The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-07-24

odd and even grotesque about 1t to
him, now that he notes the fact that
every one of the Thugs wears one.
Other turbans he has noticed, but
there seems to be q peculiar signifi-
canoe about this one, which can only
be explained by the fact that he knows
the nature of the society that appears
to have adopted it.
Why does not the critical moment
come? Are the Thugs waiting for a
certain spot to be reached where the
blood Of the foreigners shall drench
the soil?
1t is q sensation to remember this
walk along the bustling Bhendy Baa-
ar Road, with it's peculiar sights and
sounds and odors, all the while at
tended by a select body-guard from
the picked members Of secret society
Of assassins, the ramifications Of
which extend even beyond the limits
of India's wide borders.
The most interesting part Of the
business comes in just here; this body
guard has not their good at heart and
does not thus convoy them in order to
ward off danger. On the contrary.
each and every individual member Of
it has been bound by his oath to ef-
feet the death of the two Americans.
Their orders come from headquarters,
and they obey with the blindness that
generally marks the actions of these
children of destiny. How are they to
know that it is the Russians gold
that bought their leaders? Little they
care, since their oath binds them to
bl!ndly obey.
1t is coming soon. Sandy notes that
numbers of the people have already
edged away. When their eyes note
the strange turbans worn by these
men and count the number, the fatal
thirteen, they exhibit all the signs OF
sudden fear, and, turning, hasten from
the spot in undisguised alarm.
Still Mynheer Joe shows no alarta
himself, strange man that he is. What
can he be made Of to thus calmly face
q death that most men shudder to con-
template? Really the fellow must have
been born without nerves, he has such
r. remarkable control over himself.
They have by slow stages reached a
point on the road where the bazars are
thickest, and ordinarily here can be
seen the most interesting Of all the
sights Bombay offers to the curiosity.
seeker.
"Listen," gays Joe, suddenly, ut is
coming"
He tosses the remnant Of his cigar
away, as If tired Of smoking. Sandy
bastens to follow suit, for he wants
his vision to be as clear as his other
faculties are at this moment.
Mynheer Joe has not made a blum
der in the matter of time. At the very
moment Sandy relieves himself Of his
cigar, there rises above the babel of
voices, a startling sound. Sandy has
never heard anything like it before
and, please Heaven, he does not want
to again, since he knows what 1t sig
nifies.
The effect is astounding. A dead
silence reigns where before all was
bustling confusion. People appear to
shrink away, so quickly do they get
their bodies out of sight. This Is
part of the business that amazes San
dy. He sees the eager tradesman stop
in the midst of a sentence and no
longer attempt to sell his wares. 1t
would be useless anyway, since his
late customer has apparently merged
into space, the spot that once knew
him knowing him no longer. Thus
it is with all-they melt away'as does
the snow on an April morning when
the sun rises.
Perhaps Sandy can count thirty
while this change is taking place
around them, or it might be as he will
be able to cover only half of that num-
Der, so speedily is the metamorphosis
accomplished.
In one particular there is no change.
The fatal thirteen Thugs still sur
round them. Not an avenue Of es'
cape has been left open. Plainly, If
they live through this night it must be
because they are able to meet the as
saults of the enemy with not only
bold front but weapons that lessen
the number of the odds against them
at every discharge.
Sandy has produced his revolver,
but he clearly remembers his COM
panion's explicit instructions, and will
rot fire until Mynheer Joe gives the
word, even though these fierce braVos
Of Bombay advance to the attack ano
smite them hip and thigh.
rTo he Confinued1