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I asked, as soon as he had finished speaking. The cook, who had been salaaming all the time, at the risk of a broken back, in his most utterly abject and grovelling attitude, made answer tremulously in his broken English: "This is priest-sahib of the temple. He very angry, because why? Eulopean-sahib and mem-sahibs come into Tibet-land. No Eulopean, no Hindu, must come into Tibet-land.
We should be dying for the faith, and ought to be charmed at so splendid a prospect. On the day-week after our arrival time chief Lama came to me at nightfall. His face was serious. He spoke to me through our accredited interpreter, the cook. "Priest-sahib say, very important; the sahib and mem-sahibs must go away from here before sun get up to-morrow morning." "Why so?"
We will turn back quietly to the Maharajah's land if the priest-sahib will allow us to camp out for the night here." I glanced at Hilda and Lady Meadowcroft. I must say their bearing under these trying circumstances was thoroughly worthy of two English ladies. They stood erect, looking as though all Tibet might come, and they would smile at it scornfully.
The fat priest spoke again. "What does he say this time?" I asked. "He say, Ram Das tell him all this because Ram Das good man very good man: Ram Das converted Buddhist. You pay Ram Das to guidee you to Lhasa. But Ram Das good man, not want to let Eulopean see holy city; bring you here instead; then tell priest-sahib about it." And he chuckled inwardly. "What will they do to us?"
Now, I had not been eager even for the distinction of being a Christian martyr; as to being a Buddhist martyr, that was quite out of the question. "Then what does the Lama advise us to do?" I asked. "Priest-sahib say he love you; no want to see village people kill you. He give you guide very good guide know mountains well; take you back straight to Maharajah's country." "Not Ram Das?"
At any rate, they insisted on embracing us again; after which the chief Lama said something very solemnly to our amateur interpreter. The cook interpreted. "Priest-sahib say, he too got very sacred thing, come from India. Sacred Buddhist poojah-thing. Go to show it to you." We waited, breathless.
"Priest-sahib say, that all lies. That all dam-lies. You is Eulopean missionary, very bad man; you want to go to Lhasa. But no white sahib must go to Lhasa. Holy city, Lhasa; for Buddhists only. This is not the way to Kulak; this not Maharajah's land. This place belong-a Dalai-Lama, head of all Lamas; have house at Lhasa.
I asked, as astonished as I was pleased. "Priest-sahib say, he like you very much; oh, very, very much; no want to see village people kill you." "Kill us! But I thought they believed we were saints!" "Priest say, that just it; too much saint altogether. People hereabout all telling that the sahib and the mem-sahibs very great saints; much holy, like Buddha. Make picture; work miracles.
But priest-sahib know you Eulopean missionary, want to go Lhasa, convert Buddhists, because... Ram Das tell him so." "Ram Das!" I exclaimed, thoroughly angry by this time. "The rogue! The scoundrel! He has not only deserted us, but betrayed us as well. He has told this lie on purpose to set the Tibetans against us. We must face the worst now. Our one chance is, to cajole these people."
Priest-sahib say, cut all Eulopean throats. Let Nepaul man go back like him come, to him own country." I looked as if the message were purely indifferent to me. "Tell him," I said, smiling though at some little effort "we were not trying to enter Tibet. Our rascally guide misled us. We were going to Kulak, in the Maharajah's territory.