CHAPTER VI.
ON THE GANGES.
While all the members of the party were cheered by hope, none forgot that a dreadful peril impended.

Enough time had passed since the revolt at Meerut for the news to spread even beyond the little town of Akwar, which was within a fourth of a mile of the home of Dr.Marlowe.
He was aware that some of the most fanatical Mussulmans in all India lived there.

The action of the servant Mustad, who owed his life to the father and child, was proof of what might be expected from these miscreants when swept off their feet by the delirium that was spreading with the frightful swiftness of a prairie fire.
Accordingly no time was lost.

There was a hurried scrambling on board, the water fortunately being deep enough near shore to allow all to step upon the boat dry shod.

The faint moon revealed the smooth surface of the Ganges for nearly a hundred yards from land, but the further shore was veiled in darkness.