Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-02
CHAPTER XVII-Continued.

He received no response. In as little
time as it took him to step backwards
from Amber. Labertouche had resumed
his temporarily discarded masquerade.
Instantaneously it was the khansamah
who confronted the Vire .nian-the native
with head and shoulders subm ssively
Bonded. as one who awaits an order.
Amber. surprised. stared. started to
speak. received a sign and was silent.
the excuse for Labertouches sudden
change Of attitude being sufficiently ap-
parent in an uproar which had been
raised without the least warning in the
compound. The advent of a running
horse seemed to have been responsible
for 1t. for the clatter of hOofS as the ami
NAL was checked abruptly in mid-Stride
was followed by clamor of drunken
cries. shrieks of alarm and protests on
the part of the sepoys disturbed in the
midst of their carouse. Over all this
there rang the voice of an Engiishman
swearing good. round, honest British
OathS.
Stand aside. you hounds
Amber turned pale. That's Farrell S
voice." he cried. guessing at the truth.
Labertouche made no answer, but edged
toward the khansamah's quarters
The din subsidized Farrell gained the
veranda. His feet rang heavily on the
boards. and a second later he thrust the
door violently open and slammed breath
lessly into the room, booted, Spurred, his
keen old face livid. a riding whip dan
CLING from one wrist. revolver In the
other hand.
He wheeled on the threshold and lifted
his weapon. then, with gasp of amaze
ment. dropped it. by heaven. sir"' he
cried, that's odd! Those ID sepoys
tried to prevent my seeing you and now
they've cleared out. every mothers SON
of them!''
ohor Sto tn To hi.
bewilderment, the compound was deserted:
there was not a sepoy in sight. I
so much the better. he said. quickly.
the first to recover. Whats wrong, sir?"
Wrong" Farrell stumbled over to the
table and into chair. painting. Every
things wrong. What's gone wrong with
you, that we haven't been able to find
you all day.
him. nodding to the charpoy "drugged.
What's happened? Is Miss Farrell--?'
Sophia The Political lifted his hand
to his eyes and let it fall. with an effect
of confusion: In the name of charity
tell me you know where she ISL.
You don't mean-
She's gone. Amber-gone! She's disap-
peared. vanished. been spirited away!
Don't you understand me? She's been
kidnapped
In dumb torment. Amber heard a swift.
sharp hiss of breath, as pregnant with
meaning as spoken word. and turned to
meet Labertouche's eyes. and to see That
the same thought was in both their
minds. Salig Singh had found the way
to lure Amber to kathiapur.
No spoken word was needed; their I'M
Outstanding was implicit on the instant.
Indeed the secret agent dared not speak.
lest he be overheard by an eavesdropper
and so be the cause of his own betrayal.
With a flutter OF white garments he slip
ped noiselessly from the room. and Amber
knew instinctively that If they were to
meet again that night ii would be upon
the farther side OF the Gateway of
Swords. For himself, his path of duty
lay clear to the Virginian's vision like
Labertouches it was the road to Kath-
iapur. He had no more doubt that Sophia
had been conveyed thither than he had
of FarrelPs presence before him. And In
his heart he cursed. not Naraini, not Salig