After all had been completed, we travelled on until we reached a small
and wretched village, some coss from the scene of our late adventure,
where, after the customary sacrifice of goor, the considerable booty we
had gained was produced and distributed. There soon arose a discussion
as to our future proceedings. Some advised that we should return and
go on to Nagpoor--many indeed were for this, and I also inclined
to it--but Peer Khan gave better counsel, saying that, by our thus
going backwards and forwards on the same road, we should certainly
be suspected and perhaps attacked; and that to expose ourselves to
this, was not to be put in comparison with any chance of booty: he
advised that we should make the best of our way towards Ellichpoor,
avoiding that town, and keeping near the hills, until we got out
of the jurisdiction of Sulabat Khan, who, if he heard of us, would
assuredly suspect us of the death of the Nuwab Subzee Khan, who had
been his guest, and whose fate was generally known over the country
and attributed with justice to Thugs. After some further deliberation
we all agreed to his plan, and the next day, leaving the high road, we
struck into a jungle-track and pursued it; and I was heartily glad,
after some days of weary travel, when, arriving at the pass near the
deserted temples of Mookhtagherry, we saw the wide valley of Berar
stretched out before us, covered with the still green and luxuriant
crops of jowaree.
For some days previous I had had shiverings and pains all over my body,
and my mind was restless and ill at ease. In spite of my efforts to
throw them off, horrible dreams haunted me at night, and the figure of
Shurfun constantly presented itself to my fancy--now in the fulness
of her beauty, and now changed and distorted as she must have been in
death; while at one time she was pouring out her tale of love to me,
and at another upbraiding me with her fate. I had mentioned this to my
companions, and many were the ceremonies which they performed over me
to drive away the evil spirits which Motee declared had possessed me.
But they were of no avail, and on the morning we reached the top of the
pass I was so ill that I was obliged to be supported on my horse.
What was to be done? To go into Ellichpoor was to run into the tiger's
mouth, and all seemed to be at a loss whither to proceed. However,
on clearing the mouth of the glen through which the road ran, some
of the men discerned a large village a very short way off, and came
back with the welcome intelligence. I was sitting, or rather lying,
at a miserable Goand hamlet on the road; and when I heard the news I
remembered the village they spoke of, which I had passed the morning
we left Ellichpoor with Subzee Khan, though I had forgotten its
name. Thither, therefore, I begged they would carry me, and placing
me upon my good horse, I was soon there, and made as comfortable as
circumstances would admit of in the empty shop of a Bunnea. But the
fever raged within me; my whole frame was first convulsed with violent
shiverings, which were succeeded by intense burnings. I remember no
more of that day, nor indeed of many days after, for I lay insensible,
and my spirit hovered between life and death.
The first words I recollect, after that terrible time, were from my
faithful attendant. "Shooke Khoda!" he exclaimed; "at last he has
opened his eyes!" and he ran and called Peer Khan and others to me.
"Where am I?" I faintly asked, for in the violence of the fever I had
forgotten everything.
"Shooke Khoda!" again exclaimed all; "he speaks at last!"
I again repeated my question, and it was answered by Peer Khan. "Why,
do you not remember?" said he; "here you are in the good village of
Surrusgaum, within three coss of Ellichpoor; and now that you have
spoken all will be right, you will soon recover; but we have been sadly
anxious about you, for a worthy Mussulman, who is a Hukeem, said only
yesterday that you would die, and bade us prepare for your burial:
however, he was wrong, and, Inshalla! you will soon see yourself at the
head of your brave fellows again."
"Alas, Khan, I fear not," said I, "for I am weak and helpless, and your
staying with me only delays you to little purpose. Leave me to my fate,
and if it is the will of Alla that I should recover, I will rejoin
you at our home. I feel that I should be only a useless clog on your
movements; for if I even get over this fever, I shall scarcely be able
to sit on my horse for many a day to come."
"Forsake you, Meer Sahib--never!" exclaimed all who were sitting
round me. "Who will bury you if you die? or who will tend you if you
recover? What words are these? Are you not our brother, and more, our
leader? and what would become of us if we left you?"
"Well, my friends," said I, deeply affected by their kindness, "since
you prefer the bed-side of a sick man to roaming in the wide and open
country, even be it so; a few days will end your suspense, and either
you will have to bury me here, or, if it be the pleasure of Alla, I
shall once more lead you to new enterprises."
"But you must be silent," said Peer Khan, "for the Hukeem said so, and
told us if you roused at all to send him word, as he had prepared some
medicine for you, which he would administer, and hoped it would hasten
your recovery. I will go and tell him the good news."
In a short time the Khan returned, accompanied by an old and venerable
person, who, after feeling my head and body, turned to the Khan and
declared that my state was satisfactory. "But," said he, "as the fever
proceeded from cold, which is still in his stomach, we must give him
the medicine I spoke of: I have prepared it, and, being compounded of
heating drugs, it will soon expel the cold, induce perspiration, and,
Inshalla! to-morrow he will be a different being, though he will be
weak for some time to come."
The draught was prepared, and, though nauseous in the extreme, I
swallowed it, and by his directions covered myself with quilts and
horse-cloths. I was quickly in a profuse perspiration; and when the
Hukeem, who sat by my side all the time, thought I had been long enough
under this treatment, he withdrew the coverings one by one, and taking
my wet clothes from me, I soon fell into a sound and refreshing sleep,
from which I did not awake till the next morning's sun was shining on
my eyelids.
I felt so much refreshed when I awoke that I arose, but my head
swam round and I fell. I did not essay to repeat the exertion; but
I was well; I felt that I had thrown off the disease, and I was
thankful. Soon I had an inclination to eat, and after a slight meal of
kicheree I was indeed a different being. Two days more restored me to
convalescence, and I heartily wished to be again on the road toward
home; but travelling on horseback was out of the question, as I could
only walk a few steps with assistance; so, as Peer Khan volunteered
his services, I despatched him to Ellichpoor to endeavour to hire a
palankeen or dooly with bearers, to carry me a few stages, or as long
as I should find them necessary. He returned with them, and the next
day, having remunerated the good Hukeem, I gladly set out once again in
company with my gallant fellows.
We took the best road to Boorhanpoor, that through the valley of Berar
and close to the hills; and when we reached the old town of Julgaum,
I felt myself so strong that I dismissed the palankeen and once more
mounted my good horse. A joyful and inspiriting thing it is, Sahib,
to mount one's horse after a long and painful illness, and to feel
once more the bounds of the generous animal under you, as though he
too rejoiced at his master's recovery. He was, like myself, in high
spirits, and I never enjoyed a ride so much as I did on that morning;
the cool breeze fanned my thinned cheek as I rode along, now humouring
my horse by allowing him to bound and caracol as he pleased, now
exercising him on the plain, and again rejoicing my band as they walked
merrily along, apparently under the influence of the same joy as myself
and rejoicing to see me once more at their head.
We met with no adventure till we reached Boorhanpoor, where we arrived
on the tenth day after leaving the village at which I had been so
near dying: indeed we sought none. We found good quarters in one of
the old serais in the town, and I was determined to stay there until
we met with something to lead us on. Accordingly, men were daily sent
into the different bazars; but seven days passed in idleness, and I
began seriously to think that the death of Shurfun, which, though an
inevitable deed, was against my faithful promises, had caused me to
forfeit the protection of our patroness: in other words, I feared my
good fortune had deserted me, and for once I proposed a grand sacrifice
to Davee and that the omens should be consulted, in order to afford us
some clue to our future proceedings.
It was done, and the omens were good--"Propitious to a degree!" said
Motee, who was our conductor in these matters; "we shall have good
bunij soon, or these would never have been vouchsafed to us."
But another day passed, and still the Sothaees reported nothing. The
day after, however, about noon, Motee came to me. "You may know," said
he, "that this place, from its wealth, is frequented by Rokurreas, or
treasure-carriers, who bring money from Bombay, and take it into Malwa
to purchase opium."
"I do," said I; "what of that? I heard as much from my father, who bade
me return this way in the hope of picking up some of them."
"Then," said he, "I wish you to come with me, you and Peer Khan; you
have both sharp eyes, and I am much mistaken if I have not discovered
eight of them. I have killed others of their tribe before now, and I
think I am not wrong when I say that these are some also."
"Good," I replied, "I will come;" and, accompanied by Peer Khan and
Motee, we set forth to examine the men whom the latter had spoken
of. In an empty shop we found them. Wary as these people are, it was
highly necessary that we should not excite their suspicion; so we
hurriedly passed them, concealing our faces in our handkerchiefs; yet
from the casual glance I threw at them I was certain, from their sturdy
forms and the one camel they had with them, as well as from a kind of
restless and suspicious bearing, that they were the men we were in
search of. This was just the season too; they would be bearing treasure
to make advances to the poppy cultivators in Malwa, as the seed of the
plant would not be sown for another month at least.
I was satisfied; yet how to ensure their company I knew not, and many
schemes passed through my mind before I could determine on anything: at
length I formed one, as I sat with my companions on a flight of steps
leading down to the river, and whither we often resorted to enjoy the
fresh breezes and pure air from the noble river which flowed beneath
us. "I have been thinking," said I, "what we are to do to secure these
fellows; you know they are proverbially wary."
Both nodded assent. "Well," I continued, "what think you of the
following scheme? You and I, Peer Khan, will pretend to be travellers;
we will go now to our serai, throw dust and mud over our horses and
dirty our clothes, and, taking two men and a pony heavily laden with
us, we will go round the city, enter by the gate under the old palace,
and pretending to be weary, halt close to them; we shall easily be able
to worm ourselves into their confidence, and will then accompany them.
You, Motee, I will leave in charge of the band, and send you word what
road we are to take. You must be guided by circumstances, and contrive
to let the men overtake me by twos and threes: some must go on before,
so that we may come up to them; and in this manner, though the band
will be scattered, yet, Inshalla! in a few marches we shall muster
strong enough to do the work. We can keep up a communication with each
other; so that when the business is done we can assemble, and then
hurry forward to our home. But on no account must you be more than a
stage behind us; and you must contrive to reach our halting-place a
short time after we have left it. Now say, my friends, will this plan
do? or can you advise any other more practicable? if so, speak."
"It is excellent," cried both, "and had wisdom for its father. No time
ought to be lost."
We returned to our serai, and towards the afternoon two as
travel-stained and weary travellers in appearance as ever came off
a long and fatiguing march were seen to enter the south gate of
Boorhanpoor and traverse the bazars in search of shelter. These
were myself and Peer Khan, attended by my good lad Junglee and two
other Thugs. We passed and re-passed the shed, which was a large
one, in which the Rokurreas were; and feigning to have been denied
room everywhere that we had applied, I at last rode up to them, and
addressed myself to the most respectable among them, a fine tall
fellow, with huge whiskers and mustachios.
"Yaro!" said I, "you seem to be travellers as well as ourselves, and,
for the love of Alla, allow us a little room to spread our carpets.
Here you have seen us pass backwards and forwards for many times,
and yet there is not a soul who will say to us, Dismount and refresh
yourselves. Nay, we have been refused admittance into many empty
places. May their owners' sisters be defiled!"
"Go to the serai," said the man; "there is room there, and you will be
comfortable."
"Indeed," said I, "we have tried it already, and it is full; some forty
or fifty fellows were in it, who bade us begone in no measured terms;
and, in truth, we liked not their appearance, having some valuables
about us. They looked very like thieves or Dacoos--did they not,
brother?" said I, turning to Peer Khan.
"Ay, indeed," said he; "who knows, if we had put up among them, whether
we should not have had our throats cut? It was the mercy of Alla,"
continued he, looking up devoutly, "that the place was full, or, weary
as we are, we should have been right glad to have rested ourselves
anywhere; for indeed I can hardly sit on my horse."
"You see," said I, "how we are situated. Hindoos though you be, you
will not refuse us. The evening is drawing in, and we have ridden all
day; a slight meal is all that we can hope to get, and then sleep will
be welcome."
"Well," said the fellow, "it will be uncivil to turn you away, so
alight; and," cried he to one of his companions, "do you, Doorjun, and
some others, move the camel's saddles and those bags nearer this way,
and there will be room for these Bhula Admees."
As they were being moved, I heard the money chink. We dismounted, and
in a short time our horses were rubbed down, and a meal prepared, for
we had fasted that day on purpose. When we had eaten it, behold us
seated in conversation with the Rokurreas; and having already possessed
ourselves of their intended route, we agreed to accompany them for
mutual security, and in short were on as good terms with them as if we
had travelled hitherto together. Our appearance, our good horses and
arms, assured them that we were soldiers; for I had told them we were
in the service of Holkar, returning from Poona, where we had been on
a mission to the Peshwa, and bearing with us not only despatches, but
some hoondees of large amount. In proof of this I pulled forth a bundle
of papers from my inner vest, and touching my head and eyes with them,
praised the munificence of Bajee Rao, and extolled the friendly terms
he was on with Holkar.
This was my master-stroke; the idea had occurred to me when I was at
the serai, and I had hastily collected a bundle of waste-papers and
accounts, made them up into a packet, directed it to Holkar, and sealed
it with my own seal, which was as large as that of any prince in the
country. By Alla! Sahib, they believed me to be what I represented, as
surely as that they had heads on their shoulders, and forthwith began
questioning me on the possibility of the Peshwa and Holkar uniting to
overthrow the Feringhees; but I was mysteriously close in my replies,
just hinting that it was possible, and turning off the conversation to
the marks of favour which had been shown me by Bajee Rao, about which I
told enough lies to have choked myself; and I pointed to my own noble
horse as one of the Peshwa's gifts. They all declared that he was
worthy of the giver and of the possessor; and, after agreeing on our
stage for the morrow, which was distant eight coss, they went to sleep,
with the exception of two, who sat guarding the treasure with drawn
swords, and all believing that they were in company with an unknown
great personage.
Before I lay down to rest I despatched Junglee with the information to
Motee. I spoke to him openly in Ramasee, and he set off on his errand.
"That is a queer language," said the Jemadar of the Rokurreas; "what is
it?"
"'Tis Teloogoo," said I carelessly. "I picked the lad up at Hyderabad
two years ago for a small sum, and he is my slave; he understands our
Hindoo, but does not speak it."
Perhaps it was unwise to have done it, but I spoke in so careless a
manner that they concluded I had sent him out on some casual errand.
Indeed, I told him to buy some tobacco and pan on his way back, and
as the serai was not far from where we were, the time occupied in his
going to it would not exceed that of an ordinary errand. He returned
with the pan and tobacco, and told me they were ready, but that the
majority would remain the next day, and that seven of the best, under
Goordut, were then about to depart; the rest, leaving one of their
number as a scout in the village we were to halt at, would push on as
far as they could beyond.
I was satisfied; and so sure did I feel of the success of this
adventure, that I would have wagered all I possessed that I killed the
Rokurreas in three days. We started the next morning, and for two days
saw none of our men; however Peer Khan augured well from it, saying the
fellows were up to their work, and would appear in good time; and that
if they came too soon, our companions would take the alarm and be off.
On the fourth day one of our companions appeared; we overtook him on
the road, and as I lagged purposely in the rear, I learned from him
that Goordut and his remaining men were in advance of us one march, and
that some would join us that day, and the rest the next. This was as it
should be. Four men joined us at the village we encamped at; and as we
were now nine to eight, I began to think on the probability of putting
them to death by violence--I mean attacking them with our swords on
any opportunity which might offer. But it was dangerous, as they were
individually stouter men than we were, good hands at their weapons, and
as watchful as cats.
The second day Goordut and his party joined us but it was as much as
I could do to persuade the Rokurreas to allow them to travel in our
company. They declared it was directly against their rules; that we
must be aware of this, and that, if it was known by their employers
that they even admitted one traveller into their society on the road,
they would lose their reputation and means of subsistence. "But you,"
continued the Jemadar, whose name was Bheem Singh, "you are respectable
persons, who, for the honour of the government you serve, would assist
us against thieves or robbers, and we travel in your company through
these territories of Sindia as safely as though we had a rissala of
cavalry to guard us. However, for our sakes, let not the tales of
wayfarers make any impression on your mind; depend upon a Rokurrea's
experience, they are not to be trusted; and even when by yourself,
always avoid associating with any one; no good can come of it, and much
harm may ensue."
I promised to take his advice, and as I saw clearly that they would not
admit any more of our band into their company, and that a quarrel and
separation from them would inevitably be the consequence if I persisted
in forcing any more upon them, I determined to finish the matter as I
best could with the twelve men I had. Junglee was worth but little,
at least I counted not upon him, as he was a mere stripling; but the
rest were the very best of my band, all noted Bhuttotes, and fellows
who had good swords, and knew right well how to use them. In the day,
therefore, we had a consultation; we met in a field of jowaree, which
concealed us, and there we discussed the affair. Peer Khan proposed
to send one of the men back for Motee and the rest, to tell them to
pass us in the night without stopping, and to allow us to overtake
them early in the morning; and as soon as the two parties were mingled
together, in passing each other, that I should give the jhirnee.
The plan was very feasible, and the advice was good, as it placed the
issue beyond a doubt: I inclined to it myself. Still there was no
honour to be gained by it; it would be large odds against a few, and
this I did not like, as I had a choice in the matter. At last I said,
after musing some time, and listening to Peer Khan as he discussed
the measure, "No, no, Peer Khan; we are all of us young, and fame is
dear to us. If we kill these people in the old way, and the booty is
large, we shall no doubt get praise; but think, man, on the honour to
be gained, the good name! If we risk ourselves against these fellows,
and are victorious, will not every Thug in the land cry Shabash! and
Wah, Wah! and is not this worth an effort? I tell you a good name is
better than riches! and if it is our time to die, we cannot avoid it by
calling up Motee and his people. They are, after all, only the refuse;
and are we not the picked men of the band, and those on whom the matter
would fall, even were the whole now present? Say, therefore, will ye
risk your lives against these fellows, and fall on them to-morrow
morning?"
Sahib, they did not hesitate; one and all pledged themselves to follow
me, and die with me should it be their fate. "Then see your swords are
loose in their scabbards," said I, "and let each of you plant himself
within striking distance of his enemy, on his left hand. Peer Khan and
myself are mounted, and we cannot fail. I feel assured that there will
be no danger, and that we shall succeed."
We dispersed, and rejoined our associates. The evening was spent in
singing and playing on the sitar, on which two of the Rokurreas and
some of my men were adepts; and we retired to rest at a late hour,
fully prepared to do our work well and bravely on the morrow. And the
morrow came, and the sun rose in splendour; we set out soon afterwards,
for the Rokurreas would not travel before it had risen, for fear of
surprise from thieves or Dacoos, who generally fall on travellers in
the dark.
Somewhat to my mortification, two of the Rokurreas mounted the camel
they had with them, saying their feet were cracked and sore, and they
could not walk. This disconcerted me for a moment, for I thought they
had suspected us, and I knew that most, if not all, the treasure was
laden upon it. But I affected no surprise, and was determined, if
they showed the least symptoms of flight, to wound the camel, and
thereby prevent its getting away from us by the great speed I knew it
possessed, for they had put it to its utmost the day before, to show me
that it could outstrip a horse.
We travelled along until mid-day, and the fatigue and heat made us glad
to dismount at a stream which crossed the road. I thought it would be
a good opportunity to fall on them, but I was disappointed; they all
kept together, and I was then satisfied that they half suspected our
intentions; but I could not delay the attack long, and was determined
to make it under any circumstances, for the rapid rate at which the
Rokurreas travelled was exhausting my men, who had much ado to keep
up with them. By the merest good luck, about a coss after we left
the Nulla, we entered on a rough and stony track, which diminished
the speed of the camel, whose feet were hurt by the stones, and he
picked his way cautiously, though I saw the men on his back used every
exertion to urge him on. This slowness enabled my men to take their
places, and we continued to proceed a short distance, but ready at any
moment for the onset. I wished to get as near the camel as I could, in
order to prevent its escape; but the road became worse, our pace still
slower, and I was satisfied it could not be urged quicker. We were at
this time all in a group, and I saw that the time had come. How my
heart beat! not with fear, Sahib, but with excitement--excitement like
that of a gambler who has risked his all on a stake, and who, with
clenched hands, set teeth, and half-drawn breath, watches the turn of
the cowrees, which is either to ruin him or better his fortunes.
Peer Khan threw a glance towards me: one of the Rokurreas was trudging
along at his horse's shoulders, another was at the same place near
mine; and the fellows on the camel, with their backs turned towards us,
were singing merrily one of the wild lays of the Rajpoots, in which
from time to time they were joined in chorus by those on foot, and by
some of my men who knew the words. Junglee was close behind the camel
leading my pony, and the others in the rear, but all in their places. I
cast but one look behind to see that they were so, and being satisfied,
I gave the jhirnee--"Junglee, pan lao!" I cried with a loud voice.
The swords of my party flashed brightly from their scabbards, and in an
instant were buried deeply in the bodies of their victims and crimsoned
with gore. As for myself, I had cloven the skull of the fellow beneath
me, and my sword, sticking in the wound, escaped from my hand as he
fell. I threw myself from my horse to recover it, and only then saw the
camel prostrate on the ground, moaning terribly; the men upon it had
fallen with it, but both had gained their legs: one had thrown himself
upon Junglee, and the poor lad waged an unequal combat with him; the
other rushed on me with his sword uplifted. Sahib, I thought my end was
come; but I had time to disengage my shield from my back, and held it
before me in defence while I tugged in very desperation at my weapon.
Praise be to Alla! it yielded to my great exertion, and we were on
equal terms. I have before told you of my skill as a swordsman, but I
had met my match in the Rokurrea: he, though all his men were lying
around him save one,--who, having sorely wounded my poor attendant, was
now closely pressed by Peer Khan and another,--was as cool and wary as
myself. We fought well, and for a long time the contest was equal; we
were both out of breath, and our shields hacked with the repeated blows
we had each caught on them; at last, as my foot slipped on a stone,
he made a stroke at my head: the blow was weak from his exhausted
state, or it would have ended me: it cut through my turban and slightly
wounded my head.
I did not fall, though I was somewhat stunned by the stroke; he might
have taken advantage of the moment, yet he neglected it. Maddened by
the thought of defeat, I rushed on him, and by the violence of my
attack forced him backward: at last, he too slipped as he retreated,
and lost his balance; he raised his sword wildly in the air to recover
himself, but I did not lose my opportunity as he had done; my blow
descended with its full force, increased by a sudden leap I made
towards him, and he fell to the earth cloven through the neck and
shoulder--he was dead almost ere he fell. A moment I gazed on the
features of the brave Rajpoot, and then sought my poor lad, from whom
the life-blood was fast ebbing away; his wound was also in the neck,
and the blood rushing into his throat, was choking him. I tried to
stanch it with my waistband, but ineffectually; it relieved him for a
moment, and he asked for water. A leathern bag containing some had been
tied to the camel by one of the men, and I put the mouth of it to his
lips; he drank a little, and sat up, supported by Goordut.
"I am killed," said he; "Jemadar--I die--my own blood chokes me: I
cannot recover. Do not leave my body to be eaten by the beasts, but
bury it. That fellow," continued he, after a short interval, and
pointing to one of the dead, "that fellow's sword killed me. I cut the
hind sinews of the camel's leg, and it fell; I thought they would both
be stunned, but he got up and attacked me, and I was no match for him.
All the rest of you were engaged, or you would have helped me. But it
was my fate to die and I felt it yesterday; the bitterness of death
then passed over me, but now I am content: the pain will soon be over."
Here he sunk insensible, and we stood around him weeping; for he was an
affectionate lad, and we all loved him as a brother. But he recovered
again slightly, though the rattle was in his throat, and the blood
hardly allowed him to speak. "My mother!" he said, faintly. "Jemadar,
my mother!--you know her, and my little sister. They will starve
now;--but you will protect them for poor Junglee's sake?" And he strove
to bend his head on my hand, as though to supplicate my assistance for
them.
"Fear not," said I, "they shall be well cared for, and while Ameer Ali
lives they shall know no want." But I could hardly speak for weeping;
for I knew the old woman, and many were the prayers she made for his
safe return as she confided him to my care. Alas! how should we be able
to tell her his fate!
The poor boy was satisfied with my words; he would fain have replied
to them, and his lips moved; but a torrent of blood checked his
utterance, and, raising his dull and glazed eyes to mine, he bowed
his head on my hand, and died in the effort. "Now," said I, to the
assembled Thugs, "I here swear to one thing, and ye are none of mine
unless ye agree to it. I swear that, whatever share would have come to
this poor lad, it shall be doubled for his mother; as yet, we know not
what it is: but, whatever it be, it shall be doubled."
"We agree," cried all; "nay, every man of us will add to it what we
can; had Junglee not hamstrung the camel, which none of us thought
of doing, it might--nay, would have escaped; for we saw its speed
yesterday, and the two good Rajpoots who were on it would have carried
it off."
"Ye are my own brothers for this good promise," I said; "and now, some
of you dig a grave for the poor lad. We must unload that beast, and
strip the bodies. For myself, I am in some pain, and will wash my head
and tie up the cut--so set about your work quickly."
The camel still lay groaning; they tried to raise it up, but in vain;
the stroke had divided the sinew above the hock, and it could not raise
itself; so one of the men cut its throat, and ended its pain. The bags
of treasure were transferred to my pony and Peer Khan's horse, and
mine, and every man also filled his waistband; so that we were enabled
to carry it all off. We took the swords of the Rajpoots; but everything
else, and their bodies, were dragged into the jungle to some distance,
and hastily covered with earth and stones. The bloody earth on the
scene of the conflict was collected and thrown away, and in a very
short time nothing remained to mark the spot but the carcass of the
camel, which we could not dispose of; and leaving the usual marks for
the guidance of Motee and his party, we continued our march on the main
road.
Ah, how great was our joy when, before we reached the stage we were to
encamp at, and as we sat at the edge of a stream washing ourselves,
we saw, on the brow of a rising ground we had just passed, our party
coming up. They ran towards us in breathless anxiety and hope. Motee
was first, and he threw himself into my arms. "We hastened on," he
said, "from the last stage, hoping to overtake you in time; and when we
saw the dead camel, how great was our suspense till we could find you!
We saw the traces of the conflict, and some blood which had escaped
your notice--which I have removed--and that added to our anxiety; but,
Davee be praised! we have found you at last, and you are all safe. Is
it not so?"
"Not quite," I said; "we have lost poor Junglee, who was killed in the
fight, and I am wounded--but 'tis only a slight cut, and a few days
will heal it."
Some of the treasure was instantly distributed to the other ponies; and
encamping outside the village, when we reached it, after the accustomed
sacrifice, I had my small tent pitched, and all the treasure was
conveyed to it. One by one the bags were opened, and glorious, indeed,
was the booty--well worth the risk we had encountered! It consisted
of dollars, gold mohurs, and rupees, to the value of sixty thousand
rupees in all; and there were also six strings of large pearls in a
small box, sewn up in wax-cloth, which could not be worth less than
ten thousand more. I need not describe our joy: we had comfort--nay,
affluence, before us for years, and every one sat and gazed at the heap
of treasure in silent thankfulness. Finally it was all collected and
put into bags, which I sealed with my own seal.
We now hurried to our home, for we sought no adventure, nor needed any:
only two unfortunate wretches, who insisted on joining us, were killed,
and in less than a month we were within three marches of our village.
I despatched a man in advance to give notice of our approach; and,
Alla! how my heart beat with love and fond anxiety to see Azima, and
to press once more my children to my heart, after all the perils I had
encountered; how intense was my anxiety to reach my own threshold, when
I saw the well-known grove appear in view, the spot from whence I had
departed so full of hope, and the walls and white musjid of the village
peeping from amidst the trees by which they were surrounded! I urged
my horse into a gallop, and I saw my father and Moedeen approaching to
meet me, to give me the _istukbal_, the welcome of return; but, as I
neared them, they hung their heads, and advanced with slow and mournful
steps. A sudden pang shot through my heart. I threw myself from my
horse, and ran towards them. My father was weeping.
"Speak, for the sake of Alla!" I cried. "What can this be? Oh, say the
worst at once, and tell me--is Azima dead? this suspense will kill me."
A few words only the old man spake, as he told me that my child, my
beautiful boy, was dead!
And Ameer Ali wept.