The Star of India
Copyright© 2026 by Edward S. Ellis
Chapter 36: From Darkness to Dawn.
“I see a faint light,” said Marian, touching the arm of the doctor just in front of her.
“It is the starlight at the mouth of the tunnel: this is a good time to strike another match.”
All stood still while their leader rasped the phosphorus against the dry cement at his side. The tiny light did not give the view they sought, but it showed there was no need of stopping on the way.
Fifty feet further and the end of the tunnel was reached. They emerged from the mouth close to the river, wondering why it was they found no means of closing the entrance. It must have been hidden in some way, since one of the essentials of underground passages is secrecy. A moment later it was observed that there was quite a growth of vegetation around the mouth, which was not likely to be observed from the river or bank above.
The most natural thing to do first was to learn whether any of their foes were in sight. So far as they could see none of the Ghoojurs was within call, and the little company made their way to the water’s edge, where they dipped up enough with their hands to quench their thirst.
“We have been fortunate beyond our deserts,” said Mr. Hildreth, “and I have an abiding faith that we shall be delivered from all our perils. Luchman instructed us to approach the river bank a quarter of a mile above, but we have been unable to follow his directions, since the tunnel does not trend that way.”
“We can soon reach the place which we may consider our starting point. Let’s be off, for this is a chance that will not come a second time.”
The stream upon whose bank they stood was insignificant at that time, though during the rainy season it was a huge muddy volume rolling tumultuously over the entire bed. The shore was dry and sandy, with trees scattered at rare intervals, the river showing the peculiarity that strikes the traveler in ascending the Ganges for the first time. The bed over which the water flowed was so soft and free from obstructions that the current made hardly any sound at all.
Like the Ganges, too, the waters were turbid, but the fugitives gladly drank from them. Possibly in time they might have acquired a liking for its roiled current, as do those who voyage up and down our own Mississippi.
Luchman had told them to lose no time, but to push on without thought of him. It was important, above everything else, to lessen the distance between them and Kurnal, and the few hours thus gained more than likely would be decisive of their fate.
All this time the Ghoojurs were squatted near the entrance to the temple, awaiting the coming of the fugitives.
The long, enforced rest made the exercise of walking acceptable to each, even though the night was suffocatingly hot. Mrs. Hildreth told her friends to feel no anxiety because of her, as she was able to walk a long way.
They followed the stream rather than any beaten path. Since the course of that in its upper portion was north and south, any one who traveled toward its source must draw near Kurnal.
A couple of miles further, they were startled by the appearance of a small boat, which shot around a curve in the stream above, and was upon them before they were aware. It contained five or six men, who were doubtless fully armed.
The fugitives could do nothing except to hide behind a clump of peepul trees, and hope for the best. The stream was so shallow that the occupants of the craft seemed to devote their whole efforts to prevent it from sticking fast on the numerous bars. It was this fact probably that prevented them catching sight of the figures on shore. The latter moved on as soon as the danger was past, and kept in the shelter of trees whenever possible. In this they were favored by the great number of groves which are scattered all through India, planted many years before by wealthy men, who thought thus to obtain enough merit to outweigh just such atrocities as their descendants were then committing.
The night was a memorable one to the fugitives, pushing steadily northward, knowing that in front was safety and behind was death. There had been other nights of more dangerous adventure, but somehow the feeling was within all that this was the crisis of their long and trying wanderings.
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