"It was easier done than I expected, sahib, but I guessed that my story about the Nawab of Rampur would send Moulvie and Begum packing. Now we are free, and we have four horses. Whither shall we go? But, if it be north, south, east, or west, let us leave the main road, for messengers may meet the moulvie and that would make him suspicious." "Thy counsel is better than mine, good friend," was Frank's answer. "I am yet dazed with thy success, and my only word is--to Allahabad." CHAPTER XI A DAY'S ADVENTURES Though his arm was stiff and painful, the rough bandaging it had received and the coarse food given him in sufficient quantity at Rai Bareilly, had partly restored Malcolm's strength. Nevertheless he thought his mind was failing when, in the dim light of the inner room in which he was confined, he saw Chumru standing before him. His servant's warlike attire was sufficiently bewildering, and the sonorous objurgations with which he was greeted were not calculated to dispel the cloud over his wits, but a whispered sentence gave hope, and hope is a wonderful restorative. "Pretend not to know me, sahib, and all will be well," said his unexpected ally, and, from that instant until they stood together on the Lucknow road, Malcolm had guarded tongue and eye in the firm faith that Chumru would save him. He was not mistaken. The adroit Mohammedan knew better than to trust his sahib and himself too long on the highway. "They will surely make search for us, huzoor," he said as they headed across country towards a distant ridge, thickly coated with trees. "The Begum and Ahmed Ullah met here for a purpose, and their friends will not fail to tell them of the trouble in Lucknow. I have been shaking in my boots all day, for 'tis ill resting in the jungle when tigers are loose, but I knew you could not ride in the sun, and I saw no other way of getting rid of the moulvie's men than that of sending them back in the dark." "It seems to me," said Malcolm, with a weak laugh, "that you would not have scrupled to knock both of them on the head if necessary." "No, sahib, they are my kin. He who wore this uniform was a Brahmin, and that makes all the difference. Brother does not slay brother unless there be a woman in dispute." "When did you leave the Residency?" "About nine o'clock last night, sahib." "Did you see the miss-sahib before you came away?" "It was she who told me whither you had gone, sahib." "Ah, she knew, then? Did she say aught--send any message?" "Only that you would be certain to need my help, sahib." That puzzled Frank. Winifred, of course, had said nothing of the kind, but Chumru assumed that she understood him, so his misrepresentation was quite honest.