‘I am not going to alight,” said Kulsam. “Who can say what is in store for me when I fall into the Nawab’s hands! I have made up my mind to go to Calcutta with the Englishman. I have got some acquaintances there.”
“You need not be afraid,” said Dalani. “If I live you shall also live.”
“If you live, then!” said Kulsam.
Nothing in the world could induce Kulsam to alight from the boat. Dalani earnestly entreated her, but she was determined.
“Who can say that the boat will not follow us for your sake? You had better get down also,” suggested Foster to Kulsam.
“If you insist on my leaving the boat,” said Kulsam, “then after going into the other boat I will take pretty good care that the people over there do not let you alone.”
Foster was frightened. He did not utter another word after that. Dalani shed tears for Kulsam and alighted from the boat. Foster sailed away. It was not long before the sun went down after that.
Foster’s boat gradually went out of sight. The small vessel, the mistaken identity of which as a boat belonging to the Nawab’s Government had led Foster to leave Dalani on the shore, also approached. Every moment Dalani expected it to pull for the shore to take her up, but it did not. Then in her doubt if she had been seen or not, she began to wave the end of her cloth on high; yet the boat did not turn from its course, but rowed past her. Like a lightning flash it at once flashed on her mind : “How could I conclude that the boat belonged to the Nawab’s Government? It might belong to some other party.” Then in aloud voice she frantically called
