United States or Nicaragua ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"No, Bootea will be better alone," she touched the knife in her sash; "it must not be known that Bootea came to the Sahib." Barlow took her arm leading her through the bathroom to the back door; he opened it, and listened intently for a few seconds. Then he took her oval face in his palms and kissed her, passionately, saying, "Good-bye, little girl; God be with you. You are sweet."
Again Bootea spoke in a low voice to the priest, and he said: "Sahib, I go forth for a little, for there are matters to arrange. I see yonder the sixteen Brahmins who, according to our rites, assemble when one is to pass at the Shrine of Omkar to kailas."
They rode in silence for half a mile and then she said, "Perhaps, Sahib, Bootea can help you if the message is lost." "And you will, girl?" "I will, Sahib; even if I die for doing it, I will." His arm tightened about her with a shrug of assuring thankfulness, and she knew that this man trusted her and was not sorry of her burden.
I'm like the young wasters that swarm up to London from Oxford and get splashed with the girls from the theatres that's what I'm like." As he strode over to where his horse was tethered, munching his ration of grain, Bootea followed him with her eyes, wondering why he had broken into English; perhaps he was chanting an evening prayer.
You have done the British Raj a great service." "No, Sahib." The girl drew herself erect, so that her eyes gazed into Barlow's, They were luminous with an intensity of resolve. "Let Bootea speak what is in her heart, and be not offended; it is necessary. The Nana Sahib waits like a tiger crouched by a pool at night for the coming of a stag to drink."
"As to the paper, Sahib, what matters how Bootea came by it; as to Ajeet, he is in the grasp of the Dewan who learned that he had been to the Resident in the way of treachery." "Ajeet thought Nana Sahib had stolen you, Bootea." "Yes, Sahib, for he did not find me when he went to the camp, and I did not go there.
"The Sahib is like a god to Bootea," she whispered. As the girl slipped away between the bushes, like something floating out of a dream, Barlow stood at the open door, a resurge of abasement flooding his soul. In the combat between his mentality and his heart the heart was making him a weakling, a dishonourable weakling, so it seemed.
"But I don't want the stone I can't take it," Barlow expostulated. "It is for a service, Sahib. Nana Sahib will assuredly cause Ajeet to be put to death if Bootea does not return to his desire, but the Sahib can buy his life with the ruby of great price." "But if it were stolen would not Nana Sahib demand it, and then kill Ajeet?"
Then the son of the Peshwa took a quick turn to the door and gazed out as if he had his Arab in mind something wrong; but a sweet bit of deviltry had suddenly occurred to him. He had noticed the young Englishman's interest in Bootea; had known that the girl's eyes had shown admiration for the handsome sahib. A woman by Jove! yes.
Go, Sahib, and do not remain below for this is so beautiful. You must ride forth in content." She took him by the arm and gently led him to the door. And from without he could hear a chorus of a thousand voices, its burden being, "The Kurban!" Barlow turned, one foot in the sunshine and one in the cloister's gloom, and kissed Bootea; and she could feel his hot tears upon her cheek.
Word Of The Day