Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-01-02

that this thOrOughness was characteristic
of the man in all things.
swell, the further the work of suppress
sion advanced the more difficult 1t became.
The thugs had enjoyed immunity SO long
that many Of the bands had become care
less and were taken with comparative ease,
but as the news of their capture spread
n the fate which met them became
known the villains grew more wary ana
difficult of approach.
About a month after Hosein's capture
we got on the heels OF a pand which by the
signs numbered about ~ members IN
stead OF 1ollowlng tnem up we crossed ehe
marchlng ana nurrylng on got IN ADVANCE
OF 5hem. we knew 0hey Woulu nave 10
cross later ana hoped TO ampush them.
we ald hoC move hoselh hau inc
whoie, detachment Dusy Ior some hours
cutting a humDer OF snoro BAMBOO SUCKS
ana porlng holes 1T tneir enos' ohrougn
winch SNORT lengths OF cora were run.
"naS are onese thlngs Iorf asked
Dim.
FOOD for the thugs, sir, he replied.
When they taste these, they are silent.
"Then l perceived that the mysterious
articles were gags.
"'They will come across the ford to-
night, continued Hosein' We Will be In
waiting, n as they land, one by one'
seize them and stop their voices
"'How can you be sure they will cross?
said l.
"'Shall l not tempt themP' he answered.
Shall I not light a fire and send a Cry
across the water as these would have done
If God had not delivered them into u
hands?'
"tHow many of them are thereP'
"' I should say from 80 to 40. I know
this ford we'll. Only one man can land
at a time. If the sahib will permit, I will
stand by the bank and assist them out
singly. Some of your men must leave
their coats and dress like thugs, and as l
hand over the first of the robbers two Of
them shall seize him, fill his mouth with
wood and tie him up so that he makes
neither sound MOI motion. In like man
ner with the others. The Jungle and the
rain will help u.s.
"My first indistinct view of the ford re-
newed nv previous distrust of Hosein's
good faith. 1t seemed the last place one
would select for a passage. The banks
are 10 or 10 feet high and rise sheer out
of the water. BY looking closely, how
ever, l made out a large, flat rock stand
ing about five feet out of the stream and
close to the bank, forming a natural, If
somewhat difficult, step: The bank was
only attainable by first climbing the rock.
"The signal fire was lit, and after the
proper Interval e~xtinguished, and we lay
down in silence to wait for the next move.
At last we saw the answering fire.
"Hosein let himself down to the stop
ping stone and stood erect. At the same
moment the shrek of a jackal close at
hand made me Jump to my feet. From
across the river the cry was repeated, and
then I knew it was the second signal.
"a minute or two of extreme tension
followed, and then, above the whipping
sound of the rain on the river, I could just
hear the careful splashing of the waters.
Soon the head of the first one came dilnly
into sight, q black, moving spot on the
dark water, and behind it, in Indian file,
other blots still more indistinct.
"As the leader neared the bank Hosein
said a couple of words in Moor which
elioited a low reply. I then saw him stoop
and draw the man on to the rock beside
him. 1t was an exciting moment, and l
know I trembled-solely, l hope, from over
anxiety.
"As each one attained an upright posi-
ton on the bank he wal gagged, overpow-
cred and laid out in the Jungle helplessly
bound. There was an anxious pause after
the twelfth man, and from the rock below
I heard a lot Of whispering. I saw Hosein
stoop, draw up a large bundle and throw
it up on to the bank.
"The thugs were passing us their booty.
The remainder of the band brought each
a similar parcel.
"As we approached the end one or two
squeals escaped, but fortune favored us,
and no alarm was given. By some means
the last man but one to cross took alarm
as he reached the bank and yelled out a
warning. He was quickly pulled down
and secured, but his successor, just about
to reach up his hand to Hosein, hesitated
and reiterated.
II heard a big splash, and Hosein dis
appeared. He had jumped in after the
man and engaged in a struggle which we
could hear, but only dimly see. l climbed
down the bank and slipped into the water,
followed by one Of my men. As we ap-
preached the thug uttered a furious SEN
tence in a dialect which I did not under
stand, and the next moment he was free
and hurrying away. The sepoy and 1
dashed after the escaping thug and held
him.
ssWith this we had them all-33 muir
derers and 20 bales of spoil-a fine haul.
Following u usual precaution, Ho-
sein travelled with the rear Guard an that
the prisoners should not see more Of him
than was necessary, although l more than
suspected that he had been recognized by
the old thug. Something had changed
him ANYHOW. He was strangely Thought.
full. even morose.
ssIn a couple of DAYS the case against