The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1912-02-19
CHAPTER XIV. (contlnued)

well. then, what do you want!
Why have you brought me here?"
Why didst thou come? There was
no force used: thou didst come OF
thine own will-thine own will. which
Is the will OF the Body. hazoor!"
"Oh. damnation! Why dyou insist
on beating round the bush forever?
You know well why I came. Now,
what do you want?"
MY lord, ! move, it seems, in the
ways of error. A little time ago the
words of the Voice were made known
to thee in far land; thou didst an.
swer coming to this country. A few
days agone myself did repeat to you
the message Of the Bell; thou didst
swear thou wouldst not answer, yet
art thou here in Kuttarpur. Am l to
be blamed for taking this for sign
ID thy repentance? Hazoor
the Body is patient, the Will being.
nant and long-suffering. Still is the
Gateway open."
rs that what you wanted to tell
ne. Saligh Singh?"
What else? Am I to believe thee
. mailman. weary Of life. that thou
shouldst venture hither with a heart
hardened against the Will OF the
Body? I seek but to serve thee in
thus daring thy displeasure. Why
shouldst thou come to Bharuta at all
Il thou dost not intend to undergo the
Ordeal Of the Gateway? Am a fool
/, er-I say 1t in all respect, my lord
art thou?"
From the look Of things, I fancy
The epithet fits us both; Salig Singh.
You refuse to take my word for 1t that
J know nothing of your Infamous Gate
way and have no intention. of ever
approaching 1t, that i have not drop
Of Indian blood in me and am in no
way related to or connected with Har
Dyal Rutton. who is dead"
Il may not believe what l know to
De untrue" III
You'll have to learn to recognise
the truth. I'm afraid For the final
time tell you that am David Am
''bers u cstisen sof the United States Of
Americas straveling In. India on purely
Personal business, ..,e.
:. The sRajnnt inclined his head submis-
.;sively. Then is my duty all but done,
'shazoor. Thrice hath the warning been
given thee. There be still four-and,
twenty hours in which. It may he,
thou shalt learn to see clearly. My
@3ord. l ask Of thee single favor
Wilt thou follow npe7.' He motioned
toward the arched entrance to ,the
.Dassageway.
I. Follow thee?" Amber at length
dropped into Urdu, unconsciously
adopting the easier form Of 'communi-
cation now that, he felt, the issue be-
tween them was plain. that the Rajput
s1abored under no further misunder-
as to the reason Of his pres
sence In Khandawar.'' "Whither?"
i There is that which, must show
thee"
81 .What7"
j my life be forfeit If thou dost not
.Return unharmed to the resthouse ere
sunrise. Wilt thou come?"
ITO what end. Salig Singh?"
4, Furthermore" the Rajput persisted
.stubbornly. his head lifted in pride
AAnd hiA nostrils dilated little with
3lscorn- "furthermore / OFFER thee the
word Of Rajput Thou art my guest,
Bipce thou wilt have 1t so. No harm
shall come to thee, upon my honor"
Curiosity triumphed. Amber knew
that he had exacted the most honored
pledge known in Rajputana. His ap-
iprehensions were at rest: nothing
Ieould touch him now-until he had de-
turned to the bungalow. Then, he d.
lvined. it was to be open war-hiinself
land Labertouche pitted against the
lstrength of the greatest conspiracy
known in India since the days Of 81.
!But for the present NO pledge of any
laort. had been exacted Of him.
$50 be IT," he assented ON impulse.
~ follow"