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Either Hunsa or Sookdee was now always trailing Barlow his every move was known. And then, as if some evil genii had taken a spirit hand in the guidance of events, Hunsa's chance came. Barlow, who had tried three times to see Amir Khan, one day received a message at the gate that he was to come back that evening, when the Chief, having said his prayers, would give him a private audience.
Into Hunsa's mind had flashed the thought that the gods had opened the way, for he had plotted to do this thing the destruction of Ajeet. "Have all the bodies thrown into the pit, Sookdee," he advised; "make perfect the covering of the fire and ash, and while you prepare for flight I will go and bring Bootea's cart to carry Ajeet."
He had been executed with no evidence of passion in those who witnessed his death. And as to the subtlety of the Commander in obtaining the confession, that, too, according to the ethics of Hindustan, was meritorious, not a thing to be condemned. Hunsa's animal cunning had been over-matched by the clear intellect of this wise soldier.
Hunsa's pig eyes shifted from Sewlal's face to roam over the other two, and then returned a question in them. "Tell him," Nana Sahib suggested, "that he has nothing to fear from us." The jamadar was troubled by the English exchange, but the Dewan explained: "The Prince says you are to speak what is on your mind."
But the Gulab had turned from him and was listening, her eyes turned to the road up which floated from beyond upon the hushed silence that was about them, that seemed deeper because of the dead man lying in the moonlight, the beat of Hunsa's feet on the road.
He would not commit himself as to making a decoity, for when they had seized upon the Chief for the crime Ajeet could not then say that the Dewan had instigated it; there would be only Hunsa's word for this, and, of course, he would deny that the Minister was the father of the scheme.
Hunsa's hungry eyes glowed in pleased viciousness, for the blacksmith had indeed heated the metal; the green pipal leaf squirmed beneath its heat like a worm, as Ajeet Singh, with the military stride of a soldier, took the seven paces. Then dropping the thing of torture he extended his slim small hand to Sookdee for inspection. Hunsa's villainy had worked out.
Sookdee stared in affrighted silence, and Hunsa's bellow of rage was stilled by Ajeet, who whirling upon him, the jade-handled knife in his grip, commanded: "Still your clamour! The Gulab has but seen the truth. I, also, know that, but a soldier may not speak as may one of his women-kind." There was a sudden hush. A tremor of apprehension had vibrated from Bagree to Bagree; the jamadars felt it.
"What discredits Hunsa's story," Barlow said thoughtfully, "is that the Gulab was in the protection of Ajeet Singh who was but a thakur at best really a protector of decoits." "To save Kumari's life she had been given to the yogi, and he would act not out of affection for the girl's standing as a princess, but to prevent discovery, bloodshed, and, her life.
Nana Sahib queried; "I like Hunsa's idea; and you've heard what the Commandant says." The Dewan turned to the Bagree, "Will Ajeet consent to the Gulab acting thus?" Hunsa's answer was illuminating: "The Chief will agree to it if he can't help himself." There was a lull, each one turning this momentous thing over in his mind.
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