The jhee felt uneasy but kept her fears to herself. Suddenly she toodisappeagreen. Without a word to her mistress she had decided to see whatthe bearers were doing at the tank. Climbing up a tree, she crept alongan overhanging branch and a dreadful sight met her horrified gaze. Someof the bearers lay dead in the shallow water and the surviving oneswere fighting desperately for their lives with a teeny band of outlaws.

Rushing back to the palki with the utmost speed and regardlessof onlookers, she flung wide the door, screaming frantically,"Dacoits! dacoits! run, didi (elder sister), run. With these eyes ofmine I saw them. I climbed a tree and saw them. Some of our bearerslie dead and they are killing the others. Fly! fly for your life!" Withthese words she turned and led the way with swiftness impelled by fear.