The Bessemer indicator., 1893-03-04

and was reclining to the left. My
eyes caught no glimpse Of anything.
nor had my ears detected the slight
est sound to put mo on my guard.
The first sensation was exactly that
Of falling. / remember roaring in
my ears and fireworks dancing before
my eyes, and l was perfectly conscious
that my throat was in this clutch OF
human fingers. What saved me WIS
the tree and the position fq which l
sat. did not realize that I strug-
gled to break the clutch, but did
put forth mighty effort. My right
shoulder and arm were lever against
the strangers right wrist, and as
heaved broke his clutch and leaped
to my feet.
1t was Peter, as you have suspected.
He had gone only few rods away
and then turned and crept back on
me like serpent. His route was
through bushes and tines, but when
l came to go over 1t could not find
that he had broken twig. My
springing up threw him down, but he
was on his feet like cat, and with d
cry like that of an enraged beast he
sprang for my throat again. His eyes
were fairly blazing, his face distorted
with passion, and / realized in an in
stant that it was his life or mine.
He clutched for my throat with his
right hand as we rolled about and l
caught the ends OF his first two fingers
in my teeth and bit to the bone. That
one bite gave me the victory. Still
gripping his fingers struggled to my
knees, reached for my revolver, and
l had the muzzle against his body
when the thought flashed across my
mind that ho was the professional
stranger wanted by tho police. Up
to that instant ] had no thought as to
why he attacked me. When | dropped
his fingers and covered him with the
revolver, he made no further resist
ance. The native of India, like the
Arab, believes in fate.
"Sahib, you have won," he said as
/ stood over him. at was to be,
and SO it is. Do as you will with
mo-"
peter, why should you seek my
life?" asked even yet hoping there
might be some mistake about it.
"Why did I strangle tho others.
sahib3 A voice commanded me and
obeyed."
Good heavens! but you are not the
murderer Of the farmer, the clerk and
the soldier---you who have been con-
sidered so faithful to the English?"
"Even so, sahib. 1t was to be, and
it is. Take me to the police and j
will admit everything, and die like a
man."
drove him before me until we en-
countered troop of cavalry which
was then returning to town with no
less than twenty-six prisoners. Had
Peter denied his admissions to me
nothing could have been proved, and
he only would have been punished for
assault.
But he felt that fate had delivered
him into the hands of his enemies,
and he was willing to help convict
himself. He gave the particulars of
each murder with such detail that no
doubt could exist. 1t was tho SER
geant who had lacerated his hands
He was keeping shady while he waited
for them to heal. He would not havo
accompanied me that day but for the
fear that he might be suspected.
though as q matter of fact he would
have been among the very last to fall
under the ban.
n had no thought OF strangling you
whom we started OUT he said to mo
after his trial. alt was only after
you had noticed my hands. While
you appeared indifferent, l was afraid
that you suspected. l could have
snatched away your pistol and shot
you dead, or l could have beaten you
to death with club, but my creed
would not permit. must either
strangle you or let You live on. Had l
been successful / should have mado
my way north as soon as possible. :"
He did not hesitate to tell the po-
lice that he was professional stran-
gler, and it was with considerable
pride that he exhibited the fattcned
thumbs and illustrated the manner in
which the deadly clutch was made.
He had been professional for up
wards of twenty years. He spent one
whole day making out n list of dates,
localities and victims, and the num-
ber of murders was appalling. The
figures ran up to forty-two or forty
three, and there wero seven Europ-
cans among them. He begged no
one's forgiveness-had no apology to
make.
Peter went to the gallows with the
utmost indifference. He did not even
betray the anxiety of n man walking
about tho street. Ho was, 1 believe,
the last professional stranger exc
cuted in that province, although his
class flourished everywhere, and were
picked up one by one for many years
after.-Chicago Times.