La Junta tribune., 1899-03-01

completes, and, with remarkable effort
of memory, described tho position Of tho
rude graves Of over 100 victims
"A couple Of weeks Of activity passed.
Thanks to Hosein, who had bcen shaved
and otherwise disguised. we not only col
lected ample proof of the crimes commit
ted, but succeeded In securing many Of the
culprits, who were taken to the nearest
court and tried.
$50 far the informer had amply fulfilled
his contract. He had indeed displayed q
zeal which made me at times very doubt
ful Of his sincerity. found out Mt last
that this thoroughness was characteristic
Of the man In all thingA
swell, the further the work Of suppress
sion advanced the more difficult 1t became.
The thugs had enjoyed immunity 80 long
that many of the bands had become care
less and were taken with comparative ease,
but - the news Of their capture spread
and the fate which met them became
known the villains grew more wary and
difficult Of approach.
About q month after Hosein' q capture
We got on tho sells of u band which by the
signs numbered about 40 members. In
stead OF following them up we crossed the
river along the banks Of which they were
marching, and hurrying on got in advance
Of them. We knew they would have to
cross later and hoped to ambush them.
I'VE did not move. Hosein had the
whole detachment busy for some hours
cutting II number OF short bamboo sticks
and boring holes In their ends, through
which short lengths of cord were run.
What arc these things forf' I usked
him.
"Food for the thugs, sir, he replied.
When they taste these, they are silent
''Then perceived that the mysterious
articles were gags.
"'They will come across the ford to-
night, continued Hosoin We will be in
waiting, and as they land, one by one.
seize them and stop their voices
"'How can you be sure they will crossF
said l.
"'Sball not tempt themy he answered
Shall / not light fire and send cry
across the water as these would have done
II God had not delivered them into our
handsf'
"'How many OF them arc theref'
- should say from 80 to 40 know
this ford we'll. Only one man can land
at time. II the sahib will permit, will
stand by the bank and assist them out
sinRly. Some of your men must leave
their coats and dress like thugs, and as
hand over the first OF the robbers two of
them shall seize him, I'LL his mouth with
wood and tic him up that he makes
neither sound nor motion. In like man.
ner with the others. The Jungle and the
rain win help us
"My first indistinct view Of tho ford re.
newed my previous distrust of Hosein'a
good faith 1t seemed the last place one
would select for passage. The banks
arc 10 or II feet high and rise sheer out
OF the water. BY looking closely, how
ever, made out large, fiat rock stand
Ing about Ave feet out of the stream and
close to the bank, forming natural, II
somewhat difficult step. The bank was
only attainablc by first climbing the rock.
"The signal fire was lit, and after tho
proper interval extinguished, and we lay
down in silence to walt for tho next move.
At last we saw the answering fro.
'.Hosein let himself down to tho step
ping stone and stood erect Al tho same
moment the shrek Of q jacknl close at
hand made me jump to my feet. From
across the river the CRY was rspcatcd, and
then knew Il was the second signal.
minute or two of extreme tension
followed, and then, above the whipping
sound Of the rain on the river, could just
hear the careful splAshing Of the waters
Soon the head Of the first one came dimly
into sight. black. moving spot on the
dark water. and behind 1t, In Indian file
other blOts still more indistinct.
LAS the letder neared tho bank Hosein
said n couple Of words in Moor, which
elected q 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 trembled-soleiy. l hope, from over
anxiety.
''As each one attained an upright posi-.
ton on the bank he WINS gagged, ovcrpow-
| cred and laid out In the jungle heIplessly
bound. There WAS an anxious pause after
the twelfth man, and from the rock below
heard a lot Of " whispering. saw Hosein
stoop, draw up a large bundle and throw
IL up on to the bank.
1.-THE thugs were passing us their booty.
| The remainder Of the band brought each
| q 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
warning. He was quickly pulled down
| and secured, but his SUCCESSOR, just about
to reach up his hand to Hosein, hesitated
| and rctreated.
II heard big splash, and Hosein dis.
| appeared. He had jumped in after the
man and engaged in struggle which we
could hear, but only dimly sec. climbed
down the bank and slipped into the water,
| followed by one OF my men. As We ap-
preached the thug uttered 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
dashed after tho escaping thug and held
| him.
with this we had them all-33 mur-
derers and go bales OF spoil-a fine haul
Following our usual precaution, Ho.
sein travelled with the rear guard, so that
the prisoners should not SEQ more of him
I = -tAL
suspected that he had been recognized by
the old thug. Something had changed
him anyhow. He was strangely thought.
| full, even morose.
In . couple Of days the case against
them was presented. The proofs OF their