"O Risaldar!" called Ruth suddenly, with her head still out of the
window. He released the ayah and let her tumble as she pleased into
a heap.
"Heavenborn?"
"What is that red glow on the skyline over yonder?"
"A burning, heavenborn!"
"A burning? What burning? Funeral pyres? It's very big for
funeral pyres!"
"Nay, heavenborn!"
"What, then?"
She was still unfrightened, unsuspicious of the untoward. The Risaldar's
arrival on the scene had quite restored her confidence and she felt
content to ride with him to Jundhra on the morrow.
"Barracks, heavenborn!"
"Barracks? What barracks?"
"There is but one barracks between here and Jundhra."
"Then--then--then--what has happened, Mahommed Khan?"
"The worst has happened, heavenborn!"
He stood between her and the ayah, so that she could not see the
woman huddled on the floor.
"The worst? You mean then--my--my--husband--you don't mean that
my husband--"
"I mean, heavenborn that there is insurrection! All India is ablaze
from end to end. These dogs here in Hanadra wait to rise because
they think the section will return here in an hour or two; then
they propose to burn it, men, guns and horses, like snakes in the
summer grass.
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