第64章

"In this respect the promptness of the Russian procedure could scarcely be excelled.But I allow, that your fears are quite justified.Accordingly, only the road to the north remains open.""Yes, you must go to the Khyber Pass on an empty train or with a transport of English prisoners, and then on horseback through Afghanistan to the frontier, and thence again by railway to Kransnovodsk.Your journey would then be across the Caspian to Baku or by railway by way of Tiflis to Poti on the Black Sea and thence by ship to Constantinople.But, my dear comrade, that's a very long and arduous journey.""I shall have to attempt it all the same.Honour commands; and you yourself say that there is no other route than that you have described.""Right!--I will take care you are provided with a passport, and will request the General to furnish you with an authority which will enable you to have at any time an escort of Cossacks upon our lines of communication through Afghanistan--But--"A gleam of pleasure in his face showed that in his view he had hit upon a very happy thought--"Might there not, perhaps, after all be found some solution which would save you all this exertion? The Germans and the Russians are allies.In the ranks of our army you would also be able to serve your fatherland.And an officer who knows India as well as you, would be invaluable to us at the present time.I will, if you like, speak at once with the General;and I am certain that he will not hesitate a moment to attach you to his staff with the rank that you hold in the German army."Heideck shook his friend's hand with emotion.

"You make it difficult for me to thank you as you deserve.Without your intervention, my existence would have come to an inglorious close, and the proposal you now make to me is a new proof of your amiable sympathy.But you will not be vexed if I decline your offer--will you? It would certainly be a great honour to serve in your splendid army, but you see I cannot dispose of myself as Iwould, but must, as a soldier, return to my post irrespective of the difficulties I may have to encounter.I beg you-- Lord!

what's that? in this land of miracles even the dead come to life again."The astonishment that prompted this question was a very natural one, for the lean, dark-skinned little man who had just appeared at the entrance of the tent was no other than his faithful servant Morar Gopal whom he had believed to be dead.Round his forehead he wore a fresh bandage.For a moment he stood stock-still at the entrance to the tent, and his dark eyes beamed with pleasure at having found his master again unharmed.

Hardly able to restrain his emotion, Morar Gopal advanced towards Heideck, prostrated himself on the ground, Hindu fashion, in order to touch the earth with his forehead, and then sprang to his feet with all the appearance of the greatest joy.

But Heideck was scarcely less moved than the other, and pressed the brown hand of his faithful servant warmly.

"These lunatics did not kill you after all then? But I saw you felled to the ground by their blows."Morar Gopal grinned cunningly.

I threw myself down as soon as I saw that further resistance was useless.And, because I was bleeding from a wound in the head, they thought, I suppose, that they had finished me.Directly afterwards the Cossacks came, and in front of their horses, which would otherwise have trampled upon me, I quickly scrambled to my feet.""You have great presence of mind! But where did you get this fine suit of clothes?""I ran back to the hotel--through the back door, where the smoke was not so stifling--because I thought that sahib would perhaps have taken refuge there.I did not find sahib, but I found these clothes, and thought it better to put them on than to leave them to burn.""Quite right, my brave fellow! you will hardly be brought up for this little theft.""I looked for sahib everywhere, where English prisoners are; and when I came to Anar Kali just at the moment that Mrs.Irwin was being driven away in a carriage, I knew that I was at length on the track of my master."Heideck violently clutched his arm.

"You saw it? and you know, too, who it was that took her away?""Yes, sir, it was Siwalik, the Master of the Horse to Prince Tasatat; and the lady is now with him on the road to Simla.""Simla! How do you know that?"