Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 2, 2025
So the horses stand in their stalls unwatched." The voices down the stairs grew louder, and the sound of footsteps began ascending, slowly and with hesitation. "Quick!" said the Risaldar. "Light me that brazier again!" Charcoal lights quickly, and before the steps had reached the landing Mahommed Khan had a hot coal glowing in his tongs: "Now speak to them!" he growled at the shuddering priest.
There were splashes of rain falling, and he stood with bared head, face upward, as if the rain would wash Yasmini's musk from him. It was nearly pitch-dark, but Warrington could just see that the risaldar on the box seat raised his whip to them in token of recognition. "Now then! Speak, my friend! What were you doing in there?" demanded Warrington. "No, not here!" said Kirby.
"You, old friend that were servant, as you choose to call it, to my husband's father! I am a proud woman to have such friends at call!" She pointed to the ayah, recovering sulkily and rearranging the shawl about her shoulders. "That I call service, Risaldar. She cowers when a knock comes at the door! I need you, and you answer a hardly spoken prayer; what is friendship, if yours is not?"
"I don't think there is any fear of that, risaldar. I am pretty well able to take care of myself. My father gave me many lessons in boxing; and I fancy that, although most of the men are a great deal bigger and stronger than I am, I shall be able to hold my own." "I hope so, Bullen," the havildar said gravely, "but I trust that there will be no occasion to show your skill.
"Then, sahib, I shall have certain license allowed me in the matter?" "Do anything you like, in reason, risaldar! Only keep the pup from cutting his eye-teeth on his seniors' convenience, that's all!" Mahommed Gunga wasted no time after that on talking, nor did he wait to specify the nature of the latitude he would expect to be allowed him; he knew better.
"Nonsense, Risaldar! The ayah can't hurt me. You have taken her knife away, and that is my room. I will go in there alone!" She pushed past him before he could prevent her, thrust the door back and peered in. "Stay, heavenborn I will explain!" "Explain what?" The dim light from the lamp was filtering in past them, and her eyes were slowly growing accustomed to the gloom.
The Risaldar looked out through the window toward the red glow on the sky-line. "Ha! Changed, have they!" he muttered. "I saw one such burning, once before!" The most wonderful thing in history, pointing with the surest finger to the trail of destiny, has been the fact that in every tremendous crisis there have been leaders on the spot to meet it.
"Do so. I shall be on thorns until I see him." In a few minutes the officer, a tall and stately Punjabi, entered. "Risaldar," Lisle said, "I know you were very much attached to my father." "I was, sahib." "Well, I want you to do something for me." "It would be a pleasure for me to do so, and you have only to ask for me to grant it, if it is in my power." "I think it is in your power," Lisle said.
If I am not mistaken, we shall find him in the ranks of the native officers, before long. Considering his age, and what he has already done, he may well hope some day, if he escapes being killed, to be risaldar major of the regiment.
"The English will be slain to the last man and then where will you be? Where will be the profit on your honor?" The Risaldar listened, for he could not help it, but he made no answer. "Me you hold here, a prisoner. You can slay or torture. But what good will that do? The woman that you guard will fall sooner or later into Hindu hands. You can not fight against a legion. Listen!
Word Of The Day
Others Looking