Far away a brown figure in clout and drab turban watched the young man.  When he saw the elephant with the hunting howdah he knew that he had the information for which his master had detailed him to follow, night and day, the young banker Ramabai.  The white hunter was coming hot-foot to the city.  He turned and ran.  Running was his business; he was as tireless as a camel and could run twenty and thirty miles at a stretch.  The soles of his feet were as tough as elephant’s hide.  Thus he reached the city an hour before Bruce and Ramabai.

When Bruce and the native banker arrived at the gate coolies stood about with torches.  Suddenly beyond the gate half a regiment drew up.  The officer in charge raised his hand warningly.

“The white hunter is Bruce Sahib?”

“Yes.”  Bruce spoke the dialects with passable fluency.

“Good.  The Sahib will be pleased to dismount.”

“I am on my way to the palace.”

“That is impossible, Sahib.”  At a sign from the officer the troopers extended their guns at half aim.  It was a necessary precaution.  These white sahibs were generally a mad people and were quick to shoot.  “Please dismount, Sahib.  It is the orders.”

Bruce’s mahout, who was a Rajput Mohammedan, turned his head to learn what his master had to say.  Bruce, pale under his tan, nodded.  The mahout reached down with his silver tipped goad and touched the elephant on the knee.  The big brute slowly and ponderously kneeled.  Bruce stepped out of the howdah, followed by Ramabai, who saw that in some unaccountable manner they had been betrayed.  He was sick at heart.

Two troopers stepped forward and took possession of the rifles which were slung on each side of the howdah.  Bruce accepted the situation philosophically; argument or protest was futile.  Next they took away his cartridge belt.  He trembled for a moment with apprehension, but the troopers did not search him further; and he thanked God for the wisdom which had made him strap his revolvers under his armpits.

“What now?” he demanded.

“The Sahib will be given his guns and ammunition the hour he starts back to camp.”

“And in the meantime?”

“The Sahib is free to come and go about the city so long as he does not approach the palace.  If he is found in the vicinity of the zenana he will be arrested and imprisoned.”

“This is all very high-handed.”

“Sahib, there is no British Raj here.  The orders of the regent and the council are final.  Submit.”

“Very well.”

“Ramabai!”

Ramabai stepped forward.  By a kind of clairvoyance he saw what was coming.

“Ramabai, the orders are that you shall retire to your house and remain there till further orders.”

“I am the queen’s body-guard.”

“Ai!  Well said!  But I do not take my orders from the queen—­yet.  Obey.  The Sahib may accompany you if he wishes; there are no orders against that.  The Sahib’s elephant will be lodged in the royal stables; the mahout will see that he is fed and watered.”