The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-11-09

to gain. 1t was generally known
throughout our band that l had the
sowcar assigned to me, and all looked
forward to my first trial, cheering and
encouraging me with a few words
whenever l drew near them. The
! handkerchief was then intrusted to
me by the GOoroO, with the solemn
words: Take this sacred weapon. nv
son; put thy heart into it. In the
holy name of of kalee Bhowanee, /
bid it do thy will"
! "We remained in conversation some
time. and then threw ourselves on our
carpets to snatch brief rest. Before
long we We're reused, and all moved
out together. The night was beauti-
full, the road excellent, and we pushed
on IN high spirits. The booty we
were abont to secure, the tact with
which the whole affair had been man
aged, would mark it as an enterprise
of superior craft and skill. We had
proceeded about two coss -four miles)
when one OF the scouts made his way
tony fathers side Is the hole clear
ed? asked my father. Inshalla, it is.
See you yon dark outline of hills? A
stream runs from them, and in its bed
we have the Jhil, .or burying place.
You will say we have done well. 1t
is half a coss Zone mile) from here
All were warned to be silently at their
posts, and each men or pair of men
hung close on the rear of those assign
ed to them. A man came from the
front, whispered few words to my
father and again went his way From
the top of a bank we looked down
upon a small stream, with high steep
sides. This l felt intuitively was the
spot, and at that dread moment my
father, IN a low voice, murmured Hoo
shiareen (caution). He then went to
the side Of the cart and represented to
the sOWcar that the bank was SO steep
and the bed OF the stream SO stony
tnat he would have to descend. He
did SO, and the whole scene is now be |
fore me. The bullocks and their div
ers We're all in the bed Of the little
stream urging on their beasts; but it
was easy TO see that every stranger
had Thug behind him. awaiting the
signal At that supreme moment |
eagerly clutched the fatal handkerchief
and kept within foot of my uncon-
5cious victim. 'Jey kaleer shouted
my father. 1t was the signal, and |
instantly obeyed. Quick as thought
the cloth was round the wretchs neck |
L seemed endowed with superhuman
strength. l wrenched his neck, deep
into which l had thrustimy knuckles;
be struggled convulsively, and was
dead before he touched the ground. |
was mad with excitement; my blood !
boiled. One turn of my wrists had |
placed me on an equality with others
who had followed our holy profession
for years. j; j :: = # = * i
I'VE descended into the bed of the
stream, and were led to the grave |
We proceeded along the bed for 100 |
yards, the eight bodies being carried !
each by couple of men. Passing
through thorns, which tore our gar
ments at every step, and in profound |
darkness the moon could not pierce
the dense foliage about our heads
we came suddenly upon the grave. |
There was only one big hole it occu |
pied almost the whole breadth of the |
stream. Itwas very deep; the hsggItaes
were sitting at the end, sharpening
their stakes wherewith to pin down !
the bodies. My father complimented |
the diggers upon their dexterity !
This he murmured, in low clear |
voice, is a grave that would battle
even the nose OF a hyena' AS each |
body was thrown in an incision was
made III the abdomen, through which |
stakes We're driven, and in this way
room was made for the gases to es |
cape, SO that the corpses might not
swell. The hole in the bushes through |
which we had crept was closed with |
great care, and after the grave had |
been filled with huge rocks and stones,
and covered with prickly bushes at the
top, we turned and went on our. way
without a word. The hindmost man
broke off a thickly leaved branch, and, |
trailing it after him. obliterated every
footmark in the dry sand"