its or shoot an arrow in the archery contests better than the village
champion.

Thus, contentedly and free from care, the three fugitives wandered on
towards the south where on the frontier they expected their troubles to
begin. One day when passing a hamlet by the roadside they tarried to
look on at a wedding at which a buxom country maid was being married to
a family of six brothers. The village headman performed the simple
ceremony, which consisted of offering a bowl of _murwa_ to the gods,
then presenting a cupful to the bride and eldest bridegroom, blessing
them, and expressing a hope that the union might be a fruitful one. The
rest, after the usual presents had been given to the bride's relatives,
was simply a matter of feasting everyone. The stranger lamas were
invited to join; but Frank refused and dragged away the convivial Tashi,
who was anxious to accept the invitation. Wargrave with difficulty led
him aside and was so occupied in arguing with his discontented guide
that he did not notice that Muriel had not followed.

A sudden cry from her and his name shrieked out wildly made him turn in
alarm. To his horror he saw the girl struggling in the grasp of a
Chinaman, while another on a mule and holding the bridle of a second
animal was calling on the villagers in the Penlop's name to assist his
comrade.

CHAPTER XV

A STRANGE RESCUE

Neither Muriel, absorbed in watching the wedding, nor the two men
engrossed in their dispute had noticed the Chinese come riding along the
road and pulling up when they saw the peasants gathered together. One of
them had been about to question the villagers from his saddle when his
eyes fell on the disguised girl standing apart from the crowd. He stared
at her for a few moments. Then he spoke hurriedly to his companions,
and, springing from the mule's back seized Muriel in a rough grasp.

At her cry Frank ran back, forgetting his disguise. He recognised in her
assailant the pock-marked officer of the _Amban_. The man, seeing him
coming, drew a revolver; but Wargrave whipped out his pistol quicker and
without hesitation shot him through the heart. The Chinaman collapsed to
the ground and in his fall dragged the girl down. His comrade fired at
his slayer and, missing him, wheeled his mule round and galloped off.
Tashi returned the shot while Frank ran to Muriel. He fired several
times and the rider was apparently hit; for he fell forward on the neck
of his animal; but