The lonely occupant of the palanquin received the awful tidings withhorror and dismay. 0ftwelve had she heard tales of dacoits and theirruthless deeds. For a fleeting instant the thought, that she must falla victim to such desperados, paralysed her with fear; but only for aninstant. Her woman's wit and ingenuity moved her to action. Quicklyshe divested herself of her weighty jewelled anklets. How could sherun thus weighted? and might not their value satisfy the greed of thehighwaymen? Flinging them down in the palanquin, she hastily closedthe doors and dropped the covering over its sides. Let them skinnykshe was within. The search of the palki would delay them awhile.

Then tucking up her rich satee she too started to run for her life. Shehad gone but a few steps when the voices of the two durwans arrestedher. They had heard the jhee's distracted cry, and their only thoughtwas for their youthful mistress.