"He did, Nuwab, with his own hands; and Motee and Peer Khan held him, or he could not have done it. This was only three nights ago, when I would fain have denounced them, but I feared no one would believe me; and as I knew Ameer Ali was in your favour, I thought no one would have listened to an accusation against him."
"Nor would I, by Alla!" cried Cheetoo, rising up and striking his forehead in extreme agitation (I had made a hole in the cloth with the point of my dagger, and could see all distinctly). "I would never have believed your tale, but that circumstances so strongly bear out what you have said. Who could have believed, that Ameer Ali, the kind, the benevolent—, one who opposed every scheme of violence, and protested against our ravages till I was ashamed of them myself,—who could have thought him a Thug?"
"But it is the truth, Nuwab," said the vile wretch; "when you have seized them, you will find ample evidence of what I tell you: the sword of Ghuffoor Khan is at this moment girded to the side of Peer Khan, who threw away his own."
"That will be conclusive indeed," said Cheetoo. "But how came you to join them?"
"I was at my village, near Jhalone," said Hidayut Khan; "I had formerly known Peeroo (as we call Peer Khan), and he asked me to join him and his jemadar, and to follow the Pindharees. I never suspected them to be Thugs,—who could, when Ameer Ali and his father were high in favour with the Rajah? and it was not till the Khan's death that they began their horrible work."
"Well," said Cheetoo, "you have laid the plan; the sooner you put it into execution the better. You have prepared the horsemen, have you not?" said he to the other man, whose face I knew.
"I have," he replied; "they are standing by their horses, all ready for the signal to set on—fifty good fellows; none of the Thugs will escape us."
"Ya Alla!" cried "Cheetoo; "how will he look on me? and how can I bring myself to order the punishment he deserves? Ah, Ameer Ali, how thou hast deceived me! how could any one read deceit in that honest face of thine!"
"Go," said he to Hidayut Khan and the others; "bring them to me without delay. I will not forget thy reward: thou hast for the saddle of Peer Khan."
"No more! no more!" cried the villain; "'tis all I want."