United States or Rwanda ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
He had bestowed a handsome gift upon the Chief, ten gold mohrs; and for Bootea there had been the gift of a ruby, also ten gold mohrs. This munificence, for Hunsa and Sookdee declared it to be a rare extravagance, was not so much as reward for Bootea's nautch as a desire on the part of the astute Prince to prepare for the greater service required.
Suddenly there was a clamour of voices, cries, the clang of swords, the sharp crash of a shot, and the two jamadars, startled, eyes staring, stood with ears cocked toward the tumult. "Soldiers!" Sookdee gasped. His hand brushed Hunsa's bare arm as he thrust it into the chest and brought it forth clasping jewels, which he tied in a knot of his waistcloth.
Sookdee said, with suspicion in his voice. "Yes, Jamadar; I will open it. We will empty it, and place the iron box on top of the bodies in a pit, for it is too heavy to carry, and if we are stopped it might be observed."
He untangled from the posture of sitting his parchment-covered matter of bones, and carrying in one hand a brocaded bag of black velvet and in the other a staff, with bowed head and mutterings started deeper into the jungle of cactus and slim whispering bamboo, followed by Ajeet, Sookdee and Hunsa.
"Just that you are not going on this mission, Ajeet;" then he laughed disagreeably. "If you are afraid to go Sookdee will be well without you," Ajeet retorted. Before more could be said in this way, and as they approached the camp, the lowing of a cow was heard. "Dost hear that, Guru?" Hunsa queried. "In a decoity is not the lowing of a cow in a village held to be an evil omen?"
"Hunsa," and Ajeet's voice was constrained in its deadliness, "that ass's voice of yours will yet bring you to grief." But Sookdee interposed: "Let us not quarrel," he said. "Ajeet no doubt has in his mind Bootea as I have Meena. And it would be well if the two were sent on the road in the cart, and when our work is completed we will follow.
Word Of The Day