I will have
already warned them of this intended rising, and if, as I believe, they
serve the Government, they will let no grass grow below their feet till
they get to Forza. Then on the day after let your tribesmen attack the
place, not so as to take it, but so as to make a good show of fight and
keep the garrison employed. This will keep these young men quiet; they
will think that all rumours they may have heard culminate in this rising
of yours, and they will be content, and satisfied that they have done
their duty. Then, the day after, while they are idling at Forza, we
will slip through the passes, and after that there will be no need for
ruses."

The chief rose and pulled himself up to his full height. "After that,"
he said, "there will be work for men. God! We shall harry the valleys
as our forefathers harried them, and we shall suck the juicy plains dry.
You will give us a free hand, my lord?"

"Your hand shall be free enough," said Marker.

"But see that every word of my bidding is done. We fail utterly unless
all is secret and swift. It is the lion attacking the village. If he
crosses the trap gate safely he may ravage at his pleasure, but there is
first the trap to cross. And now it is your time to leave."

The mountaineer tightened his girdle, and exchanged his slippers for
deer-hide boots. He bowed gravely to the other and slipped out into the
darkness of the court. Marker drew forth some plans and writing
materials from his great-coat pocket and spread them before him on the
table. It was a thing he had done a hundred times within the last week,
and as he made his calculations again and traced his route anew, his
action showed the tinge of nervousness to which the strongest natures at
times must yield. Then he wrote a letter, and yawning deeply, he shut
up the place and returned to Galetti's.

CHAPTER XXV

MRS. LOGAN'S BALL

When Lewis had finished breakfast next morning, and was sitting idly on
the verandah watching the busy life of the bazaar at his feet, a letter
was brought him by a hotel servant. "It was left for you by Marker
Sahib, when he went away this morning. He sent his compliments to the
sahibs and regretted that he had to leave too early to speak with them,
but he left this note." Lewis broke the envelope and read:

DEAR MR. HAYSTOUN,

When I was thinking over our conversation last night, chance put a piece
of information in my way which you may think fit to use. You know that