thrown into the sort of trance which is known as the clairvoyant state.
I always used to look upon that as humbug, but I need hardly say I shall
in future be ready to believe almost anything. He professes to have
other and even greater powers than what we have seen. At any rate, he
can have no motive in deceiving me when he has risked his life to help
me. Do you know, Rabda offered to go into the prison--her father could
have got her an order to pass in--and then to let you go out in her
dress while she remained in your stead. I could not accept the sacrifice
even to save you, and I was sure had I done so you yourself would have
refused to leave."

"Of course. But how good of her. Please tell her that you have told me,
and how grateful I am for her offer."

Bathurst called Rabda, who was sitting a short distance away.

She took the hand that Isobel held out to her and placed it against her
forehead.

"My life is yours, sahib," she said simply to Bathurst. "It was right
that I should give it for this lady you love."

"What does she say?" Isobel asked.

"She says that she owed me her life for that tiger business, you know,
and was ready to give it for you because I had set my mind on saving
you."

"Is that what she really said, Mr. Bathurst?" Isobel asked quietly, for
he had hesitated a little in changing its wording.

"That was the sense of it, I can assure you. Not only was she ready
to make the sacrifice, but her father consented to her doing so. These
Hindoos are capable of gratitude, you see. There are not many English
who would be ready thus to sacrifice themselves for a man who had
accidentally, as I may say, saved their lives."

"Not accidentally, Mr. Bathurst. Why do you always try to run yourself
down? I suppose you will say next you saved my life by an accident."

"The saving of your life is due chiefly to these natives."

"But they were only your instruments, Mr. Bathurst; they had no interest
in saving me. You had bought their services at the risk of your life,
and in saving me they were paying that debt to you."

At three o'clock they prepared for the start. Bathurst had exchanged the
warder's dress for one of a peasant, which they had brought with them.
The woods were of no great width, and Rujub said they had better follow
the road now.

"No one will suspect us of being anything but what we seem," he said.
"Should we meet any peasants, their talk will be with you and me. They
will ask no qu