Tara: A Mahratta Tale

by Meadows Taylor

  CHAPTER XXXI.

  Maloosray had too much at stake to risk aught by delay, and he and hiscompanions fled from the back door of the house already described,screened by the rain and thick darkness, leaving, however, one ofthe scouts to inform their companion of what had happened, and withdirections for both to join him at their place of concealment asquickly as possible. They proceeded at a rapid pace, leaving thesuburb, and striking across the open plain, eastwards, in the directionof the small hamlet of Allapoor, bearing the wounded man with them.Heretofore, in his stealthy visits to the city, Maloosray had foundshelter and concealment in a Mutt or monastery of Jogis, who, in theirannual pilgrimages, had become known to him, and assuming their garb,and even joining them in their morning perambulations in search ofalms, he had been enabled to visit those persons in the city with whomhis intrigues were being carried on. Now, however, the Jogis had warnedhim that their Mutt was no longer safe. Jehandar Beg had receivedinformation which led to several visits by his men at night; and thoughnot interfered with, or even aware of the reason of suspicion, theJogis knew they were watched.

  But they were true to his interests, and had prepared a place moresecure, because without the walls, and more secluded, than their ownMutt, which was the resort of travellers and devotees from all parts ofthe country. This was the cloister of an old Hindu temple which stoodby itself in an unfrequented part of the plain, and which, either bysome act of desecration, or because of its inconvenient situation,had been long neglected. The cloister round it was, however, in goodrepair, and a little plastering with clay, and cleansing of the chamberfrom the accumulated dust of years, made the place comfortable enough;and one of the Jogis attended in turn, brought provisions, and acted ascook to the party.

  It was easy from thence to reach the city unobserved. Not far distantwas the small hamlet of Allapoor, yet sufficiently far to deter pryingpersons from coming to see who lived in the deserted temple; and ifany one were observed, it was, to all appearance, only a Jogi. When,therefore, the Patel, or chief elder of the village of Allapoor,was told by the shepherd boys that some mendicants were repairingthe cloister of the old temple and staying there, he bade no oneinterfere with them; and his goodwill was by-and-by secured by anoccasional present from time to time. No one suspected the place or itsinhabitants; and few frequented the plain about it, which, being hardand stony, was uncultivated, as it still remains, and was used here andthere for cemeteries; but the greater part was left to nature, and toflocks of hardy sheep and goats, which picked up a scanty subsistence.

  It was not without some apprehension that Maloosray had first trustedhimself to the new shelter; but in the course of several visits he hadbecome accustomed to it, and found that he was at once freer and saferthere, than in his old quarters inside the walls. The horses, too,were excellently provided for in the crypt of an adjoining Mahomedantomb, which had never been finished, nor had any use been made of it.Below the foundation terrace was a spacious arched vault, above whichthe walls of the mausoleum had been partly carried; and the entrancewas so overgrown with matted creepers and bushes, that it could not beseen unless examined very closely. Within, three horses, and as manystout ponies, found excellent shelter and concealment; and Maloosray'sscouts--who were, in fact, his retainers and escort--lived with themand tended them.

  To this place Maloosray proceeded as fast as the wet ground and therough by-paths would permit--supporting his companion when needful, andhelping him over stony places. The wound was not dangerous, yet it hadcaused considerable loss of blood, and the hardy mountaineer was moreweakened than he liked to admit. Once they emerged upon the plain, thetemple was soon reached; and, after having the sword-cut dressed andbound up, the wounded man was left to his repose.

  Maloosray's next care was for his horses, and he proceeded to thecrypt. Safe now from observation, for it was long past midnight,the men there were busy with preparations for the morning meal--forthey could cook only at night. Two were grinding millet-flour in thehand-mill, which they always carried with them; another was kneadingdough in a wooden trough; a fourth shaping portions of it into cakes,which he patted between his hands into the desired form, and a fifthwas baking them upon a large flat iron pan or griddle--which heldseveral at the same time--and removing them to the side of the fire toharden, as fast as baked.

  A goodly pile of bread had already accumulated; and in two earthen potssimmered messes of vegetables and split-peas, from which a strong, andnot unsavoury, smell of onions and garlic proceeded. The fire, fed bydry sticks from time to time, lighted up the space around, restingupon the rough stone arches and heavy massive groins of the crypt; andupon the forms of several men lying asleep, wrapped in their strongcotton sheets or rough blankets, while others reclined lazily, talkingoccasionally to those employed. There were three horses--two lay asleepamong the men, the other, a powerful silver-grey mare, was feeding, andlooking round occasionally to the man baking bread, expecting, with alow whinny, her allowance of buttered cakes.

  The scene was peculiar and striking: for the gloom of the vault was sodeep, except around the fire itself, that every object seemed to standout in sharp relief as the light caught it. Just then, too, a brighterblaze than before rested upon the coat of the mare, and, shining on thesoft glossy skin, caused the graceful outline of her form to projectfrom the deep gloom behind it in a remarkable manner.

  "What! awake, and no one guarding the door? Ah! would ye have theKotwal's men upon ye, my sons?" cried Maloosray, entering unobserved."Beware, all of ye, the risk is great."

  "Master, we had the watch set," answered a man, standing up and makinga clumsy salutation, while others started to their feet. "I only camein for a moment to see to the mare, for the rest were busy."

  "Has she not slept?"

  "O yes! She just now woke, got up, shook herself, and neighed. That waswhat brought me in; I thought she had no fodder, and that the othersmight be asleep."

  "Then she is fresh for a journey, in case we have a rapid one, Ramjee?"

  "Ay, master; you may be at Poona in three days if you will, or atPertabgurh either. She will do it."

  Maloosray approached the animal: she stretched her head towards himwith a low whinny, and rubbed her nose and eyes against him. "Yes,Rookminee," he said, caressing her, "thou wilt have sharp work,perhaps. Art ready, lass?"

  There was another low whinny in reply, as she licked the hand held outto her. She at least understood the caress, and responded to it. Hepassed his hand over her sleek coat, which glistened like silver inthe firelight, and down each leg, and taking up each hoof, narrowlyexamined every shoe and nail in it in succession.

  "Ah! if you can find any fault there, master, you may do as you pleasewith me," said Ramjee. "No; Balla at Jutt knows his trade too well toallow a nail to slack, and he knows, too, whose mare he is shoeing!What does he say? When Sivaji Bhoslay comes with a hundred thousandhorse, then I will ride with him on his raid to the south, and not ahorse shall drop a shoe, be the journey ever so long."

  "And he shall, Ramjee," cried Maloosray, laughing. "The fellow is abraggart, but he is useful."

  "Ah! master, that was a rare meeting. Was it not curious that so manyhorses wanted shoeing that day? Well, so thought the royal horsemenstationed there; and they went about twisting up their moustaches, andswelling themselves out as you never saw, my lord. Many good fellowsthere were, who would not have cared for a chance with some of thosegallants in the open plain. When are we to begin, master?"

  "Ay, when?" echoed a number of the men, who ceased their occupation fora moment, or raised themselves on their elbows while the answer wasgiven.

  "Not yet, my sons, not yet; we bide our time. And now for work,"answered Maloosray. "Go thou, Ramjee, to the Paigah of Afzool Khanearly, and see if that dog Bulwunt Rao is dead. Well was it that Itied chains in my turban folds last night, else he had cloven me tothe teeth. I have vowed a silver horse to the shrine of Khundoba atJejoori, for the deliverance."

  "And was he slain, master, at la
st?"

  "Nay, that is what I want to know," he replied. "But I had a fair blowat him, and I rarely miss. Go, and bring news quickly."

  "Master," said Ramjee in a tone of entreaty, and reverentially touchingMaloosray's feet, "I will go. Let there be no risks like this again.What would the Maharaja do without you, and what is there to be gainedhere that is worth such peril?"

  "Ah, yes!" added another, "what if ten thousand such as we are wereexpended, it would be nothing were Tannajee safe. Only that two of usin the lane behind Rama's, misdirected a party of the King's men, yehad been beset, before and behind; and if the King had got hold of anyof ye, the kites and crows of the 'Goruk Imlee' would have had fullbellies by this evening."

  "Well, it was not of my seeking," returned Maloosray; "for BulwuntRao was reported dead--killed in battle two years ago; so, at least,we heard. It was like fighting a spirit, my sons; and I missed myblows.... Hark! who is that without? Netta? What news, brother?" hecontinued, as a slight, active-looking man entered hastily. "Didst thoufind Pahar Singh, the old robber?"

  "Maharaj!" returned the man, "there was no Pahar Singh. We found a fireburning in the verandah of the temple, and I took a lighted brand andlooked about. All we could discover was a little fresh blood on thefloor and three gold pieces among the ashes. But there was blood on thewall too, and we tracked it for a few paces, when the torch went out inthe rain, so we went on and heard a man moaning in a nullah, and somejackals were standing by him as we went up. Dost thou remember MaunSingh, who is with Pahar Singh always? Well, we could hardly see, soLimba went back for another brand, and brought it under his blanket,and then we saw the man's face. He was terribly wounded, and could notspeak sensibly, but one or two names escaped him, one of which wasPahar Singh, and Limba knew his face."

  "Ye did not let him live, the foul traitor and liar?" cried Maloosray,excitedly. "O that it had been 'the Lion' himself! Ye did not let himlive?"

  "Master, he will speak no more, nor yet tell lies. I have made thatsure enough," said Limba, approaching and touching the feet ofMaloosray. "I knew him after what happened in the old Gosai's Mutt atTooljapoor, and Moro Punt would have had me kill him then and the othertoo, only I could find no opportunity. They had some fifty horse withhim, and were as shy as deer. Now I have settled that account."

  "Good, my son," replied Maloosray; "but what had happened, Netta? Wasthere no further trace of them?"

  "None, Maharaj; we were fairly puzzled. We returned, and stayed in thetemple by the fire, in hopes that Pahar Singh might come back; but itwas no use. Then we went and listened behind the guard-house, and heardthere was a man wounded in an affray--a 'Gosai'--and there was a barberdressing his wound."

  "Then he did not die? I had hoped he did."

  "Holy Mother! was this thy work, master, and all of us away?" criedseveral of the men.

  "No; Ranoo remained with me," replied Maloosray, "and has got ascratch; but what of the man wounded? What think ye of Bulwunt Rao, mycousin, dead long since, as we thought, but come to life, Netta?"

  "My curse on him! And he escaped you, Tannajee?"

  "I am going to see if he be dead, brother," interposed Ramjee; "themaster's blows are not little ones."

  "You see, friends, they--those two Gosais--as they appeared, must havemet Pahar Singh, who directed them. I see it all now--the villain'sattempt to decoy us into that trap by the temptation of news of theWuzeer. Depend upon it, he has been bought over, and is not to betrusted; and he set them on our track."

  "He never was," cried both the men; "he has only one king and onegod--that is money," added Netta; "and he has gone where he could getit."

  "Yes, friends, those men knew us," continued Maloosray; "and to my mindthe place is no longer safe: so we had as well be ready. If they havegiven the alarm--and Bulwunt would do so if he had any sense--we shallhave horsemen scouring the plains to-morrow, and that fine lad, FazilKhan, at the head of them. So away, some of you: watch the gates; letthe horses be kept saddled all day; and let them have bread as fastas they can eat it. I would go at once, Nettajee," he added to thatperson, taking him aside; "but the Wuzeer must be seen and spoken withfirst. He was at Almella yesterday, and will be in the city by theafternoon. Without having speech of him, I dare not show myself beforethe master; and the object of our journey would be incomplete. I thinkwe may trust him."

  "Alas! I fear not," replied Nettajee; "ye are too sanguine, you andthe Maharaja. Khan Mahomed will not league with us; he leans to theMoghuls, and calls us 'Kafirs of Hindus,' and kills cows wherever hecan. I know it. Why do ye trust him, when he is faithless to his ownsalt? Suppose he chose to turn round and hang up Tannajee Maloosray tothe 'Goruk Imlee tree,' would not that keep him fair in his master'seyes, and blind them to his intrigues with the Padshah? Ah, brother,trust him not: one who will deceive the master who has raised him towhat he is, will deceive you. A slave born, he will be one to the last;and he is not fit to strike in with free men like us! Leave him to theMoghuls, to whom he will be a slave, as he was to Beejapoor: we haveour own road between both. But come now to Ranoo: is he fit to travel?"

  "He will be better after he has slept. We were owls, Nettajee, not tosee through those flimsy disguises," returned Maloosray.

  "Bulwunt Rao is better living than dead, brother; and we may yet bringhim round," said Nettajee.

  "I tell thee, O Netta," interrupted Tannajee, fiercely, and grindinghis teeth as he spoke, "I would cut him down with my own hand at thefeet of the Maharaja, rather than he should have speech of him. Nevername him to me, else we may differ."

  "Ah, that blow of his still rings in your head, Tannajee," replied theother, laughing. "But come; if you don't need sleep, I do. He sleeps,"he continued, as they entered the cloister where the wounded man lay;"that is well; and I will do the same, Tannajee;" and so saying, hetook down a sheet from a cord on which it was hanging, and, wrappinghimself in it, lay down, and was soon snoring loudly.

  But Maloosray could not sleep, and after a while, got up, andascending the steps to the roof of the terrace, looked over theplain suspiciously. All, however, was still. To the east, lightningwas playing about the tops of the clouds in dim flickering flashes.Everywhere else the sky was clear, and the stars shone with greatlustre. A few jackals howled in the distance, and their cry wasanswered successively in many directions. Then the drums and horns ofthe several guards at the gates and on the outer walls and bastionsof the city, sounded deep and shrill one by one, and were taken up bythose in the "Ark" or citadel of the palace, and so died away in thedistance.

  His eye followed the line of towers and battlements, and narrowlywatched every light which might betoken a stir among the troopswithin; but there was none. The huge dome of the mausoleum of MahmoodAdil Shah, not long completed, stood out in a dark heavy mass againstthe clear sky: and beyond it the outlines of the Palace of the SevenStories--the great Cavalier--and a confused mass of trees and buildingsintermingled; nearer, too, the massive walls and arches of the tomb ofthe mother of the late King, then, as now, unfinished.

  All was still. High up in the palace a light twinkled now and thenfaintly, on which Tannajee speculated dreamily. Was the King awake? thelight was in his private apartments. What could he be doing so latein the night? for the drums and trumpets had sounded the third watch.O that he would join heartily with his master, and defy the Moghuls!Would no one tell him this was his best policy? Better a thousand timesto secure the fidelity of a large portion of his own subjects by timelyconcession, than to defy and coerce their chieftain. Now, too, thoughthe Moghuls had been once beaten off, it would not be so again. Theywere resting and gathering strength, and one by one the independentkingdoms to the north had fallen before them.

  How long would this remain?--this, the most extensive, most valuable,and most heretical. Better far, then, to secure the Mahratta people,than to lose all by a double war with them, and with the Moghuls. "Willno one tell the boy this?" thought Maloosray. "We do not wish him evil;but the master must be free, and will be
free. The people will assembleat the Dussera, and the King can then have his choice between a lakh ofMahrattas and a lakh of Moghuls, or both combined; and yet this oldfamily should not pass away--it should not pass away at our hands."

  But we need not follow his thoughts further: better to transportourselves to that twinkling light high up in the Seven-storied Palace,and see who sit beside it, and hear what they say.