With sudden impulse she turned and bestowed her full confidence upon
him, the paint-smeared face and mumbling beard notwithstanding.
"You must help me," she said imperiously. "You have done so much. You
must do more. Tell me how I am to get back to Kundaghat."
He made a deferential gesture.
"The _mem-sahib_ cannot depart before the major _sahib_ returns," he
said. "Let her therefore be faint once more, and let him minister to
her. Let her hear his story, and judge if her servant has spoken truly.
Then let the gracious lady go with him into the shade of the pine trees
on the hill. When she is there let her discover that she has left behind
her some treasure that she values--such as the golden bangle that is on
the _mem-sahib's_ wrist. Let her show distress, and Fletcher _sahib_
shall come back to seek it. Then let her listen for the scream of a jay,
and rise up and follow it. It will lead her by a safe and speedy way to
Kundaghat. It will be easy for the _mem-sahib_ to say afterwards that
she began to wander and lost her way, till at last she met an aged man
who guided her."
Yes, quite easy. She assimilated this subtle suggestion, for the first
time in her life welcoming craft. Of the extreme risk of the undertaking
she was too agitated to think. To get away was her one all-possessing
desire.
While she thus desperately reviewed the situation, the snake-charmer
began, with much grunting and mowing, to gather himself together for
departure.
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