gutter opposite the arch, and waited with eastern patience for the
horseman to ride out.

She saw the fat Hindoo come back, in no particular hurry now, and seat
himself not far from her. Later she saw eight horsemen ride down the
street, pass the arch, wheel, and halt. She noticed that they were not
Maharajah Howrah's men but a portion of his brother Jaimihr's
body-guard, then took no further notice of them. If they chose to wait
there, it was no affair of hers, and to appear inquisitive would be to
invite a lance-butt, very shrewdly thrust where it would hurt.

It was an hour at least before Ali Partab rode out through the arch,
looking down anxiously at his horse's off-hind that had been showing
symptoms of "brushing" lately. Joanna rose instantly to cross the
street and intercept him; and she recoiled in the nick of time to save
herself from being ridden down.

At a sign from the fat Hindoo the eight horsemen spurred, and swooped
up-street with the speed and certainty of sparrow-hawks and the noise
of devastation. They rode down Ali Partab--unhorsed him--bound him
--threw him on his horse again--and galloped off before any but the
Hindoo had time to realize that he was their objective. He was gone--
snatched like a chicken from the coop. Noise and dust were all the
trace or explanation that he left. The mazy streets swallowed him;
the Hindoo waddled over to the arch and disappeared without a smile on
his face to show even interest. The interrupted trading and bartering
went on again, and no one commented or made a move to follow but Joanna.

She watched the fat Hindoo, and made sure that she would recognize him
anywhere again. Then, by a trail that no one would have guessed at and