Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-06-02

of the Sepoys, since they were strong
upon his borders BY doing this. mark
you, sahib, his property becomes the
due of those who have been true to
their salt.
"'This pretended mer chant, who
travels under the name of Achmet, is
now in the city of Agra, and de-
sircs TO gain his way into the fort He
has with him as travelling companion
my fostcr-brother Dost-Altbar, who
knows his secret Dost-Alibar has
promised this night to lead him TO
sidc-postcrn of the fort, and has chosen
this one for his purpose. Here he will
come presently and here he will
find Mahomet Singh and myself await
ing him. The place is lonely. and none
shall know of his coming The world
shall know of the merchant Achmet no
wore hut the Great treasure of tho
rajah shall be divided among us. What
say you to it, sahib?
"In Worcestershire the life of a man
seems great and sacred thing; but
it is very different when there is fire
and blood all round you and you have
been used to meeting death at every
turn. Whether Achmct the merchant
lived or died was IA thing as light as air
to me, but at the talk about the treas
ure my heart turned to it, and thought
of what might do in the old country
with it, and how my folks would stare
when they saw their ncer-dowell COM
ing back with his pockets full of gold
moidores. l had, therefore, already
made up my mind. Abdullah Khan,
pressed the matter more closely.
Consider. sahib," said he, that If
this man is taken by the commandant
he will be hung or shot. and his jewels
taken by the government. so that no
man will be u rupee the better for
them. Now, since we do the taking of
him, why should we not do the rest as
as well? The jewels will be ns well
with MS as in the companys Golfers.
There will be enough to make every
one of MS rich men and great chiefs.
No one can know about the matter. for
here we are cut off from all men.
What could be better for the purpose?
Say again, then, sahib. whether you
are with us, or if we must look upon
you as an enemy
81 am with you heart and SOUL"
said I.
ut is we'll he answered, handing
me back my trclock. You see that we
trust you, for your word, like ours. is
not to be broken. We have now only
to wait for my brother and the mer-
chant
"'Does your brother know, then, of
what you will do? asked.
1.-The plan is his, He has devised it.
We will go to the gate and share the
watch with Mahomet Singh
The rain was still falling steadily,
for it was just the beginning of the
wet season. Brown. heavy clouds were
drifting across the sky, aud it was hard
to see more than "A stone-cast. A deep
moat lay in front of our door, but the
water was in places nearly dried up.
and it could easily be crossed 1t was
strange to me to be standing there
with those two wild Puniaubees wait.
ing for the man who was coming TO his
death.
"Suddenly my eye caught the CLINT
ola shaded lantern at the other side of
the moat. 1t vanished among the
mourd-heaps, and then appeared again
coming slowly in our direction.
Here they are exclaimed.
lyon will challenge him, sahib. as
, usual whispered Abdullah. Give him
no cause for fear. send US in with
him. and we shall do the rest while
You stay here on guard. Have the
/ lantern ready to uncover, that we ma Y
be sure that it is indeed the man
The light had tlickered EDWARDS,
now stopping and now advancing. UNI
I'll | could see two dark figures upon
the other side of the moat. let them
scramble down the sloping bank,
splash through the mire, and climb
halfway up 70 the gate, before |
challenged Thorn.
"'Who goes there? said I in sub
dued voice.
Friends came the answer. nm.
covered my lantern and threw flood
of light upon them. The first was an
enormous Sikh. with black beard
which swept nearly down to his cum
nnrhund. Outside Of show ! have
never seen 80 talt man. The other
was a little fat. round fellow. with a
great yellow turhan. and bundle in
his hand. done mp in shaVl. lie
seemed to be all in culver with Gear.
! for his hands tAvitched as if he had the.
agUe, and his head kept turning to
! left and right with two bright little
tWinkling eyes like a mouse when he
ventures ont from his hole. 1t gave
ne the chills to think OF killing him,
hut thought OF the treasure, and my
heart set as hard as flint within me,
When he saw my white face he gave a
little chirrup of joy and came running
up towards me.
"'Nour protection, sahih, he painted
your protection for the unhappy
merchant Achmet have Travelled
across Rajpootana that ! might seek
the shelter Of the fort at Agra have
been robbed and beaten and abused
because have hecn the friend OF the
company. 1t is blessed night this
when am once more in safety and
my poor possessions
"What have you in the bundle?' |
asked.
IAN iron t~,x,' he answered. which
contains one or two little family mat
tors which are OF no value to others,
but which | should bc sorry to lose.
Yet am not a b"ggar; and shall re-
ward you, young sahib, and your gov
ernor also, if he will give me the shell
ter | ask