"It shall be as you wish. You may go with me, and I will tell the plan to my people. Have no fear, for they dare say nothing which does not please me."
The sun was just dropping in the west when the compact was made. The Europeans saw Luchman walk slowly away toward the Ghoojurs under the trees, keeping pace beside the black pony of Wana Affghar, until he could be no longer distinguished among the group.
As if to prove his sincerity, Wana made a signal with his arm toward the four scamps who were crouching in the grass along the stream. Immediately they rose to view, and, by a circuitous route, joined the main body under the trees.
The Ghoojurs scrutinized the new arrival with no little interest, and the situation would have been trying to any one else, but Luchman was as self possessed as when talking with his own friends. He counted the miscreants, and saw that there were just fourteen. It was fair to conclude, therefore, that if the same number, including Wana Affghar, were two miles south of that point at midnight, he had complied with his part of his agreement, and had fairly won the Star of India.
Luchman carefully listened to the leader while he was explaining the agreement made with the native guide, and he never used his eyes with more skill, but he neither heard nor saw anything to cause misgiving. Luchman believed that Wana intended to carry out his part of the agreement, not because he had promised to do so, but because it offered him the only chance to obtain the diamond.
Since there was an abundance of time at command, the Ghoojurs stayed where they were until it began growing dark. Then, when Wana Affghar announced that the start would be made, two of the men walked a short distance to the edge, to the left of the jungle.
The vigilant Luchman asked the meaning of the movement. Their leader answered that they were going only a short way to gather some cooking utensils which they brought with them. They would be back in a few minutes, and Wana suggested that his guest should bear them company, that he might feel sure that no deception was meant.
Luchman took a step to do so, but restrained himself, ashamed to betray such weakness. The two Ghoojurs reappeared almost the next minute, bearing their cooking kit with them.
Ah, Luchman was a cunning Asiatic, but he had already been outwitted by Wana Affghar, and it looked as if he was to become his victim again.
He saw two men come back again, but he noted not in the gathering gloom that the couple which departed were not the couple that returned.