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Updated: May 20, 2025
Kassim held the paper at arm's length toward Barlow, asking: "Is this the message thou brought?" "It is, Commander." Kassim whirled on Hunsa, "Where didst thou get it, dog of an infidel?" "Without the gate of the palace, my Lord. I found it lying there where the Sahib had dropped it in his flight." "Allah! thou art a liar of brazenness."
And beyond, the water here and there swirled, as if a powerful tail swept it. And Hunsa knew; his evil swarthy face turned as green as the slime upon the crocodile's forehead; his powerful naked shoulders seemed to shrivel and shrink as though blood had ceased to flow through his veins.
It fell full upon the knife flooding its blade into a finger-like mirror, and glinted the blood drops as if in reality they had turned to rubies. Without the purdah Hunsa did not crouch and run, he walked swiftly, though noiselessly, as one upon a message. Ten paces of the dim-lighted hall he turned to the right to a balcony.
But Bootea's sharp eyes had been busy. She had watched the blacksmith, to whom Ajeet had paid little attention. In the faces of Hunsa and Sookdee she had caught flitting expressions of treachery. She knew that Ajeet had been guiltless of treason to the others, for she had been close to him. Besides she had, when roused, an imperious temper.
"In his turban " Kassim commanded "in his turban, the nest of a thief's loot or the hiding-place of the knife of a murderer. Look ye in his turban!" As the turban was stripped from the head of Hunsa the Pindari gave it a whirling twist that sent its many yards of blue muslin streaming out like a ribbon and the parchment message fell to the floor.
Then he saw that it was Hunsa, the messenger of his Chiefs favourite as he took the Gulab to be and he said: "You cannot enter, Hunsa. It is a matter for the jamadars alone." At that instant the Gulab slipped through the struggling groups in the street, the Pindaris gallantly making way for her. She had heard of the murder of the Chief, and had seen the dragging in of the Afghan.
At any rate Sewlal sent for Hunsa the night of the ordeal and explained to him, somewhat casually, that a jewel merchant passing through Mahrattaland had in his collection a ruby of no great value, but a stone that he would like to become possessed of because a ruby was his lucky gem.
And when Barlow had come forth the Bagree trailed him up through the chowk; and just as the man he followed came to the end of the narrow crowded way, Hunsa saw Bootea, coming from the opposite direction, suddenly stop, and her eyes go wide as they were fixed on the face of the tall Patan. "It is the accursed Sahib," Hunsa snarled between his grinding teeth.
True, I, also, have desire, but fear not for, by Bhowanee! it is a life of glory, of jewels and rich attire that I take you to; so get into the cart." But Bootea wrenched free an arm and struck Hunsa full upon his ugly face, screaming her rebellion. "To be struck by a woman!"
The last thing that will remain to thee will be thy tongue, for we have need of that to utter the truth." Three times the nosebag was applied to Hunsa, like the black cap over the head of a condemned murderer, and the last time, rolling on the floor in agony, his lungs on fire, his throat choked, his eyes searing like hot coals, he gasped that he would confess if his life were spared. "Dog!"
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