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 Osman was going away, leaving Bimala in that plight when he returned, and saying, "No trusting a woman's tongue," gagged her mouth as well.

Osman then descended to the room below Bimala's. He there turned the key, as Bimala had previously done, and pushed the window into the wall. When a passage was made, Osman began to whistle softly. Immediately a bare-footed soldier came up from behind a tree and entered in. He was followed by another. In this manner, a large number of Pathan soldiers noiselessly crept into the castle. To the last man that came, Osman said,

"No more; do you all remain outside. When you hear my signal, attack the castle from the outside. Tell it to Taj Khan."

The man returned. Taking the soldiers with him, Osman again noiselessly ascended to the roof. When passing by the place where Bimala was a captive, he said,

"This woman is very clever; not safe to trust her. Rahim Saikh! do you mount guard over her. Free her mouth; but should she attempt to fly or talk with any one or talk aloud, don't scorn to kill a woman."

"I will, Sir," replied Rahim, and remained there.

From roof to roof, the Pathans went to the other side of the castle.

When Bimala saw that the clever Osman was away, she revived courage, for now she could hope to regain her freedom by