Tara: A Mahratta Tale

by Meadows Taylor

  CHAPTER LXXV.

  The Rajah passed into the inner chamber, and found his mother sittingat the window alone, looking over the road which ascended to thefort-gate. He prostrated himself before her, as was his wont, and,sitting down opposite to her in silence, fell apparently into deepthought. She did not interrupt him; but as the trumpet sounded, anda salute of cannon was fired from the ramparts, and the Envoy'sprocession passed out, and wound down the pass--she saw him followingthe palankeen with his eyes, while his lips moved gently, as though hespoke to himself. As it disappeared behind a shoulder of the mountain,he turned to her and smiled.

  "Mother," he said, "you saw the Khan's Envoy. I expected some stupid,wrong-headed, supercilious Mussulman, but behold he has sent a Brahmun,and with him a Mahratta, whom we should know, but no one recognizeshim. I think the Mother will give both to me, yet you said one only."

  "My vision was but of one," she replied, "and it will be enough. Who isthe Mahratta?"

  "They said his name was Bulwunt Rao, mother, but he did not mention hissurname, and no one knew it," returned the Rajah.

  "It must be Bulwunt Rao Bhoslay, Tannajee's cousin," replied the lady."I know of no other Mahratta of good family in Beejapoor. He is arelative of our own."

  "Ah!" exclaimed her son, "yes, it must be he; and I have promised himjustice, mother; but what of Tannajee?"

  "It cannot be, son," she said; "that is a blood feud, and blood onlywill quench it. Tannajee did but revenge a murder, and you cannotquarrel with him. Let it be; no good will come of it."

  "Nevertheless I will try, mother; and if the Brahmun----"

  "Fear not," she returned. "If he be a true Brahmun, the goddess hathgiven him to thee. I will go to her. It is my hour for watching, and Iwill pray her to guide thee."

  Sivaji sat as before, looking out over the rugged mountain-side and thepass, now glowing in the rich tints of an afternoon sun. If he couldonly get Afzool Khan into his power, and hold him sure as a hostage,he might make his own terms. Would the Brahmun aid him in this? A wordfrom him and the matter was secure. If he could only be persuaded towrite, a swift messenger might be sent to the camp, with one of his ownofficers to guide on the army. Once the troops entered the defiles theywere at his mercy. There was no escape--the whole must surrender or beslain; but he well knew the old Afghan would not agree to dishonour,and to separate him from his force was therefore his chief anxiety. Asyet the temptation within him had assumed no more definite form; and inrespect to the final result, his mother, strange to say, was altogethersilent; but she had again taken up the position she had assumed beforethe shrine for many days past, and his belief in her inspiration wasnot to be shaken.

  Late that night, muffled in a coarse blanket, and accompanied onlyby the Brahmun before mentioned, and a few attendants, the Rajahdescended from the fort by a steep and rugged pathway, which led froma postern directly to the town, and, leaving the men at the gate, theypassed rapidly on to the house where the Envoy had been located. Itbelonged to the Josee or astrologer of the town, in whose science theRajah had much faith; and, as was usual with him on all occasions ofgreat enterprise, the aspects of the planets had been consulted, anddeclared to be favourable at the hour at which they had purposelytimed their arrival. The Josee met them at the door. "The Pundit issitting within," he said, "reading, and there is no one with him. Ihave prepared the writing materials, too, as directed, and they will bebrought if you call."

  "Wait, then, in the outer court, friends," said the Rajah to hisattendants. "This must be done between us alone. Not even thou,Krishnajee, must know what passes between us."

  Punto Gopinath was sitting in the inner verandah of the second court ofthe house, as the Josee had said, reading. He looked up as the old manentered and said, "There is one here from the Rajah, who would speakwith you."

  "Admit him," was the reply; and Sivaji could see as he entered, thatthe Brahmun drew towards him a short, heavy dagger-sword, and placed itso that the hilt lay close to his right hand. "Be seated, friend," saidthe Envoy, "and tell thy business. What doth Sivaji Bhoslay desire ofme?"

  The Rajah's face was tied up with a handkerchief, which partlyconcealed his mouth and changed the tone of his voice, and he hadpassed his hand, covered with white wood-ashes, across his nose, eyes,and forehead, as he entered, which altered the expression of his eyesvery considerably. It was evident that he was not recognized.

  "Sivaji Bhoslay desires the prosperity and advancement of Brahmuns,"replied the Rajah, "and to enrich them is his sole care. He worshipsthem; and would fain have them as powerful as in the days of theancients, and in this desire thou canst assist."

  "I assist! How, friend? I, a Brahmun, am a receiver, not a giver,--andam only a servant to the unclean," he added with a sigh.

  "It need not be so, Pundit. The fame of thy learning hath precededthee, and the Maharaja desires thy friendship and welfare. I am sent totell thee this."

  "What can I do?" said the Envoy restlessly. "What would he have me do?and who art thou to speak thus to me?"

  "No matter who I am--I am authorized to speak," replied Sivaji. "Look,here is his ring as my authority. 'Is he a Brahmun,' the Rajah said,'and come with Moslem followers to sit in my Durbar? Alas, alas! thatsuch should be, that the pure and holy should serve the unclean. Thisis indeed the age of iron, and of debasement.'"

  The Brahmun writhed in his seat. "There are many besides me," he said,"who serve the people of Islam."

  "Who serve the destroyers of Toolja Mata, the defilers of hertemple, the slayers of Brahmuns, and of sacred kine everywhere! O,shame--shame!" cried the Rajah eagerly.

  "I was not at the shrine when the affray took place," said the Brahmunapologetically. "I could not help it."

  "Has then a Brahmun's holiness become so debased that he says only, Icould not help it?" returned the Rajah. "Is it pleasing to the Mother,think you, that her people should fawn on those whose hands are red inthe blood of her votaries?"

  "I would fling my service at the feet of Afzool Khan, and even of theSultan himself, could I but serve with Hindus as I desire to serve,"exclaimed the Brahmun.

  "The opportunity might be found, friend," answered the Rajah, "if itwere truly desired; but proof of fidelity would be required,--would itbe given? What is the Maharaja's desire? Dost thou know it?"

  "I guess it," said the Brahmun, "for I am not easily deceived byappearances, and I understood his looks to-day, if I mistake not. CouldI only speak with him? Canst thou take me to him?"

  "I can tell thy message to him," replied the Rajah, "and will deliverit faithfully. He chose me, else I had not dared to come."

  The Envoy appeared to hesitate for a moment. "Impossible," hesaid--"impossible that I could tell another, what Sivaji himself shouldalone hear; it could not be."

  "Dost thou know me, friend?" returned the Rajah, as he untied thehandkerchief which concealed his face, and with it wiped the whiteashes from his eyes and forehead--"dost thou know me? It is thus thatI salute a holy Brahmun;" and he rose and made a lowly reverence,touching the feet of the Envoy respectfully.

  The man strove to return it, but was prevented. "It cannot be,"continued Sivaji; "here thou art a Brahmun, and I a Sudra. Let it be asI wish. It is for thee to receive the honour, not I."

  "What would you have me do, Maharaja?" replied the Envoy, now tremblingmuch. "I have done evil in helping the unclean, and would now expiateit if possible."

  "I have had many things in my mind, Pundit," replied the Rajah, "andthe Mother sends perplexing thoughts; but one thing is clear to me--shemust be avenged."

  The man echoed the words--"She must be avenged."

  "Yes," continued the Rajah, "day and night, by old and young,rich and poor, man or woman, there is but one cry going up fromMaharastra--'Avenge the Mother!' and yet before that force we arepowerless."

  "Where are the Mawullees? where are the Hetkurees we have heard of,and the gallant Tannajee?" cried the Brahmun excitedly. "What art thoudoing, Sivaji Bhoslay? Men say of thee t
hat thy mother holds thee back,else 'the fire should be on the hills.'"

  "Good!" returned Sivaji, smiling; "it is as I thought, and there is yeta Brahmun who is true. What dost thou advise?"

  "Hark!" said Gopinath, "come nearer. If I bring Afzool Khan and his menwithin the defiles, will it content thee? If I do this, what wilt thoudo for me?"

  "I have prepared for that already,--a Jahgeer, a high office, secularor among the priesthood, as thou wilt,--double thy present pay,whatever it be,--an ensign of rank, and--my friendship. Look, Pundit,"cried the Rajah, springing closer to him, and drawing a small brightknife from his breast, "it were easy to slay thee,--for my knee is onthy weapon,--and so prevent my proposal being known: but it is notneeded. Fear not," he added, for the drops of sweat were standing onthe Brahmun's brow, under the terror he felt--"fear not! only be true,and Sivaji Bhoslay will not fail thee. When he has a kingdom thou shaltshare its honour."

  "Give me time to write," said the man, trembling under conviction ofhis own treachery and the excess of temptation to which he was exposed;"I will give the letter to-morrow."

  "Impossible, Pundit," replied the Rajah: "the messengers are readywithout, and they will bear what must be written to the Khan."

  "Who will take the letter?"

  "The Brahmun who spoke for me this morning; he and some horsemen arenow ready."

  "But to the Khan himself there must be no harm done," said the Pundit."To him and his son I owe many kindnesses: for the rest, as thou wilt.Keep the family as hostages."

  "As guests yonder," replied the Rajah; "he will be safe, he andhis. Shall I send for writing materials? Krishnajee! Sit there," hecontinued, as his attendant entered; "see that what is written isplain."

  And the Envoy wrote in the Persian character, in which he was aproficient, and which the other secretary understood:--

  "I have seen the Rajah, his fort, and his people, and there is nothingto apprehend. They are all beneath notice: but in order to settleeverything perfectly, and to inspire terror, my lord should advancewith all the force, according to the plan devised here, which thebearer, one of the Rajah's secretaries, will explain personally, andwhich would be tedious to write. In a strictly private interview, whichwill be arranged, the Rajah Sivaji will throw himself at the feetof the Envoy of the king of kings, and receive the pardon which hedesires. More would be beyond respect."

  "It is enough," said Sivaji, when this writing was explained tohim--"it will have the desired effect. Take this letter, Krishnajee,and set out for camp at once."

  "Stay," added the Envoy, "let him accompany my messenger,--the Mahrattaofficer who spoke so boldly to-day. It were better he went, and hewill not refuse duty. Enter that room and close the door, my lord,while I send for him;" and he called to an attendant to summon BulwuntRao.

  It was not long ere he came in, flushed somewhat, as it seemed, withdrink. "Who is this?" he said.

  "The Maharaja's Secretary, who will accompany thee to camp. Go at once,if thou art fit, Bulwunt Rao; it is needful that Afzool Khan receivethis as soon as may be."

  "I am ready, Maharaj, to ride up Pertabgurh," he replied; "and he?"

  "I attend you," said the Secretary; "come, we must leave this when themoon rises;" and they went out together.

  "Enough," said the Rajah, emerging from his concealment. "Generationshereafter will record how Punto Gopinath served his prince. Fearnot--it will be well with thee and thine hereafter."