The girl's arms were clasped around her lover's neck. "Do not leave
me--not a moment!" she moaned. Alaric Hobbs, with quick forethought,
tossed his blankets down below, with a significant gesture.
"Darling! You will be mine for life, now!" cried the happy soldier,
as he covered her shivering form with his coat. Alaric Hobbs had
promptly descended and hastened the necessary preparations for
departure. "Damn the explanations. Let's get the whole party out
of this!" he said to Captain Murray, and then rejoined Hardwicke.
"Tell me all, quickly!" said Hardwicke. "I am a Queen's officer and
shall telegraph to the Home Guards and send for General Wragge. I
must report this by cable to the Indian Government. There is justice
yet to be done!"
"I was taking some private star observations here," whispered Hobbs,
bending down at Hardwicke's warning signal. "Storm bound, I waited
for the return of my wagon at dawn. I was aroused from sleep by
the sounds of a struggle below.
"Some one had dragged this young woman screaming and wailing into
the tower below. She soon fainted. I heard the followers tell the
leader of the gang that the coachman had just cut the traces and
decamped with the horses. He then bade them gather all the gang
waiting in hiding so as to carry her down to some boat below,
and then closing the door, he stood on guard outside. They were,
however, baffled.
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