"My father will not come away, but--"

Ali Partab's eyes betrayed no trace of concern.

"But--I thought--Are you all alone?"

"All alone, Miss-sahib, but your servant."

"Oh! I thought--perhaps that"--she checked herself, then rushed
the words out as though ashamed of them--"that, if you had men to
help you, you might carry him away against his will! Where are these
others who are to be trusted?"

Ali Partab grinned and then drew himself up with a movement of polite
dissent. It was not for him to question the suggestions of a
Miss-sahib; he conveyed that much with an inimitable air. But it was
his business to keep strictly to the letter of his orders.

"Miss-sahib, I cannot do that. So said Mahommed Gunga: 'When the hag
brings word, then take three horses and bear the Miss-sahib and her
father to my cousin Alwa's place.' I stand ready to obey, but the
padre-sahib comes not against his will."

"To whose place?"

"Alwa's, Miss-sahib."

"And who is he?" She seemed bewildered. "I had hoped to be escorted
to some British residency."