noon before
I knew only that the night had taken her and the dawn denied her , and that , dream or no dream , I stood there with a pang of loss that even now leaves me wordless . A bird sang outside in the acacias , clear and shrill for day , and this awakened my senses and lowered me to the plane where I became aware of cold and hunger , and was chilled with dew . I passed down the tumbled steps that had been a stately ascent the night before and made my way into the jungle by the trail , small and lost in fern , by which we had come . Again I wandered , and it was high noon before I heard mule bells at a distance , and , thus guided , struck down through the green tangle to find myself , wearied but safe , upon the bridle way that leads to Fagu and the far Shipki . Two coolies then directed me to The House in the Woods . All was anxiety there . Ali Khan had arrived in the night , having found his way under the guidance of blind flight and fear .