The Ruby Sword Part 12

It was answered--answered by several voices. In the moonlight they could make out figures hurrying down the _tangi_.

"Where are you?" sung out Upward, who led the way. Then he stopped short, with an e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n of amazement, as the answer revealed the objects of his search high overhead. "Good heavens! how did you get up there?"

"Never mind now. What _we_ want to know is how to get down."

But with Bhallu Khan and one of his forest guard were two or three st.u.r.dy Baluchis, who had joined the party--all wiry mountaineers--and by dint of making a kind of human pyramid against the rock wall, the pair were landed safely beneath.

Then many were the questions and answers and e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns, as the full peril of the situation became apparent. Those who had undergone it had not much to say. Nesta seemed half dazed with exhaustion and recent terror, while Campian declared himself too infernally tired to talk.

Fleming however produced a flask, which went far to counteract the cold and wet. The whole party was there. They had got safely through the _tangi_, when the rain began to come down in torrents, and in an incredibly short s.p.a.ce of time the slab-like slopes of the hills had poured down a vast volume into the dry nullah, which drained the valley area. They themselves were through only just in time, but had felt no great anxiety on account of the other two, reckoning them so far behind that the impa.s.sability of the _tangi_ would be obvious to them directly they reached it. Of course they would not attempt it. But to find them here, half way through--saved as by a miracle, and then with the loss of two horses--no, they had not reckoned upon that.

All this Upward explained. Then, looking up at their place of refuge:

"I don't suppose there's another place in the whole length of the _tangi_ you could have taken refuge in, and how the mischief you ever got to this one is a mystery to me."

"Well, for the matter of that, so it is to me, Upward," rejoined Campian. "I'm perfectly certain I couldn't do it again for a thousand pounds."

"Why, that's the place a man was swept off from the year before last.

Isn't it, Bhallu Khan?"

"_Ha, Huzoor_!" a.s.serted the forester, taking in the burden of their talk.

"Well, you've had a narrow escape, old chap--both of you have. I don't know how you did it, but here you are. We were coming back to look for you, thinking you had got turned round, and might get trying some other way back, and this isn't an over-safe country for a couple of strangers to get lost in at night. By the way, I can't make out why you got so far behind. More than once we kept signalling you to come on. It occurred to us you might miss the way. Didn't you see us?"

"No."

"None so blind as those who won't see--ah--ha--ha--ha!" sneered Bracebrydge, tailing off his vacuous laugh in would-be significance.

But of this remark Campian took absolutely no notice. It was not the first time Bracebrydge had rendered himself offensive and quarrelsome in the presence of ladies, and the inherent caddishness of this gallant worthy was best recognised by the silence of contempt.

It was late before the party reached camp--later still when they got to bed. All was well that ended well--so far, that is, for Nesta Cheriton's nervous system had received a shock, which rendered her more or less out of sorts for some time, during which time, however, Bracebrydge and Fleming were recalled to Shalalai.

CHAPTER NINE.

AFTER LONG YEARS.

"Let's get the ponies, and jog over and look up Jermyn. Shall we, Campian?" said Upward, during breakfast a few mornings later.

"I'm on. But--who's Jermyn when he's at home?"

"He isn't at home. He's out here now," cut in Lily.

"Smart young party, Lil," said Campian, with an approving nod. "And who is he when he's out here now?"

"Why, Jermyn, of course."

"Thanks. That's precisely what I wanted to know. Thanks, fair Lilian.

Thine information is as terse as it is precise."

"_I_ should say _Colonel_ Jermyn if I were you, Lily," expostulated that young person's mother; whereat Hazel crowed exultantly, and Campian laughed. The latter went on:

"As I was saying, Upward, before we were interrupted, who is Jermyn?"

"Oh, he's a Punjab cavalry man up here on furlough. He's had fever bad, and even Shalalai wasn't high enough for him, though he doesn't want to go home, so he rented my forest bungalow for the summer. It's about eight miles in the Gushki direction. You haven't been that way yet."

"So? And what does Jermyn consist of?"

"Eh? Ah, I see. Himself and a niece."

"What sort of a niece?"

"Hideous," cut in Hazel.

"Really, I can't allow that sort of libel to pa.s.s, even for a joke,"

said Mrs Upward. "She isn't hideous at all. Some people admire her immensely."

"Pff!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Lily, tip tilting her nose in withering scorn. "Too black."

"Mr Campian likes them that way," cackled Hazel. "At least, he used to," added this imp, with a meaning look across the table at Nesta. "I was only humbugging. She isn't really hideous. We'll ride over too, eh, Lil?"

"No, you won't--not much," retorted Upward decisively. "You two are a precious deal too fond of running wild as it is, and you can just stay at home for once. Besides, we don't want you at all. We may take on some chikor on the way, or start after some from Jermyn's. Shall you be ready in half an hour, Campian?"

The latter replied in the affirmative, and they rose from the table.

While they were preparing to start, he observed Nesta standing alone under the trees.

"Well, Nessita, and of what art thou thinking?" he said, coming behind her unnoticed. She started.

"Of nothing. I never think. It's too much trouble."

"Phew! Don't take it so much to heart. They'll soon be back."

"What a tease you are," she retorted petulantly. "I hope they won't.

If you only knew how sick I am of the pair of them."

"That so? I was going to say you'd have to make shift with me for the next few days, but--There, it's a sin to tease her. What's the matter?

You're not looking up to your usual brilliancy of form and colouring, little girl."

"Oh, I've got a most beastly headache. I'm going to try and go to sleep all day, if those two wretched children will let me."

"Poor little girl! Shall I persuade Upward to let them come with us?"

"No, no. It doesn't matter. You'd better go now, or you'll start Mr Upward fussing."

"And cussing?"

"Yes, that too. I'm going in now. Good-bye."

"Nesta looks very much below par this morning, Upward," said Campian, as they rode along.