against her and his reassuring bulk between her and the sentry; but
everywhere else was insecurity and doubt. One does not as a rule
descend from dog-carts after dark and present half-sheets of paper by
way of passports for admission to Rajput palaces. The sentry looked
mildly interested, no more. He had been so thoroughly warned and
threatened in case of efforts to escape from within, that it did not enter
his head that any one might want to enter. However, since the dog-cart
continued to stand still in front of the gate, he turned the guard out as
a matter of routine; one never knew when sahibs will not complain
about discourtesy.

The guard lined up at attention--eight men and a risaldar (officer)--double
the regular number by Gungadhura's orders. The risaldar stepped
up close to the dog-cart and spoke to the man he imagined was the
sais, using, as was natural, the Rajput tongue. But Dick Blaine only
knew enough of the language for fetch and carry purposes--not enough
to deceive a native as to his nationality after the first two words.

"Now I feel foolish!" said Tess, and the risaldar of the guard thrust his
bearded face closer, supposing she spoke to him. Dick answered her.

"Shall I drive you home again, little woman? Say, the word and we're off."

"Not yet. I haven't tried my ammunition."

She pulled out Samson's scribbled permit and was about to offer it to
the guard. But there was a risk that whatever she did would only arouse
and increase his suspicions, and she offered it nervously.

"What if he won't give it back to you?" asked her husband.