The Adventures of Akbar | Page 5

though it be, will suffice for thy light weight. In the mountains
lies possible safety. Come! There is not a moment to lose."
"But--but the child--" faltered the Queen.
King Humâyon's voice failed him. He could not speak for a moment;
but he shook his head.
"I will not leave the child--" began the wretched mother. "My lord!
thou canst not have the heart----"
"It is his only chance--" interrupted the poor King, his face full of grief
and anger, of bitter, bitter regret--"His only chance of life! In the
mountains yonder, with winter snow upon us, lies certain death for one
so young. Were we to stay with him here, he would find death with
us--for my brother Askurry is close behind us. But if we are gone, God
knows, but he might spare the child. Askurry is not all unkind, and the
little lad favors my father so much that his blessed memory may be
safeguard. God send it so. It is his best chance, his only chance. So
come----"
"I cannot! I cannot!" moaned the poor mother distractedly.

"There is no other way, sweetheart!" said the King, "so be brave, little
mother, and come for thy son's sake. He will be safer here than with
thee. Come! trusting in God's mercy for the child. And come quickly
while the darkness of the storm shrouds our going."
Then he looked round on those others--Head-nurse, Wet-nurse, Old
Faithful, Roy the Râjput, and Meroo the cook-boy--not much of a
bodyguard for the young prince, and yet, since force would be useless,
perhaps as good as any other, if they had a head between them. But the
nurses were women, Faithful nothing but an old soldier, and the two
others were mere boys. Some one else must be left. Who? Then he
remembered Foster-father, Foster-mother's husband. He was the man.
Solid, sober, clear-headed. So, as Queen Humeeda was being hurriedly
wrapped in a shawl by the two weeping nurses, he gave them a few
directions. They were to stay where they were, no matter what
happened, until Foster-father returned from showing the fugitives a
path he knew to the mountains, and then----
King Humâyon could say no more. Only as, after a hurried, tearless,
hopeless farewell to his little son, he paused at the tent door to take a
last look, his half-fainting wife in his arms, he said suddenly in a sharp,
loud voice:
"Remember! In your charge lies the safety of the Heir-to-Empire."
The words sank into the very hearts of those who stood watching the
group of hurrying figures making its way rapidly toward the hills.
"Pray Heaven," muttered Old Faithful anxiously, "that they be over the
rise before those who follow see them."
So they stood fearfully watching, watching. And Heaven was kind, for
though one great blue blaze of lightning showed the fugitives clear
against the sky line, when the next came there was nothing but the
rugged rocks.
Then for the first time Baby Akbar, who had been silent in his nurses'
arms, watching with the rest, lifted up his deep-toned baby voice:

"Daddy, Amma," he said contentedly, "gone up in a 'ky."
Whereupon Foster-mother wept loudly and prayed that good angels
might protect her darling.
But Head-nurse was more practical, and set about considering how best
that safety might be secured. Who was there who could help? No one
of much use, truly, though every one was brimful of devotion and ready
to give his or her life for the Heir-to-Empire.
"I will kill the first man who dares--" began Old Faithful.
"Aye! The first! But how about the last, old man?" interrupted
Head-nurse. "Force will be of no avail. Askurry hath half an army with
him."
"Harm shall only come to the child through my body," wept
Foster-mother, whereat Head-nurse laughed scornfully.
"Woman's flesh is a poor shield, fool! God send we find better
protection than thy carcass."
"Boo! hoo!" blubbered Meroo the cook-boy. "Lo! Head-nurse! I could
kill a whole army by poisoning their suppers."
Head-nurse nodded faint approval. "Now, there is some sense in that,
scullion, but what about that they may do supperless? If they should
dare----"
"They will not dare," said a clear, sharp voice, and Roy the Râjput lad
stepped forward, a light in his great eyes. "My mother used to say, 'Fear
not! A king's son is a king's son always, so be that he forgets not
kingship.'"
Head-nurse stood puzzled for a second, then she caught the meaning of
the lad's words, for she was a clever, capable woman, and had all a
woman's quickness.
"Thou art right, my lad," she said slowly, looking curiously at Roy,

from whose face the flash of memory seemed to have passed. "Thou art
right. In royalty lies safety. The Heir-to-Empire must receive