"Not he!" replied Sooba. "I took care to use the stick so that it neither killed nor broke bones. Although a Christian has no standing in a court of law in the State of Chirakul, there might be trouble with the English if he were done to death."
"Where was he going when we caught him?"
"To the missionary," replied Sooba, shortly.
"No fear of his attempting to run away again just yet. He will not be able to stand for a couple of days," remarked one.
"Therefore I did not trouble to lock the door," said another.
"He has starved since last night, and now he has been beaten. All this will surely drive the devil out of him," said a third.
"If not he can have plenty more of the same medicine," rejoined Sooba, at which they all laughed in the best of humours.
CHAPTER XIX
Mrs. Hulver was in what she termed "a fine taking," as Eola could see with half an eye. When they met as usual after breakfast to consult together on household matters the young mistress inquired what was the matter.