e faggots, so that the
haunted house may be quickly consumed. It will soon be all over with our
poor friends.'

"'Not so, not so,' I cried, 'for Sheikh Ahmed has come back. See, there
he is, hastening to rescue his humble friends. He has not rested day or
night since he heard of the disaster that had befallen them.'

"The crowd had parted before the Sheikh, and through the rift I now
beheld Baji Lal, standing with his hands tied behind him at a little
distance from his burning home. But to my surprise Sheikh Ahmed darted
past him.

"'Ah!' exclaimed the barber, noticing my disconcerted look. 'He thinks
that Devaka is in greater peril, and leaves you to rescue her husband.'

"I looked at the curling smoke, and shuddered. Assuredly there was no
time to be lost if the woman was to be saved.

"'You are right, Bimjee,' I cried. 'We'll look after Baji Lal. Come
along.'

"And I gained my friend's side none too soon, for already a sword was
pointed at his breast. Leaping on the man who held it, I thrust the
weapon aside.

"The patel, standing by, turned on me with a ferocious look.

"'How dare you hinder justice, Chunda Das?' he demanded. 'This is by
decree of the panchayet.'

"'Your promise bound the village council as well as yourself,' I
retorted. 'It is but ten days since I departed on my quest for Sheikh
Ahmed, and you assured me faithfully that for two weeks at least nothing
would be done to this man and his wife.'

"'More cattle have died,' he answered, sullenly.

"The crowd were pressing round us, with angry gestures and threatening
looks, like wild beasts baulked of their prey.

"'Pull his beard,' 'Knock off his turban,' and such like impertinences
were hurled at me. But, taking no heed of these, I again addressed the
patel, raising my voice so that all around might hear.

"'You gave me fourteen days to find the stranger whom you say was
murdered, and ahead of time I have returned and brought him with me. And
Baji Lal, whom this very minute you were about to murder--aye,
murder--is an innocent man, and his wife a maligned woman.'

"And such is human nature, that they who a short time before had been so
keen to see Baji Lal done to death, were now loud in their acclamations
at his escape.

"But the patel looked at me with lowering brow.

"'Fine words, Chunda Das, but I do not see the Sheikh?'

"The crowd hushed their outburst, and faces again looked serious.

"'Oh, yes,' cried some one. 'Let us see