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 Kulsam's threat had its effect on Foster's mind and he did not dare to meddle with her any more.

Dalani shed tears for Kulsam, and alighted from the boat, alone. Foster left the place forthwith, and hastened off, as fast as he could. The portals of the day were then about to be closed, and the moment was fast approaching when the mighty Sun was to retire from his day's work, to rest behind the horizon.

Foster's boat soon got out of sight. The little boat, which Foster had taken to be the Nawab's, now drew nearer—every moment, Dalani thought that it would be brought to the shore, to take her away on it. But it did not so happen. Suspecting that the men in the boat had not seen her, Dalani raised one end of her Shari, and began to wave it to and fro. But inspite of this, the boat was not brought to the shore and it passed her away. It was then that a doubt flashed through her mind, like a quick streak of lightning, that the boat which she had taken to be the Nawab's might not be his, and it was quite possible that it belonged to some other person altogether! Dalani then