The Irish standard., 1895-06-01
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NAMED at the gateway with the Ian.

tern. .=,,....: ~. ~. -. .s..s y 7; /
| 81 could hear, the measured tramp OF
their footsteps sounding through. the
| lonely corridors. Suddenly it ceased,
and heard voices, and q scuffie, with.
the sound Of blows. A moment later.
there came, to my horror. a rush OF
footsteps coming in nay direction,
with the loud breathing Of a: rum
ing man. I turned my lantern down
the long, straight passage, and there
was the fat man, running Like the wind,
with smear Of blood across his face.
and close at his heels, bounding Hike a
tiger, the great black bearded Sikh,
wilma knife flashing In his hand. /
have never seen man run so fast as
that little merchant. He was gaining
on the Sikh, and could sec that if he
once passed me and got to the open air
he would save himself yet. My heart
softenetl to him, but again the thought
of his treasure turned me hard and
bitter, l cast my fireloek between his
legs as he raced past, and he rolled
twice over like q shot rabbit. Ere he
could stagger to his feet the Sikh was
upon him, ind 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, shat ]. am keeping,
my promise. J. sm telling you every
word Of the business just exactly as 1t
happened, whether it is in my favor or
not. - .' ,.. -..-
he stopped and held out his man
acled hands for the whisky and water
which Holmes had brewed for him.
For myself, confess that I 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, 1 felt
that 6night expect no sympathy frona
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. 49,.
1T was all very bad: no doubt" said
he II 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
Threats cut for their pains. Besides, it
was my life or his when once he was in
the fort II he had got out, the whole
business would have come to light, and
] shonld have been court-martialed
and shot as likely as not; for people
were not very lenient at q time like
that" .m.,. -
"Go on with your story" said Holmes,
shortly. -.
"Well, we carried him in, Abdullah,
! Alsbar and I. A fine weight he was,
too, for all that he was so short Ma.
homet Singh was left to guard the
door. We took him to place which
the sikhs had already prepared. It was
| Some distance of, where winding pas.
sage leads to q great empty hall, the
brick walls of which were all crumbling
! to pieces. The earth floor had sunk in
at one place, making a natural grave,
SO we left Achnet the merchant there,
having first covered HIM over with
| loose bricks. This done, we all went
back TO the treasure .e q.
''It lay where he had dropped it when
he was first attacked. The box was
the same which now lies open upon
your table. A key was hung by a
| silken cord to that carved handle upon
| the top We opened it, and the light
of the lantern cleaned upon a collec-
| ton of gems such as I have read Of and
| thought about when was a little lad
at Pershore. 1t was binding to look
upon them. When we had Toasted our
| eyes we took them oil out and made
| list of them There were one hundred
and forty-tAree diamonds of the first
water, including one which has been
called, L believe, sthe Great Mogul,'
and is said to be the second largest
stone in existence. Then there were
ninety seven very fine emeralds, and
one hundred and seventy rubies, some
of which, however. were small. There
were forty carbuncles, two hundred
and ten sapphires, sixty lone agates and
great quantity Of bery1s, onyxes, CATS
eyes, turquoises and other stones, the
very names of which did not know at
the time. though have become more
familiar with them since. Besides
this, there were nearly three hundred
very fine pearls, twelve Of which were
set in a gold coronet. By the way,
! these last had been taken out of the
| chest and were not there when re-
covered it. -: -. -. -
! "After we had counted our treasures
we put them back into the chest and
carried them to the gateway to show
| them TO Mahomet Singh. Then we
! solemnly renewed our oath to stand by
each other and be true to- our secret.
| We agreed to conceal our Loot in q
safe place until the country should be
at peace again, and then TO- divide 1T
equally. among ourselves. There -waa
no use dividing it, at present, for it
gems Of such value were found upon
US it would cause suspicion, and there
was no privacy in the fort nor any
place where we could. keep them. We
! carried the box, therefore, into the
same hall where we had buried the
body, and there, under certain bricks
| in the best-preserved wall, we made q
| hollow and put our treasure. We maze
careful note Of the place, and next day
drew four plans, one for each OF US,
| and put the sign of the four Of US at
| the bottom, for we had sworn that we
should each always act, for all. SO. that
| none might take advantage. That is
| an oath that can put my hand to thy
heart ard swear that I have never