Here Ameer Ali put his hands to his eyes, and finding my heart sicken, I begged him to refrain from reciting the dreadful particulars. After a pause he continued.
Wretch that I was, I did this. No one was near me but the Thug who held my horse, and even he was horror-struck, and uttered a loud scream of terror. I silenced him, and leaving the mangled body, I mounted my horse and galloped after my party.
Yes, Sahib, I deserved to be hanged for that deed, had I never done another; but I was spared for a different fate.
We were in full march on the third day after this happened, when we saw a body of horsemen coming after us. My mind misgave me when I observed them, and I hastened to collect the straggling Thugs, and form them into a close body, in case the horsemen should prove to be enemies, or make any hostile demonstration. On they came, shouting and abusing us in every term of vile reproach their tongues could utter. There were about forty of them; and I verily believe that, had I not been at the head of the band, they would have fled as one man: however, I cheered them up, and was determined to show a good front in my retreat. I knew there was a village in our interest within a few coss, which possessed a worthy Potail like him I have told you of; and that if we could but reach it, we might man the walls and towers, and bid defiance to our pursuers.
"Be not afraid," cried I to my men; "let the best of ye come behind with me, and we will stop these marauding rascals. I know they are Pindharees, and the veriest cowards in existence. Only be firm; you who have matchlocks take good aim, and when they are near enough, every one mark his man, and see if as many saddles are not emptied."
On they came. Fortunately the road was narrow, and had thick thorny brushwood on each side of it, so that they could not pass us. They were within speaking distance, and I shouted, "Are ye friends or enemies? If the former, keep behind us; if enemies, begone, in the name of the Prophet, my friends, or ye are likely to get a sharp reception."
"Stop!" shouted the leader of the party; "who among you is leader? I would speak to him."
"I am leader," said I. "Come out alone, and I will meet you; but if any of ye stir, by Alla we will fire on you." The fellow advanced, and seeing that none followed him, I rode out in front of my men. "If there is treachery," said I to them, "fire,—never mind me."
"Jemadar," said the man, "our Thakoor has sent for you, you may possibly have guessed why. You had better come; you will only have to pay a fine, and will be released; I swear this to you on the faith of a Rajpoot."
"I will neither trust you nor your master," said I; "you are a parcel of vagabond Pindharees. I laugh at you, and spit on your beards. If you want us, come and take us; but of our own accord we come not. Are we fools? are we asses? Oh, man! art thou one to talk thus? Go back to him that sent thee, and say the man is yet unborn who will take Ameer Ali Thug, so long as he has a weapon in his hand, or a few gallant fellows by his side. Have you no shame to deliver such a message!"