“Nothing, sahib.”
“Nothing?”
“I could not find him. I had been away so long that he must have supposed that I was killed, and he had gone.”
“But where?”
“How can I tell, sahib? He was gone, and, as I could not find him, I said I would come back and help you to escape without, but I could not get near you. There were men watching everywhere at night, and all day there were evil-minded budmashes of sowars for miles round. Oh, sahib, they take great care that you shall not escape.”
“Yes; I am watched in every direction.”
“Yes, sahib, and I was in despair till a few days ago I was in a village where a tiger sprang on a man, and mauled him, and then let him go, and hunted him again till he got away at last. And then I said I would be that man, and come here as soon as the tiger let me go.”
“What! you ran that risk on purpose?” I said excitedly.
“Hush! not a word, sahib,” said the man laughing. “I meant a sham tiger to fly at me and claw me. They would not know that it was not a real one.”
“But the wounds—the clawings?”