"We will follow them——"
The words of the Ghoojur leader were broken off by the crack of Luchman's pistol, and the miscreant, who was facing about and addressing his men, threw up his arms half way to his head and toppled to the ground, his skull bored clean through by the bullet that was fired within ten feet of him.
Luchman let fly with the remaining chambers at the wretches, who were just beyond the fallen leader. Fortunately, Avery and Mr. Hildreth were quick to realize the evil, and each of them fired his rifle into the group.
The attack on the Ghoojurs was so sudden that they wheeled their horses about, and, throwing themselves forward on their necks, galloped off on a dead run. None of them fell to the ground, but several must have been hit hard. They were desperate men, and Luchman knew they would soon be back. He therefore ran toward his friends.
"Don't lose a minute, sahibs," said he; "they will soon return; I hear them now!"
The last remark was rather premature, but allowance must be made for the excitement of the occasion.
The grove was dense, and Luchman as usual led the way. At the outer edge they saw cultivated fields, and observing no one was in sight, the guide moved rapidly across the open space toward the welcome shade of another large grove at the north. Fairly within the shelter of this, Luchman told his friends to seat themselves on the ground and rest from their hurried flight, while he moved back to learn what had become of the Ghoojurs.
The guide soon returned, saying he had discovered no sign of them. It might be that their repulse was so severe that they would not attempt to revenge themselves unless they should be joined by others of their class.
"Night is at hand," added their guide, "and we may as well stay here, for if we venture out we are more likely to be seen. While we wait let us load our weapons."
This sensible suggestion was acted upon without delay. Then, as the start would not be made for an hour or more, Luchman again went back to the edge of the grove. In the gathering gloom he saw three shadowy figures moving along the edge of the cultivated fields. He suspected they were his enemies, who were trying to trace the fugitives to their hiding place, but the darkness was too great for them to follow with certainty and they soon disappeared.