Year: 1866

lnat "ouiu De aDle by enCamplng there
to move on the instant whenever occasion
required it the other, that would be freer
there from observation by the spies of the
Thugs than | would be in the city. l said
nothing, and permitted my men to say
nothing OF the cause of our coming, but at
once set my spies to work. AS have said,
| resolved to attempt no halfway measures
with the assassins, but to proceed against
them with the utmost vigor, and to spare
none that offered any resistance to me- In
short, | was determined to capture or ex-
terminate them. Such as | captured were
| to be sent to Calcutta for trial, but it was
| my intention that these should be very few
IN number as | knew that stern measures
on my part would do more to strike terror
to the sect than hundred civil trials and
| executions


Through the instrumentality of my spies
| learned that my district was infested with
band of Thugs, quite large in number,
and under the direction of leader named
| Runjheet He was described to me as the
most active Of Ill, and as one of the most
dangerous men the country had ever known
| set to work at once. | secured my dis
trict right and left, by day and night, and
with good effect, too.


By the time had been there six weeks
| had sent ten prisoners to Calcutta with
their families, had hung twenty caught in
the act of strangIing their victims, and had
destroyed one of their towns and temple.
With my own hand | broke the image of
their goddess Kali into a thousand pieces,
knowing that this would be a severe blow
to them. This act, together with the rest
n m thnrn haip fata al
to me. The Thugs began to consider me
fortunes, and at length made me the object
of their special vengeance.


When | had been in camp for about two
months, my orderly informed me that there
was native waiting at the door of my
tent to see me. l had him shown in at
once. He was a SMALL spare man, of
about thirty, and my first glance told me
that he was possessed of more than ordi-
nary strength. There was something un-
usually quiet and stealthy about him, and
at first | loosened my pistol and regarded
him with suspicious glance. He did not
seem to notice this, but saluted me humbly
and respectfully. In reply to my demand
to know his business, he stated that he
wished to enter my service as spy. He
was we'll acquainted with the country, and
was sure that he could make himself use
full. He gave as his reason that his father
and brother had recently been murdered by
the Thugs and that he desired to avenge
them. | looked at the fellow searchingly,
but could gain nothing from his counten-
ance, which was fixed and devoid of ex-
preston, save a strange and perplexing
glitter in his eyes He told me his name
was Ali, and that he was a MOhammedan
| said to him that if he would come back
at the same hour the next day would give
him my answer.


"After he left me thought long and Sc
riously of his request did not like his
looks, but | thought he might be Of SER
vice to me. | felt confident that, if faith
full, he would make an excellent spy and
| thought myself competent to the task Of
watching him so closely that he would
have no opportunity to play me false. So,
after weighing the matter we'll in my own
mind, | determined to engage him, but not
to trust him until he should have been full
ly tried


"When gave him my answer the next
day | saw his eyes flash and smile play
around his mouth. In an instant his face





led by this, and was more than ever re-
solved to watch the man closely. | gave
him simple and easy tasks at first. He per-
formed them with so much skill and celeri-
ty that began to place more confidence in
him, and gave him more difficult and i'm
pOrtant duties to perform. Thus ten days
passed away. At the end of that time |
went out one day at the head of a small
party to follow up scent which Ali had
discovered. Toward midday chanced to
be alone, having sent the men away on va
rious errands. The heat was intense, and
dsmounted from my horse and stood for
short while under large tree to enjoy
the shade which looked so tempting to me-
| had been there scarcely ten minutes when
u rustling in the leaves above me caused
me to look up. | saw a dark figure leap
toward me from the tree, and from the
handkerchief, which he held ready in his
hand, | knew he was Thug and bent up
on my assassination. He was so sudden
and unexpected in his movements that he
might have succeeded but for timely in
terposition. He had hardly sprung from
the tree when | heard the sharp report of
rifle, and the next instant the Thug fell
crashing at my feet. | looked around in
astonishment to discover whence came this
timely aid, and saw Ali running toward
me at full speed, with his discharged rifle in
his hand. He asked me anxiously as he
came up if | were safe, and seemed graft
fed when | assured him that was unhurt
He listened camly to my expression of
thanks, and said he was glad to be able to
show me that my suspicious of his fedlity
were unjust.


81 could not help blushing with mortifi-
cation as he spoke, and l felt heartily
ashamed of having suspected him at all. |
told him that he should have no occasion
to feel hurt at my conduct again, as he had
that day given me the best proof of his
loyalty that | could desire | could not
see his face as ! spoke for his eyes were
bent on the ground, and his head lowered.


" A week passed away after this and the
success which had attended our efforts sud
denly deserted us. | could not account for
it. My movements were as secret and en-
ergetic as formerly, and | felt sure that
we had not yet damaged the Thugs to
sufficient extent to warrant our departure,
but each day recorded new failures for US.
SpT,,nbny.y | 80 Ill, A