The Star of India
Copyright© 2026 by Edward S. Ellis
Chapter 7: The Pursuit.
That which arrested the eye of Dr. Avery was another crowd, or more properly the same one. He had been drawn away from his true course, and in trying to regain it, he came face to face with the wild mob. Should he be recognized, he would be set upon at once; but with the coolness of a veteran he sauntered along, keeping in the shadow as much as he could. Providentially he was soon clear from all danger from that source.
His heart gave a sympathetic throb when he caught the meaning of enough of the broken exclamations to learn that the fugitive had escaped from the throng that had chased him only a short way before he left them out of sight.
“Luchman gave me this street because it is the most direct one to the Cashmere Gate, and I am less likely to lose my way, but it seems to me it has more moonlight and the natives are altogether too plentiful. I shouldn’t wonder now if they are so impatient that they will not wait for the sepoys to begin their deviltry. I think I will turn off and take a road where there are not so many neighbors.”
He speedily reached such a street, which appeared to run parallel to the one he had just left, and certainly was much safer. He decided to keep it as long as he could, and when convinced that he was following a wrong course, he would make his way back to the main road that Luchman had directed him to follow.
Dr. Avery had gone perhaps two thirds of the distance to the Cashmere Gate when he made a terrifying discovery.
The portion of the street into which he had drifted was almost deserted, and he was wondering whether it might not be one of the most dangerous parts of the city, when he observed three persons on the other side of the way. They were less than fifty feet distant, and the moon was shining full upon them, so they were in plain sight.
They were two natives supporting a female between them, all walking slowly, while the head of the woman was bowed, and she moaned as if in pain.
“That is singular,” thought Dr. Avery; “she seems to be faint, and they are supporting her to her home.”
Prompted by a natural impulse, he turned and moved toward the trio, timing his steps so that he was not noticed. He quickly saw that the woman was holding back, while the escort was drawing her forward.
“That has a bad look,” he said, walking faster until he was close upon them. Then, oblivious of the fact that he was using an unknown tongue, he called out:
“What are you doing with that woman?”
The natives stopped in a surprised way and stared at him, while the prisoner raised her head and wailed in a faint voice:
“O Baird, save me from them!”
“My God, Marian! is that you?” he asked, springing forward and catching her arm.
The natives, in accordance with their cowardly nature, were about to drop on their knees and beg for mercy, when they had wit enough to see their opportunity. At the moment the surgeon seized the arm of the young lady, the trembling wretches slipped noiselessly away. Had they delayed their departure a single minute, Baird Avery would have shot both dead.
“How came you here?” he asked, half believing it was all a hideous dream, until he felt the warm arm of his beloved grasped by his own strong right hand.
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