'Say rather that WE will come back,' said Suket Singh.

'Ai; but when?' said Athira's brother.

'Upon a day very early in the morning,' said Suket Singh; and he tramped
off to apply to the Colonel Sahib Bahadur for one week's leave.

'I am withering away like a barked tree in the spring,' moaned Athira.

'You will be better soon,' said Suket Singh; and he told her what was in
his heart, and the two laughed together softly, for they loved each
other. But Athira grew better from that hour.

They went away together, travelling third-class by train as the
regulations provided, and then in a cart to the low hills, and on foot
to the high ones. Athira sniffed the scent of the pines of her own
hills, the wet Himalayan hills. 'It is good to be alive,' said Athira.

'Hah!' said Suket Singh. 'Where is the Kodru road and where is the
Forest Ranger's house?'...

'It cost forty rupees twelve years ago,' said the Forest Ranger, handing
the gun.

'Here are twenty,' said Suket Singh, 'and you must give me the best
bullets.'

'It is very good to be alive,' said Athira wistfully, sniffing the scent
of the pine-mould; and they waited till the night had fallen upon Kodru