"'Justice to this little one, whose father and mother ye and your people have slain,' I answered.
"'And what of my son, found dead, and with teeth-marks about his throat?' he asked.
"'Jemadar Sahib,' I replied, 'Kali Mai gave thy son, her follower, fitting end. As he lived, so he died. 'Tis well.'
"'Dog!' he exclaimed; 'darest thou to speak thus to me in front of mine own people?' And he ran upon me.
"So I took him by the beard and laid him at my feet; and the men of Nyagong feared to help the Jemadar, for Hasteen growled fiercely over him.
"'Fetch the bunnia,' I demanded; 'and lose no time, O Swine of the Terai, or I give your Jemadar to the dog.'
"They brought him trembling before me, and he folded his hands and bowed his head in the dust at my feet, crying, 'Ram dhwy! ram dhwy! the great and strong are ever merciful. What wouldst thou with me, coach-wan ji?'
"'The bhalee of raw sugar,' I answered, 'from which this man-child's mother got her death.'
"'She died of Terai fever, Most Worshipful, as the old woman who was with her will tell thee.'
"'Nevertheless, Biroo and I will go to thy shop with thee, in the matter of that sugar, whilst the dog seeth to the Jemadar. Proceed.'