I could only escape by night, I remember thinking, and I was getting close up to the trees that hid our little camp, dolefully pondering over my position and the hopelessness of succour from without, when all at once a hideous figure rose up from beneath a tree and confronted me; and as I stopped short, startled by the foul appearance of the man, with his long tangled hair and wild grey beard, I saw Salaman and two of his helpers come running toward us, just as the old fakir--for it was he-- raised his hands, and in a denunciatory way poured forth a torrent of wild abuse. His eyes looked as if starting out of his head; he bared his arms, and, as it seemed to me, cursed and reviled me savagely as an infidel dog whom he would deliver over to the crows and jackals, while he hoped that the graves of my father, mother, and all our ancestors, might be defiled in every possible way. And all the time he looked as if he would spring upon me, but I did not much fear that, for he was very old, and as weak as could be from his wounds. This and his passion, which increased as Salaman and the men came up, forced him to cling to a tree for support, but his tongue was strong enough, though his throat grew hoarse, and his voice at last became a husky whisper, while Salaman and the others tried to calm him, though evidently fearing to bring the curses down upon their own heads, and shrinking from the old wretch whenever he turned angrily upon them, as they tried to coax him away. These efforts were all in vain, and as I stood there quite firm, not liking to appear afraid, and caring very little for his curses, his voice grew inaudible, and he began to spit upon the ground. "I pray my lord to go," said Salaman at last. "Why should I go?" I said pettishly. "Drive the reviling old rascal away." "No, no, my lord," he whispered; "we dare not." "Then I shall complain to the rajah. I am sure he would not have me annoyed in this way if he knew." "No, my lord," said Salaman, humbly; "but what can thy servant do?" "Do? Send the dirty old madman off." "Oh, hush, my lord, pray," whispered Salaman. "Thy servant loves to serve thee, and his highness is thy friend. If aught befel my lord from the holy man's curses, what should I do?" "Do?" I repeated. "Send him about his business." "But he will not go, my lord, until he pleases." "Then I shall send one of the sowars with a message to the rajah," I said firmly. "I am not going to be insulted by that old dog." "My lord, I pray," said Salaman, imploringly. "His highness would punish me, and my lord knows it is no fault of mine his coming." "Look here, Salaman," I said; "if you call me `my lord' again, instead of `sahib,' I will send to his highness. There, get rid of the old fellow as soon as you can. We should have such a man put in prison in England. Come and give me some food, and let him curse his voice back again. I don't wonder that the tiger wanted to kill him."