But upon a certain hour Ramabai came to Bruce, much alarmed.  During his absence with Pundita at some palace affair his home had been entered, ransacked, and ten thousand rupees had been stolen.  His real fortune, however, was hidden securely.  The real trouble was that these ten thousand rupees would practically undo much of what had been accomplished.  He was certain that Umballa had instigated this theft, and that the money would be doled out to the soldiers.  For upon their dissatisfaction rested his future.

“Take Bala Khan at his word,” suggested Bruce, “and ask him for his five thousand hillmen.”

Ramabai smiled.  “And have Bala Khan constitute himself the king of Allaha!  No, Sahib; he is a good friend, but he is also a dangerous one.  We must have patience.”

“Patience!” exploded Bruce.

“I have waited several years.  Do you not see that when I strike I must succeed?”

“But these warnings to Umballa?”

“He is not molesting me, is he?” returned Ramabai calmly.

“Well, it is more than I could stand.”

“Ah, you white people waste so much life and money by acting upon your impulses!  Trust me; my way is best; and that is, for the present we must wait.”

“God knows,” sighed Bruce, “but I am beginning to believe in the colonel’s guru.”

“Who can say?  There are some in this land who possess mighty wills, who can make man sleep by looking into his eyes, who can override and destroy weaker minds.  I know; I have seen.  You have heard of suspended animation?  Well, I have seen examples of it; and so have my people.  Can you wonder at their easiness in being swayed this way and that?  But these men I refer to do not sit about in the bazaars with wooden bowls for coppers.  It is said, however, that all curses die with their makers.  It depends upon how old the Colonel Sahib’s guru is.  I know priests who are more than a hundred years old, and wrinkled like the bride of Hathi, the god of elephants.”

“But a child could see through all this rigmarole.”

“Can Bruce Sahib?” Again Ramabai smiled.  “My people are sometimes children in that they need constant amusement.  Have patience, my friend; for I understand.  Do I not love Pundita even as you love the Mem-sahib?”

“What do you mean?” demanded Bruce roughly,

“I have eyes.”

“Well, yes; it is true.  Behind you are your people; behind us, nothing.  That is why I am frantic.  Umballa, whenever he finds himself checkmated, digs up what he purports to be an unused law.  There is none to contest it.  I tell you, Ramabai, we must escape soon, or we never will.  You suggested this impossible marriage.  It is horrible.”

“But it lulls Umballa; and lulled, he becomes careless.  Beyond the north gate there are ever ready men and elephants.  And when the moment arrives, thither we shall fly, all of us.  But,” mysteriously, “we may not have to fly.  When Umballa learns that the Colonel Sahib will refuse to sign the necessary treasury release the soldiers will understand that once again they have been trifled with.”