Perhaps the Chief will like Bootea, and will
listen to what she says. Men such as brave warriors always treat
Bootea not as a _nautchni_ so I will ask him not to come to the tent at
night because of ill repute. Hunsa will not be able to slay him unless
it is a trap on my part to get him from the watching eyes of his men.
If Hunsa becomes suspicious, and there is real danger, I will threaten
that I will expose him to the Chief. If we come back because we have
failed in our mission, having tried to succeed, it will not be like
refusing to go; and perhaps there will be mercy shown."
"Mercy!" Barlow sneered; "Nana Sahib knows nothing of mercy, he's a
tiger."
"But if I refuse to go another _nautchni_ will be sent, perhaps more
beautiful than I am, and she would betray the Chief, and perhaps all
would be killed."
"By Jove! you're some woman, you're magnificent--you're like a Rajputni
princess."
A slim hand was placed on Barlow's wrist and the girl said, "Sahib, I
am just Bootea,--please, please!"
"And that's your reason for taking this awful chance, to save Ajeet and
the others--is it?"
"There is another reason, Sahib.
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