The native driver sprang down from his seat in front, and, advancing to the side, drew open the door.
Within were two women and a child. In the expectation of finding servants at the bungalow, they sent the driver to announce their wants. He made inquiry in broken English of the figures he indistinctly saw within.
Mr. Hildreth answered in Hindustani, and, walking to the side of the carriage, greeted the ladies, and asked whether he could do anything for them. They said they were in want of food, having been on the road the entire day. They had come from Delhi, and like all those who had escaped so far, had passed through many perils. They were extremely anxious to go on, but their horse was jaded, and they had eaten but a few mouthfuls since leaving the Cashmere Gate. They had no trouble in finding water, but the little child with them was nearly famished.
Nothing in the way of food was immediately obtained, but the missionary assured them that a servant of their own was absent in quest of some, and was momentarily expected back. He urged them to wait and partake with them.
The ladies consulted as to what was best to do. Mr. Hildreth could see no reason why they should decline, and he did not expect them to do so. To his surprise, however, they returned their grateful acknowledgments, and said they thought it best to press on toward Kurnal. The driver climbed back to his seat, and the weary horse once more resumed his dragging course.
The missionary might well wonder at this, for he could not understand what reason the ladies had for forcing the exhausted animal, when a brief rest would be as beneficial to one as the other.
And yet the refusal of the strangers to stop was the means of saving the lives of those left in the bungalow. Had they entered the rude structure and remained for a few minutes, every one of the party would have been massacred.
The rattle of wheels had hardly died out down the dusty highway, when those in the bungalow caught the sound of hurrying footsteps. They proved to be those of Luchman, who was running in great excitement. He carried something under his arm, but without referring to it, he asked,
"Did a carriage go by, sahib, a few minutes ago—drawn by one horse?"
Mr. Hildreth replied in the affirmative, and was about to ask him to run ahead and give them a part of the food which he carried under his arm, when Luchman, in great anguish, said,