
He had listened longer than Cadman at night, to those voices of the wild by which the ears of the gods are offended. Surely his secret consciousness during those night-watches had grappled with the unknown ahead, reaching impatient fingers to find and save Dhoop Ki Dhil in time. But he let no flicker of that thought colour his answer.
As Skag fled on past Dhanah, the whole story of Dhoop Ki Dhil was eating in his brain like fire. She was somewhere in there ahead of him somewhere near that monster snake. The weaving of the serpent's head, looping in long reaches above the bamboo tops looking over them, looking down into them, looking for its prey had frozen him to the marrow of his bones.
"I don't know," he said dubiously, "if I'm not mistaken, I've heard some sinful language at night." As they got further in, two names attracted their attention spoken together like one word Dhoop Kichari-lal and Koob Soonder. Of course Koob Soonder Utterly Beautiful they first thought could mean none other than the Bombay nautch-girl whom they sought yet later they were to learn the truth.
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