"It had to end. Sooner or later, discovery was inevitable. One
night I told Naida that I must go. Over the scene that followed I
will pass in silence. It needed all the strength of a fairly
straight, hard life to help me keep to my decision.
"She understood at last, and consented to release me. But there
were obstacles--big ones. The snow on the lower mountain slopes
had begun to melt, and the water-gate in the valley by which I
had entered was now impassable. As a result, I must use another
gate, which opened into a mountain path, but which was always
guarded. At first, on hearing this, I gave myself up for lost,
but Naida had a plan.
"Removing a bangle which she always wore, she showed me the
secret mark of Fire-Tongue branded upon the creamy skin.
"'I will put this mark upon your arm,' she said. 'In no other way
can you escape. I will teach you some of the passwords by which
the brethren know one another, and if you are ever questioned you
will say that you were admitted to the order by the Master of the
Bombay Lodge, news of whose death has just reached us.'
"'But,' said I, 'how can I hope to pass for an Oriental?'
"'It does not matter,' Naida replied. 'There are some who are not
Orientals among us!'
"Gentlemen, those words staggered me, opening up a possibility
which had seemed only shadowy before. But Naida, who had
tremendous strength of character, definitely refused to discuss
this aspect of the matter, merely assuring me that it was so.
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