Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-02-26

] AlNH IuhuA hHc itNA NhlNi W
the cord and under one Of his armpits be
( felt sore place, which. on examination,
proved to be a wouad from poinard. lie
drew long breath without pain, however,
and thus satisfied himself that tho weapon
had not penetrated his vital part. lie felt
other bruises aud sprain'. but they were
trinIng 10 one accustomed to athletic eSer.
ci.cs. while be was occupied in ascertain.
ing the extent OF his injuries, he heard
voice above call him
"Sahib Sahib!"
"Ilnlloa 80 he cried, ri. that you, Aim ?
Get me out Of this hole :"
/ \ shout Of delight was the reply, and in
a trice the rope was lowered, and the Eng
li.hman stood on the brink Of the PitIall,
which. It must BE- confessed, looked ugly
enough from above.
| Alim quickly told his story. The cara
van had been attacked by a band OF Thugs,
to whom the fair Runa had served as decoy.
When the Ensli,hman was strugIrd, the
Thugs fell upon the servants, some Of whom
were murdered where they stood, while 9th.
cr., aud among them AIim, had prudrntIy
ll,d to a place Of refuge. Al the haggis'
had been carried oT, and the Thugs had
made good thing il. How they had al.
lowed the EusIishmin 10 c.chp' was wen.
dsrrul, they invariably disa pihII and
hurry their victims ioayoIl detection.
racy bad better have buried me," said
the Engi.hman, with a grim smiic.
| Alim showed hs white teeth. aud follow.
81 his master tn Dynarc-, where no had
friends.
There the Engli.hman found two English
sailo-s, whom be engaged by the month,
likewise four mountainecr., stout, able.
bodied fellows, whose courage was youchcd
for by Alim. All were we'll armed, and
each provided with a .eryiccnhlc pony; and
thus, taxing ~ baggage but their weapons,
they started out in search Of the Thus'.
The sailors and mountaino,rs were notified
at the end Of their fir, journey that they
were on an expedition which might cot
them their lives. but that MI the plunIcr Of
the Thug camp should bo their. III ey were
successful. They were abunian,ly satisfied
with these terms
L. W.. agreed that che Eag.i.amln wa, %
travel in advance Will our oi thc sailors IS
IN. boiy.ssruut. while the other, weF' to
follow at some little distance. They r,s1ly.
rl to tax thcr,,d to D,,nl. a.,hc ono which
traveller. would be mos, likely to pursue.
After two days journey, as spoi lack
would have it, they saw by the roadside q
female weeping anl THROWN; her arms
about in the greatest scmblancc Of despair.
The Ensli,hman rode up, and almo', lchp'd
from his hors, when he recognized the fair
Roma. She. too. screamed and shuddared
at the sight of him She sprine up and
tried to escape into the jungle, hut the Eng
lIshman was too swift f,r her, she was caught
and brought back. The Engli.hman taxed
her with psrfly she was silent. H. ques-
toned her: not world would she utter.
Ile Threatened her; she only smiled. While
tho "ulluquy was going on. Ann rode up.
Perciyius the state Of the case, be very
quickly made gibbet by passing rope over
q stout traneh FROM tr.o by the roadside (;
and taking from las bag piece Of beef in
tended fur the dinner Of the Englishman he
made signs to Runa that he would hang her.
with the beef round her neck. Thi, was
worse than death to the devout llindoo girl
sho offered to redeem her life by any sacri-
Gco.
lead US to your camp" said Alim.
"wait I'LL ni.hthll," she muttercl.
After little hesitation Alim, who had
taken the command. as the mo.teHperiencod
Of the party, consented to wait. But,
meanwhile. he placed Runa with her back
against a tree, and at down opposite her,
- that she could not maze sIgn or utter
a whisper without his knowledge. Mt Tor
a second dill hr take his hawk eyes 20 her.
Tie EnsIi,hnln and the party enc,mped
around them, and dlned comfortably. Ann
would neither eat nor drink for fear hi At.
ten,i1n should b. diverted from the trait.
ress. As it grew dark, Azim became i'm
patient, anu demanded Grrcely when Runa
was going to redeem herself She still tricl
TO postpone tho fatal act. ill Azim drew
forth the remnant of hIs beef. At the hor'
rid sight the courage Of the lIindoo gave
way again, and she exclaimed that she WAS
ready Tor anything.
Listen :" said Azim. You know
where your friends are, and how to Summon
them when make the signal. you 'hall
call them, as IL yoa bad succeeded In entrip.
ming traveller" And he bado the men OF
the party lie lat in the tall grass, each with
his gun ready foraeiion. The arrlnscmsn:
was no sooner completed than lie gave the
signal, holding up to Rana's gaze the terri
bic beef as warning.
She gave sbrill scream. and almost in
simultaneously a dozen S,yasc.lookins fellows
came bounding through tAe brushwood, and
dashed at Asim, who was the only man icy
saw. At the same instant the EnsIiShmIn
.prans up and shot the foremost as be rush.
ed forward the sailors and mOunIainocrs
followed the example; each discharged his
piece with deadly effect, then charged with
sabre and knife. The Thugs were more than