The Delta independent., 1895-09-11

W. VKk-s s
WHAT HAVE YOU IN TIE BUNDLE?"
ASKED.
for his hands twitched as if he had the
agSe, and his head kept turning to
left and right with two bright little
twinlSling eyes, like Il mouse when he
ventures out from his hole. 1t gave
me the chills to think of killing him,
but thought of the treasure, and my
heart set as hard as flint within me.
When he saw my white face he gave n
little chirrup of joy and came running
up towards me.
Your protection, sahib,' he painted
your protection for the unhappy
merchant Achmct. l have travelled
across Rajpootana that ! might seek
the shelter of the fort at Agra. l have
been robbed and beaten and abused
because have been the friend of the
company. 1t is blessed night this
when am once more in safety-I and
my poor possessions
"'NVhat have you in the bundle?'
asked.
"'An iron box he answered. which
tcrs which are of no value to others,
but which l should be sorry to lose.
Yet am not a beggar; and l shall re-
ward you, young sahib, and your gov
ernor also, if he will give me the shell
ter l ask
II could not trust myself to speak
longer with the man. The more 1
looked at his fat, frightened face, the
. hot los,
him in cold blood. 1t was best to get
it over.
"Take him to the main guard said
!. The two SilShs closed in upon him
on each side, and the giant walked be-
hind, while they marched in through
the dark gateway. Never was man
SO compassed round with death. l re-
maincd at the gateway with the Ian
tern.
81 could hear the measured tramp of
their footsteps sounding through the
lonely corridors. Suddenly it ceased,
and heard voices, and n scuflic, with
the sound of blows. A moment later
there came, to my horror. rush OF
footsteps coming in my direction,
with the loud breathing of n run
ing man. | turned my lantern down
the long, straight passage, and there
was the fat man, running like the wind,
with u smear of blood across his face,
and close at his heels, bounding like
tiger, the great black-beardcd Sikh,
with a knife flashing in his hand. /
have never seen n man run so fast as
that little merchant. lie was gaining
on the Sikh, and could see that If he
once passed me and got to the open air
he would save himself yet. My heart
softened to him, but again the thought
of his treasure turned me hard and
bitter l cast my firelock between his
legs as he raced past, and he rolled
twice over like shot rabbit. Ere he
could stagger to his feet the Sikh was
upon him, and buried his knife twice
in his side. The man never uttered
moan nor moved muscle, but lay where
he had fallen. ] think myself that he
may have broken his neck with the fall.
You see gentlemen, that am keeping
my promise. ! am telling you every
word of tine business just exactly as it
happened, whether it is in my favor or
not"
He stopped and held out his man
aclcd hands for the whisky and water
which Holmes had brcwcd for him.
For myself, / confess that | had now
conceived the utmost horror of the
man, not only for this cold-blooded
business in which he had been con-
cerned, but even more for the some
what fippant and careless way in
which he narrated it. Whatever pun
ishment was in store for him, felt
that he might expect no sympathy from
me. Sherlock Holmes and Jones sat
with their hands upon their knees,
deeply Interested in the story, but with
the same disgust written upon their
faces. He may have observed it, for
there was touch of defiance in his
voice and manner as he proceeded.
ut was all very bad, no doubt" said
he. 81 should like to know how many
fellows in my shoes would have re-
fused share of this loot when they
knew that they would have their
throats cut for their pains. Besides, 1t
was my life or his when once he was in
the fort. If he had got out, the whole
business would have come to light, and
! should have been court-martialed
and shot as likely as not; for people
were not very lenient at time like
that"
go on with your story, said Holiness
shortly. 4