Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-15
CHAPTER K.
Maharana of Khandawar.

Both hand and voice might we'll have
been Labertouches: Amber believed they
were. And the darkness rendered visual
Identification impossible. No shadow of
doubt troubled him as he yielded to the
urgent hand. and permitted himself to be
dragged. more than led. through the reek-
ing, milling mob. whose numbers seemed
each instant augmented. He had thought,
DULY. to find IL difficult matter to worm
through and escape. but somehow his
guide seemed to have little trouble.
Others, likewise evidently wished to get
out of sight before the arrival Of the
police. and in the wake of a little knot
of these Amber felt himself drawn along
until. within less than two minutes. they
were on the outskirts of the crowd.
He drew a long breath of relief. Ever
his cheek, his instinct Of self-preservation
dence that Pink Satin was at hand to
steer him in safety. away from the brawl.
For his own part he was troubled by
feeling of helplessness and dependence
unusual with him, who was OF self
reliant habit. accustomed TO shift for him
self whatever the emergency. Hut TINS
was something vastly different from the
run of experiences that had heretofore
1aIlen 10 MS 1Ot. IN the 1Ouicet stcWs VI
a vast city, with no least notion of how
to win his way back to the security OF
the Chowringhee quarter; In the heart
Of a bowling native rabbie stimulated
to a pitch of frenzy by the only things
that ever seem really to rouse the oriental
from his apathy-the scent and sight Of
human blood: and with sense OF terror
chilling him as he realized the truth at
which his guide had hinted-that the ac-
tual assassin would not hesitate an in
slant to cry the murder upon the head of
one Of the Sahib-logue, Amber felt as
little confidence in his ability to work out
his salvation though he had been a
child He thanked his stars for Iaber-
touche-for the hand that clasped his arm
and the voice that spoke guardedly in his
ear.
And then, by the light OF the street. he
discovered that his gratitude had been
premature and misplaced. His guide had
fallen a pace behind and was shouldering
him along with almost frantic energy:
but a glance aside showed Amber. in
Labertouche's stead. chunky little
Gurkha in the fatigue uniform of his regi-
ment Of the British army in India. Pink
Satin was nowhere in sight. and 1t was
Immediately apparent that an attempt to
find him among the teeming hundreds be-
fore the goldsmith's stall would be as
futile as foolish-if not fatal. Yet Am
ber's impulse was to walt, and he faltered
something which seemed to exasperate
the Gurkha, who fairly danced with ex-
element and impatience.
Hasten. hazoor"' he cried. is this
time to loiter? Hasten ere they charge
you with this splitting Of blood. The gods
lend wings to our feet this night"
But who are you?" demanded Amber.
What matter Is that? Is IL not enough
that I am here and well disposed toward
you. that risk my skin TO save yours?"
He cannoned suddenly against Amber.
shunting him unceremoniously out OF the
BAZAAR road and into narrow black
alley.
simultaneously Amber heard a cry go
up shrill above the clamor OF the mob,
screaming that a white sailor had knitted
the goldsmith And he turned pale be-
meath his tan.
Won to the police-wallahs. Gomez.
You're right" Amber fell into a long.
free stride. that threatened quickly to-