The Great Mogul Part 21

He seized a bottle of Alicant and poured out two generous measures.

Mowbray lifted a tankard and cried:--

"Here's to Old England and Nellie Roe, if I never see either again!"

"And here's to the day when I set foot on the heather once more!" was Roger's st.u.r.dy rejoinder. It was in such spirit that they followed the chamberlain when he reappeared.

They had no opportunity of conversing again with the _bhisti_. Whatever good cause inspired his mysterious message they were now on the verge of enlightenment, so Walter called the poor fellow towards him and openly presented him with some rupees, saying:--

"He that refreshes the thirsty earth and causes the flowers to grow is among the most deserving of mortals."

The man s.h.i.+fted his water-bag uneasily.

"Salaam, sahib," he said. "May your years be numbered as the pice in these coins!"

Now, there are sixty-four pice in a rupee, so the _bhisti's_ wish had not an uncheerful ring in their ears as they followed their guide across the garden and thence to a new part of the palace grounds. They were conducted to an extensive stone platform, built level with the fortifications at a point where the outer walls were laved by the river Jumna.

Exactly in front of and below the platform, however, a square enclosed court, or arena, was reclaimed from the bed of the stream. The preparations in progress there, no less than the presence of several elephants in battle gear, hunting leopards in leash, antelopes trained for fighting, buffaloes whose tremendous horns were tipped with lance points, and many other animals, including even the ungainly rhinoceros, showed what manner of sport was forthcoming. Notwithstanding the precarious condition of their own fortunes, both Mowbray and Sainton regarded the scene with curious eyes. They had, of course, during their three years' sojourn, witnessed the fierce spring of the _chitah_[F]

onto the back of a flying deer; they had chased wild boar and even _nilgau_, the fierce blue cow of India, on horseback; they had seen a trained eagle pounce onto an antelope and buffet the frightened creature's head with its wings until the claws got to work. But a combat of elephants was a King's amus.e.m.e.nt, as few save a monarch could afford the cost or compel men to risk and lose their lives in such fas.h.i.+on.

[Footnote F: Leopard]

The broad terrace on which they stood was flanked by the graceful buildings of the zenana. A double line of spear-men guarded it on three sides, while another batch of warriors surrounded a ponderous block of black marble, resting on four low supports, which bore the Emperor's chair. This was placed close to the edge of the battlements, so that his Majesty could watch each detail of the sanguinary encounters in the arena some twenty feet beneath. The chair was securely bound to the marble block lest it should topple over in a moment of royal excitement, and there was standing room on the huge stone to accommodate a dozen privileged spectators. For the rest, the platform extended so far on either hand that all could look easily into the enclosure, whilst many a window and balcony of the palace permitted the ladies of the household to take part in the proceedings if they were so minded. When the Englishmen arrived there were already many rajahs, omrahs, and other notabilities standing in groups on the terrace. None of these addressed the strangers, but muttered words and covert looks showed that some event was toward of which those present were cognizant.

Roger eyed the strength of the guard and smiled. He laughed outright when he nudged Walter to note the manner in which even the royal chair was protected.

"Jahangir either plans mischief or is afraid of it," he said. "He hath marshaled a small army to protect him in his own house."

Walter straightway took the bull by the horns in addressing a question to one who stood near and with whom he had a slight acquaintance.

"Is such display of force usual within the palace?" he asked.

The other shrugged his shoulders.

"They talk of a fierce tiger being let loose," he murmured. "One never knows what may happen."

He vouchsafed no further information. Indeed, at that moment, Jahangir put in an appearance. His swarthy face was flushed and there was an evil glint in his close set eyes. Evidently he had been imbibing liquor forbidden by the Prophet. Accompanied by a few young n.o.blemen whose appearance betokened the force of kingly example, he strode towards his chair without paying the slightest attention to the respectful salaams of the crowd.

"Bring the sheep first," he grunted. "We shall deal with the pigs later."

This obscure joke was greeted with shouts of laughter.

"Karamat! Karamat!"[G] was the exclamation, for every Mahomedan there had laid to heart the Persian proverb:--

"Should the King say that it is night at noon, Be sure to cry: 'Behold, I see the moon!'"

[Footnote G: "Wonderful! Wonderful!"]

Yet Mowbray, alert to discern the slightest straw-twist on the swirl of the current, thought that some of the older men glanced askance at each other, which puzzled him, as he knew quite well that the death of a Feringhi was of little account to an Asiatic.

The "sheep" alluded to by Jahangir were veritable carcases of those animals, slung from poles by the feet tied in a bunch. They were carried by servants onto the terrace itself, and forthwith a few athletic youths created some excitement by endeavoring, in the first place, to cut through the four feet at one blow, and, secondly, to divide the body in the same way. They used their razor-edged simitars with much skill, science rather than great strength being demanded by the task.

When half a dozen carcases had been dissected with more or less success, Jahangir shouted a question to Sainton, of whose presence he seemed to be unaware hitherto.

"Tell me, Hathi," he cried. "Canst perform either trick with thy long sword? Thy arm is strong, but is thy wrist supple?"

All eyes were instantly bent on Roger, to whom Mowbray whispered the King's meaning lest he had not properly caught the words. The giant grinned genially.

"A slung sheep offers but slight resistance to a blow," he said. "Were he fresh from the spit I'd sooner eat him."

Discreet mirth rewarded his humor, but Jahangir wheeled round in his chair towards the ditch and clapped his hands as a signal to the attendants. At once began a series of sanguinary events in which buffaloes contended with _nilgau_, hunting dogs tore down bears let loose from invisible caverns, and panthers made magnificent leaps after flying deer. Few were real combats. In most cases a helpless creature was ruthlessly slaughtered by some vicious and snarling enemy, and the more ghastly the dying struggles of the doomed antelope or bellowing cow the more excited and vociferous became the spectators.

A fight between elephants was a really thrilling affair. Two magnificent brutes, specially imported from Ceylon, were led up on opposite sides of a low mud wall built on wood and carried into the arena by a host of men. Gorgeously caparisoned, and trumpeting strange squeals of defiance, each elephant was urged towards this barrier by his two riders.

Separated at first by the wall, they fought furiously with heads, tusks, and trunks, while the leading _mahout_ encouraged his mount by shrill cries, forcing him to the attack with a steel _ankus_, or striving to ward off the blows of the opposing beast's trunk with the same instrument. It was quickly apparent why there were two men astride an elephant. Each cunning brute knew that it was an advantage to get rid of his adversary's _mahout_, and, indeed, one rider was killed before the fight was long in progress. But the death of the man so enraged his elephant that he sprang onto the wall ere the second attendant could climb to his head, and gored his opponent in the flank with such ferocity that the other turned and fled.

The two rushed towards the end of the enclosure, and the leading animal charged a stout barricade so blindly that it yielded before his great bulk. He fell, and the pursuer attacked him furiously. At once a terrific fanfare of hautboys and cymbals burst forth, and a number of men ran with lighted fireworks, mostly Catherine wheels, attached to long sticks, which they thrust under the legs and before the eyes of the victor. This device caused him to abandon the a.s.sault, and he allowed his remaining _mahout_ to drive him away, but not until two unfortunate _bhois_, or attendants, had been trodden to death.

Jahangir nodded his satisfaction, and the riders of the elephants were permitted to alight, each man being given a sackful of pice, while the ears of the conquering animal were decorated with tails of the white Tibetan ox, or yak. As for the inanimate corpses of the hapless _mahout_ and his a.s.sistants, they were huddled onto biers and borne away, followed by some shrieking women, whose plaints were drowned by the din of trumpets six or seven feet in length and a foot wide at the mouth.

It must not be imagined that the spectacle disgusted the English onlookers. In an age when men lived by the sword, when personal bravery and physical hardihood were the best equipment a youth could possess, there were no fastidious notions as to the sacredness of human life or the deliberate cruelty involved in such encounters.

They were wondering what would provide the next act in this drama of blood and death when a stir towards the rear of the platform on which they stood caused them to look in that direction.

Sainton, by reason of his height, could see over the heads of the crowd.

"By the cross of Osmotherly!" he cried, "the mystery is cleared. Here comes Sher Afghan, closely tended, if not a prisoner."

It was, indeed, the Persian n.o.ble himself who now advanced towards Jahangir, the Emperor having swung his chair, which was on a pivot, to face the palace. Sher Afghan's mien was collected, his dress in good order. He was unarmed, and the mace-bearers who marched behind him might be merely doing him honor.

With eyes for none save Jahangir he strode on with firm step. At the proper distance he stopped and bowed deeply.

"To hear the King's order is to obey," he said quietly. "Your Majesty's messenger rode far, for I hastened to Burdwan, but when he reached me I turned my horse's head that moment."

"Say rather, you gave orders to your litter carriers. When last we parted you had pleasant company in the _palki_," replied Jahangir.

"Neither my wife nor I love indolence, O King of Kings. We have ridden hither at the rate of sixty miles a day."

"I am glad of it. Being newly come to the throne I did not wish the most beautiful and the bravest of my subjects to be banished from the capital to far Burdwan."

"Your Majesty's words are more propitious than a favorable sign in the heavens."

"They carry no better augury than the hour of your arrival, for, in very truth, I feared you might be tardy. I owe these strangers from beyond the black waters some slight debt in my ill.u.s.trious father's behalf.

Certain monies shall be paid them, but first I have discharged a promise of the great Akbar's to entertain them."

He waved a jeweled hand towards Mowbray and Sainton, and the Persian saw them for the first time. But Jahangir went on slowly, his white teeth showing as if he wished to bite each word:--

"Thy coming, friend, hath provided for all a truly marvelous close to a day of pleasure. Art thou not named Sher Afghan, Slayer of Tigers?

Behold, then, a foe worthy even of thy reputation."

Again he clapped his hands. A door was opened in the cellars beneath, and a great Bengal tiger, maddened by hours of torture, sprang into the center of the arena, the broken barrier having been hastily repaired with strong hurdles. The lissome beast, whose striped skin shone like cloth of gold and brown velvet in the rays of the declining sun, stood for a little while las.h.i.+ng his sides in fury with his tail until he caught the scent of blood. Then he crouched, and began to stalk, he cared not what. The air was fetid with killing, and this past master in the hunter's art knew the tokens of his craft.