The Press., 1895-06-13
THE SIGN OF THE FOUR.
Ru A nnNAN DOYLE.

U'Listen to me- sahib, said the taller and fiercer of the pair, the one whom they Halled A AbdulIah Khan. You must either be with us now, or you must De slIenceo forever. The thing is too great one Tor us to hesitate Either your heart and sou with us on your oath on the cross of the Christians, or your body this night shall be thrown into the ditch, and we shall pass over to our brothers in the rebel army. There is no middle way. Which is 1t to be, death or life? We cas- only give you three minutes to decide, for the time is passing, and all must be done before the rounds como again.
 "'How can decide?' said I. You have not told me what you want of me. But I tell you now that if it is anything against the safety of the fort will have no truck with it, so you can drive home your knife and welcome
 1t is nothing against the fort, said he. We only ask you to do that which your countrymen come to this land for We ask you to be rich. If you will be one of us this night, we will swear to you upon the naked knife and by the threefold oath, which no Sikh was ever known to break, that you shall have your fair share of the loot. A quarter of the treasure shall be yours. We can say no fairer.
 "'But what is the treasure. then? asked I am as ready to be rich as you can be, if you will but show mo how it can be done.
 "'You swear, then, said he, by the bones of your father, by the honor of your mother, by the cross of your faith, to raise no hand and speak no word against us, either now or afterward?'
 "'I will swear 1t, l answered, 'provid ed that the fort is not endangered
 "'Then my comrade and 1 shall swear that you shall have a quarter of the treas ure, which shall be equally divided among the four of us
 "'There are but three, said l.
 No; Dost Akbar must have his share. We can tell the tale to you while we await them. Do you stand at the gate, Mohalnmed Singh, and give notice of their coming The thing stands thus, sahib, and l tell it to you because know that an oath is bind ing upon Feringhee, and that we may trust you. Had you been lying Hindoo, though you had sworn by all the gods in their false temples, your blood would have been upon the knife, and your body in the water, but the Sikh knows the English man, and the Englishman knows the Sikh. Hearken, then, to what have to say:
 There is rajah in the northern prov inces who has much wealth, though his lands are small Much has como to him from his father, and more still he has set by himself, for he is of a low nature and boards his gold rather than spend it When the troubles broke out, he would be friends both with the lion and the tiger with the sepoy and with the company's s raj. Soon, however, it seemed to him that the white men s day was come, for through all the land he could hear of nothing but of their death and their overthrow Yet being careful man he made such plans that, come what might half at least of his treasure should be left to him. That which was in gold and silver he kept by him in the vaults of his palace, but the most precious stones and the choicest pearls that he had he put in an iron box and sent it by a trusty servant who, under the guise of 8 merchant, should take it to the fort at Agra, there to lie until the land is at peace. Thus, if the rebels won he would have his money, but if the com pany conquered his jewels would be saved to him. Having thus divided his hoard he threw himself into the cause of the sepoys since they were strong upon his borders By his doing this mark you, sahib, his property becomes the due of those who have been true to their salt
 "'This pretended merchant, who travels under the name of Achmet, is now in the city of Agra and desires to gain his way into the fort He has with him as travel ing companion my foster brothor Dost Ak bar, who knows his secret. Dost Akbar