"Maraj! Pounced on her like a hawk on a bird. He had a trap set. I warned you, and you avoided it. I had to run, and they thought they killed me, but I came back. When Maraj saw you plunge into the river he ran to the place. And when he saw the Ranee in the water he hid himself. I tried to yell to her, but I had no voice. I couldn't whisper! And so she climbed out, and Maraj pounced on her. "I saw him pick her up--she was kicking--he carried her--he ran--and I ran--he choked her until she left off kicking--then I saw him take her to the hermitage, which is full of Brahmins and cutthroats--and I don't know where the Prince is--and we can't get to the hermitage now--_because the whole damn jungle is on fire! Oh, my God!_" He lay and beat the hard earth with his flat palms. He beat his forehead on the ground. Quorn lifted him, took him by shoulders and heel and hoisted him into the _howdah_. Then he climbed up to his own place on Asoka's neck, after he had broken off a short stick for administrative purposes. "Come on now, and no bunk!" * * * * * Quorn was not even quite sure where the hermitage lay, and it was no use asking Bamjee, who was moaning and out of his senses, rolling from side to side of the _howdah_. But Bamjee had told the truth about the jungle fire; the hot-weather wind was rising and the roar and heat and smell of it were coming closer every second. There were birds and animals in full flight--scores of them--even a leopard that passed within six feet and did not pause to look at a man on an elephant. Asoka, too, was getting difficult to manage. So Quorn turned down-wind, but headed southward as much as possible, in order to make a circuit of the fire; but he had to make a very wide circuit indeed because of Asoka's nervousness. However, Asoka was willing, and put his best foot forward; they covered five or six miles faster than a horse could have done it, which brought them out of the zone of rolling smoke. And when they were out of the haze of the smoke Quorn presently saw Blake on horseback on a knoll, gazing under his hand in every direction. He clapped his spurs in and came galloping the moment he caught sight of Asoka. "For God's sake, where is the Ranee?" he demanded. "What has happened?" Quorn was laconic. Bamjee stuck his head over the _howdah_ rail and repeated Quorn's words after him--adding to them. "Go to her--for God's sake, go to her!" he almost screamed, and then collapsed. But in another moment he was on his knees again, and it was Bamjee who first caught sight of Rana Raj Singh and ten of his men moving westward in an extended line with the long slow-swinging canter that saves horses' strength against emergency. "Bloody dam-fool! Go back!" Bamjee yelled. But Rana Raj Singh came on at a gallop, drew rein in a dust cloud and sat silent, waiting for Blake to speak first. Blake told him all that he and Quorn knew.