There were two in the dark then—­she and the man who listened.  He, motionless as stone, had watched her; peering outward at the lesser darkness, he lost sight of her for a second as she backed into the deepest shadow unexpectedly.  Before he could become accustomed to the altered focus and the deeper black, her beady eyes picked out the whites of his.  Before he could move she was on him—­at his throat, tearing it with thin, steel fingers.  Before he could utter a sound, or move, she had drawn a short knife from her clothing and had driven it to the hilt below his ear.  He dropped without a gurgle, and without a sound she gathered up her broom again and swept her way back past the cage-bars, where Ali Partab waited.

“Was any there?” he whispered.

“There was one.”

“And—?”

“He was.”

“Good!  Now will the reward be three mohurs instead of two!”

“Where are they?”

“These pigs have taken all the money from me.  Now we must wait until Mahommed Gunga-sahib comes.  His word is pledged.”

“He said two mohurs.”

“I—­Ali Partab—­pledge his word for three.”

“And who art thou?  The bear in the cage said:  ’I will eat thee if I get outside!"’

“Mother of corruption!  Listen!  Alwa must know!  Canst thou escape from here?  Canst thou reach the Alwa-sahib?”

“If the price were four mohurs, there might be many things that I could do.”

“The price is three!  I have spoken!”

“‘I would eat honey were I outside!’ said the bear.”

“Hag!  The bear died in the cage, and they sold his pelt for how much?  Alive, he had been worth three mohurs, but he died while they bargained for him!—­Quick!”

“I am black, sahib, and the night is black.  I am old, and none would believe me active.  They watch the gates, but the bats fly in and out.”

“Find out, then, what has happened to my horses, left at the caravansary; give that information to the Alwa-sahib.  Tell the Miss-sahib at the mission where I am.  Tell her whither I have sent thee.  Tell the Alwa-sahib that a Rangar—­by name Ali Partab—­sworn follower of the prophet, and servant of the Risaldar Mahommed Gunga—­ is in need and asks his instant aid.  Say also to the Alwa-sahib that it may be well to rescue the Miss-sahib first, before he looks for me, but of that matter I am no judge, being imprisoned and unable to ascertain the truth.  Hast thou understood?”

“And all that for three mohurs?”

“Nay.  The price is now two mohurs again.  It will be one unless—­”

“Three, sahib!  It was three!”

“Then run!  Hasten!”