Our meeting broke up, and I returned to prepare Azima for my departure.
I had invented a tale to excuse my absence. I told her that the money
which I had gained on my mercantile expedition to the Dukhun was now
nearly expended; and although, in her society, and in the enjoyment of
happiness such as I had never hoped for, I had been hitherto unwilling
to leave my home, yet I could delay to do so no longer without absolute
ruin staring us in the face. I added, that my father had placed a sum
of money at my disposal for the purposes of trade; with which, if I met
with the success I had reasonable ground to hope for, from the letters
of my correspondents at Nagpoor and other places, I could not fail
of realizing a handsome profit--enough to allow us another continued
enjoyment of peace and affluence.
Long and vainly she strove to overrule my determination, pointed out
the dangers of the road, the risks to which I should be necessarily
exposed, the pain my absence would cause to her; but finding these
were of no avail, as I told her my plans had been long laid, and that
I was even now expected at Saugor, where my agents had collected the
horses I was to take for sale, she implored me to take her and our
children with me, adding that travelling was a matter of no difficulty
to her, and that the children would enjoy the change of scene and the
bustle and novelty of the camp. But this also I overruled. It would
have been impossible to take her, not to mention the expense of her
travelling-carriage; and at last, after much pleading and objections of
the description I have mentioned, she consented to remain; and placing
her under my father's care on the morning we were to depart, I took
an affectionate farewell of her. Many were the charms and amulets she
bound about my arms and hung round my neck, which she had purchased
from various wandering Fakeers and holy moolas; and with streaming eyes
she placed my hands upon the heads of my children and bade me bless
them. I did so fervently and truly, for I loved them, Sahib, with a
love as intense as were the other passions of my nature.
At last I left her. Leaving one's home is never agreeable, often
painful; for the mind is oppressed with indistinct visions of distress
to those one leaves behind, and is too prone to imagine sources from
which it might spring, though in reality they exist not. It was thus
with me; but the appearance of my gallant band, as they greeted my
arrival among them with a hearty shout, soon dispelled my vague
apprehensions, and my spirit rose when I found myself in the condition
which had been the object of many a fervent aspiration. I was my own
master, with men willing to obey me, and--Inshalla! I exclaimed to
myself, now Ameer Ali's star is in the ascendant, and long will it
gleam in brightness!
I have told you of the ceremonies which immediately preceded our
departure on a former occasion; of course they were repeated on this;
the omens were again declared to be favourable by Motee-ram, who was
our standard-bearer and director of all our ceremonies, as Bhudrinath
had been; and we proceeded, accompanied for some coss by my father and
Hoosein, who stored my mind with the results of their long experience.
Among other things both particularly urged me to avoid the destruction
of women. "In olden times," said my father, "they were always spared;
even parties in which there might by chance be any, although in other
respects good bunij, were abandoned on their account, as, our patroness
being a female, the destruction of her sex was considered obnoxious
to her, and avoided on every occasion. Moreover, men are the only fit
prey for men; no soldier wars with women, no man of honour would lift a
finger against them; and you of all, my son, who have a beauteous wife
of your own, will be the last to offer violence to any of her sex."
"Rely upon me that I will not," said I; "I was, as you know, strongly
against the fate of the unhappy women who died on my first expedition,
and, you will remember, I had no hand in their deaths; but I was
overruled in my objections, first by Bhudrinath and afterwards by
Surfuraz Khan, and what could I do? And it would be terrible indeed
to think that the distresses of their party and the unknown fate of
poor Bhudrinath were owing to the tardy, but too sure vengeance of our
patroness."
"It may be so," said my father; "but let not that prey on your mind;
both myself and Hoosein have killed many a woman in our time, and, as
you know, no ill effects have resulted from it. But bear in mind what I
have said, act with wisdom and discretion, and above all pay implicit
attention to the omens, and your success and protection are sure."
We rode on, conversing thus, and when we arrived at the boundary-stone
of our village, we dismounted and embraced each other, and I left them
and rode on with my men. According to our rules, no one was to shave
or eat _pan_ until our first victim fell; and as this was a matter
of inconvenience to many of the men, you may be sure we had our eyes
in all directions, and our scouts well occupied in every village we
passed through or halted at. But it was not till the fifth day that
we met with any one who offered a secure, and in every way eligible,
sacrifice; we had fallen in with bands of travellers, some going to,
and others departing from, their homes; but they had invariably women
in their company, and them I was determined to spare, as well for my
wife's sake as from the injunctions of my father.
However, as I have said, on the fifth day, early in the morning, we
came to a cross-road, and were glad to see a party of nine travellers,
three upon ponies, having the appearance of respectable men, and the
rest on foot, coming up the road a short distance from us. To our
great joy they struck into the road we were about to take. We had
halted in pretended indecision as to the road, and when they came up
we asked it of them. They readily pointed to the one before us, and
although expressing themselves astonished at our numbers, they agreed
to accompany us to the village where we proposed to halt, and the road
to which we had inquired of them. I soon entered into conversation
with the most respectable of their party; and I replied, in answer to
his inquiries, that we were soldiers proceeding, after our leave to
Hindostan, to Nagpoor, where we were in service. He told me in return,
that he and his brother, one of the two others mounted, with a friend
and some attendants, were on a travelling expedition; that they had
come from Indoor, and were going to Benares, as well for the purchase
of cloths and brocades, as to visit that sacred place of Hindoo
pilgrimage.
Ho, ho! thought I, these are assuredly men of consequence going in
disguise, and I have no doubt are well furnished with ready cash. No
time must be lost, as they have come by a cross-road, and have not been
seen in our company; there can consequently be no trace by which we
could possibly be suspected on their disappearance; so the sooner they
are dealt with the better. To this end I lagged behind a little, and
imparted my determination to Peer Khan, who rode in the rear of all; by
him it was told to another, and thus it circulated throughout the band
before we had gone far. I was gratified and delighted to see how, as
they became aware of what was to be done, each took his station, three
Thugs to each traveller, and the rest disposed themselves around the
whole, so as to prevent any possibility of escape. I remembered the
road well, for it was that upon which we had travelled before; and what
Thug ever forgets a road? I knew also that, although the country around
us was open and bare, there was a river not far off, the sandy bed of
which was full of the wild cypress, and the bodies could be easily
disposed of in the brushwood.
When we arrived at the brink of the river, the man I had continued to
converse with begged for a short halt. "We have been travelling since
midnight," said he, "and I for one am well tired, and should be glad of
rest."
I made no objection of course, for it was the very thing I wished;
and dismounting, and leading my horse to the water, I allowed him to
drink, and then joined the party, which had all collected, and were
now seated; the travellers discussing a hasty meal they had brought
with them, and the Thugs sitting or standing around them, but all in
their proper places. I was on the point of giving the _jhirnee_, and
I saw the Bhuttotes handling their roomals in a significant manner,
when, thanks to my quick sense of hearing, I distinguished voices at
a distance. It was well for us that I had not given the signal; we
should have been busily engaged in stripping the bodies when the party
I had heard would have come upon us. Of course they would have seen at
a glance what we were about, and have taken the alarm. But our good
destiny saved us. I hesitated, as I have said, and in a few minutes
fourteen travellers made their appearance, and came directly up to
where we were sitting. They were persons of all descriptions, who had
associated for mutual protection, and I had half determined to destroy
them also, which I think we could have done, when they relieved me
greatly by taking their departure, wishing us success and a pleasant
and safe journey.
On one pretence or another I delayed our associates until the other
party had proceeded far beyond the risk of hearing any noise, should
there be any; and now, seeing everything ripe for the purpose, I called
out for some tobacco, the word we had agreed to use, as being least
likely to attract attention or inspire suspicion. I had planted myself
behind the man I had been speaking to, and as I spoke my handkerchief
was thrown! Three years' rest had not affected the sureness of my hold,
and he lay a corpse at my feet in an instant. My work was done, and
I looked around to see the fate of the rest; one poor wretch alone
struggled, but his sufferings were quickly ended, and the party was
no more! "Quick, my lads!" cried I to the Lughaees, "quick about your
work!" One of them grinned.
"Why," said he, "did you not observe Doolum and four others go away to
yon brushwood when we reached this spot? Depend upon it they have the
grave ready, or they have been idle dogs."
And it was even so; the grave had been dug while the unsuspecting
travellers sat and conversed with us. We were so busily engaged
in stripping the dead, that no one observed the approach of two
travellers, who had come upon us unawares. Never shall I forget their
horror when they saw our occupation; they were rooted to the spot
from extreme terror: they spoke not, but their eyes glared wildly
as they gazed, now at us and now at the dead. "Miserable men," said
I, approaching them, "prepare for death! you have been witnesses of
our work, and we have no resource but your destruction for our own
preservation."
"Sahib," said one of them, collecting his energies, "we are men, and
fear not to die, since our hour is come;" and he drew himself up
proudly and gazed at me. He was a tall, powerful man, well armed, and I
hesitated to attack him.
"I give you one alternative," said I; "become a Thug, and join our
band--you shall be well cared for, and you will prosper."
"Never!" he exclaimed; "never shall it be said that Tilluk Sing, the
descendant of a noble race of Rajpoots, herded with murderers, and
lived on their unblessed gains. No! if I am to die, let it be now. Ye
are many; but if one among you is a man, let him step forward, and here
on this even sand I will strike one blow for my deliverance;" and he
drew his sword, and stood on the defensive.
"I am that man," cried I, though the band with one voice earnestly
dissuaded me from the encounter, and declared that he was more than a
match for me: "I am that man; now take your last look on the heavens
and the earth, for by Alla you never quit this spot!"
"Come on, boasting boy!" he exclaimed; "give me but fair play, and bid
none of your people interfere, and it may not be as you say."
"Hear, all of you," cried I to them; "meddle not in this matter--'tis
mine, and mine only. As for the other, deal with him as ye list;" and
in an instant more he was numbered with the dead.
"These are your cowardly tricks," cried the Rajpoot, now advancing on
me, for he had stood contemplating the fate of his companion; "my end
may follow his, but I shall die the death of a soldier, and not that of
a mangy dog as he has done."
I have before told you, Sahib, that my skill in the use of every weapon
was perfect, thanks to my good instructor; and I had never relaxed
in those manly exercises which fit a man for active combat whenever
he shall be called into it. My sword was the one Nuwab Subzee Khan
had so much admired, and I felt the confidence of a man when he has
a trusty weapon in his hand and knows how to wield it. I have said
that the Rajpoot advanced on me; he had no shield, which gave me an
immense advantage, but the odds were in his favour from his height and
strength, yet these are a poor defence against skill and temper.
He assailed me with all his force and fury; blow after blow I caught on
my sword and shield, without striking one myself; he danced round me
after the fashion of his people, and now on one leg now on the other,
he made wild gyrations, and at intervals rushed upon me, and literally
rained his blows at my person; but I stood fixed to the spot, for I
knew how soon this mode of attack must exhaust him, and the loose sand
of the river added to his fatigue. At length he stood still and glared
on me, panting for breath. "Dog of a Kafir!" cried he, "son of an
unchaste mother, will nothing provoke thee to quit that spot?"
"Kafir!" I exclaimed, "and son of a Kafir, thy base words have sealed
thy fate;" and I rushed on him. He was unprepared for my attack, made a
feeble and uncertain blow at me, which I caught on my shield, and the
next instant my sword had buried itself deep in his neck. He fell, and
the blood gushed from the wound and from his mouth.
"Shookur Khoda!" exclaimed Peer Khan, "you have settled his business
nobly; let me embrace thee;" and he folded me in his arms.
The Rajpoot was not dead; he had sufficient strength remaining to raise
himself up on his arm, and he looked at me like a devil; he made many
attempts to speak; his lips moved but no sound followed, as the blood
prevented utterance, "Some of you put him out of his pain," said I;
"the man behaved well, and ought not to suffer."
Peer Khan took my sword and passed it through his heart; he writhed for
an instant, and the breath left his body. "Away with him!" cried I, "we
have loitered too long already."
The Lughaees took him by his legs and arms, to avoid his blood, and
carried him away; others strewed a quantity of dry sand over the spot
where he had fallen, and in a few minutes more we were pursuing our way
as if nothing had happened. After this proof of my personal courage and
skill, I may safely say I was almost adored by the whole band. They all
assured me that a Thug having killed a traveller and a soldier in fair
open combat was an unprecedented circumstance, and only required to be
known to make me the envy of old and young, and I gloried in what I had
done; their praise was sweet incense to my vanity.
The booty we got from the merchant and his brother was rich, and was of
itself a fair amount of booty for any expedition. Some were even for
turning back, but they were only two or three voices, and were easily
overruled. "It would be a shame," I said, "if, while fortune favoured
us, we did not take advantage of our good luck." Sahib, we continued
our march, and when we had reached Saugor we had killed nineteen other
travellers, without, however, having obtained much plunder; ten,
fifteen, and, on one occasion only, nearly a hundred rupees, were as
much as any of them afforded us.
The town of Saugor was, and is now, a large and busy place, built on
the edge of an immense lake, nearly as large as that of the Hoosein
Sagor; the cooling breezes which travel over it make it a delightful
spot. We encamped on the border of the lake near the town. For the
four days we remained there, we daily perambulated the bazars, and
frequented the shops of Bhuttearas, one of whom was well known to Peer
Khan, and whom we paid handsomely for information. He promised to be on
the look-out for us, and on the third day after our arrival, Peer Khan
came to me in the evening, as I sat before the entrance of my little
tent, smoking and enjoying the delightful breeze which came over the
vast sheet of water spread before me.
"Meer Sahib," said he, "the Bhutteara is faithful; he has got news of a
Sahoukar going our road, who is to leave this place in about a week; he
says we are certain of him, but that we must quit this spot, and march
about within a few coss of the town, leaving two or three men with him
to carry information."
"Ul-humd-ul-illa!" cried I, "he is a worthy man; we will listen to his
advice, and be off to-morrow early. Three of the best runners shall
stay here as he counsels to bring us the news."
"But he stipulates for a large reward in case we are successful."
"I see nothing against it," said I; "he will be worthy of it if he is
true to his word."
"Oh, for that you need not fear; he is faithful so long as you pay him."
"Then he shall have it. How much does he want?"
"Two hundred rupees if we get five thousand," he replied; "double, if
we get ten; and in proportion if between one and the other."
"If the Sahoukar is rich, Khan," said I, "we can well spare what he
asks; so go and tell him he shall have it."
"I go," he said: "should I not return, conclude that I have stayed with
him." He sought out the men he required to accompany him, and taking
them and a small bundle of clothes with him, I watched him far beyond
the precincts of our camp on his way to the town.