Tara: A Mahratta Tale

by Meadows Taylor

  CHAPTER LV.

  Just then, a company of well-equipped horsemen, in number about twohundred, rode into Afzool Khan's camp at Tandoolwaree; and the samegleam of sun, which had broken through the clouds and shone on thetemple at Tooljapoor, and upon Gunga as she danced, caught the tips oftheir long spears,--and sparkled upon matchlock barrels, the brightbosses of their shields, and the steel morion of the leader.

  There was no regularity of dress or equipment among the horsemen, butthe fine condition and spirit of their horses, and the manner in whichthey moved, proved them to be accustomed to act together, as the lookof the men gave assurance of their being well tried in war. In theirfront was a man on a piebald horse, over which were slung two largekettle-drums, which were occasionally beaten with a sonorous sound bythe person who sat behind them: and two men, both round-shouldered,one of whom carried a small green standard, with a white figure ofHunooman, the monkey god, sewn upon it, rode beside him, one on eachside. Pahar Singh was true to his word; and, entering the camp at atime when his arrival would create no particular observation, proceededto some vacant ground in a field on the west side of it, where, drawingup his men, he bid them dismount, and, without unsaddling theirhorses, tether them and await his coming.

  "What is the uncle about to-night?" said our old friend, Lukshmun, tothe kettle-drummer, as the halt was made, "and why do we stop here? Hetold us we were to go on to Sholapoor, to prepare forage for the Khan'sarmy."

  The man laughed. "Ah, brother!" he said, "dost thou not yet understandthe uncle's ways? Now, to my perception, as he has come to the westof the camp, we shall have to go east. Home, perhaps, who knows?--thedevil,--if this be one of his errands,--as it most likely is. Certainwe have something to do out of the common way, else he would not havestayed apart all day nor picked the men and the mares; nor would hehave brought you and Rama and the young master. Well, we shall soonsee, for he has gone off to the Khan's tents, where a Durbar appears tobe going on."

  "Yes, he may be waiting for orders," returned the hunchback. "May theMother give him luck of them;--better luck than we had in that wildride after Maloosray, when neither mud, nor stones, nor rivers, stoppedus; and when we drew breath at the Hortee pass, you could have heardthe mares breathing and snorting a coss off! That was not the way tocatch Maloosray! Yes, he had done too much that day; and the bloodhad got up into his eyes and head," he continued, after a pause, andwagging his head wisely, "but he is cool now; what will he do?"

  "Something," said his companion; "what do we care? Now, help me to getthese kettles off the mare's back, Lukshmun, else I shall be whipped ifhe comes and finds them on. Ho, Rama, come and help, brother. What ailsthee? art drunk?"

  "May thy tongue rot," replied that worthy, dismounting from his mare;"who told thee I was drunk?"

  "Well, then, art thou sober? if that please thee better," returned theman, laughing. "But what ails thee? thou hast not spoken a word sincewe set out."

  "No matter, my eyes are blinded with blood," returned Rama sulkily."What we are to do to-night will be evil. I saw an omen I did not likebefore we set out, and three hares have crossed us since. Is that good?I tell thee I cannot see in that direction," and he pointed to thewest, "for the blood that is in my eyes."

  "The sun is bright enough, Rama," said Lukshmun, laughing, "and theliquor was strong, brother. Thou wilt see better by-and-by, when thenight falls."

  "Peace, ill-born," cried Rama, aiming a blow at him with hisspear-shaft; "only thou art my brother I had put it into thee."

  "Ill or well born, we came of the same mother," retorted Lukshmun; "asfor me, with this hunch on my back, by the gods, thou sayest true. Butgo to sleep, my friend, and get the blood out of thine eyes; I like itnot. He is generally right when he says this," continued Lukshmun tothe kettle-drummer. "Yes, we shall have work to do, and some of us mayhave to sup with the gods to-night. I pray it may not be Rama, for hiswife is a devil; and as for his children--cubs of a wolf are easier tomanage."

  Leaving these worthies to discuss the probabilities of the night,which was also the theme of conversation among the men, we may followPahar Singh and his nephew to the Durbar tent; where, seated at itsentrance, were Afzool Khan, his son, the Peer, and other officers ofthe force, enjoying, as it were, the cool breeze of evening; whilereports were heard and read, papers signed, and orders given. Carpetshad been spread for some: others sat on the bare ground, or on theirsaddle-cloths, removed for the purpose. All seemed merry, and theKhan's face was beaming with pleasure. He was, in truth, enjoying hisold life, and his spirits had risen with it, with the hope, not onlythat Pahar Singh would not fail him, but in the capture of the chiefmalcontents of those provinces, that he should strike a deep blow atthe root of the widespread Mahratta confederacy.

  Pahar Singh and his nephew dismounted, and, advancing, offered thehilts of their swords to the Khan and those near him in succession, andwhile receiving and replying to their welcome, took their seats amongthe rest. "Our time will come, Gopal," said the chief; "wait patiently,they will send for us after the evening prayer."

  He was right. As the sun set, the assembly broke up. Performing theirablutions, as a priest sang the Azan, or invitation to prayer, theyagain collected, marshalled by the Peer, who took his seat in front,looking towards Mecca. All present, joined by hundreds of others fromthe camp, knelt on the ground in ranks, and obeying his movements,rose--bowed themselves--or kneeled, in unison--as the various changesof the Moslem liturgy required. When the service was over, all, wishingeach other peace, with the blessing of God and the Prophet, separatedfor the night.

  "Come into my tent," said the Khan to Pahar Singh, "thou art welcome.What of the work?"

  "I am ready," he said; "I have two hundred of my best people with me."

  "And I am not behind thee; my people are ready also, and wait thypleasure," replied the Khan.

  "Who is this, father?" cried Fazil, who now entered, having remainedto speak with some friends. Fazil had not recognized the Fakeerof the King's Durbar, nor the Jogi of the temple; but there was avague impression on his mind that he had seen the face under othercircumstances.

  "Pahar Singh, son; dost thou not know him?" he replied.

  "A brave youth, the worthy son of a brave sire, may not object toreceive the offering of an old soldier," said the chief, putting outhis sword-hilt to Fazil, who touched it courteously; "and he shall havehis share of the work if he may, Khan Sahib."

  "What work? what is this?" whispered Fazil to his father, and takinghim a step aside. "Do not trust him--he is one of them--all men say so.He is not true."

  "He is as true as I am," replied the Khan. "I have already proved him,and thou wilt know all by-and-by. He has received the King's pardon,and confirmation of all his possessions. Do not doubt him, for he canrender important service."

  "Enough, father," said Fazil aloud; and, turning to Pahar Singh, "Whereyou go I will follow; but who will lead us?"

  "I will lead one party, and my son here another. Come thou with me,Khan, and send thy son with mine," replied the chief promptly.

  "Where are we to go?" asked Fazil.

  "We cannot say till we are on the road," said the chief, smiling."'Thieves,' they say, 'have longer ears than asses.' I have one of mytrumpeters here; and when it is time to move, a shrill blast will beblown: till then, eat and make your preparations, as I will mine;" andsaluting them, Pahar Singh and his son walked to their horses, and,mounting them, rode away.

  "And do we go with them alone, father?" asked Fazil, following thechief with his eyes, and in a tone of apprehension.

  "No," said the Khan, "the order I gave for the Paigah and theAbyssinian horse to march to-night to Sholapoor is for this service,and we shall lead them."

  "Excellent," cried Fazil joyfully; "then I fear nothing; but who isthis Pahar Singh? Surely I have seen him before."

  "Certainly, in the Durbar at Nuldroog, when the deed of confirmationwas given to him."

  "I was not there, father: I heard of it."

>   "Ah, true! Well, then, dost thou remember the Kullunder Fakeer of theKing's Durbar?"

  "Protection of God!" cried Fazil; "ay, and the Jogi of the temple.Strange, I thought I had seen those eagle eyes somewhere. I had notforgotten them. Now, father, I will go with him; but tell him not thatI was at the temple. He might resent the death of his follower, andrecede from us."

  "An excellent caution, son; no, he shall never know it."

  "What are the Abyssinians getting ready for?" asked the Peer, who cameup at that moment. "Some secret service at Sholapoor, as Ibrahim Khantells me? There is no mutiny, no disaffection, Khan?"

  "It is a secret service, my friend," replied Afzool Khan, smiling,"and Fazil and I are going with them; but there is no mutiny, or causefor any, and we do not go to Sholapoor."

  "Where, then?" cried the Peer. "Let me come; nay, I will take nodenial: whither thou goest I will follow."

  "It were better not, Huzrut," replied the Khan; "it will be a roughride, and perhaps some rough work at the end of it; nevertheless, asthou wilt. Come, sirs, we had need to eat first. Come, Bismilla!"