"Is she awake yet?" he demanded.
"Barely, but she recovers."
"Then tell her, when consciousness returns, that I have gone and will
return for her. And stay here, thou, and guard her until I come."
"Ha, sahib!"
"Now, show the way!"
"But--" said the priest, "our bargain? The price that we agreed on--
one lakh, was it not?"
"One lakh of devils take thee and tear thee into little pieces!
Wouldst bribe a Rajput, a Risaldar? For that insult I will repay
thee one day with interest, O priest! Now, show the way!"
"But how shall I be sure about my son?"
"Be sure that the priestling will starve to death or die of thirst
or choke, unless I hurry! He is none too easy where he lies!"
"Go! Hurry, then!" swore the priest. "May all the gods there are,
and thy Allah with them, afflict thee with all their curses--thee
and thine! Up with you! Up that ladder! Run! But, if the gods
will, I will meet thee again when the storm is over!"
"Inshallah!" growled Mahommed Khan.
Ten minutes later a crash and a clatter and a shower of sparks broke
out in the sweltering courtyard where the guns had stood and waited.
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