Part 9 (2/2)
So the idea of so the better of Yakoob became a fixed one in the little lad's mind until an opportunity for action came to him
It was about a month afterwards, on the ”Festival of Record”; that is to say, the day when good Moha year, and believe that God's Angel, accompanied by the spirits of their dead ancestors, appears on earth to judge the record of the past year, and write on the forehead of each man and woman and child what reward or punish, thousands of little lamps are lit, so that there shall be no darkness anywhere, but all things shall be made manifest, and when the little platters of sweets and food are set out lest any of the spirits, who cory, it is a very soleenerally spent in aed an entertain between her son and sost them the Heir-to-Empire Head-nurse was furious, of course The shoas invented, she declared, to disgrace the Mighty-in-Pomp, the Pole-star of the Universe, etc, etc
Akbar himself took it very complacently and allowed hirip very hard; for these are the Indian customs And a very sturdy specimen he looked as he stood up and crossed his ar slaps before crossing theain; also after Indian fashi+on, for so iven, and Yakoob, as was his wont, began, in irown-up wrestlers, to steal an advance on his adversary
But Akbar would none of that Whether, watching real wrestling, he had noticed the ht hiot it out of his own head, does not matter; but the little fellow rushed forward furiously and charging like a butting ra a snatch at his ankle tripped him up So there in a second was Yakoob on his back, and Akbar, breathless but triumphant, on top of him
”Now _you've_ tumbled down,” remarked the Heir-to-Empire suavely, as, astride his cousin's prostrate body, he paused for breath ere getting up
Of course, soh not the _polite_ style of wrestling, such a method was strictly within the rules All, however, ad little Heir-to-Empire; all but his aunt and uncle; and the fore at once, while the latter's crafty face, uneasy before, settled into a scowl
But Head-nurse could hardly contain her joy, even when Foster-father shook his wise old head and said he would not have had it happen for all the wealth of the world, for of late, if he were noter had coht portend who could say; but it was bad fortune the child should lose favour at Court to such slight purpose
”Slight, indeed!” sniffed Head-nurse ”Is it not so to have shown that woshi+p?”
”I would it were so, woman,” replied Foster-father, ”but a child under three with but two old ht”
Head-nurse tossed her head ”So oan; but Baby Akbar had been listening seriously and now put in with his deep childish voice, and a wise little shake of the head:
”And there's Tumbu and Down, too; they can bite and scratch beautifully for ht him up, and wept, and swore that Heaven
Perhaps it was this conversation which put the idea of getting help into the children's heads, but after a time it was evident they had soht hundreds of little lamps, and set out a quantity of tiny platters full of sweets, they stole off by thean to whisper
”I think it had better be grand-dad,” said the Heir-to-Eravely, ”'cos my father isn't dead yet, and they must be deaders, you know, if they are _really_ to help”
”And we'll take the little summer room at the very top of the house, Mirak, so's we'll be able to stop hiot a platter for him,” said Bija the practical ”Now, Mirak, I'll fetch the sweets if you'll get some lamps They won't be missed, you know, if we take them betwixt and between”
After that there was s of delight as the preparations advanced
”Oh, Mirak! Won't it be lovely? He's sure to co her hands ”And Old Faithful was saying that Grand-dad Babar was as good as twenty other ht, so _then_ you'll be quite safe”
But Mirak's face was solemn ”If Grand-dad doesn't know it's for hireedy to eat sweets as doesn't belong to you, and _he_ wasn't greedy Old Faithful says he wasn't He was a real King”
”Don't you think he ested Bijaa little she clapped her hands ”I have it, Mirak! If his name was on it that would do! I think I could write 'Ba-ba' It's only the two first letters, you see, and I know _them_; and you could prick yourself for soer as a pen It's very, very tiddly wee”
It was, indeed! and Mirak sat large-eyed in adenuity, while she, mistress of the situation, did this and that until even she was satisfied And really the little arched and domed cupola set in Eastern fashi+on on the roof, looked quite pretty with the little glittering lights in a square on the white marble floor, and the platter of sweets placed in the middle of the square, whereon in smeared red letters showed this:
[Illustration: BA BA]
”And now, Mirak!” chattered Bija, ”we'll go down and go to bed like good boys and girls, and then when the others are saying their prayers and going to sleep we can coain and sleep here”