part0022

The howling mob came to a halt before the steps of the Greystone bungalow and gazed at the lone figure of its owner, leaning with folded arms against a pillar of the verandah, placidly smoking his pipe

They had expected the planter to flee in terror. Many had anticipated that he would fall on his knees and plead for his life. A few had foreseen some sort of resistance, and they had taken care to keep to the rear. They knew the white man had firearms But none had expected Greystone to behave as if nothing in the world was wrong.

The murmur of a hundred voices died to a few whispers. Then there was complete silence. One could have heard a pin drop.

Raman Nair had headed them and was the first to burst into view on the drive leading to the bungalow. But he was also one of those who had expected the planter to resist. Thus he had contrived, as if by accident, to fall back and stood somewhere in the midst of the throng.

Now seeing that Greystone was unarmed, he pushed through the mass and ran up the steps leading to the verandah.

"We've come to kill you, English dog. You have oppressed your workers long enough and sucked their lifeblood. You've kept them in poverty while you have reveled in this mansion of riches. Those days are over now. You are powerless before us. We'll kill every one of you English people. The gutters will run red with your blood.”

Raman Nair stopped to gasp for breath. Flecks of foam-like saliva at the corners of his mouth evinced the vehemence of his speech.

"Who is this man who says these things? Greystone knew how critical the moment was. The slightest mistake, the flicker of an eyelid portraying fear the smallest action indicating indecision, would bring about his immediate death at the hands of this hysterical mob. So he did not move beyond taking the pipe from his mouth.

Nobody answered, while John's calm manner drove the Malayali to still greater fury.

"Who am I?" he screamed, "Why, I'll tell you. I'm a true son of India and I'm here to free my motherland from the shackles in which she has been bound for the last two hundred years by you accursed Britishers".

Greystone could hear the rumble of approval from the crowd of coolies. His position was extremely precarious. Still leaning nonchalantly against the pillar, John lowered his pipe, emptied the bowl against the heel, of his boot, and methodically refilled it. He struck a match, and as the light floated above the tobacco inhaled deeply, emitting clouds of smoke while the contents caught fire.

Then he spoke again. "Will somebody step forward and say in what way I have oppressed or harmed him". The coolies glanced at each other. Those in the rear stood on tip-toe to peer over the heads of the others, expecting a volunteer from the front ranks to speak. People at the front turned their heads around to listen to someone from the back.

But nobody said anything.

"Shut up!" interrupted Greystone, "I'm addressing my workers, and not you. When I want you to speak, I shall ask you".

The effect of his words was like the lash of a whip.

Raman Nair was stunned.

Before the Malayali could recover himself, Greystone addressed the coolies for the second time. "So; not one has come forward! Doesn't that show I have not oppressed any of you as this liar is saying?" Then he went on to speak to the gathering. "Now, will someone I have helped in the past, please say so".

Again, there was the flutter of whispering, the turning of heads and the craning of necks. After some delay, an individual from the back called out, "You helped me when my son was very sick. You took him, my wife and myself to Nilambur in your jeep and put him into the hospital there…and you paid all the charges".

Hearing these words, Raman Nair fairly danced with rage. "Fool!" he screamed, "Cannot you see that he is misleading you? Cannot you see he is only saying these things to save himself from being killed? Come, let us be done with this talk. Let's do away with the swine".

Suiting the action to his words, he rushed up to Greystone in a threatening manner. But the Malayali was also cunning. He had intended to take no active part in the murder, and so had come unarmed. Should any trouble arise later, he would be able to prove that somebody else had committed the crime.

The man who had just been rebuked now spoke for the second time. "Who’re you to call me a fool?" he asked. "If it wasn't for the dorai 's help my child would not be alive today. Therefore, I say that he and his wife should not be killed".

With these words, he turned and walked away. Both Raman Nair and Greystone realized what was happening, and that whichever of them could hold sway over the feelings of the crowd that morning would win the day.

There was just the one difference in Greystone's case. The stakes were high; the highest possible! If he failed, his life would pay the forfeit.

Raman Nair changed his tactics. "Even if none of you are bold enough to openly admit how this white man has harassed you, you should remember that while you slave for a mere pittance, you are killed by snakes and eaten by tigers. The compensation paid to your families, if it is given at all, is but a few rupees to the wealth he is amassing".

It was a clever piece of psychology. Very deftly and subtly Raman Nair had switched the line of attack to another angle and there was precious little time for planning a defense. The crowd again became restless. A good many people called out, "Yes, what about that? He's quite right. You don't care what happens to us".

John Greystone thought very fast. Then he made the greatest gamble of his lifetime. He held up his hand for silence, and strangely enough the jabbering ceased. "Workers", he began, addressing the throng in Tamil, "For once this stranger has spoken wisely. It is not proper that you should be exposed to danger from the man-eater while working for me.

"You know I made an attempt to shoot this beast, while this fellow did nothing. Instead of just talking, let him select whichever of my guns he wants and help me to shoot it. That plan would be a practical one.”

"On my part, until it has been killed, I will no longer spend time in supervising your work. I leave that to your sense of duty.

"On his part, he should not spend time making more trouble against me."

All the time John was speaking, a hush had fallen upon the assembly. It was easy to observe from the expression on their faces that the coolies were divided in their opinions. John had made a good psychological gamble and for the moment the danger to his life had passed.

Somebody at the back called, "What say you, O stranger? Are you prepared to accept the dorai 's challenge?"

Another voice shouted, "It seems fair enough. Choose your weapon and try to kill the tiger for us". But a third man suggested, "Perhaps it's only a trick.

The dorai will shoot us if we let him bring out his firearms".

Raman Nair's eyes blazed. He saw the leadership he had struggled so hard to gain over this ignorant rabble slipping from his grasp and determined to take advantage of the doubt raised by the last speaker. "Brothers, this is but a pretext", he cried. "The white man wants the opportunity to go inside and get his guns. If you allow him to do that, he will show his true colors by shooting all of us".

The mob had been so intent upon watching John, and he in answering them, that nobody heard the pounding of a horse's hooves nor observed the lone rider, till June was pressing Tony through the throng and finally dismounted at the foot of the verandah steps. Then everyone's eyes turned upon her. John became aware that before him was the girl who had recently told him off in no uncertain terms.

"Why, Miss Gardner", he gasped in surprise, "what on earth brings you here and at a moment like this? Go away while you can.”

June replied simply, "There's no time for details. I heard of the plan to attack you and came to warn you. I see I'm too late".

John was just able to say, "For God's sake get out of here", and to see June shake her head resolutely, when Raman Nair continued to harangue the mob.

"It's a trick", he repeated, "don't allow him to go inside and fetch his guns".

Again, the coolies looked at John accusingly.

Someone shouted, "If that's so, let's kill him".

An instant later, the diminutive figure of Chicka stood beside his master. Turning to Raman Nair, the jungle-man pointed a gnarled forefinger and said, "Oh father of liars!" You dare to accuse the dorai of such intentions! Very well, that's easily settled. Let him stand aside. I'll bring the weapons out. This is, if you have the guts to accept the challenge".

Raman Nair lost his temper altogether. "Offspring of a monkey! Keep your nose out of this or I shall kick you".

"Don't try", countered little Chicka, "you're now standing on your feet. When I finish with you, you'll have to crawl on your stumps".

There was a titter of laughter at the little Karumba's audacity in speaking in this manner.

Another voice shouted "Have done with this stupid wrangling. We will allow neither of you to fetch the guns. Let the servant bring them out".

"I agree to that", said John quickly, and turning around called to Chandra who had been standing at the doorway,

"Please fetch both my rifles and shotgun".

While he waited, John knocked out the ashes from his pipe again and reloaded it for the second time. He struck a match leisurely and started puffing to ignite the fresh charge.

June had not spoken after explaining her arrival. She looked up wonderingly at the lone Englishman who conducted himself thus complacently against such odds, and with his life in so great danger.

In a short while Chandra returned with a rifle slung across his shoulder, and the other weapons in each hand.

Before he could approach, John pointed to the further end of the verandah and said, "Take them over there".

Again, he addressed the crowd before him. "This man has made you suspicious of me. Do you realise that when I heard you approaching I had plenty of time to get these firearms and use them against you?

"I didn't do that because you are my own workers. I know you are good people. This agitator has excited you with his lies and I don't blame you for what's happened. "Let him go ahead now and choose the weapon he wants".

All eyes turned to Raman Nair.

"But where am I going to find the tiger?" he asked in an injured tone.

"Where indeed?" That's your problem. You have to look for him. It shouldn't be difficult". The Karumba's sarcasm evoked further mirth among the coolies.

The planter now took a hand in matters.

"Listen chaps", he said, "he now says he doesn't know where to find the tiger. Fair enough. I'll even find it for him. Is that okay?"

"That's quite fair, dorai ", said a man in the front rank. There was a general murmur of approval.

"And in the meanwhile, remember what I said. You must make me two promises. The first, that you'll not allow this fellow to make any more trouble till we kill the tiger. The second, that you will do your work in my absence".

"We promise, dorai ", answered a number of voices.

"Thank you. And don't forget; when I do find the tiger, you must see that this fellow helps me to do the shooting", John reminded them, banteringly.

"Definitely", said several of the men.

"But how do I know you will not give me the worst weapon when the time comes?" cried Raman Nair, complainingly.

"Select whichever you want now", invited John, "along with twenty cartridges. I have a .470 rifle. That is the most powerful of the lot. Next comes a .450\400 rifle. And there is my .12 bore shot-gun. They all are double-barelled weapons. Make your choice".

The Malayali replied sulkily, "I shall require the most powerful rifle—the .470".

"By all means use it", agreed John.

A few minutes after that there was not a coolie to be seen. Nor Raman Nair. The crowd had melted away as quickly as it had come.

John turned to June and said earnestly, "Thank you very much for coming here at such great risk to warn me. It was very brave of you. Why did you do it? How did you come to hear about the trouble?"

June's brown-tanned face flushed as she heard him. She evaded his first question but related about her capture and escape from Chacko and Papachen.

John's eyes opened widely in sheer amazement,

"You're indeed a brave girl", he remarked.

There was silence between them for some minutes after that.

Then Greystone said, "Please come inside and have some tea. Or a drink, if you prefer. You deserve it after the ordeal you've been through. You must be parched. "Ruth will probably return with the police. Then I'll take you home. It's not safe to ride back alone. Those two scoundrels may intercept you in the car. This time they'll kill you in order to ensure your silence".