Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-01-13


full of his sincerity. l found out at last
that this thoroughness was characteristic
of the man in all things
"Well, the further the work of suppress
sion advanced the more difficult it became
The thugs had enjoyed immunity so long
that many - the bands had become care.
less and were taken with comparative ease
but as the news of their capture spread
and the fate which met them became
known the villains grew more wary and
difficult of approach.
about a month after Hosein's capture
we got on the heels of a 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,
''We did not move. Hosein had the
whole detachment busy for some hours
cutting number Of short bamboo sticks
and boring holes In their ends, through
which short lengths of cord were run.
"'What are these things forP' asked
him.
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, and as they land, one by one,
seize them and stop their voices
How can you be sure they will crossF
said l.
"'Shall not tempt themY he answered.
Shall not light a fire and send cry
across the water as these would have done
If God had not delivered them into our
handsp'
How many Of them are tHere?'
- should say from 30 to l know
this ford well. Only one can land
at n time. If the sahib will permit, / will
stand by the bank and assist them out
singly. 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, fill his mouth with
wood and tie him up so that he makes
neither sound nor motion. In like man
ner with the others. The jungle and the
rain will help us.
''My first indistinct view of the ford re-
newed my previous distrust of Hosein's
good faith. 1t seemed the last place one
would select for a passage. The banks
are 10 or ~ feet high and rise sheer out
of the water BY looking closely, how
ever, made out a large, fiat rock stand
ing about five feet out Of the stream and
close to the bank, forming a natural, IL
somewhat difficult, step. The bank was
only attainabe by first climbing the rock
THE signal fire was it, and after the
proper interval extinguished. 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 step
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 l knew IL was the second signal.
"a 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 it, in Indian file,
other blots still more indistinct.
''As the leader neared the bank Hosein
said a couple of words in Moor, which
ELECTED low reply. then saw him stoop
and draw the man on to the rock beside
him. 1t was an exciting moment, and l
know trembled-solely, l hope, from over
anxiety.
GAS each one attained an upright posi-.
ton on the bank he was gagged, overpow-
cred and laid out in the jungle helplessl.
bound. There was an anxious pause afte
the twelfth man, and from the rock below
heard u lot OF whispering l saw Hosein
stoop, draw up,a large bundle and throw
1t up on to the bank.
1.-THE thugs were passing us their booty
The remainder of the band brought each
a similar parcel.
GAS 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 retreated
II heard 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. 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 l did not under
stand, and the next moment he was free
and hurrying away. The sepoy and /
dashed after the escaping thug and held
him.
with this we had them all-33 muir
derers and 90 bales of spoil-a fine haul.
Following our usual precaution, Ho-
sein travelled with the rear guard, so that
the prisoners should not see more of him
than was necessary, although more than
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
guilt were overwhelming, and as they
thought more of defiance than defense they
were soon convicted and sentenced, 10 OF
them, including the old man who had so
nearly escaped, to be hanged, the rest to
transportation to Penang.
1.-THE following morning was fixed for
the execution. AS they stood in the CEN
ter of the clearing before ascending the
platform Hosein Ali created a sensation
by slipping forward and kneeling humbly
and contritely before the old thug. The
latter, with an indescribable accent of
sScorn, uttered a couple of words and spat
derisiyely on the informer.
1.-THE next moment the culprits had
mounted the gallows. The excitement Of
this scene was not over when a fresh SEN
Bation was caused by the discovery Of
man lying short distance from the gal
lows with bayonet through his heart,
having killed himself by falling ON the
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