"He is as good a Thug," I replied, "and more cannot be said. But we lose time; select your men, let them be the bravest and most active you have—their weapons may be needed. I will too ask you for a sword."
"Impossible," said he; "you must go as you are: what if you were to lead my men into destruction?"
I drew myself up proudly. "Trust me or not as you will,—Ameer Ali is no liar, no deceitful villain to the cause he serves. Trust me, and you make me doubly true to your interests; doubt me, and I may doubt you."
"Thou speakest boldly," said he, "and I will trust thee. Let him have his own weapon," he added to an attendant. "And now you must be gone early, Ameer Ali; the men await you without."
"This instant,—food shall not pass my lips till I have taken Ganesha."
I left him. I found the men, six resolute-looking fellows, well armed; I stripped them of their badges of office, and made them throw dust on their garments, so that it should appear they had travelled far. The iron on my leg I secured, so that it should make no noise and not be visible, under my trowsers; and I put the party in motion. It was nearly evening, and avoiding the town, I struck at once into the open country. "If we travel well," said I to the men, "we may be up with him by midnight."
"Where is he?" asked the leader of the party.
"At ——; he lives with the Potail there, and passes for a Hindoo Fakeer."
"By Gunga! I have seen him then," rejoined the fellow; "he is tall, and squints, does he not?"