The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-06-04

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and bent upon my assassination.
He was SO sndden aud unexpected in
his movements that he might have sue
eeeded bat for timely interposition.
He had hardly sprung from the tree,
when heard the report OF rife; and
the next instant the Thug fell crashing
at my feet. looked around in astonish-
mentto discover whence came the timely
aid, and saw Ali running toward me at
full speed, with his discharged rife in
his hand He asked me anxiously y as he
came up if l were safe, and seemed graf
flied when assured him was unhurt.
He listened calmly to nay expression of
thanks, and said he was glad to be able
to show me that my suspicious Of his
fidelity were unjust.
could not help blushing with morti-
tication as he spoke, and l felt heartily
ashamed of having suspected him at all.
l told him that he should have no occar
sion to feel hurt at my conduct again, as
he had that day given me the best proof
of his loyalty that could desire.
could not see his face as l spoke, for his
eyes were bent ON the ground, and his
head was lowered.
A week passed away after this, and the
success which had attended our efforts
suddenly deserted us. l could not ac-
count for it. My movements were as Sc
cret and as energetic as formerly, and
felt sure that we had not yet damaged
the Thugs to sufficient extent to war
rant our departure; but each day re-
corded new failures to us. Somehow
could not help connecting Ali with our
want of success, though for the life of
me | could not tell why l should do so,
and did my best to Danish the suspicion
as most ungenerous and unjust.
Toward the close of the week I sent
out party with better prospect of sue
cess than had been vouchsafed to us dur
ing the past seven days. That night,
feeling somewhat worn down by my
constant exertions; retired early, with
out undressing. Yet, in spite Of me, 1
could not sleep. was nervous and
wakeful; aud this state increased every
moment.
have always been a great lover of
tobacco, and have found it to be the
best remedy for nervousness have ever
used. Finding that could not Sleep L
took large mouthfnl of some excellent
tobacco, which had sent me from En-
gland before leaving Calcutta. As usual,
it soothed me almost instantly, and grad
ually 1 fell into a doze, with the quid
which had been chewing still in my
mouth.
could not have been sleeping very
soundiy, for was awakened by slight
rustling in my tent, | endeavored to
spring up, but in an instant I was seized
by powerful hand, and handkerchief,
which is the instrument used by the
Thugs in their work, was twisted around
my neck. managed to thrust my left
hand between the folds Of the handker-
chief and my throat, and thus preven ted
the scoundrel strangling me at once. By
powerful effort succeeded in gaining
my feet, but the fellow hung on to me
with almost superhuman strength.
l was counted then one of the most
powerful men in the army, and 1 was
much larger and heavier than my an
tagonist; but it was just as much as l
could do to keep him from mastering
me.
By the dim light of the moon which
struggled through the opening of the
tent, l recognized in my adversary my
native spy, Ali.
Like lightning it flashed across my
mind that the whole affair was a plot.
Ali had been sent to win my confidence,
and throw me off my guard. The shoot
ing of the Thug, week back, had been
simply part of the plot. I knew that
l had a powerful and desperate man to
deal with, and I nerved myself to the
task before me.
The fellows grip on the handkerchief
was like that of a wise, and it seemed
that he would crush my left hand. The
strain on my thr oat was terrible, and l
felt that unless it was released very
speedily, I would be at his mercy.
A novel and desperate plan presented
itself to me in this emergency; and 1 at
once proceeded to put it into execution.
Bracing myself for a mighty effort,
sank slowly, as if being gradually over
come, and Ali, with triumphant glance,
frightened his grip on my throat, and
bent over me until his flashing eyes were
just above my face. With sudden
bound sprang forward, recovering my
self, and throwing Ali backward. At
the same instant spat, with true aim, a
mouthful of tobacco juice straight into
his eyes.
Thoroughly astonished and thrown of
his guard, he relinquished his hold on
the handkerchief, and with yell of pain
clapped his hands to his eyes. This was
Just what I had expected, and in another
instant put him out of the way of do
ing more harm, by sending pistol bullet
through his head. The noise Of the shot
brought the men to my tent, and I soon
found myself the recipient Of innumera.
BILE congratulations.
The next morning the expedition
had sent out returned, bringing two pris
oners with them. From these l learned
that my would-he assassin was no othel
than the notorious chief of the Thugs