Rujub, the Juggler by G. A. Henty (novels to read in english .txt) ๐
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- Author: G. A. Henty
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โI felt very uneasy and restless,โ Bathurst said, โbut I had not the same feeling that you were speaking to me I had that night at Deennugghur; but even had I known of the danger, there would have been no avoiding it. Had we landed, we must have been overtaken, and it would have come to the same thing. Tell me, Rujub, had you any idea when I saw you at Deennugghur that if we were taken prisoners Miss Hannay was to be brought here instead of being placed with the other ladies?โ
โYes, I knew it, sahib; the orders he gave to the Sepoys were that every man was to be killed, and that the women and children were to be taken to Cawnpore, except Miss Hannay, who was to be carried here at once. The Rajah had noticed her more than once when she was at Cawnpore, and had made up his mind that she should go to his zenana.โ
โWhy did you not tell me when you were at Deennugghur?โ
โWhat would have been the use, sahib? I hoped to save you all; besides, it was not until we saw her taken past this morning that we knew that the Miss Hannay who was to be taken to Bithoor was the lady whom my daughter, when she saw her with you that night, said at once that you loved. But had we known it, what good would it have done to have told you of the Rajah's orders? You could not have done more than you have done. But now we know, we will aid you to save her.โ
โHow long will your daughter be before she comes? It is horrible waiting here.โ
โYou must have patience, sahib. It will be no easy work to get the lady away. There will be guards and women to look after her. A lady is not to be stolen out of a zenana as a young bird is taken from its nest.โ
โIt is all very well to say 'Be patient,'โ Bathurst said, getting up and walking up and down with quick angry strides. โIt is maddening to sit here doing nothing. If it were not that I had confidence in your power and will to aid me, I would go into the palace and stab Nana Sahib to the heart, though I were cut to pieces for it the moment afterwards.โ
โThat would do no good to the lady, sahib,โ Rujub said calmly. โShe would only be left without a friend, and the Nana's death might be the signal for the murder of every white prisoner. Ah, here comes my daughter.โ
Rabda came up quickly, and stopped before Bathurst with her head bowed and her arms crossed in an attitude of humility. She was dressed in the attire worn by the principal servants in attendance upon the zenana of a Hindoo prince.
โWell, what news, Rabda?โ Bathurst asked eagerly.
โThe light of my lord's heart is sick. She bore up till she arrived here and was handed over to the women. Then her strength failed her, and she fainted. She recovered, but she is lying weak and exhausted with all that she has gone through and suffered.โ
โWhere is she now?โ
โShe is in the zenana, looking out into the women's court, that no men are ever allowed to enter.โ
โHas the Rajah seen her?โ
โNo, sahib. He was told the state that she was in, and the chief lady of the zenana sent him word that for the present she must have quiet and rest, but that in two or three days she might be fit to see him.โ
โThat is something,โ Bathurst said thankfully. โNow we shall have time to think of some scheme for getting her out.โ
โYou have been in the zenana yourself, Rabda?โ Rujub asked.
โYes, father; the mistress of the zenana saw me directly an attendant told her I was there. She has always been kind to me. I said that you were going on a journey, and asked her if I might stay with her and act as an attendant until you returned, and she at once assented. She asked if I should see you before you left, and when I said yes, she asked if you could not give her some spell that would turn the Rajah's thoughts from this white girl. She fears that if she should become first favorite in the zenana, she might take things in her hands as English women do, and make all sorts of changes. I told her that, doubtless, the English girl would do this, and that I thought she was wise to ask your assistance.โ
โYou are mad, Rabda,โ her father said angrily; โwhat have I to do with spells and love philters?โ
โNo, father, I knew well enough you would not believe in such things, but I thought in this way I might see the lady, and communicate with her.โ
โA very good idea, Rabda,โ Bathurst said. โIs there nothing you can do, Rujub, to make her odious to the Nana?โ
โNothing, sahib. I could act upon some people's minds, and make them think that the young lady was afflicted by some loathsome disease, but not with the Nana. I have many times tried to influence him, but without success: his mind is too deep for mine to master, and between us there is no sympathy. Could I be present with him and the girl I might do somethingโthat is, if the powers that aid me would act against him; but this I do not think.โ
โRujub,โ Bathurst said suddenly, โthere must have been medical stores taken when the camp was capturedโdrugs and things of that sort. Can you find out who has become possessed of them?โ
โI might find out, sahib. Doubtless the men who looted the camp will have sold the drugs to the native shops, for English drugs are highly prized. Are there medicines that can act as the mistress of the zenana wishes?โ
โNo; but there are drugs that when applied externally would give the appearance of a terrible disease. There are acids whose touch would burn and blister the skin, and turn a beautiful face into a dreadful mask.โ
โBut would it recover its fairness, sahib?โ
โThe traces might last for a long time, even for life, if too much were used, but I am sure Miss Hannay would not hesitate for a moment on that account.โ
โBut you, sahibโwould you risk her being disfigured?โ
โWhat does it matter to me?โ Bathurst asked sternly. โDo you think love is skin deep, and that 'tis only for a fair complexion that we choose our wives? Find me the drugs, and let Rabda take them into her with a line from me. One of them you can certainly get, for it is used, I believe, by gold and silver smiths. It is nitric acid; the other is caustic potash, or, as it is
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