Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-03-19


positively enamored Of the fair Hindoo.
They were sitting under the shade of a
banyan-tree, in the cool of the evening;
Runa-the lady-was singing plaintive
song, and the Englishman. intoxicated
with the magic of the scene aud the de-
light of her society, was lounging idly by
her side, with one of her small hands in
his, when suddenly Aim shouted, or
rather screamed. His master called;
Whats the matter ?"
Look there-down therel" cried
Runa, pointing in the direction of the
forest.
The Englishman turned to look, and
strained his eyes TO see. AT that moment
he felt round his throat a cord, which
was drawn tighter and tighter, till he lost
consciousness. His last recollection was
of that same soft, small hand which he
had so tenderly pressed, being thrust
against the back of his neck with unwo-
manly strength, in order to draw the cord
tighter. The operation was performed
so skillfully-strangulation was so rapid
that before he could utter cry or
move a muscle, he was powerless.
! When he came to his senses he Was
/ lying-alone-at the bottom of deep
quarry or pitfall. The cold night air had
brought him TO his senses. He rose and
stood up; his limbs were whole. He
had a painful sensation round the neck,
which reminded him of the cord; and
under one Of his arnpits he felt sore
place, which, on examination, proved TO
be 4 wound froU poniard. He drew a
long breath without pain, however, and
thus satisfied himself that the weapon had
not penetrated his vital part. He felt
other bruises and sPrains, but they were
trifing to one accustomed to athletic exer-
cises. While he was occupied in ascer-
tanning the extent of his injuries, he heard
a voice above call him
! "Sahib Sahib!''
"Halloa - he cried, - is that you, Azim,
! Get me out Of this hole p
a shout of delight was the reply, and
in trice the rope was lowered. and the
Euglisiman stocd on the brink Of the pit
fall, which, it must be confessed, lookel
ugly enough from above.
Azim quickly told his story. The car
avan had been attacked by a band o.
/ Thugs. to whom the fair Runa had served
as decoy. when tue Enslishman wa:
strangled. the Thugs fell upon theservant:
some 0! whoa were murdered WHERE
, they stood, while others. and among then
Azim, had prudently fed to a place c
refuge. All the baggage had been car
] ried off, and the Thugs had made q goo,
thing Of It. How they had allowed th'
Englishruen to escape was wonderful
they invariably dig pitfaI and bur-
their victims to avoid detection.
They had better have buried me,
said the Englishman, with grim smile
Aim showed his wlIte teeth, and fol
. lowed his master to Benares, where h
E had friends.
: There the Englishman found two En-
glish sailors, whom he engaged by tn
month; likewise four mountaineers,stou
able-bodied fellows, whose courage wa
= vouched for by Azim. All were we
- armed, and each provided with a service
9 able poney; and thus taking no baggag
. but their weapons, they started cut /
search of the Thugs. The sailors an
mountaiueers we're notified at the end {
70 their first journey that they were on q
:. expedition which might cost them the
- lives, but that all the plumber of the Thu
camp should be theirs if they were su,
cezsful. They were abundantly satisfe
with these terms.
.e 1t was agreed that the Englishma
y was 10 travel in advance with one Of tt
1t sailors as his body-scrvant, while the oil
le ers were to follow at some little distanc
= They resolved to take the road TO Delh
,e as tine one which travellers would /
e. most likely to pursue.
lie After two days journey, as good luc
ID would have it, they saw by the roadsid
" female weeping and throwing her arm
ID about in the greatest semblance Of 4
D. spair. The EngIishman rode up, and a
to most Ieaped from his horse when he ?
d. cognized the fair Rgna. She, too, scream
sr ed and shuddered al tie sight Of him.
te She sprang up and tried to escape in
al the jungle, but the Englishman was tt
swift for her, she was caught and broug
ID back. The Englishman taxed her wi
4 perfdy she was silent. He questions
~ her; not a word would she utter. {