"Allah is merciful, and so, too, will I be. I will say then by the
setting of the fifth sun after this one. Yet try not to play us any
false trick, thou dog, for it will be useless, and for what it will mean
to thyself, look on yonder and be assured," and, as though to emphasise
the chief's words, he who held the horrible human skin shook it
warningly and suggestively in the face of the thoroughly terrified
hostage.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Political Agent, having dined well in his evening camp, was going
over some official papers by the light of the tent lamp.
"Oh, Sunt Singh," he said, looking up as a chuprassi entered, "what
became of that trader who was with us? I didn't see him when we first
camped."
"_Huzoor_, he is camped just below the sowars' tents, I believe."
"Yes? You may go," and the official resumed what he was doing, without
further thought for the luckless Chand Lall, who certainly was not where
the lying chuprassi had said.