ThedoorwasopenandIcouldseeintotheroom。Click——c1ick!
Thatwasacannon。Ienteredtheroomwithoutfear,fortherewassunlightwithinandafreshbreezewithout。Theunseengamewasgoingonatatremendousrate。Andwellitmight,whenarestlesslittleratwasrunningtoandfroinsidethedingyceiling-cloth,andapieceofloosewindow-sashwasmakingfiftybreaksoffthewindow-boltasitshookinthebreeze!
Impossibletomistakethesoundofbilliardballs!Impossibletomistakethewhirofaballovertheslate!ButIwastobeexcused。
EvenwhenIshutmyenlightenedeyesthesoundwasmarvelouslylikethatofafastgame。
Enteredangrilythefaithfulpartnerofmysorrows,KadirBaksh。
\"Thisbungalowisverybadandlow-caste!NowonderthePresencewasdisturbedandisspeckled。Threesetsofdoolie-
bearerscametothebungalowlatelastnightwhenIwassleepingoutside,andsaidthatitwastheircustomtorestintheroomssetapartfortheEnglishpeople!Whathonorhasthekhansamah?
Theytriedtoenter,butItoldthemtogo。Nowonder,iftheseOoriashavebeenhere,thatthePresenceissorelyspotted。Itisshame,andtheworkofadirtyman!\"
KadirBakshdidnotsaythathehadtakenfromeachgangtwoannasforrentinadvance,andthen,beyondmyearshot,hadbeatenthemwiththebiggreenumbrellawhoseuseIcouldneverbeforedivine。ButKadirBakshhasnonotionsofmorality。
Therewasaninterviewwiththekhansamah,butashepromptlylosthishead,wrathgaveplacetopity,andpityledtoalongconversation,inthecourseofwhichheputthefatEngineer-
Sahib’stragicdeathinthreeseparatestations——twoofthemfiftymilesaway。ThethirdshiftwastoCalcutta,andtheretheSahibdiedwhiledrivingadogcart。
IfIhadencouragedhimthekhansamahwouldhavewanderedallthroughBengalwithhiscorpse。
IdidnotgoawayassoonasIintended。Istayedforthenight,whilethewindandtheratandthesashandthewindow-boltplayedading-dong\"hundredandfiftyup。\"Thenthewindranoutandthebilliardsstopped,andIfeltthatIhadruinedmyonegenuine,hall-markedghoststory。
HadIonlystoppedatthepropertime,Icouldhavemadeanythingoutofit。
Thatwasthebitterestthoughtofall!
THESTRANGERIDEOFMORROWBIEJUKES
Aliveordead-thereisnootherway-
NativeProverb。
THEREis,astheconjurerssay,nodeceptionaboutthistale。
Jukesbyaccidentstumbleduponavillagethatiswellknowntoexist,thoughheistheonlyEnglishmanwhohasbeenthere。A
somewhatsimilarinstitutionusedtoflourishontheoutskirtsofCalcutta,andthereisastorythatifyougointotheheartofBikanir,whichisintheheartoftheGreatIndianDesert,youshallcomeacrossnotavillagebutatownwheretheDeadwhodidnotdiebutmaynotlivehaveestablishedtheirheadquarters。And,sinceitisperfectlytruethatinthesameDesertisawonderfulcitywherealltherichmoneylendersretreataftertheyhavemadetheirfortunes(fortunessovastthattheownerscannottrusteventhestronghandoftheGovernmenttoprotectthem,buttakerefugeinthewaterlesssands),anddrivesumptuousC-springbarouches,andbuybeautifulgirlsanddecoratetheirpalaceswithgoldandivoryandMintontilesandmother-n’-pearl,IdonotseewhyJukes’staleshouldnotbetrue。HeisaCivilEngineer,withaheadforplansanddistancesandthingsofthatkind,andhecertainlywouldnottakethetroubletoinventimaginarytraps。Hecouldearnmorebydoinghislegitimatework。Henevervariesthetaleinthetelling,andgrowsveryhotandindignantwhenhethinksofthedisrespectfultreatmenthereceived。Hewrotethisquitestraightforwardlyatfirst,buthehassincetoucheditupinplacesandintroducedMoralReflections,thus:
Inthebeginningitallarosefromaslightattackoffever。MyworknecessitatedmybeingincampforsomemonthsbetweenPakpattanandMuharakpur-adesolatesandystretchofcountryaseveryonewhohashadthemisfortunetogotheremayknow。Mycoolieswereneithermorenorlessexasperatingthanothergangs,andmyworkdemandedsufficientattentiontokeepmefrommoping,hadIbeeninclinedtosounmanlyaweakness。
Onthe23dDecember,1884,Ifeltalittlefeverish。Therewasafullmoonatthetime,and,inconsequence,everydognearmytentwasbayingit。Thebrutesassembledintwosandthreesanddrovemefrantic。AfewdayspreviouslyIhadshotoneloud-mouthedsingerandsuspendedhiscarcassinterroremaboutfiftyyardsfrommytent-door。Buthisfriendsfellupon,foughtfor,andultimatelydevouredthebody;and,asitseemedtome,sangtheirhymnsofthanksgivingafterwardwithrenewedenergy。
Thelight-heartednesswhichaccompaniesfeveractsdifferentlyondifferentmen。Myirritationgaveway,afterashorttime,toafixeddeterminationtoslaughteronehugeblackandwhitebeastwhohadbeenforemostinsongandfirstinflightthroughouttheevening。ThankstoashakinghandandagiddyheadIhadalreadymissedhimtwicewithbothbarrelsofmyshot-gun,whenitstruckmethatmybestplanwouldbetoridehimdownintheopenandfinishhimoffwithahog-spear。This,ofcourse,wasmerelythesemi-deliriousnotionofafeverpatient;butIrememberthatitstruckmeatthetimeasbeingeminentlypracticalandfeasible。
IthereforeorderedmygroomtosaddlePornicandbringhimroundquietlytotherearofmytent。Whentheponywasready,I
stoodathisheadpreparedtomountanddashoutassoonasthedogshouldagainliftuphisvoice。Pornic,bytheway,hadnotbeenoutofhispicketsforacoupleofdays;thenightairwascrispandchilly;andIwasarmedwithaspeciallylongandsharppairofpersuaderswithwhichIhadbeenrousingasluggishcobthatafternoon。Youwilleasilybelieve,then,thatwhenhewasletgohewentquickly。Inonemoment,forthebruteboltedasstraightasadie,thetentwasleftfarbehind,andwewereflyingoverthesmoothsandysoilatracingspeed。
Inanotherwehadpassedthewretcheddog,andIhadalmostforgottenwhyitwasthatIhadtakenthehorseandhogspear。
Thedeliriumoffeverandtheexcitementofrapidmotionthroughtheairmusthavetakenawaytheremnantofmysenses。Ihaveafaintrecollectionofstandinguprightinmystirrups,andofbrandishingmyhog-spearatthegreatwhiteMoonthatlookeddownsocalmlyonmymadgallop;andofshout-logchallengestothecamel-thornbushesastheywhizzedpast。OnceortwiceI
believe,IswayedforwardonPornic’sneck,andliterallyhungonbymyspurs-asthemarksnextmorningshowed。
Thewretchedbeastwentforwardlikeathingpossessed,overwhatseemedtobealimitlessexpanseofmoonlitsand。Next,I
remember,thegroundrosesuddenlyinfrontofus,andaswetoppedtheascentIsawthewatersoftheSutlejshininglikeasilverbarbelow。ThenPornicblunderedheavilyonhisnose,andwerolledtogetherdownsomeunseenslope。
Imusthavelostconsciousness,forwhenIrecoveredIwaslyingonmystomachinaheapofsoftwhitesand,andthedawnwasbeginningtobreakdimlyovertheedgeoftheslopedownwhichI
hadfallen。AsthelightgrewstrongerIsawthatIwasatthebottomofahorse-shoeshapedcraterofsand,openingononesidedirectlyontotheshoalsoftheSutlej。Myfeverhadaltogetherleftme,and,withtheexceptionofaslightdizzinessinthehead,Ifeltnohadeffectsfromthefallovernight。
Pornic,whowasstandingafewyardsaway,wasnaturallyagooddealexhausted,buthadnothurthimselfintheleast。Hissaddle,afavoritepoloonewasmuchknockedabout,andhadbeentwistedunderhisbelly。Ittookmesometimetoputhimtorights,andinthemeantimeIhadampleopportunitiesofobservingthespotintowhichIhadsofoolishlydropped。
Attheriskofbeingconsideredtedious,Imustdescribeitatlength:inasmuchasanaccuratementalpictureofitspeculiaritieswillbeofmaterialassistanceinenablingthereadertounderstandwhatfollows。
Imaginethen,asIhavesaidbefore,ahorseshoe-shapedcraterofsandwithsteeplygradedsandwallsaboutthirty-fivefeethigh。
(Theslope,Ifancy,musthavebeenabout65degrees。)Thiscraterenclosedalevelpieceofgroundaboutfiftyyardslongbythirtyatitsbroadestpart,withacrudewellinthecentre。Roundthebottomofthecrater,aboutthreefeetfromthelevelofthegroundproper,ranaseriesofeighty-threesemi-circularovoid,square,andmultilateralholes,allaboutthreefeetatthemouth。Eachholeoninspectionshowedthatitwascarefullyshoredinternallywithdrift-woodandbamboos,andoverthemouthawoodendrip-boardprojected,likethepeakofajockey’scap,fortwofeet。Nosignoflifewasvisibleinthesetunnels,butamostsickeningstenchpervadedtheentireamphitheatre-astenchfoulerthananywhichmywanderingsinIndianvillageshaveintroducedmeto。
HavingremountedPornic,whowasasanxiousasItogetbacktocamp,Iroderoundthebaseofthehorseshoetofindsomeplacewhenceanexitwouldbepracticable。Theinhabitants,whoevertheymightbe,hadnotthoughtfittoputinanappearance,soIwaslefttomyowndevices。Myfirstattemptto\"rush\"Pornicupthesteepsand-banksshowedmethatIhadfallenintoatrapexactlyonthesamemodelasthatwhichtheant-lionsetsforitsprey。Ateachsteptheshiftingsandpoureddownfromaboveintons,andrattledonthedrip-boardsoftheholeslikesmallshot。Acoupleofineffectualchargessentusbothrollingdowntothebottom,halfchokedwiththetorrentsofsand;andIwasconstrainedtoturnmyattentiontotheriver-bank。
Hereeverythingseemedeasyenough。Thesandhillsrandowntotheriveredge,itistrue,buttherewereplentyofshoalsandshallowsacrosswhichIcouldgallopPornic,andfindmywaybacktoterrafirmabyturningsharplytotherightorleft。AsIledPornicoverthesandsIwasstartledbythefaintpopofarifleacrosstheriver;andatthesamemomentabulletdroppedwithasharp\"whit\"
closetoPornic’shead。
Therewasnomistakingthenatureofthemissile-aregulationMartini-Henry\"picket。\"Aboutfivehundredyardsawayacountry-boatwasanchoredinmidstream;andajetofsmokedriftingawayfromitsbowsinthestillmorningairshowedmewhencethedelicateattentionhadcome。Waseverarespectablegentlemaninsuchanimpasse?ThetreacheroussandslopeallowednoescapefromaspotwhichIhadvisitedmostinvoluntarily,andapromenadeontheriverfrontagewasthesignalforabombardmentfromsomeinsanenativeinaboat。I’mafraidthatIlostmytemperverymuchindeed。
AnotherbulletremindedmethatIhadbettersavemybreathtocoolmyporridge;andIretreatedhastilyupthesandsandbacktothehorseshoe,whereIsawthatthenoiseoftheriflehaddrawnsixty-fivehumanbeingsfromthebadger-holeswhichIhaduptillthatpointsupposedtobeuntenanted。Ifoundmyselfinthemidstofacrowdofspectators-aboutfortymen,twentywomen,andonechildwhocouldnothavebeenmorethanfiveyearsold。Theywereallscantilyclothedinthatsalmon-coloredclothwhichoneassociateswithHindumendicants,and,atfirstsight,gavemetheimpressionofabandofloathsomefakirs。Thefilthandrepulsivenessoftheassemblywerebeyondalldescription,andI
shudderedtothinkwhattheirlifeinthebadger-holesmustbe。
Eveninthesedays,whenlocalselfgovernmenthasdestroyedthegreaterpartofanative’srespectforaSahib,Ihavebeenaccustomedtoacertainamountofcivilityfrommyinferiors,andonapproachingthecrowdnaturallyexpectedthattherewouldbesomerecognitionofmypresence。Asamatteroffacttherewas;
butitwasbynomeanswhatIhadlookedfor。
Theraggedcrewactuallylaughedatme-suchlaughterIhopeImayneverhearagain。Theycackled,yelled,whistled,andhowledasIwalkedintotheirmidst;someofthemliterallythrowingthemselvesdownonthegroundinconvulsionsofunholymirth。InamomentIhadletgoPornic’shead,and。irritatedbeyondexpressionatthemorning’sadventure,commencedcuffingthosenearesttomewithalltheforceIcould。Thewretchesdroppedundermyblowslikenine-pins,andthelaughtergaveplacetowailsformercy;whilethoseyetuntouchedclaspedmeroundtheknees,imploringmeinallsortsofuncouthtonguestosparethem。
Inthetumult,andjustwhenIwasfeelingverymuchashamedofmyselfforhavingthuseasilygivenwaytomytemper,athin,highvoicemurmuredinEnglishfrombehindmyshoulder:-\"Sahib!
Sahib!Doyounotknowme?Sahib,itisGungaDass,thetelegraph-master。\"
Ispunroundquicklyandfacedthespeaker。
GungaDass,(Ihave,ofcourse,nohesitationinmentioningtheman’srealname)IhadknownfouryearsbeforeasaDeccaneeBrahminloanedbythePun-jabGovernmenttooneoftheKhalsiaStates。Hewasinchargeofabranchtelegraph-officethere,andwhenIhadlastmethimwasajovial,full-stomached,portlyGovernmentservantwithamarvelouscapacityformakinghadpunsinEnglish-apeculiaritywhichmademerememberhimlongafterIhadforgottenhisservicestomeinhisofficialcapacity。
ItisseldomthataHindumakesEnglishpuns。
Now,however,themanwaschangedbeyondallrecognition。
Caste-mark,stomach,slate-coloredcontinuations,andunctuousspeechwereallgone。Ilookedatawitheredskeleton,turban-lessandalmostnaked,withlongmattedhairanddeep-setcodfish-eyes。
Butforacrescent-shapedscarontheleftcheek-theresultofanaccidentforwhichIwasresponsibleIshouldneverhaveknownhim。ButitwasindubitablyGungaDass,and-forthisIwasthank-full-anEnglish-speakingnativewhomightatleasttellmethemeaningofallthatIhadgonethroughthatday。
ThecrowdretreatedtosomedistanceasIturnedtowardthemiserablefigure,andorderedhimtoshowmesomemethodofescapingfromthecrate?。Heheldafreshlypluckedcrowinhishand,andinreplytomyquestionclimbedslowlyonaplatformofsandwhichraninfrontoftheholes,andcommencedlightingafirethereinsilence。Driedbents,sand-poppies,anddriftwoodburnquickly;andIderivedmuchconsolationfromthefactthathelitthemwithanordinarysulphur-match。Whentheywereinabrightglow,andthecrowwasnearlyspittedinfrontthereof,GungaDassbeganwithoutawordofpreamble:
\"Thereareonlytwokindsofmen,Sar。Thealiveandthedead。
Whenyouaredeadyouaredead,butwhenyouarealiveyoulive。\"
(Herethecrowdemandedhisattentionforaninstantasittwirledbeforethefireindangerofbeingburnedtoacinder。)\"Ifyoudieathomeanddonotdiewhenyoucometotheghattobeburnedyoucomehere。\"
Thenatureofthereekingvillagewasmadeplainnow,andallthatIhadknownorreadofthegrotesqueandthehorriblepaledbeforethefactjustcommunicatedbytheex-Brabmin。Sixteenyearsago,whenIfirstlandedinBombay,IhadbeentoldbyawanderingArmenianoftheexistence,somewhereinIndia,ofaplacetowhichsuchHindusashadthemisfortunetorecoverfromtranceorcatalepsywereconveyedandkept,andIrecollectlaughingheartilyatwhatIwasthenpleasedtoconsideratraveler’stale。
Sittingatthebottomofthesand-trap,thememoryofWatson’sHotel,withitsswingingpunkahs,white-robedattendants,andthesallow-facedArmenian,roseupinmymindasvividlyasaphotograph,andIburstintoaloudfitoflaughter。Thecontrastwastooabsurd!
GungaDass,ashebentovertheuncleanbird,watchedmecuriously。Hindusseldomlaugh,andhissurroundingswerenotsuchastomoveGungaDasstoanyundueexcessofhilarity。Heremovedthecrowsolemnlyfromthewoodenspitandassolemnlydevouredit。Thenhecontinuedhisstory,whichIgiveinhisownwords:
\"Inepidemicsofthecholerayouarecarriedtobeburnedalmostbeforeyouaredead。Whenyoucometotheriversidethecoldair,perhaps,makesyoualive,andthen,ifyouareonlylittlealive,mudisputonyournoseandmouthandyoudieconclusively。Ifyouarerathermorealive,moremudisput;butifyouaretoolivelytheyletyougoandtakeyouaway。Iwastoolively,andmadeprotestationwithangeragainsttheindignitiesthattheyendeavoredtopressuponme。InthosedaysIwasBrahminandproudman。
NowIamdeadmanandeat\"-hereheeyedthewell-gnawedbreastbonewiththefirstsignofemotionthatIhadseeninhimsincewemet-\"crows,andotherthings。TheytookmefrommysheetswhentheysawthatIwastoolivelyandgavememedicinesforoneweek,andIsurvivedsuccessfully。ThentheysentmebyrailfrommyplacetoOkaraStation,withamantotakecareofme;andatOkaraStationwemettwoothermen,andtheyconductedwethreeoncamels,inthenight,fromOkaraStationtothisplace,andtheypropelledmefromthetoptothebottom,andtheothertwosucceeded,andIhavebeenhereeversincetwoandahalfyears。
OnceIwasBrahminandproudman,andnowIeatcrows。\"
\"Thereisnowayofgettingout?\"
\"Noneofwhatkindatall。WhenIfirstcameImadeexperimentsfrequentlyandalltheothersalso,butwehavealwayssuccumbedtothesandwhichisprecipitateduponourheads。\"
\"Butsurely,\"Ibrokeinatthispoint,\"theriver-frontisopen,anditisworthwhiledodgingthebullets;whileatnight\"-IhadalreadymaturedaroughplanofescapewhichanaturalinstinctofselfishnessforbademesharingwithGungaDass。He,however,divinedmyunspokenthoughtalmostassoonasitwasformed;
and,tomyintenseastonishment,gaveventtoalonglowchuckleofderision-thelaughter,beitUnderstood,ofasuperiororatleastofanequal。
’~Youwillnot\"-hehaddroppedtheSircompletelyafterhisopeningsentence-\"makeanyescapethatway。Butyoucantry。I
havetried。Onceonly。\"
ThesensationofnamelessterrorandabjectfearwhichIhadinvainattemptedtostriveagainstovermasteredmecompletely。Mylongfast-itwasnowcloseuponteno’clock,andIhadeatennothingsincetiffinonthepreviousday-combinedwiththeviolentandunnaturalagitationoftheridehadexhaustedme,andIverilybelievethat,forafewminutes,Iactedasonemad。Ihurledmyselfagainstthepitilesssand-slopeIranroundthebaseofthecrater,blasphemingandprayingbyturns。Icrawledoutamongthesedgesoftheriver-front,onlytobedrivenbackeachtimeinanagonyofnervousdreadbytherifle-bulletswhichcutupthesandroundme-forIdarednotfacethedeathofamaddogamongthathideouscrowd-andfinallyfell,spentandraving,atthecurbofthewell。NoonebadtakentheslightestnotionofanexhibitionwhichmakesmeblushhotlyevenwhenIthinkofitnow。
Twoorthreementrodonmypantingbodyastheydrewwater,buttheywereevidentlyusedtothissortofthing,andhadnotimetowasteuponme。Thesituationwashumiliating。GungaDass,indeed,whenhehadbankedtheembersofhisfirewithsand,wasatsomepainstothrowhalfacupfuloffetidwaterovermyhead,anattentionforwhichIcouldhavefallenonmykneesandthankedhim,buthewaslaughingallthewhileinthesamemirthless,wheezykeythatgreetedmeonmyfirstattempttoforcetheshoals。Andso,inasemi-comatosecondition,Ilaytillnoon。
Then,beingonlyamanafterall,Ifelthungry,andintimatedasmuchtoGungaDass,whomIhadbeguntoregardasmynaturalprotector。Followingtheimpulseoftheouterworldwhendealingwithnatives,Iputmyhandintomypocketanddrewoutfourannas。Theabsurdityofthegiftstruckmeatonce,andIwasabouttoreplacethemoney。
GungaDass,however,wasofadifferentopinion。\"Givemethemoney,\"saidhe;’~allyouhave,orIwillgethelp,andwewillkillyou!\"Allthisasifitwerethemostnaturalthingintheworld!
ABriton’sfirstimpulse,Ibelieve,istoguardthecontentsofhispockets;butamoment’sreflectionconvincedmeofthefutilityofdifferingwiththeonemanwhohaditinhispowertomakemecomfortable;andwithwhosehelpitwaspossiblethatImighteventuallyescapefromthecrater。Igavehimallthemoneyinmypossession,Rs。9-8-5-ninerupeeseightannasandfivepie-forI
alwayskeepsmallchangeasbakshishwhenIamincamp。GungaDassclutchedthecoins,andhidthematonceinhisraggedloincloth,hisexpressionchangingtosomethingdiabolicalashelookedroundtoassurehimselfthatnoonehadobservedus。
\"NowIwillgiveyousomethingtoeat,\"saidhe。
WhatpleasurethepossessionofmymoneycouldhaveaffordedhimIamunabletosay;butinasmuchasitdidgivehimevidentdelightIwasnotsorrythatIhadpartedwithitsoreadily,forIhadnodoubtthathewouldhavehadmekilledifIhadrefused。Onedoesnotprotestagainstthevagariesofadenofwildbeasts;andmycompanionswerelowerthananybeasts。WhileIdevouredwhatGungaDasshadprovided,acoarsechapattiandacupfulofthefoulwell-water,thepeopleshowednotthefaintestsignofcuriosity-thatcuriositywhichissorampant,asarule,inanIndianvillage。
Icouldevenfancythattheydespisedme。Atalleventstheytreatedmewiththemostchillingindifference,andGungaDasswasnearlyasbad。Ipliedhimwithquestionsabouttheterriblevillage,andreceivedextremelyunsatisfactoryanswers。SofarasIcouldgather,ithadbeeninexistencefromtimeimmemorial-whenceI
concludedthatitwasatleastacenturyold-andduringthattimenoonehadeverbeenknowntiescapefromit。[Ihadtocontrolmyselfherewithbothhands,lesttheblindterrorshouldlayholdofmeasecondtimeanddrivemeravingroundthecrater。]GungaDasstookamaliciouspleasureinemphasizingthispointandinwatchingmewince。NothingthatIcoulddowouldinducehimtotellmewhothemysterious\"They\"were。
\"Itissoordered,\"hewouldreply,\"andIdonotyetknowanyonewhohasdisobeyedtheorders。\"
\"OnlywaittillmyservantsfindthatIammissing,\"Iretorted,\"andIpromiseyouthatthisplaceshallbeclearedoffthefaceoftheearth,andI’llgiveyoualessonincivility,too,myfriend。\"
\"Yourservantswouldbetorninpiecesbeforetheycamenearthisplace;and,besides,youaredead,mydearfriend。Itisnotyourfault,ofcourse,butnonethelessyouaredeadandburied。\"
Atirregularintervalssuppliesoffood,Iwastold,weredroppeddownfromthelandsideintotheamphitheatre,andtheinhabitantsfoughtforthemlikewildbeasts。Whenamanfelthisdeathcomingonheretreatedtohislairanddiedthere。Thebodywassometimesdraggedoutoftheholeandthrownontothesand,orallowedtorotwhereitlayThephrase\"thrownontothesand\"caughtmyattention,andI
askedGungaDasswhetherthissortofthingwasnotlikelytobreedapestilence。
\"That。\"saidhe。withanotherofhiswheezychuckles,\"youmayseeforyourselfsubsequently。Youwillhavemuchtimetomakeobservations。\"
Whereat,tohisgreatdelight,Iwincedoncemoreandhastilycontinuedtheconversation:-\"Andhowdoyouliveherefromdaytoday?Whatdoyoudo?\"Thequestionelicitedexactlythesameanswerasbeforecoupledwiththeinformationthat\"thisplaceislikeyourEuropeanheaven;thereisneithermarryingnorgivinginmarriage。\"
GungaDasshadbeeneducatedataMissionSchool,and,ashehimselfadmitted,hadheonlychangedhisreligion’~likeawiseman,\"mighthaveavoidedthelivinggravewhichwasnowhisportion。ButaslongasIwaswithhimIfancyhewashappy。
HerewasaSahib,arepresentativeofthedominantrace,helplessasachildandcompletelyatthemercyofhisnativeneighbors。Inadeliberatelazywayhesethimselftotorturemeasaschoolboywoulddevotearapturoushalf-hourtowatchingtheagoniesofanimpaledbeetle,orasaferretinablindburrowmightgluehimselfcomfortablytotheneckofarabbit。Theburdenofhisconversationwasthattherewasnoescape’ofnokindwhatever,\"
andthatIshouldstayheretillIdiedandwas\"thrownontothesand。\"IfitwerepossibletoforejudgetheconversationoftheDamnedontheadventofanewsoulintheirabode,IshouldsaythattheywouldspeakasGungaDassdidtomethroughoutthatlongafternoon。Iwaspowerlesstoprotestoranswer;allmyenergiesbeingdevotedtoastruggleagainsttheinexplicableterrorthatthreatenedtooverwhelmmeagainandagain。IcancomparethefeelingtonothingexceptthestrugglesofamanagainsttheoverpoweringnauseaoftheChannelpassage-onlymyagonywasofthespiritandinfinitelymoreterrible。
Asthedayworeon,theinhabitantsbegantoappearinfullstrengthtocatchtheraysoftheafternoonsun,whichwerenowslopinginatthemouthofthecrater。Theyassembledinlittleknots,andtalkedamongthemselveswithouteventhrowingaglanceinmydirection。Aboutfouro’clock,asfarasIcouldjudgeGungaDassroseanddivedintohislairforamoment,emergingwithalivecrowinhishands。Thewretchedbirdwasinamostdraggledanddeplorablecondition,butseemedtobeinnowayafraidofitsmaster,Advancingcautiouslytotheriverfront,GungaDasssteppedfromtussocktotussockuntilhehadreachedasmoothpatchofsanddirectlyinthelineoftheboat’sfire。Theoccupantsoftheboattooknonotice。Herehestopped,and,withacoupleofdexterousturnsofthewrist,peggedthebirdonitsbackwithoutstretchedwings。Aswasonlynatural,thecrowbegantoshriekatonceandbeattheairwithitsclaws。Inafewsecondstheclamorhadattractedtheattentionofabevyofwildcrowsonashoalafewhundredyardsaway,wheretheywerediscussingsomethingthatlookedlikeacorpse。Halfadozencrowsflewoveratoncetoseewhatwasgoingon,andalso,asitproved,toattackthepinionedbird。GungaDass,whohadlaindownonatussock,motionedtometobequiet,thoughIfancythiswasUneedlessprecaution。Inamoment,andbeforeIcouldseehowithappened,awildcrow,whohadgrappledwiththeshriekingandhelplessbird,wasentangledinthelatter’sclaws,swiftlydisengagedbyGungaDass,andpeggeddownbesideitscompanioninadversity。Curiosity,itseemed,overpoweredtherestoftheflock,andalmostbeforeGungaDassandIhadtimetowithdrawtothetussock,twomorecaptiveswerestrugglingintheupturnedclawsofthedecoys。Sothechase-ifI
cangiveitsodignifiedaname-continueduntilGungaDasshadcapturedsevencrows。Fiveofthemhethrottledatonce,reservingtwoforfurtheroperationsanotherday。Iwasagooddealimpressedbythis,tome,novelmethodofsecuringfood,andcomplimentedGungaDassonhisskill。
\"Itisnothingtodo,\"saidhe。\"Tomorrowyoumustdoitforme。
YouarestrongerthanIam。\"
ThiscalmassumptionofsuperiorityUpsetmenotalittle,andI
answeredperemptorily;~\"Indeed,youoldruffian!WhatdoyouthinkIhavegivenyoumoneyfor?\"
\"Verywell,\"wastheunmovedreply。\"Perhapsnotto-morrow,northedayafter,norsubsequently;butintheend,andformanyyears,youwillcatchcrowsandeatcrows,andyouwillthankyourEuropeanGodthatyouhavecrowstocatchandeat。\"
Icouldhavecheerfullystrangledhimforthis;butjudgeditbestunderthecircumstancestosmothermyresentment。AnhourlaterIwaseatingoneofthecrows;and,asGungaDasshadsaid,thankingmyGodthatIhadacrowtoeat。NeveraslongasIliveshallIforgetthateveningmeal。Thewholepopulationweresquattingonthehardsandplatformoppositetheirdens,huddledovertinyfiresofrefuseanddriedrushes。Death,havingoncelaidhishanduponthesemenandforbornetostrike,seemedtostandalooffromthemnow;formostofourcompanywereoldmen,bentandwornandtwistedwithyears,andwomenagedtoallappearanceastheFatesthemselves。Theysattogetherinknotsandtalked-Godonlyknowswhattheyfoundtodiscuss-inlowequabletones,curiouslyincontrasttothestridentbabblewithwhichnativesareaccustomedtomakedayhideous。Nowandthenanaccessofthatsuddenfurywhichhadpossessedmeinthemorningwouldlayholdonamanorwoman;andwithyellsandimprecationsthesuffererwouldattackthesteepslopeuntil,baffledandbleeding,hefellbackontheplatformincapableofmovingalimb。Theotherswouldneverevenraisetheireyeswhenthishappened,asmentoowellawareofthefutilityoftheirfellows’attemptsandweariedwiththeiruselessrepetition。Isawfoursuchoutburstsinthecourseoftheevening。
GungaDasstookaneminentlybusiness-likeviewofmysituation,andwhileweweredining-Icanaffordtolaughattherecollectionnow,butitwaspainfulenoughatthetime-
propoundedthetermsonwhichhewouldconsentto\"do\"forme。
Myninerupeeseightannas,heargued,attherateofthreeannasaday,wouldprovidemewithfoodforfifty-onedays,oraboutsevenweeks;thatistosay,hewouldbewillingtocaterformeforthatlengthoftime。AttheendofitIwastolookaftermyself。Forafurtherconsideration-videlicetmyboots-hewouldbewillingtoallowmetooccupythedennexttohisown,andwouldsupplymewithasmuchdriedgrassforbeddingashecouldspare。
\"Verywell,GungaDass,\"Ireplied;\"tothefirsttermsIcheerfullyagree,but,asthereisnothingonearthtopreventmykillingyouasyousithereandtakingeverythingthatyouhave\"(Ithoughtofthetwoinvaluablecrowsatthetime),\"IflatlyrefusetogiveyoumybootsandshalltakewhicheverdenIplease。\"
Thestrokewasaboldone,andIwasgladwhenIsawthatithadsucceeded。GungaDasschangedhistoneimmediately,anddisavowedallintentionofaskingformyboots。AtthetimeitdidnotstrikemeasatallstrangethatI,aCivilEngineer,amanofthirteenyears’standingintheService,and,Itrust,anaverageEnglishman,shouldthuscalmlythreatenmurderandviolenceagainstthemanwhohad,foraconsiderationitistrue,takenmeunderhiswing。Ihadlefttheworld,itseemed,forcenturies。IwasascertainthenasIamnowofmyownexistence,thatintheaccursedsettlementtherewasnolawsavethatofthestrongest;
thatthelivingdeadmenhadthrownbehindthemeverycanonoftheworldwhichhadcastthemout;andthatIhadtodependformyownlifeonmystrengthandvigilancealone。Thecrewoftheill-fatedMignonettearetheonlymenwhowouldunderstandmyframeofmind。\"Atpresent,\"Iarguedtomyself,\"Iamstrongandamatchforsixofthesewretches。ItisimperativelynecessarythatIshould,formyownsake,keepbothhealthandstrengthuntilthehourofmyreleasecomes-ifiteverdoes。\"
Fortifiedwiththeseresolutions,IateanddrankasmuchasIcould,andmadeGungaDassunderstandthatIintendedtobehismaster,andthattheleastsignofinsubordinationonhispartwouldbevisitedwiththeonlypunishmentIhaditinmypowertoinflict-suddenandviolentdeath。ShortlyafterthisIwenttobed。
Thatistosay,GungaDassgavemeadoublearmfulofdriedbentswhichIthrustdownthemouthofthelairtotherightofhis,andfollowedmyself,feetforemost;theholerunningaboutninefeetintothesandwithaslightdownwardinclination,andbeingneatlyshoredwithtimbers。Frommyden,whichfacedtheriver-front,I
wasabletowatchthewatersoftheSutlejflowingpastunderthelightofayoungmoonandcomposemyselftosleepasbestI
might。
ThehorrorsofthatnightIshallneverforget。Mydenwasnearlyasnarrowasacoffin,andthesideshadbeenwornsmoothandgreasybythecontactofinnumerablenakedbodies,addedtowhichitsmelledabominably。Sleepwasaltogetheroutofquestiontooneinmyexcitedframeofmind。Asthenightworeon,itseemedthattheentireamphitheatrewasfilledwithlegionsofuncleandevilsthat,troopingupfromtheshoalsbelow,mockedtheunfortunatesintheirlairs。
PersonallyIamnotofanimaginativetemperament,-veryfewEngineersare,-butonthatoccasionIwasascompletelyprostratedwithnervousterrorasanywoman。Afterhalfanhourorso,however,Iwasableoncemoretocalmlyreviewmychancesofescape。Anyexitbythesteepsandwallswas,ofcourse,impracticable。Ihadbeenthoroughlyconvincedofthissometimebefore。Itwaspossible,justpossible,thatImight,intheuncertainmoonlight,safelyrunthegauntletoftherifleshots。TheplacewassofullofterrorformethatIwaspreparedtoundergoanyriskinleavingit。Imaginemydelight,then,whenaftercreepingstealthilytotheriver-frontIfoundthattheinfernalboatwasnotthere。Myfreedomlaybeforemeinthenextfewsteps!
Bywalkingouttothefirstshallowpoolthatlayatthefootoftheprojectinglefthornofthehorseshoe,Icouldwadeacross,turntheflankofthecrater,andmakemywayinland。Withoutamoment’shesitationImarchedbrisklypastthetussockswhereGungaDasshadsnaredthecrows,andoutinthedirectionofthesmoothwhitesandbeyond。Myfirststepfromthetuftsofdriedgrassshowedmehowutterlyfutilewasanyhopeofescape;for,asIputmyfootdown,Ifeltanindescribabledrawing,suckingmotionofthesandbelow。Anothermomentandmylegwasswallowedupnearlytotheknee。Inthemoonlightthewholesurfaceofthesandseemedtobeshakenwithdevilishdelightatmydisappointment。Istruggledclear,sweatingwithterrorandexertion,backtothetussocksbehindmeandfellonmyface。
Myonlymeansofescapefromthesemicirclewasprotectedwithaquicksand!
HowlongIlayIhavenotthefaintestidea;butIwasrousedatlastbythemalevolentchuckleofGungaDassatmyear\"Iwouldadviseyou,ProtectorofthePoor\"(theruffianwasspeakingEnglish)\"toreturntoyourhouse。Itisunhealthytoliedownhere。
Moreover,whentheboatreturns,youwillmostcertainlyberifledat。\"Hestoodovermeinthedimlightofthedawn,chucklingandlaughingtohimself。Suppressingmyfirstimpulsetocatchthemanbytheneckandthrowhimontothequicksand,Irosesullenlyandfollowedhimtotheplatformbelowtheburrows。
Suddenly,andfutilleyasIthoughtwhileIspoke,Iasked-\"GungaDass,whatisthegoodoftheboatifIcan’tgetoutanyhow?\"I
recollectthateveninmydeepesttroubleIhadbeenspeculatingvaguelyonthewasteofam-munitioninguardinganalreadywellprotectedforeshore。
GungaDasslaughedagainandmadeanswer:-\"Theyhavetheboatonlyir,daytime。Itisforthereasonthatthereisaway。Ihopeweshallhavethepleasureofyourcompanyformuchlongertime。Itisapleasantspotwhenyouhavebeenheresomeyearsandeatenroastcrowlongenough。\"
Istaggered,numbedandhelpless,towardthefetidburrowallottedtome,andfellasleep。AnhourorsolaterIwasawakenedbyapiercingscream-theshrill,high-pitchedscreamofahorseinpain。
Thosewhohaveonceheardthatwillneverforgetthesound。I
foundsomelittledifficultyinscramblingoutoftheburrow。WhenIwasintheopen,IsawPornic,mypooroldPornic,lyingdeadonthesandysoil。HowtheyhadkilledhimIcannotguess。GungaDassexplainedthathorsewasbetterthancrow,and\"greatestgoodofgreatestnumberispoliticalmaxim。WearenowRepublic,MisterJukes,andyouareentitledtoafairshareofthebeast。Ifyoulike,wewillpassavoteofthanks。ShallIpropose?\"
Yes,wewereaRepublicindeed!ARepublicofwildbeastspennedatthebottomofapit,toeatandfightandsleeptillwedied。Iattemptednoprotestofanykind,butsatdownandstaredatthehideoussightinfrontofme。Inlesstimealmostthanittakesmetowritethis,Pornic’sbodywasdivided,insomeunclearwayorother;themenandwomenhaddraggedthefragmentsontotheplatformandwerepreparingtheirnormalmeal。GungaDasscookedmine。ThealmostirresistibleimpulsetoflyatthesandwallsuntilIwasweariedlaidholdofmeafresh,andIhadtostruggleagainstitwithallmymight。GungaDasswasoffensivelyjoculartillItoldhimthatifheaddressedanotherremarkofanykindwhatevertomeIshouldstranglehimwherehesat。Thissilencedhimtillsilencebecameinsupportable,andIbadehimsaysomething。
\"YouwillliveheretillyoudieliketheotherFeringhi,\"hesaid,coolly,watchingmeoverthefragmentofgristlethathewasgnawing。
\"WhatotherSahib,youswine?Speakatonce,anddon’tstoptotellmealie。\"
\"Heisoverthere,\"answeredGungaDass,pointingtoaburrow-mouthaboutfourdoorstatheleftofmyown。\"Youcanseeforyourself。Hediedintheburrowasyouwilldie,andIwilldie,andasallthesemenandwomenandtheonechildwillalsodie。\"
\"Forpity’ssaketellmeallyouknowabouthim。Whowashe?
Whendidhecome,andwhendidhedie?\"
Thisappealwasaweaksteponmypart。GungaDassonlyleeredandreplied:-\"Iwillnot-unlessyougivemesomethingfirst。\"
ThenIrecollectedwhereIwas,andstruckthemanbetweentheeyes,partiallystunninghim。Hesteppeddownfromtheplatformatonce,and,cringingandfawningandweepingandattemptingtoembracemyfeet,ledmeroundtotheburrowwhichhehadindicated。
\"Iknownothingwhateveraboutthegentleman。YourGodbemywitnessthatIdonot。Hewasasanxioustoescapeasyouwere,andhewasshotfromtheboat,thoughwealldidallthingstepreventhimfromattempting。Hewasshothere。\"GungaDasslaidhishandonhisleanstomachandbowedtotheearth。
\"Well,andwhatthen?Goon!\"
\"Andthen-andthen,YourHonor,wecarriedhimintohishouseandgavehimwater,andputwetclothsonthewound,andhelaiddowninhishouseandgaveuptheghost。\"
\"Inhowlong?Inhowlong?\"
\"Abouthalfanhour,afterhereceivedhiswound。IcallVishnutowitness,\"yelledthewretchedman,\"thatIdideverythingforhim。
Everythingwhichwaspossible,thatIdid!\"
Hethrewhimselfdownonthegroundandclaspedmyankles。ButIhadmydoubtsaboutGungaDass’sbenevolence,andkickedhimoffashelayprotesting。
\"Ibelieveyourobbedhimofeverythinghehad。ButIcanfindoutinaminuteortwo。HowlongwastheSahibhe’~?\"
\"Nearlyayearandahalf。Ithinkhemusthavegonemad。ButhearmeswearProtectorofthePoor!Won’tYourHonorhearmeswearthatInevertouchedanarticlethatbelongedtohim?WhatisYourWorshipgoingtodo?\"
IhadtakenGungaDassbythewaistandhadhauledhimontotheplatformoppositethedesertedburrow。AsIdidsoIthoughtofmywretchedfellow-prisoner’sunspeakablemiseryamongallthesehorrorsforeighteenmonths,andthefinalagonyofdyinglikearatinahole,withabullet-woundinthestomach。GungaDassfanciedIwasgoingtokillhimandhowledpitifully。Therestofthepopulation,intheplethorathatfollowsafullfleshmeal,watcheduswithoutstirring。
\"Goinside,GungaDass,\"saidI,\"andfetchitout。\"
Iwasfeelingsickandfaintwithhorrornow。GungaDassnearlyrolledofftheplatformandhowledaloud。
\"ButIamBrahmin,Sahib-ahigh-casteBrahmin。Byyoursoul,byyourfather’ssoul,donotmakemedothisthing!\"
\"BrahminornoBrahmin,bymysoulandmyfather’ssoul,inyougo!\"Isaid,and,seizinghimbytheshoulders,Icrammedhisheadintothemouthoftheburrow,kickedtherestofhimin,and,sittingdown,coveredmyfacewithmyhands。
AttheendofafewminutesIheardarustleandacreak;thenGungaDassinasobbing,chokingwhisperspeakingtohimself;
thenasoftthud-andIuncoveredmyeyes。
Thedrysandhadturnedthecorpseentrustedtoitskeepingintoayellow-brownmummy。ItoldGungaDasstostandoffwhileI
examinedit。
Thebody-cladinanolive-greenhunting-suitmuchstainedandworn,withleatherpadsontheshoulders-wasthatofamanbetweenthirtyandforty,abovemiddleheight,withlight,sandyhair,longmustache,andaroughunkemptbeard。Theleftcanineoftheupperjawwasmissing,andaportionofthelobeoftherightearwasgone。Onthesecondfingerofthelefthandwasaring-ashield-shapedbloodstonesetingold,withamonogramthatmighthavebeeneither\"B。K。\"or\"B。L。\"Onthethirdfingeroftherighthandwasasilverringintheshapeofacoiledcobra,muchwornandtarnished。GungaDassdepositedahandfuloftrifleshehadpickedoutoftheburrowatmyfeet,and,coveringthefaceofthebodywithmyhandkerchief,Iturnedtoexaminethese。Igivethefulllistinthehopethatitmayleadtotheidentificationoftheunfortunateman:
1。Bowlofabriarwoodpipe,serratedattheedge;muchwornandblackened;boundwithstringatthecrew。
2。Twopatent-leverkeys;wardsofbothbroken。
3。Tortoise-shell-handledpenknife,silverornickel。name-plate,markedwithmonogram\"B。K。\"
4。Envelope,postmarkUndecipherable,bearingaVictorianstamp,addressedto\"MissMon-\"(restillegible)-\"ham\"-\"nt。\"
5。Imitationcrocodile-skinnotebookwithpencil。Firstforty-fivepagesblank;fourandahalfillegible;fifteenothersfilledwithprivatememorandarelatingchieflytothreepersons-aMrs。L。
Singleton,abbreviatedseveraltimesto\"LotSingle,\"\"Mrs。S。
May,\"and\"Garmison,\"referredtoinplacesas\"Jerry\"or\"Jack。\"
6。Handleofsmall-sizedhunting-knife。Bladesnappedshort。
Buck’shorn,diamondcut,withswivelandringonthebutt;
fragmentofcottoncordattached。
ItmustnotbesupposedthatIinventoriedallthesethingsonthespotasfullyasIhaveherewrittenthemdown。Thenotebookfirstattractedmyattention,andIputitinmypocketwithaviewofstudyingitlateron。
TherestofthearticlesIconveyedtomyburrowforsafety’ssake,andtherebeingamethodicalman,Iinventoriedthem。IthenreturnedtothecorpseandorderedGungaDasstohelpmetocarryitouttotheriver-front。Whilewewereengagedinthis,theexplodedshellofanoldbrowncartridgedroppedoutofoneofthepocketsandrolledatmyfeet。GungaDasshadnotseenit;andI
felltothinkingthatamandoesnotcarryexplodedcartridge-cases,especially\"browns,\"whichwillnotbearloadingtwice,aboutwithhimwhenshooting。Inotherwords,thatcartridge-casehadbeenfiredinsidethecrater。Consequentlytheremustbeagunsomewhere。IwasonthevergeofaskingGungaDass,butcheckedmyself,knowingthathewouldlie。Welaidthebodydownontheedgeofthequicksandbythetussocks。Itwasmyintentiontopushitoutandletitbeswallowedup-theonlypossiblemodeofburialthatIcouldthinkof。IorderedGungaDasstogoaway。
ThenIgingerlyputthecorpse。outonthequicksand。Indoingso。
itwaslyingfacedownward,Itorethefrailandrottenkhakishooting-coatopen,disclosingahideouscavityintheback。Ihavealreadytoldyouthatthedrysandhad,asitwere,mummifiedthebody。Amoment’sglanceshowedthatthegapingholehadbeencausedbyagun-shotwound;thegunmusthavebeenfiredwiththemuzzlealmosttouchingtheback。Theshooting-coat,beingintact,hadbeendrawnoverthebodyafterdeath,whichmusthavebeeninstantaneous。Thesecretofthepoorwretch’sdeathwasplaintomeinaflash。Someoneofthecrater,presumablyGungaDass,musthaveshothimwithhisowngun——thegunthatfittedthebrowncartridges。Hehadneverattemptedtoescapeinthefaceoftherifle-firefromtheboat。
Ipushedthecorpseouthastily,andsawitsinkfromsightliterallyinafewseconds。IshudderedasIwatched。Inadazed,half-consciouswayIturnedtoperusethenotebook。Astainedanddiscoloredslipofpaperbadbeeninsertedbetweenthebindingandtheback,anddroppedoutasIopenedthepages。Thisiswhatitcontained:-\"Fouroutfromcrow-clump:threeleft;nineout;tworight;threeback;twoleft;fourteenout;twoleft;sevenout;oneleft;nineback;tworight;sixback;fourright;sevenback。\"Thepaperhadbeenburnedandcharredattheedges。WhatitmeantI
couldnotunderstand。Isatdownonthedriedbentsturningitoverandoverbetweenmyfingers,untilIwasawareofGungaDassstandingimmediatelybehindmewithglowingeyesandoutstretchedhands。
\"Haveyougotit?\"hepanted。\"Willyounotletmelankatitalso?IswearthatIwillreturnit。\"
\"Gotwhat?Returnwhat?\"asked。
\"Thatwhichyouhaveinyourhands。Itwillhelpusboth。\"Hestretchedouthislong,bird-liketalons,tremblingwitheagerness。
\"Icouldneverfindit,\"hecontinued。\"Hehadsecreteditabouthisperson。ThereforeIshothim,butneverthelessIwasunabletoobtainit。\"
GungaDasshadquiteforgottenhislittlefictionabouttherifle-bullet。Ireceivedtheinformationperfectlycalmly。
MoralityisbluntedbyconsortingwiththeDeadwhoarealive。
\"Whatonearthareyouravingabout?Whatisityouwantmetogiveyou?\"
\"Thepieceofpaperinthenotebook。Itwillhelpusboth。Oh,youfool!Youfool!Canyounotseewhatitwilldoforus?Weshallescape!\"
Hisvoicerosealmosttoascream,andhedancedwithexcitementbeforeme。IownIwasmovedatthechanceofmygettingaway。
\"Don’tskip!Explainyourself。Doyoumeantosaythatthisslipofpaperwillhelpus?Whatdoesitmean?\"
\"Readitaloud!Readitaloud!IbegandIprayyoutoreaditaloud。\"
Ididso。GungaDasslisteneddelightedly,anddrewanirregularlineinthesandwithhisfingers。
\"Seenow!Itwasthelengthofhisgun-barrelswithoutthestock。I
havethosebarrels。Fourgun-barrelsoutfromtheplacewhereI
caughtcrowsStraightout;doyoufollowme?Thenthreeleft-Ah!
howwellIrememberwhenthatmanworkeditoutnightafternightThennineout,andsoon。Outisalwaysstraightbeforeyouacrossthequicksand。HetoldmesobeforeIkilledhim。\"
’~Butifyouknewallthiswhydidn’tyougetoutbefore?\"
\"Ididnotknowit。Hetoldmethathewasworkingitoutayearandahalfago,andhowhewasworkingitoutnightafternightwhentheboatbadgoneaway,andhecouldgetoutnear~bequicksandsafely。Thenhesaidthatwewouldgetawaytogether。
ButIwasafraidthathewouldleavemebehindonenightwhenhehadworkeditallout,andsoIshothim。Besides,itisnotadvisablethatthemenwhooncegetinhereshouldescape。OnlyI,andIamaBrahmin。\"
TheprospectofescapehadbroughtGungaDass’scastebacktohim。Hestoodup,walkedaboutandgesticulatedviolently。
EventuallyImanagedtomakehimtalksoberly,andhetoldmehowthisEnglishmanhadspentsixmonthsnightafternightinexploring,inchbyinch,thepassageacrossthequicksand;howhehaddeclaredittobesimplicityitselfuptowithinabouttwentyyardsoftheriverbankafterturningtheflankofthelefthornofthehorseshoe。ThismuchhehadevidentlynotcompletedwhenGungaDassshothimwithhisowngun。
InmyfrenzyofdelightatthepossibilitiesofescapeIrecollectshakinghandseffusivelywithGungaDass,afterwehaddecidedthatweweretomakeanattempttogetawaythatverynight。Itwaswearyworkwaitingthroughouttheafternoon。
Aboutteno’clock,asfarasIcouldjudge,whentheMoonhadjustrisenabovethelipofthecrater,GungaDassmadeamoveforhisburrowtobringoutthegun-barrelswherebytomeasureourpath。
Alltheotherwretchedinhabitantshadretiredtotheirlairslongago。Theguardianboatdrifteddownstreamsomehoursbefore,andwewereutterlyalonebythecrow-clump。GungaDass,whilecarryingthegun-barrels,letslipthepieceofpaperwhichwastobeourguide。Istoopeddownhastilytorecoverit,and,asIdidso,I
wasawarethatthediabolicalBrahminwasaimingaviolentblowatthebackofmyheadwiththegun-barrels。Itwastoolatetoturnround。Imusthavereceivedtheblowsomewhereonthenapeofmyneck。Ahundredthousandfierystarsdancedbeforemyeyes,andIfellforwardssenselessattheedgeof,thequicksand。
WhenIrecoveredconsciousness,theMoonwasgoingdown,andI
wassensibleofintolerablepaininthebackofmyhead。GungaDasshaddisappearedandmymouthwasfullofblood。IlaydownagainandprayedthatImightdiewithoutmoreado。ThentheunreasoningfurywhichIhadbeforementioned,laidholduponme,andIstaggeredinlandtowardthewallsofthecrater。Itseemedthatsomeonewascallingtomeinawhisper-\"Sahib!
Sahib!Sahib!\"exactlyasmybearerusedtocallmeinthemorningIfanciedthatIwasdeliriousuntilahandfulofsandfellatmyfeet。
ThenIlookedupandsawaheadpeeringdownintotheamphitheatre-theheadofDunnoo,mydog-boy,whoattendedtomycollies。Assoonashehadattractedmyattention,hehelduphishandandshowedarope。Imotioned。staggeringtoandfroforthewhile,thatheshouldthrowitdown。Itwasacoupleofleatherpunkah-ropesknottedtogether,withaloopatoneend。Islippedtheloopovermyheadandundermyarms;heardDunnoourgesomethingforward;wasconsciousthatIwasbeingdragged,facedownward,upthesteepsandslope,andthenextinstantfoundmyselfchokedandhalffaintingonthesandhillsoverlookingthecrater。Dunnoo,withhisfaceashygreyinthemoonlight,imploredmenottostaybuttogetbacktomytentatonce。
ItseemsthathehadtrackedPornic’sfootprintsfourteenmilesacrossthesandstothecrater;hadreturnedandtoldmyservants,whoflatlyrefusedtomeddlewithanyone,whiteorblack,oncefallenintothehideousVillageoftheDead;whereuponDunnoohadtakenoneofmyponiesandacoupleofpunkah-ropes,returnedtothecrater,andhauledmeoutasIhavedescribed。
Tocutalongstoryshort,Dunnooisnowmypersonalservantonagoldmohuramonth-asumwhichIstillthinkfartoolittlefortheserviceshehasrendered。Nothingonearthwillinducemetogonearthatdevilishsnotagain,ortorevealitswhereaboutsmoreclearlythanIhavedone。OfGungaDassIhaveneverfoundatrace,nordoIwishtodo。Mysolemotiveingivingthistobepublishedisthehopethatsomeonemaypossiblyidentify,fromthedetailsandtheinventorywhichIhavegivenabove,thecorpseofthemanintheolive-greenhunting-suit。
THEMANWHOWOULDBEKING
BrothertoaPrinceandfellowtoabeggarifhebefoundworthyTheLaw,asquoted,laysdownafairconductoflife,andonenoteasytofollow。Ihavebeenfellowtoabeggaragainandagainundercircumstanceswhichpreventedeitherofusfindingoutwhethertheotherwasworthy。IhavestilltobebrothertoaPrince,thoughIoncecameneartokinshipwithwhatmighthavebeenaveritableKing,andwaspromisedthereversionofaKingdom——
army,law-courts,revenue,andpolicyallcomplete。But,to-day,I
greatlyfearthatmyKingisdead,andifIwantacrownImustgohuntitformyself。
Thebeginningofeverythingwasinarailway-trainupontheroadtoMhowfromAjmir。TherehadbeenaDeficitintheBudget,whichnecessitatedtravelling,notSecond-class,whichisonlyhalfasdearasFirst-Class,butbyIntermediate,whichisveryawfulindeed。TherearenocushionsintheIntermediateclass,andthepopulationareeitherIntermediate,whichisEurasian,ornative,whichforalongnightjourneyisnasty,orLoafer,whichisamusingthoughintoxicated。Intermediatesdonotbuyfromrefreshment-rooms。Theycarrytheirfoodinbundlesandpots,andbuysweetsfromthenativesweetmeat-sellers,anddrinktheroadsidewater。ThisiswhyinhotweatherIntermediatesaretakenoutofthecarriagesdead,andinallweathersaremostproperlylookeddownupon。
MyparticularIntermediatehappenedtobeemptytillIreachedNasirabad,whenthebigblack-browedgentlemaninshirt-sleevesentered,and,followingthecustomofIntermediates,passedthetimeofday。Hewasawandererandavagabondlikemyself,butwithaneducatedtasteforwhisky。Hetoldtalesofthingshehadseenanddone,ofout-of-the-waycornersoftheEmpireintowhichhehadpenetrated,andofadventuresinwhichheriskedhislifeforafewdays’food。
\"IfIndiawasfilledwithmenlikeyouandme,notknowingmorethanthecrowswherethey’dgettheirnextday’srations,itisn’tseventymillionsofrevenuethelandwouldbepaying——it’ssevenhundredmillions,\"saidhe;andasIlookedathismouthandchinI
wasdisposedtoagreewithhim。
Wetalkedpolitics,——thepoliticsofLoaferdomthatseesthingsfromtheundersidewherethelathandplasterisnotsmoothedoff,——andwetalkedpostalarrangementsbecausemyfriendwantedtosendatelegrambackfromthenextstationtoAjmir,theturning-
offplacefromtheBombaytotheMhowlineasyoutravelwestward。Myfriendhadnomoneybeyondeightannaswhichhewantedfordinner,andIhadnomoneyatall,owingtothehitchintheBudgetbeforementioned。Further,Iwasgoingintoawildernesswhere,thoughIshouldresumetouchwiththeTreasury,therewerenotelegraphoffices。Iwas,therefore,unabletohelphiminanyway。
\"WemightthreatenaStation-master,andmakehimsendawireontick,\"saidmyfriend,\"butthat’dmeaninquiriesforyouandforme,andI’vegotmyhandsfullthesedays。Didyousayyouweretravellingbackalongthislinewithinanydays?\"
\"Withinten,\"Isaid。
\"Can’tyoumakeiteight?\"saidhe。\"Mineisratherurgentbusiness。\"
\"Icansendyourtelegramswithintendaysifthatwillserveyou,\"I
said。
\"Icouldn’ttrustthewiretofetchhim,nowIthinkofit。It’sthisway。HeleavesDelhionthe23rdforBombay。Thatmeanshe’llberunningthroughAjmiraboutthenightofthe23rd。\"
\"ButI’mgoingintotheIndianDesert,\"Iexplained。
\"Wellandgood,\"saidhe。\"You’llbechangingatMarwarJunctiontogetintoJodhporeterritory,——youmustdothat,——andhe’llbecomingthroughMarwarJunctionintheearlymorningofthe24thbytheBombayMail。CanyoubeatMarwarJunctiononthattime?
’Twon’tbeinconveniencingyou,becauseIknowthatthere’spreciousfewpickingstobegotoutoftheseCentralIndiaStates——
eventhoughyoupretendtobecorrespondentofthe’Backwoodsman。’\"
\"Haveyouevertriedthattrick?\"Iasked。
\"Againandagain,buttheResidentsfindyouout,andthenyougetescortedtotheBorderbeforeyou’vetimetogetyourknifeintothem。Butaboutmyfriendhere。Imustgivehimawordo’mouthtotellhimwhat’scometome,orelsehewon’tknowwheretogo。I
wouldtakeitmorethankindofyouifyouwastocomeoutofCentralIndiaintimetocatchhimatMarwarJunction,andsaytohim,’HehasgoneSouthfortheweek。’He’llknowwhatthatmeans。He’sabigmanwitharedbeard,andagreatswellheis。
You’llfindhimsleepinglikeagentlemanwithallhisluggageroundhiminaSecond-classapartment。Butdon’tyoubeafraid。
Slipdownthewindowandsay,’HehasgoneSouthfortheweek,’
andhe’lltumble。It’sonlycuttingyourtimeofstayinthosepartsbytwodays。Iaskyouasastranger——goingtotheWest,\"hesaid,withemphasis。
\"Wherehaveyoucomefrom?\"saidI。
\"FromtheEast,\"saidhe,\"andIamhopingthatyouwillgivehimthemessageontheSquare——forthesakeofmyMotheraswellasyourown。\"
Englishmenarenotusuallysoftenedbyappealstothememoryoftheirmothers;butforcertainreasons,whichwillbefullyapparent,Isawfittoagree。
\"It’smorethanalittlematter,\"saidhe,\"andthat’swhyIaskedyoutodoit——andnowIknowthatIcandependonyoudoingit。A
Second-classcarriageatMarwarJunction,andared-hairedmanasleepinit。You’llbesuretoremember。Igetoutatthenextstation,andImustholdontheretillhecomesorsendsmewhatI
want。\"
\"I’llgivethemessageifIcatchhim,\"Isaid,\"andforthesakeofyourMotheraswellasmineI’llgiveyouawordofadvice。Don’ttrytoruntheCentralIndiaStatesjustnowasthecorrespondentofthe’Backwoodsman。’There’sarealoneknockingabouthere,anditmightleadtotrouble。\"
\"Thankyou,\"saidhe,simply;\"andwhenwilltheswinebegone?I
can’tstarvebecausehe’sruiningmywork。IwantedtogetholdoftheDegumberRajahdownhereabouthisfather’swidow,andgivehimajump。\"
\"Whatdidhedotohisfather’swidow,then?\"
\"Filledherupwithredpepperandslipperedhertodeathasshehungfromabeam。Ifoundthatoutmyself,andI’mtheonlymanthatwoulddaregoingintotheStatetogethush-moneyforit。
They’lltrytopoisonme,sameastheydidinChortumnawhenI
wentonthelootthere。Butyou’llgivethemanatMarwarJunctionmymessage?\"
Hegotoutatalittleroadsidestation,andIreflected。Ihadheard,morethanonce,ofmenpersonatingcorrespondentsofnewspapersandbleedingsmallNativeStateswiththreatsofexposure,butI
hadnevermetanyofthecastebefore。Theyleadahardlife,andgenerallydiewithgreatsuddenness。TheNativeStateshaveawholesomehorrorofEnglishnewspapers,whichmaythrowlightontheirpeculiarmethodsofgovernment,anddotheirbesttochokecorrespondentswithchampagne,ordrivethemoutoftheirmindwithfour-in-handbarouches。TheydonotunderstandthatnobodycaresastrawfortheinternaladministrationofNativeStatessolongasoppressionandcrimearekeptwithindecentlimits,andtherulerisnotdrugged,drunk,ordiseasedfromoneendoftheyeartotheother。Theyarethedarkplacesoftheearth,fullofunimaginablecruelty,touchingtheRailwayandtheTelegraphononeside,and,ontheother,thedaysofHarun-al-
Raschid。WhenIleftthetrainIdidbusinesswithdiversKings,andineightdayspassedthroughmanychangesoflife。SometimesI
woredress-clothesandconsortedwithPrincesandPoliticals,drinkingfromcrystalandeatingfromsilver。SometimesIlayoutuponthegroundanddevouredwhatIcouldget,fromaplatemadeofleaves,anddranktherunningwater,andsleptunderthesamerugasmyservant。Itwasallintheday’swork。
ThenIheadedfortheGreatIndianDesertupontheproperdate,asIhadpromised,andthenightMailsetmedownatMarwarJunction,whereafunnylittle,happy-go-lucky,native-managedrailwayrunstoJodhpore。TheBombayMailfromDelhimakesashorthaltatMarwar。ShearrivedjustasIgotin,andIhadjusttimetohurrytoherplatformandgodownthecarriages。TherewasonlyoneSecond-classonthetrain。Islippedthewindowandlookeddownuponaflaming-redbeard,halfcoveredbyarailway-
rug。Thatwasmyman,fastasleep,andIdughimgentlyintheribs。
Hewokewithagrunt,andIsawhisfaceinthelightofthelamps。
Itwasagreatandshiningface。
\"Ticketsagain?\"saidhe。
\"No,\"saidI。\"IamtotellyouthatheisgoneSouthfortheweek。
HehasgoneSouthfortheweek!\"
Thetrainhadbeguntomoveout。Theredmanrubbedhiseyes。
\"HehasgoneSouthfortheweek,\"herepeated。\"Nowthat’sjustlikehisimpidence。DidhesaythatIwastogiveyouanything?
’CauseIwon’t。\"
\"Hedidn’t,\"Isaid,anddroppedaway,andwatchedtheredlightsdieoutinthedark。Itwashorriblycoldbecausethewindwasblowingoffthesands。Iclimbedintomyowntrain——notanIntermediatecarriagethistime——andwenttosleep。
IfthemanwiththebeardhadgivenmearupeeIshouldhavekeptitasamementoofarathercuriousaffair。Buttheconsciousnessofhavingdonemydutywasmyonlyreward。
LateronIreflectedthattwogentlemenlikemyfriendscouldnotdoanygoodiftheyforegatheredandpersonatedcorrespondentsofnewspapers,andmight,iftheyblackmailedoneofthelittlerat-
trapStatesofCentralIndiaorSouthernRajputana,getthemselvesintoseriousdifficulties。IthereforetooksometroubletodescribethemasaccuratelyasIcouldremembertopeoplewhowouldbeinterestedindeportingthem;andsucceeded,soIwaslaterinformed,inhavingthemheadedbackfromtheDegumberborders。
ThenIbecamerespectable,andreturnedtoanofficewheretherewerenoKingsandnoincidentsoutsidethedailymanufactureofanewspaper。Anewspaperofficeseemstoattracteveryconceivablesortofperson,totheprejudiceofdiscipline。Zenana-missionladiesarrive,andbegthattheEditorwillinstantlyabandonallhisdutiestodescribeaChristianprize-givinginabackslumofaperfectlyinaccessiblevillage;Colonelswhohavebeenoverpassedforcommandsitdownandsketchtheoutlineofaseriesoften,twelve,ortwenty-fourleadingarticlesonSeniorityversusSelection;missionarieswishtoknowwhytheyhavenotbeenpermittedtoescapefromtheirregularvehiclesofabuse,andswearatabrothermissionaryunderspecialpatronageoftheeditorialWe;strandedtheatricalcompaniestroopuptoexplainthattheycannotpayfortheiradvertisements,butontheirreturnfromNewZealandorTahitiwilldosowithinterest;inventorsofpatentpunka-pullingmachines,carriagecouplings,andunbreakableswordsandaxletreescallwithspecificationsintheirpocketsandhoursattheirdisposal;teacompaniesenterandelaboratetheirprospectuseswiththeofficepens;secretariesofballcommitteesclamourtohavethegloriesoftheirlastdancemorefullydescribed;strangeladiesrustleinandsay,\"Iwantahundredlady’scardsprintedatonce,please,\"whichismanifestlypartofanEditor’sduty;andeverydissoluteruffianthatevertrampedtheGrandTrunkRoadmakesithisbusinesstoaskforemploymentasaproof-reader。And,allthetime,thetelephone-bellisringingmadly,andKingsarebeingkilledontheContinent,andEmpiresaresaying,\"You’reanother,\"andMisterGladstoneiscallingdownbrimstoneupontheBritishDominions,andthelittleblackcopyboysarewhining,\"kaa-pichay-ha-yeh\"(\"Copywanted\"),liketiredbees,andmostofthepaperisasblankasModred’sshield。
Butthatistheamusingpartoftheyear。Therearesixothermonthswhennoneevercometocall,andthethermometerwalksinchbyinchuptothetopoftheglass,andtheofficeisdarkenedtojustabovereading-light,andthepress-machinesarered-hottotouch,andnobodywritesanythingbutaccountsofamusementsintheHill-stationsorobituarynotices。Thenthetelephonebecomesatinklingterror,becauseittellsyouofthesuddendeathsofmenandwomenthatyouknewintimately,andthepricklyheatcoversyouwithagarment,andyousitdownandwrite:\"AslightincreaseofsicknessisreportedfromtheKhudaJantaKhanDistrict。Theoutbreakispurelysporadicinitsnature,and,thankstotheenergeticeffortsoftheDistrictauthorities,isnowalmostatanend。Itis,however,withdeepregretwerecordthedeath,\"etc。
Thenthesicknessreallybreaksout,andthelessrecordingandreportingthebetterforthepeaceofthesubscribers。ButtheEmpiresandtheKingscontinuetodivertthemselvesasselfishlyasbefore,andtheForemanthinksthatadailypaperreallyoughttocomeoutonceintwenty-fourhours,andallthepeopleattheHill-
stationsinthemiddleoftheiramusementssay,\"Goodgracious!
whycan’tthepaperbesparkling?I’msurethere’splentygoingonuphere。\"
Thatisthedarkhalfofthemoon,and,astheadvertisementssay,\"mustbeexperiencedtobeappreciated。\"
Itwasinthatseason,andaremarkablyevilseason,thatthepaperbeganrunningthelastissueoftheweekonSaturdaynight,whichistosaySundaymorning,afterthecustomofaLondonpaper。Thiswasagreatconvenience,forimmediatelyafterthepaperwasputtobedthedawnwouldlowerthethermometerfrom96degreestoalmost84degreesforhalfanhour,andinthatchill——youhavenoideahowcoldis84degreesonthegrassuntilyoubegintoprayforit——averytiredmancouldgetofftosleeperetheheatrousedhim。
OneSaturdaynightitwasmypleasantdutytoputthepapertobedalone。AKingorcourtieroracourtesanoraCommunitywasgoingtodieorgetanewConstitution,ordosomethingthatwasimportantontheothersideoftheworld,andthepaperwastobeheldopentillthelatestpossibleminuteinordertocatchthetelegram。
Itwasapitchy-blacknight,asstiflingasaJunenightcanbe,andtheloo,thered-hotwindfromthewestward,wasboomingamongthetinder-drytreesandpretendingthattherainwasonitsheels。
Nowandagainaspotofalmostboilingwaterwouldfallonthedustwiththeflopofafrog,butallourwearyworldknewthatwasonlypretence。Itwasashadecoolerinthepress-roomthantheoffice,soIsatthere,whilethetypetickedandclicked,andthenight-jarshootedatthewindows,andtheallbutnakedcompositorswipedthesweatfromtheirforeheadsandcalledforwater。Thethingthatwaskeepingusback,whateveritwas,wouldnotcomeoff,thoughtheloodroppedandthelasttypewasset,andthewholeroundearthstoodstillinthechokingheat,withitsfingeronitslip,towaittheevent。Idrowsed,andwonderedwhetherthetelegraphwasablessing,andwhetherthisdyingman,orstrugglingpeople,mightbeawareoftheinconveniencethedelaywascausing。Therewasnospecialreasonbeyondtheheatandworrytomaketension,but,astheclock-handscreptuptothreeo-clockandthemachinesspuntheirfly-wheelstwoandthreetimestoseethatallwasinorder,beforeIsaidthewordthatwouldsetthemoff,Icouldhaveshriekedaloud。