been purchased, he brought with him what we supposed to be his valuables; one of his servants carried the bundle, which appeared carefully tied up in waxed cloths, his hookah, and his bedding.

"Are you sure you have omitted nothing?" he asked.

"Certain," said I; "everything is ready. I have been to the gate, and have told the guard that we have a long march before us, and will pass out a little after midnight with two carts and our people."

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Well," said he; "then here is your money;" and he counted out seventy-five rupees to me.

"Now we have nothing to desire," said I; "but to be informed of your name, which hitherto you have not told us."

Call me Kumal Khan for the present," he replied; "you shall know my real name at Hyderabad."

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As you will," said I; doubtless you have good reasons for not discovering yourself to us. Meanwhile, as you say, Kumal Khan will do as well as any other name; therefore, Khan Sahib, I think the sooner we take some rest, the more we shall be refreshed for our journey to-morrow."

"I can lie down anywhere," said he; "I dare say I shall sleep moreover, which my care and anxiety have prevented my doing for some nights past."

He spread his carpet and covered himself up. Bhudrinath followed his example, and in a short time they were both asleep, as their deep breathing testified.

Strange destiny, I thought; there lies the man who has but a few hours to live, side by side in peaceful slumber with one who will be actively employed in his destruction. A few hours, and their

situations will be changed, oh, how changed! one to lie senseless in the earth, and the other to live and breath, and to tax his wits to gain fresh victims. "Ya, Alla!" I exclaimed involuntarily, "thy purposes are inscrutable!"

We were roused at the time appointed by the men, and our preparations for departure quickly completed. I saw Zora safely deposited in her cart, as also her old attendant, next Kumal Khan in his; and putting myself at the head of the party, we were soon beyond the gates of the town and at the encampment. Here I sent

on Zora's cart, and desired one of the men to come back and give us due notice should he meet the tillaees, or scouts, on the road. I then sought out my father, and inquired whether he had allotted bhuttotes and shumsheas (persons to hold the hands) to the servants and grooms.

"I have settled everything," he replied; "and given every man his instructions; there will be no difficulty if all is ready before us. But are you sure that Kumal Khan, as you call him, is not armed?”

scuffle

"He has a sword," said I; "but what of that? Bhudrinath and I will easily manage him, and he will not be on his guard." "Then keep well behind," said my father; "if there is any he will not hear it, and I will send a man back to you when we meet the first of the scouts. You can then do as you please; either bring him on, or deal with him there, as you like."

"Very good," said I; "we will be guided by circumstances." I saw with secret exultation how beautifully everything had been arranged, as our men and our acquaintance's servants passed me. To every one of them was attached one of the most expert bhuttotes, with two others to assist if necessary; yet they disposed themselves so carelessly that suspicion was out of the question. Each one as he passed threw a look of intelligence towards me, as much as to say, "Here is work we delight in ;" and I felt truly excited as the whole band was before me, their arms glancing brightly in the moonbeams.

This, thought I, is the joy my father told me of; and what could raise such feelings within me in the common plodding pursuits of life? When these fellows are but my own, then shall the name of Ameer Ali be dreaded and feared; men shall wonder at it; many a timid woman's heart shall beat as she listens to stories of me, and allows her fancy to picture to her him of whom she hears such deeds of daring bravery. "Yes," cried I aloud, for I could not control myself; "the time will come, ay, and soon; the present is poor work to what I have thought of and will put into execution! The voice of Bhudrinath recalled my ideas. "In the name of Narayun and all the gods," said he; what are you talking about? Come, we wait for you."

I urged my horse down the bank, and was with him in an instant. Kumal Khan put his head out of the curtains, and asked if we had assembled our men.

"Yes," said I; "they are all before us, except my cousin, myself, and a few of our attendants, who will stay round you."

"That is right," said he; "I shall sleep if this vile jolting will Oh that I were on my horse, instead of being cooped up in this cart!"

let me.

Patience," said Bhudrinath; "I dare say you will soon be out of it again."

"That I shall, my friend," said he; "when I dare show myself;' and so saying he shut the curtains.

Bhudrinath and I rode on some time in silence; at last we reached a rising ground, which apparently led down to the bed of a river, for I thought I saw the water glistening in the moon's rays. The jungle was thicker than before, and I involuntarily turned to Bhudrinath.

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Surely this is the spot," cried I; we must wait for the cart," for we had preceded it a long way.

"We had better do so," he replied; "it will soon be up."

We had just heard the rumbling sound of the wheels, when the man I had sent on with it came up to us.

"What news?" I asked ; "is all prepared ?"

"By this time it is," said the man; "when I met the first scout I returned to tell you; they have fixed on a beautiful spot, and I doubt not that the band are waiting for you, having done their share of the night's adventure."

"Well," said I; we don't want you here, so go on again." But he begged hard to remain, and I allowed him.

As Kumal Khan passed us, Bhudrinath gave the driver the signal; he nodded his head in compliance; and telling the men who were to hold our horses to be near and in readiness, we got behind the cart and followed it down the descent. About half-way down, the bank of the road sloped into it, and rose into a small eminence. I marked the place, and saw that the driver had done the same; the cart gradually diverged from the track; one wheel went up the bank, it leaned fearfully over, and at last came down with a terrible crash.

We were off our horses in an instant, and ran up; Kumal Khan was groaning beneath it.

We lifted it up and got him out; but he was either so frightened or hurt he could not speak. At last he recovered; and the first words he uttered were a volley of abuse at the driver.

"Look!" cried he; "a smooth road, not a stone or a pebble, and yet that son of a base mother must needs drive up yonder bank, and has nearly killed me."

"He shall be well punished for his carelessness," said I; "but are you hurt, Khan ?”

"My right arm is very painful," said he, holding it; "and I wish to Alla I had a horse to ride, instead of going farther in that con

"and it is well

"It cannot now be helped," said Bhudrinath; none of your bones were broken. We will keep nearer you in future, and see that the fellow drives more carefully."

The cart had been by this time set fairly in the road again, and Kumal Khan's mattress and pillow arranged. As he turned away from us, and laid hold of one of the posts of the curtains, and had his foot on the wheel to get in, I threw the handkerchief round his neck.

"What-what is this?" was all that escaped him; the rest was an indistinct gurgling in his throat for an instant. The wrench I gave to his neck must have extinguished life, for he relaxed his hold of the post, and fell to the ground without sense or motion.

Neatly and cleverly done," cried Bhudrinath; "I could not have managed it better myself; you see he does not stir-he is dead enough. Now, Meer Sahib, believe that a man can be killed before he touches the ground."

"I must see you do it," said I; "this fellow held on by the cart for some moments. But come," I added to the men, "lift the body into the cart, we have no time to lose." They bundled it in, and we set off as rapidly as the bullocks could trot.

"What if he should revive with this jolting ?" said I to Bhudrinath.

"Never fear," he replied; "if he does, he will only have to be killed over again; but depend upon it he is dead enough; no man ever survived the wrench you gave him-his neck is broken. The old gooroo has taught you well, I see plainly."

"I own I feel more confidence every time I do it," said I; "and . I should not care if even now I had one or two more fellows to try my hand upon."

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Nay," said Bhudrinath laughing, "rest you content with what we have done. See, we are at the bhil, and yonder is the whole band collected."

We rode up to the spot, and the first inquiry was from my father: "Have you brought him?"

me.

"Yes," said I; "the earth that held him is in the cart."

"Did he do it ?" he eagerly asked of Bhudrinath, and pointed to

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Ay, did he," he replied, "and most properly too. He had him all to himself; I did not interfere."

"Al-humd-ul-illa!" cried my father; "he is a worthy son. Come," continued he to all the men, "do not loiter here, but make the best of your way to the river-side; we will follow, and I dare say overtake you."

I

Seeing there was no more to be done, I pushed on to the river, the Godavery, and finding that all had been ferried over, I urged on my horse to overtake Zora's cart; for I knew not what she would think of my absence, nor how I could well account to her for it satisfactorily; but I trusted to chance to frame some excuse. passed the men, who were straggling along in parties of ten or twelve; but still I did not see the cart, though I had desired those who were in charge of it not to drive fast. I became anxious, and urged my horse into a gallop.

Well it was that I did so, for when I had proceeded some distance I heard a confused clamour before me. Could she have been attacked by thieves? was my instant thought. It was probable; for the road was narrow and the jungle thick on both sides, and seeing the few men with the cart, thieves might have surprised them. I

drew my sword, to be prepared, as the noise and screams seemed to increase, and in a few moments more arrived at the spot. There indeed was a scene of violence! the moon was still shining brightly, and I could see all before me.

The cart was surrounded by the five or six men I had sent on with it, and who were defending their charge bravely; two of the robbers, as I supposed, were stretched on the ground; the rest were aiming cuts at my men, which they parried; but just as I got up, one of my men fell, and the rest looked exhausted. I suspect neither party observed my arrival, so intent were they on their own proceedings, and I could see that my cry of "Bismilla!" accompanied by a cut which struck down one of the robbers, was as startling to them as unexpected; while my faithful men, who now saw me plainly, set up a shout, and attacked their opposers with renewed spirit.

The scuffle lasted only a few moments longer: throwing myself from my horse, I drew my pistol from my girdle, and discharged it at a thief who was coming up to me with his sword uplifted; the ball passed through his body, and he fell. On this the rest of the band turned and fled. We pursued them for a short distance, and secured a youth who was one of them; the rest got clear off.

CHAPTER XII.

SHOWING HOW JUSTICE IS OFTEN SUMMARILY DISPENSED.

WHEN we returned to the cart, my first business was to soothe my poor Zora, whose screams, added to those of the old attendant, and the oaths, execrations, and shouts of the contending parties, had made a din which defies description. I found her terribly alarmed of course, but the rascals had not been suffered to approach her; and when she was assured by me that I should not again quit her side, she was calm, and gave me a history of the attack; which was, that as they were going along, the thieves began to pelt them with stones from the bushes on the sides of the road; and at last, perhaps not thinking them armed, rushed from their concealment, and the fight began.

The wounded thief was unable to walk, so he was put into the cart. with the dead body; the boy's arms were tied behind his back, and a cord passed round his neck I tied to my own saddle. Leaving twenty men to guard the wounded, we then quickly proceeded.

We arrived at a large village before the sun rose; but the villagers were up, and the herds of cattle were pouring out of the gates on their way to the pastures. We desired the men to take up the