Avery looked at the native for his opinion. He seemed pleased by the compliment and nodded his head, but said nothing.
"If these sepoys could only be depended upon, we might stay here and bid defiance to the whole horde of mutineers," said Mr. Hildreth, looking gloomily off in the direction of the city, from which the smoke was rising and whence came a din like that of the infernal regions.
"They can be depended upon, sahib," said Luchman, with a scowl, "for being thieves and murderers, who will not spare the infant in its mother's arms."
All noticed the eclipse which darkened the face of the native, and their old fear returned. Would Luchman himself withstand the swirl of fanaticism that had turned men into devils?
It is a terrifying situation for the traveler to distrust the bridge when he is half way over the rushing torrent; for a mariner to doubt the seaworthiness of his vessel, when the monsoon is marshaling its forces; for the patient, when hovering between life and death, to know that his physician is incompetent; but similar to this was the feeling that came to the missionary and his friends when they saw the forbidding scowl on the face of Luchman.
Though a professing Christian, could he conquer the impulses that were tugging like wild horses at his heart strings? Would not the memories of the two score years during which he was the strictest of Brahmins, now assert themselves with resistless strength?
The missionary shuddered as he scrutinized that forbidding face, whose owner was staring off over Delhi, as if he longed to be there with his brother rioters.
"God keep him faithful, but I fear the worst."