et time to repair the wrong and make amends. Let us away,
away, without the delay of another hour.'

"The munshi clapped his hands once more, and the servant was quickly in
attendance.

"'These friends of mine will take the road,' he said to the man, 'so
soon as the moon is up. Go you now to the inn, and bid the grooms make
ready their horses for a long journey. Quick--lose no time!'

"The Sheikh motioned the servant to his side, and added some whispered
instructions. Then, turning to me, he said:

"'The moon will serve us ere very long.'

"By my silence I had acquiesced in the plan of speedy departure, for
nothing could better suit my own wishes. But meanwhile there would be an
interval of patient waiting.

"'Can you account for the strange wailing around the house of Baji Lal?'
I asked of the Sheikh.

"He hesitated a moment before making answer.

"'To me it is all a mystery,' he said at last. 'Some one, perhaps, is
playing a trick upon them.'

"'A sorry trick,' I commented bitterly.

"'But their home must certainly be saved,' he added.

"'Not merely their home,' said I. 'Their lives are also in jeopardy.'

"'We must save them! we shall save them!' cried the Sheikh, with
upraised hand and in a tone of determination that brought great comfort
to my anxious heart.

"The time soon passed, and, our horses having been brought round from
the rest house, we took leave of our good host, Munshi Khyraz.

"Just as we turned on to the high road, ten or a dozen mounted troopers
emerged from the shadow of a tope of trees, and came clattering behind
us.

"'These are my escort,' explained the Sheikh. 'I have already
encountered too many dangers on this road to run further risks.'

"I made no comment, but inwardly reflected that once more kind fate was
working in my favour. Of course, with Sheikh Ahmed alive, there would be
no need to use force for Baji Lal's rescue. But safeguarded on the way,
we should be all the quicker in reaching our destination.

"It was toward noon on the fourth day from Punderpur--for there were now
no inquiries to delay me--that we came in sight of the village of
Sengali. It was just ten days then since the date of my departure in
quest of the missing man. So my mind was at ease; according to the
patel's promise, there remained yet four days of safety for Baji Lal and
Devaka.

"But all at once fear smote my heart. There was a strange absence of
people in the fields and on the outskirts o