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Updated: June 13, 2025
Rabda had brought in the basket a small silver cup, and Isobel, after drinking some wine and eating a few mouthfuls of food, lay down by her and was soon fast asleep. Bathurst ate a much more hearty meal. Rujub and his daughter said that they did not want anything before morning. The sun was high before Bathurst woke. Rujub had lighted a fire, and was boiling some rice in a lota.
"I told her that would be your answer, sahib," Rujub said, "but she insisted on making the offer." It was arranged that they were to start at nine o'clock, as it was safer to make the attempt before everything became quiet. Before starting, Rabda was again placed in a trance. In reply to her father's questions she said that Mary Hunter was dead, and that Isobel was lying down.
"That is of no consequence at all, Mrs. Hunter; I am so thankful at being here with you, that I should mind very little if I knew that it was always to be as bad as it is now. What does it matter?" "It does not matter at all at present, my dear; but if you ever get out of this horrible place, some day you may think differently about it." "I must go now," Rabda said.
"I would not dream of such a thing, Rabda. You would be killed to a certainty when they discovered the trick. Even if I would consent to the sacrifice, Miss Hannay would not do so. I am deeply grateful to you for proposing it, but it is impossible. You will see that, with the aid of your father, I shall succeed."
Why did you not meet us, Rabda?" her father exclaimed, as he entered. Rabda rapidly repeated the incidents that had happened since she had parted from him the evening before, and handed to Bathurst the two notes she had received from Isobel. "Then she is in safety with the others!" he exclaimed in delight. "Thank God for that, and thank you, Rabda, indeed, for what you have done."
Rujub acknowledged the danger, and said that he and his daughter would accompany them on their way down country, as it would greatly lessen their risk if two of the party were really natives. Bathurst gratefully accepted the offer, as it would make the journey far more tolerable for Isobel if she had Rabda with her.
He had not since he sat down to his work given another thought to the juggler, and he almost started as a figure appeared in the veranda at the open window. "Ah, Rujub, is it you? I have just finished my work. Come in; is Rabda with you?" "She will remain outside until I want her," the juggler said as he entered and squatted himself on the floor. "I am not going to juggle, sahib.
He was told the state that she was in, and the chief lady of the zenana sent him word that for the present she must have quiet and rest, but that in two or three days she might be fit to see him." "That is something," Bathurst said thankfully. "Now we shall have time to think of some scheme for getting her out." "You have been in the zenana yourself, Rabda?" Rujub asked.
I will inquire into this matter later on, and should I find that there has been any foul play, those concerned in it shall wish they had never been born." As soon as he had left the woman called Rabda in. "All has gone well," she said; "your father's philter is powerful indeed. Tell him whenever he needs any service I can render he has but to ask it.
They will ask no questions about the women; but if there is a woman among them, and she speaks, Rabda will answer her." For hours they had heard dull sounds in the air, which Bathurst had recognized at once as distant artillery, showing that the fight was going on near Dong.
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