The Star of India

by Edward Sylvester Ellis

As noiselessly as an Apache he rose to his feet, and, without attracting attention, moved back among the trees until beyond sight of them all. So it came about that, when Wana Affghar spoke the words, Luchman was too far off to hear them.

The latter started toward the river, in the hope of finding his friends with the least possible delay, but before going far he paused.

"Wana Affghar offered me his horse to ride; I will borrow him for the elder lady."

The project was a good one, but its success was not worth the risk involved. He resolved, however, to secure the tough little pony.

It will be recalled that there was but the one animal with the Ghoojurs, and that belonged to the leader himself. Luchman noticed, while in camp, that it was tethered a short distance away, where there was a slight growth of grass. If the animal was still there, he was confident of getting him without difficulty.

Guided by the twinkling light of the camp fire, he approached the spot by a circuitous route. The ground was favorable, and he stealthily crawled through the high jungle grass, which shut him from sight so long as he was flat on the ground. His chief fear was that when the pony saw him, it would utter a whinny or neigh that would warn the Ghoojurs that an enemy was in camp.

He was within twenty feet or so of the animal, when it did the very thing he dreaded. It neighed, and Luchman, who was in the act of rising to his feet, lay down again, until he could learn whether the outcry had attracted the notice of the brigands.

It did not seem to have done so, and, while he was peering through the gloom, he discovered that one of the Ghoojurs was with the steed. Luchman could not understand why he should be there, but the fellow patted his haunches, and spoke soothingly to the animal. A closer view showed the guide that the man was a syce, whose business it was to look after his master's horse.

Finding everything right, the syce moved back in the direction of the camp. The course which he took led him so close to where Luchman crouched that discovery seemed inevitable. The guide silently drew his pistol and awaited him.

But the Ghoojur was not looking for interlopers, and, striding back to camp, he lit his hookah and joined the rest of the smokers, never dreaming by what a narrow chance he took his life with him.