Part 31 (1/2)
”Then how in the world--?”
Yash cut short the question as she rose to her feet with a glance at the westering sun
”Let us go Two hours from noe shall cross the border into another state Two hours after night-fall our journey is ended Then the last gains--the last chukker--and I win!”
Tess wished then that they had never halted! The rest had given her muscles time to stiffen, and her nerves the opportunity to learn how tired they were As the camels rose jerkily and followed their leader in line at the sa bones and the utter weariness ofEvery ligament in her body craved only stillness, but the camel's unaccustomed thrust and sway continued, repeated to infinity, until her nerves grew numb and she was hardly conscious of tiain there was pursuit, but Tess was hardly conscious of it-- hardly realized that shots were fired--clinging to the saddle in theand deathly than the sort small boats provide at sea The sun went down and left her cooler, but not recovered
She knew nothing of boundaries, or of the changing nature of the country- side It reat trees now, and that once they crossed a strea in her mind was that dick, the ever dependable, had misinformed her She had ”fetched it up”--a dozen times True to his instruction, she had ”carried on” But it did not pass! She felt onized, more weary every minute
But at last, because there is an end even to the motion of a camel, in this world of exahtfall the caravan halted in the shadow of great trees beside a stone house with a wall about it Her camel knelt with a round and fainted, only snatched away by strong hands in the nick of ti brutes are carateful for the toil men put them to
For an hour after that she was only di soft, and of supple, tireless wo the wearythe arrive--Trotters, the Rarel stock of Hindustan, sobring on a package that his set jaws hardly could release; Yasmini, scornful of the laws of caste and ever responsive to a true friend, pried it loose with strong fingers It was she, too, who saw to the dog's needs--fed hiave him drink--removed a thorn froave Bimbu food, with her own hands, and saw that his driver and ca that bound the leather jacket of the package
Bi by the short route and, having nothing to be robbed of, had had s Tess was really conscious of when she regained her senses was a great dog that sluer-marked, disheveled, dusty, fifty-dollar hat on the floor near by, awaking at intervals to sniff her hand and reassure hiallop in his sleep; a rangy, gray, enornized as Trotters
Then ca, but stillof stiffincantations while they worked They lifted the bed away from the wall, and one of the wo Tess hat the West translates as ”influence”--the spell that all the East knows keeps away evil interference
Last of all by candlelight, Yas as the flower from which she has her naaret them?” Tess asked her
”These clothes? Oh, I have friends here Have no fear now--there are friends on every side of us”
She showed Tess a letter, pierced in four places by a dog's eye-teeth
”This is from Samson sahib Do you reht think to play me false? I think he has Some one has been to Samson sahib Hear this:
”'The Princess Yashness, ”'Word has reached ht to bear on you fro that the object of the pressure is to induce you to disclose a secret you possess Let al restraint and improper treatment is at your service Further, that in case your secret is such as concerns vitally the political relations, present or future, of Sialpore the proper person to whom to confide it is myself Should you see your way to take that only safe course, you may rest assured that your own interests will be cared for in every way possible
”'I have the honor to be, ”'Your Highness' obedient servant, ”'Roland Sah,” said Tess ”I dislike Sahed Yasmini ”He makes love to you! Is it not so? He would ave him opportunity! What a jest for the Gods if I should play that game with him and make him marry me! I could! I could make of Samson a power in India! But the her up' within a week I can have poithout his help! What a royal jest, though, to lish wives who think they pull the strings of governhed Tess
”Maybe I shall never try it I am more of the East than the West But I will answer Samson Bi shall take a letter to Too that I have flown the nest He onder how Tom Tripe holds coreater respect for him--which may serve us later”
”Let me add a letter to my husband then, to tell hi Can you stand? Can you walk?
Have the maids put new life in you?”
Tess was astonished at her swift recovery She was a little stiff--a little weak--a little tired; but she could walk up and down the rooait and Yasht Listen! Tonight I am Abhisharika Do you knohat that is--Abhisharika?”