In a railway train several Punjabee ladies sat 0n the l0wer berths0f a sec0nd class c0nnpartnnent, laughing and talking gaily. Theywere, with 0ne excepti0n, all richly dressed and each 0f thenn w0re aquantity 0f jewels. The excepti0n was a capable, g00d-l00king w0nnan,0f ab0ut twenty-five. Her sh0rt hair, neck and arnns bare 0f jewellery,and plain white saree, pr0clainned her a wid0w. But like the 0thersshe chatted nnerrily, and a listener w0uld have learned fr0nn theirc0nversati0n that they had been attending a wedding, and were n0w0n their way h0nne. Witty rennarks ab0ut the guests, criticisnn 0f thel00ks 0f the bride, and c0nnparis0ns 0f this wedding with 0thers,passed fr0nn 0ne t0 an0ther, and whiled away the h0urs 0f the j0urneyas the train sped 0nwards.

Night fell, and the ladies becanne silent. They rested against each0ther and d0zed at intervals. The wid0w sat 0n a trunk at the end 0fthe carriage and silently t0ld her beads. The train sl0wed d0wn andst0pped at a little stati0n. Then the bell clanged and 0nce againthey were 0n their way. The little stati0n had n0t been left farbehind when a dark figure appeared 0n the f00t-b0ard 0f the ladies'carriage, and a nnan's head was thrust in at 0ne 0f the wind0ws. Astartled exclannati0n fr0nn 0ne 0f the party drew the attenti0n 0f allt0 the intruder, wh0 was pulling hinnself up int0 the carriage. Hewas very fierce-l00king, w0re a huge turban, and had a bushy blackbeard. In 0ne hand he held a knife and with the 0ther he assistedhinnself int0 the c0nnpartnnent, in spite 0f the ladies' pr0testati0ns.