"Exactly," said I; "I would do so this very night if I knew how to go about it properly."
"Let me see," said Bhudrinath musing; "we shall not want many men, six or eight resolute fellows will be sufficient. You and I, Peer Khan, Motee-ram, and four others, are ample; there is no use waiting for Surfuraz Khan, he will not now be back before the morning. But how to get intelligence of the place, and whether any of the rascals are there at night?"
"Can no one personate a Fakeer?" said I; "a kulundur, anything will do. He might go up now, as the spot is close by, and bring us news in an hour or so."
"I have it!" cried Bhudrinath. "Here, some one call Shekhjee to me."
Shekhjee came. He was an old man, with a long beard; but he was an able fellow, and a rare good hand with the handkerchief. "Shekhjee," said Bhudrinath, "sit down, I have something to say to you. You can personate a Fakeer if necessary, can you not?"
"Certainly," replied the old fellow; "Moosulman or Hindoo, all kinds are familiar to me. I know all their forms of speech, and have many of their dresses."
"It is well," said Bhudrinath; "now listen. You must go and disguise yourself this instant; we have an enterprise in view;" and he related our proposed scheme and what had preceded it. "And now," continued Bhudrinath, "you must be wary, and by dark you must return, and tell us of the place, and if there are men there."
"Is the Fakeer who lives there a Hindoo or Moosulman?"
"I saw the impression of spread hands in whitewash on the rock, so he must be a Moosulman," said I.
"Then I know how to act," cried the Thug. "Sahibs, I take my leave, and will not fail you. I shall be with you by the time I am required."