Part 5 (2/2)

As a respectable strong party of holy men, and a prince, they would gain the confidence of the merchant, even of the _patil_ of the village where he would rest for a night.

They would send spies into Poona to obtain knowledge of the jewel merchant's movements. The spies, two men who were happy in the art of ingratiating themselves into the good graces of prospective victims, would attach themselves to the merchant's party, and at night slip away and join the robber band so that they might judge where he would camp next night; at some village that would be a day's march.

When questioned, the _yogi_ told them where they would find the merchant; he was stopping with a friend in Poona. So the two set off, and the Bagrees prepared for their journey.

For the ordeal a cannon ball was needed and a blacksmith to heat it.

And as Hunsa had been the father of the scheme, Sookdee declared that he must procure these from the Mahratta camp.

Hunsa agreed to this.

The Bagrees were encamped to one side of the Mahratta troops in a small jungle of _dhak_ and slim-growing bamboos that afforded them privacy.

In negotiating for the loan of a blacksmith Hunsa had impressed upon a sergeant his sincerity by the gift of two rupees; and two rupees more to the blacksmith made it certain that the heating of the cannon ball would not make the test unfair to Hunsa.

A peac.o.c.k perched high in the feathery top of a giant _sal_ tree was crying ”miaow, miaow!” to the dipping sun when, in the centre of the Bagree camp the blacksmith, sitting on his haunches in front of a charcoal fire in which nested the iron cannon ball, fanned the flames with his pair of goat-skin hand-bellows.

Lots were cast as to which of the two would take the ordeal first, and it fell to Ajeet. First seven paces were marked off, and Ajeet was told that he must not run, but take the seven steps as in a walk, carrying the hot iron on a pipal leaf on his palm.

”This food of the cannon is now hot,” the blacksmith declared, dropping his bellows and grasping a pair of iron tongs.

As Sookdee placed a broad pipal leaf upon the jamadar's palm, Ajeet repeated in a firm voice: ”I take the ordeal. If I am guilty, Maha Kali, may the sign of thy judgment appear upon my fles.h.!.+”

”We are ready,” Sookdee declared, and the waiting blacksmith swung the instrument of justice from its heat in the glowing charcoal to the outstretched hand of the jamadar.

Hunsa's hungry eyes glowed in pleased viciousness, for the blacksmith had indeed heated the metal; the green pipal leaf squirmed beneath its heat like a worm, as Ajeet Singh, with the military stride of a soldier, took the seven paces.

Then dropping the thing of torture he extended his slim small hand to Sookdee for inspection.

Hunsa's villainy had worked out. A white rime, like a h.o.a.r frost, fretting the deep red of the scorched skin, that was as delicate as that on a woman's palm.

Sookdee muttered a pitying cry, and Hunsa declared boastfully: ”When men have evil in their hearts it is known to Bhowanee; behold her sign!”

But Ajeet laughed, saying: ”Let Hunsa have the iron; he, too, will know of its heat.”

”Put it again in the fire,” declared Sookdee, ”for it is an ordeal in which only the guilty is punished; but the ball must be of the same heat.”

And once more the shot was returned to the charcoal.

Gulab Begum pushed her way rapidly to where the jamadars stood; but Sookdee objected, saying: ”When men appeal to Bhowanee it is not proper that women should be of the ceremony; it will indeed anger our mother G.o.ddess.”

”Thou art a fool, Sookdee,” Bootea declared. ”The hand of your chief is in pain though he shows it not in his face. Shall a brave man suffer because you are without feeling!”

She turned to the Chief. ”Here I have cocoanut oil and a bandage of soft muslin. Hold to me your hand, Ajeet.”

”It is not needed, Gulab, star-flower,” the Chief declared proudly.

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