Page:The Land of the Veda.djvu/281

Rh Mr. E. reached a place of safety, a village owned by Hurdeo Buksh, a Talookdar, a man of wealth and influence, near Futtyghur, one hundred and forty miles from Nynee Tal. For many months this noble, friendly Hindoo, at great peril, sheltered him, though constantly threatened by the rebels of Futtyghur. Mr. E. after some time succeeded in finding a man who, by the promise of a large reward, was induced to venture to carry a message to Mrs. Edwards, in Nynee Tal.

She, poor lady, was mourning for her husband in the bitterness of uncertainty and woe unspeakable, supposing that, like the rest, he had been murdered.

Judge E. procured a small piece of paper, and wrote on it that he was still alive, and even well, and in a village named ——. Here he wrote the name of the village in Greek, lest the note should be discovered. He then, with a small knife, slit a bamboo walking stick, inserted the tiny missive, and withdrew the knife. The slit closed so completely as to defy the skill of any seeker, though the messenger was often searched by the rebel police, but they never imagined that there was a letter in the walking-stick. The faithful native reached our position after a variety of adventures, and when challenged by our guards, declared he was a friend, and that he had a letter for delivery to Mem Sahib (Lady) Edwards. They conducted him to her. He found her dressed in mourning, supposing herself a widow. He told her his bamboo stick had a letter in it from her husband. He broke it, and there it verily was, in his own handwriting. In addition to expressing her own joy at the discovery, she knew the native mind and character well, and how to impress it, and that it was necessary that her action now should be significant, as she feared her reply might be lost, or would have to be destroyed by the messenger to save his life, and she must do something which would show him the joy which she felt; so, telling him to wait, she retired, and soon came back again, and stood before him arrayed from head to foot in white clothing. He understood her perfectly, and started back by night on his dangerous journey to Judge Edwards.