ThedoorwasopenandIcouldseeintotheroom。Click——c1ick！
Thatwasacannon。Ienteredtheroomwithoutfear，fortherewassunlightwithinandafreshbreezewithout。Theunseengamewasgoingonatatremendousrate。Andwellitmight，whenarestlesslittleratwasrunningtoandfroinsidethedingyceiling-cloth，andapieceofloosewindow-sashwasmakingfiftybreaksoffthewindow-boltasitshookinthebreeze！
Impossibletomistakethesoundofbilliardballs！Impossibletomistakethewhirofaballovertheslate！ButIwastobeexcused。
EvenwhenIshutmyenlightenedeyesthesoundwasmarvelouslylikethatofafastgame。
Enteredangrilythefaithfulpartnerofmysorrows，KadirBaksh。
"Thisbungalowisverybadandlow-caste！NowonderthePresencewasdisturbedandisspeckled。Threesetsofdoolie-
bearerscametothebungalowlatelastnightwhenIwassleepingoutside，andsaidthatitwastheircustomtorestintheroomssetapartfortheEnglishpeople！Whathonorhasthekhansamah？
Theytriedtoenter，butItoldthemtogo。Nowonder，iftheseOoriashavebeenhere，thatthePresenceissorelyspotted。Itisshame，andtheworkofadirtyman！"
KadirBakshdidnotsaythathehadtakenfromeachgangtwoannasforrentinadvance，andthen，beyondmyearshot，hadbeatenthemwiththebiggreenumbrellawhoseuseIcouldneverbeforedivine。ButKadirBakshhasnonotionsofmorality。
Therewasaninterviewwiththekhansamah，butashepromptlylosthishead，wrathgaveplacetopity，andpityledtoalongconversation，inthecourseofwhichheputthefatEngineer-
Sahib’stragicdeathinthreeseparatestations——twoofthemfiftymilesaway。ThethirdshiftwastoCalcutta，andtheretheSahibdiedwhiledrivingadogcart。
IfIhadencouragedhimthekhansamahwouldhavewanderedallthroughBengalwithhiscorpse。
IdidnotgoawayassoonasIintended。Istayedforthenight，whilethewindandtheratandthesashandthewindow-boltplayedading-dong"hundredandfiftyup。"Thenthewindranoutandthebilliardsstopped，andIfeltthatIhadruinedmyonegenuine，hall-markedghoststory。
HadIonlystoppedatthepropertime，Icouldhavemadeanythingoutofit。
Thatwasthebitterestthoughtofall！
THESTRANGERIDEOFMORROWBIEJUKES
Aliveordead-thereisnootherway-
NativeProverb。
THEREis，astheconjurerssay，nodeceptionaboutthistale。
Jukesbyaccidentstumbleduponavillagethatiswellknowntoexist，thoughheistheonlyEnglishmanwhohasbeenthere。A
somewhatsimilarinstitutionusedtoflourishontheoutskirtsofCalcutta，andthereisastorythatifyougointotheheartofBikanir，whichisintheheartoftheGreatIndianDesert，youshallcomeacrossnotavillagebutatownwheretheDeadwhodidnotdiebutmaynotlivehaveestablishedtheirheadquarters。And，sinceitisperfectlytruethatinthesameDesertisawonderfulcitywherealltherichmoneylendersretreataftertheyhavemadetheirfortunes（fortunessovastthattheownerscannottrusteventhestronghandoftheGovernmenttoprotectthem，buttakerefugeinthewaterlesssands），anddrivesumptuousC-springbarouches，andbuybeautifulgirlsanddecoratetheirpalaceswithgoldandivoryandMintontilesandmother-n’-pearl，IdonotseewhyJukes’staleshouldnotbetrue。HeisaCivilEngineer，withaheadforplansanddistancesandthingsofthatkind，andhecertainlywouldnottakethetroubletoinventimaginarytraps。Hecouldearnmorebydoinghislegitimatework。Henevervariesthetaleinthetelling，andgrowsveryhotandindignantwhenhethinksofthedisrespectfultreatmenthereceived。Hewrotethisquitestraightforwardlyatfirst，buthehassincetoucheditupinplacesandintroducedMoralReflections，thus：
Inthebeginningitallarosefromaslightattackoffever。MyworknecessitatedmybeingincampforsomemonthsbetweenPakpattanandMuharakpur-adesolatesandystretchofcountryaseveryonewhohashadthemisfortunetogotheremayknow。Mycoolieswereneithermorenorlessexasperatingthanothergangs，andmyworkdemandedsufficientattentiontokeepmefrommoping，hadIbeeninclinedtosounmanlyaweakness。
Onthe23dDecember，1884，Ifeltalittlefeverish。Therewasafullmoonatthetime，and，inconsequence，everydognearmytentwasbayingit。Thebrutesassembledintwosandthreesanddrovemefrantic。AfewdayspreviouslyIhadshotoneloud-mouthedsingerandsuspendedhiscarcassinterroremaboutfiftyyardsfrommytent-door。Buthisfriendsfellupon，foughtfor，andultimatelydevouredthebody;and，asitseemedtome，sangtheirhymnsofthanksgivingafterwardwithrenewedenergy。
Thelight-heartednesswhichaccompaniesfeveractsdifferentlyondifferentmen。Myirritationgaveway，afterashorttime，toafixeddeterminationtoslaughteronehugeblackandwhitebeastwhohadbeenforemostinsongandfirstinflightthroughouttheevening。ThankstoashakinghandandagiddyheadIhadalreadymissedhimtwicewithbothbarrelsofmyshot-gun，whenitstruckmethatmybestplanwouldbetoridehimdownintheopenandfinishhimoffwithahog-spear。This，ofcourse，wasmerelythesemi-deliriousnotionofafeverpatient;butIrememberthatitstruckmeatthetimeasbeingeminentlypracticalandfeasible。
IthereforeorderedmygroomtosaddlePornicandbringhimroundquietlytotherearofmytent。Whentheponywasready，I
stoodathisheadpreparedtomountanddashoutassoonasthedogshouldagainliftuphisvoice。Pornic，bytheway，hadnotbeenoutofhispicketsforacoupleofdays;thenightairwascrispandchilly;andIwasarmedwithaspeciallylongandsharppairofpersuaderswithwhichIhadbeenrousingasluggishcobthatafternoon。Youwilleasilybelieve，then，thatwhenhewasletgohewentquickly。Inonemoment，forthebruteboltedasstraightasadie，thetentwasleftfarbehind，andwewereflyingoverthesmoothsandysoilatracingspeed。
Inanotherwehadpassedthewretcheddog，andIhadalmostforgottenwhyitwasthatIhadtakenthehorseandhogspear。
Thedeliriumoffeverandtheexcitementofrapidmotionthroughtheairmusthavetakenawaytheremnantofmysenses。Ihaveafaintrecollectionofstandinguprightinmystirrups，andofbrandishingmyhog-spearatthegreatwhiteMoonthatlookeddownsocalmlyonmymadgallop;andofshout-logchallengestothecamel-thornbushesastheywhizzedpast。OnceortwiceI
believe，IswayedforwardonPornic’sneck，andliterallyhungonbymyspurs-asthemarksnextmorningshowed。
Thewretchedbeastwentforwardlikeathingpossessed，overwhatseemedtobealimitlessexpanseofmoonlitsand。Next，I
remember，thegroundrosesuddenlyinfrontofus，andaswetoppedtheascentIsawthewatersoftheSutlejshininglikeasilverbarbelow。ThenPornicblunderedheavilyonhisnose，andwerolledtogetherdownsomeunseenslope。
Imusthavelostconsciousness，forwhenIrecoveredIwaslyingonmystomachinaheapofsoftwhitesand，andthedawnwasbeginningtobreakdimlyovertheedgeoftheslopedownwhichI
hadfallen。AsthelightgrewstrongerIsawthatIwasatthebottomofahorse-shoeshapedcraterofsand，openingononesidedirectlyontotheshoalsoftheSutlej。Myfeverhadaltogetherleftme，and，withtheexceptionofaslightdizzinessinthehead，Ifeltnohadeffectsfromthefallovernight。
Pornic，whowasstandingafewyardsaway，wasnaturallyagooddealexhausted，buthadnothurthimselfintheleast。Hissaddle，afavoritepoloonewasmuchknockedabout，andhadbeentwistedunderhisbelly。Ittookmesometimetoputhimtorights，andinthemeantimeIhadampleopportunitiesofobservingthespotintowhichIhadsofoolishlydropped。
Attheriskofbeingconsideredtedious，Imustdescribeitatlength：inasmuchasanaccuratementalpictureofitspeculiaritieswillbeofmaterialassistanceinenablingthereadertounderstandwhatfollows。
Imaginethen，asIhavesaidbefore，ahorseshoe-shapedcraterofsandwithsteeplygradedsandwallsaboutthirty-fivefeethigh。
（Theslope，Ifancy，musthavebeenabout65degrees。）Thiscraterenclosedalevelpieceofgroundaboutfiftyyardslongbythirtyatitsbroadestpart，withacrudewellinthecentre。Roundthebottomofthecrater，aboutthreefeetfromthelevelofthegroundproper，ranaseriesofeighty-threesemi-circularovoid，square，andmultilateralholes，allaboutthreefeetatthemouth。Eachholeoninspectionshowedthatitwascarefullyshoredinternallywithdrift-woodandbamboos，andoverthemouthawoodendrip-boardprojected，likethepeakofajockey’scap，fortwofeet。Nosignoflifewasvisibleinthesetunnels，butamostsickeningstenchpervadedtheentireamphitheatre-astenchfoulerthananywhichmywanderingsinIndianvillageshaveintroducedmeto。
HavingremountedPornic，whowasasanxiousasItogetbacktocamp，Iroderoundthebaseofthehorseshoetofindsomeplacewhenceanexitwouldbepracticable。Theinhabitants，whoevertheymightbe，hadnotthoughtfittoputinanappearance，soIwaslefttomyowndevices。Myfirstattemptto"rush"Pornicupthesteepsand-banksshowedmethatIhadfallenintoatrapexactlyonthesamemodelasthatwhichtheant-lionsetsforitsprey。Ateachsteptheshiftingsandpoureddownfromaboveintons，andrattledonthedrip-boardsoftheholeslikesmallshot。Acoupleofineffectualchargessentusbothrollingdowntothebottom，halfchokedwiththetorrentsofsand;andIwasconstrainedtoturnmyattentiontotheriver-bank。
Hereeverythingseemedeasyenough。Thesandhillsrandowntotheriveredge，itistrue，buttherewereplentyofshoalsandshallowsacrosswhichIcouldgallopPornic，andfindmywaybacktoterrafirmabyturningsharplytotherightorleft。AsIledPornicoverthesandsIwasstartledbythefaintpopofarifleacrosstheriver;andatthesamemomentabulletdroppedwithasharp"whit"
closetoPornic’shead。
Therewasnomistakingthenatureofthemissile-aregulationMartini-Henry"picket。"Aboutfivehundredyardsawayacountry-boatwasanchoredinmidstream;andajetofsmokedriftingawayfromitsbowsinthestillmorningairshowedmewhencethedelicateattentionhadcome。Waseverarespectablegentlemaninsuchanimpasse？ThetreacheroussandslopeallowednoescapefromaspotwhichIhadvisitedmostinvoluntarily，andapromenadeontheriverfrontagewasthesignalforabombardmentfromsomeinsanenativeinaboat。I’mafraidthatIlostmytemperverymuchindeed。
AnotherbulletremindedmethatIhadbettersavemybreathtocoolmyporridge;andIretreatedhastilyupthesandsandbacktothehorseshoe，whereIsawthatthenoiseoftheriflehaddrawnsixty-fivehumanbeingsfromthebadger-holeswhichIhaduptillthatpointsupposedtobeuntenanted。Ifoundmyselfinthemidstofacrowdofspectators-aboutfortymen，twentywomen，andonechildwhocouldnothavebeenmorethanfiveyearsold。Theywereallscantilyclothedinthatsalmon-coloredclothwhichoneassociateswithHindumendicants，and，atfirstsight，gavemetheimpressionofabandofloathsomefakirs。Thefilthandrepulsivenessoftheassemblywerebeyondalldescription，andI
shudderedtothinkwhattheirlifeinthebadger-holesmustbe。
Eveninthesedays，whenlocalselfgovernmenthasdestroyedthegreaterpartofanative’srespectforaSahib，Ihavebeenaccustomedtoacertainamountofcivilityfrommyinferiors，andonapproachingthecrowdnaturallyexpectedthattherewouldbesomerecognitionofmypresence。Asamatteroffacttherewas;
butitwasbynomeanswhatIhadlookedfor。
Theraggedcrewactuallylaughedatme-suchlaughterIhopeImayneverhearagain。Theycackled，yelled，whistled，andhowledasIwalkedintotheirmidst;someofthemliterallythrowingthemselvesdownonthegroundinconvulsionsofunholymirth。InamomentIhadletgoPornic’shead，and。irritatedbeyondexpressionatthemorning’sadventure，commencedcuffingthosenearesttomewithalltheforceIcould。Thewretchesdroppedundermyblowslikenine-pins，andthelaughtergaveplacetowailsformercy;whilethoseyetuntouchedclaspedmeroundtheknees，imploringmeinallsortsofuncouthtonguestosparethem。
Inthetumult，andjustwhenIwasfeelingverymuchashamedofmyselfforhavingthuseasilygivenwaytomytemper，athin，highvoicemurmuredinEnglishfrombehindmyshoulder：-"Sahib！
Sahib！Doyounotknowme？Sahib，itisGungaDass，thetelegraph-master。"
Ispunroundquicklyandfacedthespeaker。
GungaDass，（Ihave，ofcourse，nohesitationinmentioningtheman’srealname）IhadknownfouryearsbeforeasaDeccaneeBrahminloanedbythePun-jabGovernmenttooneoftheKhalsiaStates。Hewasinchargeofabranchtelegraph-officethere，andwhenIhadlastmethimwasajovial，full-stomached，portlyGovernmentservantwithamarvelouscapacityformakinghadpunsinEnglish-apeculiaritywhichmademerememberhimlongafterIhadforgottenhisservicestomeinhisofficialcapacity。
ItisseldomthataHindumakesEnglishpuns。
Now，however，themanwaschangedbeyondallrecognition。
Caste-mark，stomach，slate-coloredcontinuations，andunctuousspeechwereallgone。Ilookedatawitheredskeleton，turban-lessandalmostnaked，withlongmattedhairanddeep-setcodfish-eyes。
Butforacrescent-shapedscarontheleftcheek-theresultofanaccidentforwhichIwasresponsibleIshouldneverhaveknownhim。ButitwasindubitablyGungaDass，and-forthisIwasthank-full-anEnglish-speakingnativewhomightatleasttellmethemeaningofallthatIhadgonethroughthatday。
ThecrowdretreatedtosomedistanceasIturnedtowardthemiserablefigure，andorderedhimtoshowmesomemethodofescapingfromthecrate？。Heheldafreshlypluckedcrowinhishand，andinreplytomyquestionclimbedslowlyonaplatformofsandwhichraninfrontoftheholes，andcommencedlightingafirethereinsilence。Driedbents，sand-poppies，anddriftwoodburnquickly;andIderivedmuchconsolationfromthefactthathelitthemwithanordinarysulphur-match。Whentheywereinabrightglow，andthecrowwasnearlyspittedinfrontthereof，GungaDassbeganwithoutawordofpreamble：
"Thereareonlytwokindsofmen，Sar。Thealiveandthedead。
Whenyouaredeadyouaredead，butwhenyouarealiveyoulive。"
（Herethecrowdemandedhisattentionforaninstantasittwirledbeforethefireindangerofbeingburnedtoacinder。）"Ifyoudieathomeanddonotdiewhenyoucometotheghattobeburnedyoucomehere。"
Thenatureofthereekingvillagewasmadeplainnow，andallthatIhadknownorreadofthegrotesqueandthehorriblepaledbeforethefactjustcommunicatedbytheex-Brabmin。Sixteenyearsago，whenIfirstlandedinBombay，IhadbeentoldbyawanderingArmenianoftheexistence，somewhereinIndia，ofaplacetowhichsuchHindusashadthemisfortunetorecoverfromtranceorcatalepsywereconveyedandkept，andIrecollectlaughingheartilyatwhatIwasthenpleasedtoconsideratraveler’stale。
Sittingatthebottomofthesand-trap，thememoryofWatson’sHotel，withitsswingingpunkahs，white-robedattendants，andthesallow-facedArmenian，roseupinmymindasvividlyasaphotograph，andIburstintoaloudfitoflaughter。Thecontrastwastooabsurd！
GungaDass，ashebentovertheuncleanbird，watchedmecuriously。Hindusseldomlaugh，andhissurroundingswerenotsuchastomoveGungaDasstoanyundueexcessofhilarity。Heremovedthecrowsolemnlyfromthewoodenspitandassolemnlydevouredit。Thenhecontinuedhisstory，whichIgiveinhisownwords：
"Inepidemicsofthecholerayouarecarriedtobeburnedalmostbeforeyouaredead。Whenyoucometotheriversidethecoldair，perhaps，makesyoualive，andthen，ifyouareonlylittlealive，mudisputonyournoseandmouthandyoudieconclusively。Ifyouarerathermorealive，moremudisput;butifyouaretoolivelytheyletyougoandtakeyouaway。Iwastoolively，andmadeprotestationwithangeragainsttheindignitiesthattheyendeavoredtopressuponme。InthosedaysIwasBrahminandproudman。
NowIamdeadmanandeat"-hereheeyedthewell-gnawedbreastbonewiththefirstsignofemotionthatIhadseeninhimsincewemet-"crows，andotherthings。TheytookmefrommysheetswhentheysawthatIwastoolivelyandgavememedicinesforoneweek，andIsurvivedsuccessfully。ThentheysentmebyrailfrommyplacetoOkaraStation，withamantotakecareofme;andatOkaraStationwemettwoothermen，andtheyconductedwethreeoncamels，inthenight，fromOkaraStationtothisplace，andtheypropelledmefromthetoptothebottom，andtheothertwosucceeded，andIhavebeenhereeversincetwoandahalfyears。
OnceIwasBrahminandproudman，andnowIeatcrows。"
"Thereisnowayofgettingout？"
"Noneofwhatkindatall。WhenIfirstcameImadeexperimentsfrequentlyandalltheothersalso，butwehavealwayssuccumbedtothesandwhichisprecipitateduponourheads。"
"Butsurely，"Ibrokeinatthispoint，"theriver-frontisopen，anditisworthwhiledodgingthebullets;whileatnight"-IhadalreadymaturedaroughplanofescapewhichanaturalinstinctofselfishnessforbademesharingwithGungaDass。He，however，divinedmyunspokenthoughtalmostassoonasitwasformed;
and，tomyintenseastonishment，gaveventtoalonglowchuckleofderision-thelaughter，beitUnderstood，ofasuperiororatleastofanequal。
’~Youwillnot"-hehaddroppedtheSircompletelyafterhisopeningsentence-"makeanyescapethatway。Butyoucantry。I
havetried。Onceonly。"
ThesensationofnamelessterrorandabjectfearwhichIhadinvainattemptedtostriveagainstovermasteredmecompletely。Mylongfast-itwasnowcloseuponteno’clock，andIhadeatennothingsincetiffinonthepreviousday-combinedwiththeviolentandunnaturalagitationoftheridehadexhaustedme，andIverilybelievethat，forafewminutes，Iactedasonemad。Ihurledmyselfagainstthepitilesssand-slopeIranroundthebaseofthecrater，blasphemingandprayingbyturns。Icrawledoutamongthesedgesoftheriver-front，onlytobedrivenbackeachtimeinanagonyofnervousdreadbytherifle-bulletswhichcutupthesandroundme-forIdarednotfacethedeathofamaddogamongthathideouscrowd-andfinallyfell，spentandraving，atthecurbofthewell。NoonebadtakentheslightestnotionofanexhibitionwhichmakesmeblushhotlyevenwhenIthinkofitnow。
Twoorthreementrodonmypantingbodyastheydrewwater，buttheywereevidentlyusedtothissortofthing，andhadnotimetowasteuponme。Thesituationwashumiliating。GungaDass，indeed，whenhehadbankedtheembersofhisfirewithsand，wasatsomepainstothrowhalfacupfuloffetidwaterovermyhead，anattentionforwhichIcouldhavefallenonmykneesandthankedhim，buthewaslaughingallthewhileinthesamemirthless，wheezykeythatgreetedmeonmyfirstattempttoforcetheshoals。Andso，inasemi-comatosecondition，Ilaytillnoon。
Then，beingonlyamanafterall，Ifelthungry，andintimatedasmuchtoGungaDass，whomIhadbeguntoregardasmynaturalprotector。Followingtheimpulseoftheouterworldwhendealingwithnatives，Iputmyhandintomypocketanddrewoutfourannas。Theabsurdityofthegiftstruckmeatonce，andIwasabouttoreplacethemoney。
GungaDass，however，wasofadifferentopinion。"Givemethemoney，"saidhe;’~allyouhave，orIwillgethelp，andwewillkillyou！"Allthisasifitwerethemostnaturalthingintheworld！
ABriton’sfirstimpulse，Ibelieve，istoguardthecontentsofhispockets;butamoment’sreflectionconvincedmeofthefutilityofdifferingwiththeonemanwhohaditinhispowertomakemecomfortable;andwithwhosehelpitwaspossiblethatImighteventuallyescapefromthecrater。Igavehimallthemoneyinmypossession，Rs。9-8-5-ninerupeeseightannasandfivepie-forI
alwayskeepsmallchangeasbakshishwhenIamincamp。GungaDassclutchedthecoins，andhidthematonceinhisraggedloincloth，hisexpressionchangingtosomethingdiabolicalashelookedroundtoassurehimselfthatnoonehadobservedus。
"NowIwillgiveyousomethingtoeat，"saidhe。
WhatpleasurethepossessionofmymoneycouldhaveaffordedhimIamunabletosay;butinasmuchasitdidgivehimevidentdelightIwasnotsorrythatIhadpartedwithitsoreadily，forIhadnodoubtthathewouldhavehadmekilledifIhadrefused。Onedoesnotprotestagainstthevagariesofadenofwildbeasts;andmycompanionswerelowerthananybeasts。WhileIdevouredwhatGungaDasshadprovided，acoarsechapattiandacupfulofthefoulwell-water，thepeopleshowednotthefaintestsignofcuriosity-thatcuriositywhichissorampant，asarule，inanIndianvillage。
Icouldevenfancythattheydespisedme。Atalleventstheytreatedmewiththemostchillingindifference，andGungaDasswasnearlyasbad。Ipliedhimwithquestionsabouttheterriblevillage，andreceivedextremelyunsatisfactoryanswers。SofarasIcouldgather，ithadbeeninexistencefromtimeimmemorial-whenceI
concludedthatitwasatleastacenturyold-andduringthattimenoonehadeverbeenknowntiescapefromit。[Ihadtocontrolmyselfherewithbothhands，lesttheblindterrorshouldlayholdofmeasecondtimeanddrivemeravingroundthecrater。]GungaDasstookamaliciouspleasureinemphasizingthispointandinwatchingmewince。NothingthatIcoulddowouldinducehimtotellmewhothemysterious"They"were。
"Itissoordered，"hewouldreply，"andIdonotyetknowanyonewhohasdisobeyedtheorders。"
"OnlywaittillmyservantsfindthatIammissing，"Iretorted，"andIpromiseyouthatthisplaceshallbeclearedoffthefaceoftheearth，andI’llgiveyoualessonincivility，too，myfriend。"
"Yourservantswouldbetorninpiecesbeforetheycamenearthisplace;and，besides，youaredead，mydearfriend。Itisnotyourfault，ofcourse，butnonethelessyouaredeadandburied。"
Atirregularintervalssuppliesoffood，Iwastold，weredroppeddownfromthelandsideintotheamphitheatre，andtheinhabitantsfoughtforthemlikewildbeasts。Whenamanfelthisdeathcomingonheretreatedtohislairanddiedthere。Thebodywassometimesdraggedoutoftheholeandthrownontothesand，orallowedtorotwhereitlayThephrase"thrownontothesand"caughtmyattention，andI
askedGungaDasswhetherthissortofthingwasnotlikelytobreedapestilence。
"That。"saidhe。withanotherofhiswheezychuckles，"youmayseeforyourselfsubsequently。Youwillhavemuchtimetomakeobservations。"
Whereat，tohisgreatdelight，Iwincedoncemoreandhastilycontinuedtheconversation：-"Andhowdoyouliveherefromdaytoday？Whatdoyoudo？"Thequestionelicitedexactlythesameanswerasbeforecoupledwiththeinformationthat"thisplaceislikeyourEuropeanheaven;thereisneithermarryingnorgivinginmarriage。"
GungaDasshadbeeneducatedataMissionSchool，and，ashehimselfadmitted，hadheonlychangedhisreligion’~likeawiseman，"mighthaveavoidedthelivinggravewhichwasnowhisportion。ButaslongasIwaswithhimIfancyhewashappy。
HerewasaSahib，arepresentativeofthedominantrace，helplessasachildandcompletelyatthemercyofhisnativeneighbors。Inadeliberatelazywayhesethimselftotorturemeasaschoolboywoulddevotearapturoushalf-hourtowatchingtheagoniesofanimpaledbeetle，orasaferretinablindburrowmightgluehimselfcomfortablytotheneckofarabbit。Theburdenofhisconversationwasthattherewasnoescape’ofnokindwhatever，"
andthatIshouldstayheretillIdiedandwas"thrownontothesand。"IfitwerepossibletoforejudgetheconversationoftheDamnedontheadventofanewsoulintheirabode，IshouldsaythattheywouldspeakasGungaDassdidtomethroughoutthatlongafternoon。Iwaspowerlesstoprotestoranswer;allmyenergiesbeingdevotedtoastruggleagainsttheinexplicableterrorthatthreatenedtooverwhelmmeagainandagain。IcancomparethefeelingtonothingexceptthestrugglesofamanagainsttheoverpoweringnauseaoftheChannelpassage-onlymyagonywasofthespiritandinfinitelymoreterrible。
Asthedayworeon，theinhabitantsbegantoappearinfullstrengthtocatchtheraysoftheafternoonsun，whichwerenowslopinginatthemouthofthecrater。Theyassembledinlittleknots，andtalkedamongthemselveswithouteventhrowingaglanceinmydirection。Aboutfouro’clock，asfarasIcouldjudgeGungaDassroseanddivedintohislairforamoment，emergingwithalivecrowinhishands。Thewretchedbirdwasinamostdraggledanddeplorablecondition，butseemedtobeinnowayafraidofitsmaster，Advancingcautiouslytotheriverfront，GungaDasssteppedfromtussocktotussockuntilhehadreachedasmoothpatchofsanddirectlyinthelineoftheboat’sfire。Theoccupantsoftheboattooknonotice。Herehestopped，and，withacoupleofdexterousturnsofthewrist，peggedthebirdonitsbackwithoutstretchedwings。Aswasonlynatural，thecrowbegantoshriekatonceandbeattheairwithitsclaws。Inafewsecondstheclamorhadattractedtheattentionofabevyofwildcrowsonashoalafewhundredyardsaway，wheretheywerediscussingsomethingthatlookedlikeacorpse。Halfadozencrowsflewoveratoncetoseewhatwasgoingon，andalso，asitproved，toattackthepinionedbird。GungaDass，whohadlaindownonatussock，motionedtometobequiet，thoughIfancythiswasUneedlessprecaution。Inamoment，andbeforeIcouldseehowithappened，awildcrow，whohadgrappledwiththeshriekingandhelplessbird，wasentangledinthelatter’sclaws，swiftlydisengagedbyGungaDass，andpeggeddownbesideitscompanioninadversity。Curiosity，itseemed，overpoweredtherestoftheflock，andalmostbeforeGungaDassandIhadtimetowithdrawtothetussock，twomorecaptiveswerestrugglingintheupturnedclawsofthedecoys。Sothechase-ifI
cangiveitsodignifiedaname-continueduntilGungaDasshadcapturedsevencrows。Fiveofthemhethrottledatonce，reservingtwoforfurtheroperationsanotherday。Iwasagooddealimpressedbythis，tome，novelmethodofsecuringfood，andcomplimentedGungaDassonhisskill。
"Itisnothingtodo，"saidhe。"Tomorrowyoumustdoitforme。
YouarestrongerthanIam。"
ThiscalmassumptionofsuperiorityUpsetmenotalittle，andI
answeredperemptorily;~"Indeed，youoldruffian！WhatdoyouthinkIhavegivenyoumoneyfor？"
"Verywell，"wastheunmovedreply。"Perhapsnotto-morrow，northedayafter，norsubsequently;butintheend，andformanyyears，youwillcatchcrowsandeatcrows，andyouwillthankyourEuropeanGodthatyouhavecrowstocatchandeat。"
Icouldhavecheerfullystrangledhimforthis;butjudgeditbestunderthecircumstancestosmothermyresentment。AnhourlaterIwaseatingoneofthecrows;and，asGungaDasshadsaid，thankingmyGodthatIhadacrowtoeat。NeveraslongasIliveshallIforgetthateveningmeal。Thewholepopulationweresquattingonthehardsandplatformoppositetheirdens，huddledovertinyfiresofrefuseanddriedrushes。Death，havingoncelaidhishanduponthesemenandforbornetostrike，seemedtostandalooffromthemnow;formostofourcompanywereoldmen，bentandwornandtwistedwithyears，andwomenagedtoallappearanceastheFatesthemselves。Theysattogetherinknotsandtalked-Godonlyknowswhattheyfoundtodiscuss-inlowequabletones，curiouslyincontrasttothestridentbabblewithwhichnativesareaccustomedtomakedayhideous。Nowandthenanaccessofthatsuddenfurywhichhadpossessedmeinthemorningwouldlayholdonamanorwoman;andwithyellsandimprecationsthesuffererwouldattackthesteepslopeuntil，baffledandbleeding，hefellbackontheplatformincapableofmovingalimb。Theotherswouldneverevenraisetheireyeswhenthishappened，asmentoowellawareofthefutilityoftheirfellows’attemptsandweariedwiththeiruselessrepetition。Isawfoursuchoutburstsinthecourseoftheevening。
GungaDasstookaneminentlybusiness-likeviewofmysituation，andwhileweweredining-Icanaffordtolaughattherecollectionnow，butitwaspainfulenoughatthetime-
propoundedthetermsonwhichhewouldconsentto"do"forme。
Myninerupeeseightannas，heargued，attherateofthreeannasaday，wouldprovidemewithfoodforfifty-onedays，oraboutsevenweeks;thatistosay，hewouldbewillingtocaterformeforthatlengthoftime。AttheendofitIwastolookaftermyself。Forafurtherconsideration-videlicetmyboots-hewouldbewillingtoallowmetooccupythedennexttohisown，andwouldsupplymewithasmuchdriedgrassforbeddingashecouldspare。
"Verywell，GungaDass，"Ireplied;"tothefirsttermsIcheerfullyagree，but，asthereisnothingonearthtopreventmykillingyouasyousithereandtakingeverythingthatyouhave"（Ithoughtofthetwoinvaluablecrowsatthetime），"IflatlyrefusetogiveyoumybootsandshalltakewhicheverdenIplease。"
Thestrokewasaboldone，andIwasgladwhenIsawthatithadsucceeded。GungaDasschangedhistoneimmediately，anddisavowedallintentionofaskingformyboots。AtthetimeitdidnotstrikemeasatallstrangethatI，aCivilEngineer，amanofthirteenyears’standingintheService，and，Itrust，anaverageEnglishman，shouldthuscalmlythreatenmurderandviolenceagainstthemanwhohad，foraconsiderationitistrue，takenmeunderhiswing。Ihadlefttheworld，itseemed，forcenturies。IwasascertainthenasIamnowofmyownexistence，thatintheaccursedsettlementtherewasnolawsavethatofthestrongest;
thatthelivingdeadmenhadthrownbehindthemeverycanonoftheworldwhichhadcastthemout;andthatIhadtodependformyownlifeonmystrengthandvigilancealone。Thecrewoftheill-fatedMignonettearetheonlymenwhowouldunderstandmyframeofmind。"Atpresent，"Iarguedtomyself，"Iamstrongandamatchforsixofthesewretches。ItisimperativelynecessarythatIshould，formyownsake，keepbothhealthandstrengthuntilthehourofmyreleasecomes-ifiteverdoes。"
Fortifiedwiththeseresolutions，IateanddrankasmuchasIcould，andmadeGungaDassunderstandthatIintendedtobehismaster，andthattheleastsignofinsubordinationonhispartwouldbevisitedwiththeonlypunishmentIhaditinmypowertoinflict-suddenandviolentdeath。ShortlyafterthisIwenttobed。
Thatistosay，GungaDassgavemeadoublearmfulofdriedbentswhichIthrustdownthemouthofthelairtotherightofhis，andfollowedmyself，feetforemost;theholerunningaboutninefeetintothesandwithaslightdownwardinclination，andbeingneatlyshoredwithtimbers。Frommyden，whichfacedtheriver-front，I
wasabletowatchthewatersoftheSutlejflowingpastunderthelightofayoungmoonandcomposemyselftosleepasbestI
might。
ThehorrorsofthatnightIshallneverforget。Mydenwasnearlyasnarrowasacoffin，andthesideshadbeenwornsmoothandgreasybythecontactofinnumerablenakedbodies，addedtowhichitsmelledabominably。Sleepwasaltogetheroutofquestiontooneinmyexcitedframeofmind。Asthenightworeon，itseemedthattheentireamphitheatrewasfilledwithlegionsofuncleandevilsthat，troopingupfromtheshoalsbelow，mockedtheunfortunatesintheirlairs。
PersonallyIamnotofanimaginativetemperament，-veryfewEngineersare，-butonthatoccasionIwasascompletelyprostratedwithnervousterrorasanywoman。Afterhalfanhourorso，however，Iwasableoncemoretocalmlyreviewmychancesofescape。Anyexitbythesteepsandwallswas，ofcourse，impracticable。Ihadbeenthoroughlyconvincedofthissometimebefore。Itwaspossible，justpossible，thatImight，intheuncertainmoonlight，safelyrunthegauntletoftherifleshots。TheplacewassofullofterrorformethatIwaspreparedtoundergoanyriskinleavingit。Imaginemydelight，then，whenaftercreepingstealthilytotheriver-frontIfoundthattheinfernalboatwasnotthere。Myfreedomlaybeforemeinthenextfewsteps！
Bywalkingouttothefirstshallowpoolthatlayatthefootoftheprojectinglefthornofthehorseshoe，Icouldwadeacross，turntheflankofthecrater，andmakemywayinland。Withoutamoment’shesitationImarchedbrisklypastthetussockswhereGungaDasshadsnaredthecrows，andoutinthedirectionofthesmoothwhitesandbeyond。Myfirststepfromthetuftsofdriedgrassshowedmehowutterlyfutilewasanyhopeofescape;for，asIputmyfootdown，Ifeltanindescribabledrawing，suckingmotionofthesandbelow。Anothermomentandmylegwasswallowedupnearlytotheknee。Inthemoonlightthewholesurfaceofthesandseemedtobeshakenwithdevilishdelightatmydisappointment。Istruggledclear，sweatingwithterrorandexertion，backtothetussocksbehindmeandfellonmyface。
Myonlymeansofescapefromthesemicirclewasprotectedwithaquicksand！
HowlongIlayIhavenotthefaintestidea;butIwasrousedatlastbythemalevolentchuckleofGungaDassatmyear"Iwouldadviseyou，ProtectorofthePoor"（theruffianwasspeakingEnglish）"toreturntoyourhouse。Itisunhealthytoliedownhere。
Moreover，whentheboatreturns，youwillmostcertainlyberifledat。"Hestoodovermeinthedimlightofthedawn，chucklingandlaughingtohimself。Suppressingmyfirstimpulsetocatchthemanbytheneckandthrowhimontothequicksand，Irosesullenlyandfollowedhimtotheplatformbelowtheburrows。
Suddenly，andfutilleyasIthoughtwhileIspoke，Iasked-"GungaDass，whatisthegoodoftheboatifIcan’tgetoutanyhow？"I
recollectthateveninmydeepesttroubleIhadbeenspeculatingvaguelyonthewasteofam-munitioninguardinganalreadywellprotectedforeshore。
GungaDasslaughedagainandmadeanswer：-"Theyhavetheboatonlyir，daytime。Itisforthereasonthatthereisaway。Ihopeweshallhavethepleasureofyourcompanyformuchlongertime。Itisapleasantspotwhenyouhavebeenheresomeyearsandeatenroastcrowlongenough。"
Istaggered，numbedandhelpless，towardthefetidburrowallottedtome，andfellasleep。AnhourorsolaterIwasawakenedbyapiercingscream-theshrill，high-pitchedscreamofahorseinpain。
Thosewhohaveonceheardthatwillneverforgetthesound。I
foundsomelittledifficultyinscramblingoutoftheburrow。WhenIwasintheopen，IsawPornic，mypooroldPornic，lyingdeadonthesandysoil。HowtheyhadkilledhimIcannotguess。GungaDassexplainedthathorsewasbetterthancrow，and"greatestgoodofgreatestnumberispoliticalmaxim。WearenowRepublic，MisterJukes，andyouareentitledtoafairshareofthebeast。Ifyoulike，wewillpassavoteofthanks。ShallIpropose？"
Yes，wewereaRepublicindeed！ARepublicofwildbeastspennedatthebottomofapit，toeatandfightandsleeptillwedied。Iattemptednoprotestofanykind，butsatdownandstaredatthehideoussightinfrontofme。Inlesstimealmostthanittakesmetowritethis，Pornic’sbodywasdivided，insomeunclearwayorother;themenandwomenhaddraggedthefragmentsontotheplatformandwerepreparingtheirnormalmeal。GungaDasscookedmine。ThealmostirresistibleimpulsetoflyatthesandwallsuntilIwasweariedlaidholdofmeafresh，andIhadtostruggleagainstitwithallmymight。GungaDasswasoffensivelyjoculartillItoldhimthatifheaddressedanotherremarkofanykindwhatevertomeIshouldstranglehimwherehesat。Thissilencedhimtillsilencebecameinsupportable，andIbadehimsaysomething。
"YouwillliveheretillyoudieliketheotherFeringhi，"hesaid，coolly，watchingmeoverthefragmentofgristlethathewasgnawing。
"WhatotherSahib，youswine？Speakatonce，anddon’tstoptotellmealie。"
"Heisoverthere，"answeredGungaDass，pointingtoaburrow-mouthaboutfourdoorstatheleftofmyown。"Youcanseeforyourself。Hediedintheburrowasyouwilldie，andIwilldie，andasallthesemenandwomenandtheonechildwillalsodie。"
"Forpity’ssaketellmeallyouknowabouthim。Whowashe？
Whendidhecome，andwhendidhedie？"
Thisappealwasaweaksteponmypart。GungaDassonlyleeredandreplied：-"Iwillnot-unlessyougivemesomethingfirst。"
ThenIrecollectedwhereIwas，andstruckthemanbetweentheeyes，partiallystunninghim。Hesteppeddownfromtheplatformatonce，and，cringingandfawningandweepingandattemptingtoembracemyfeet，ledmeroundtotheburrowwhichhehadindicated。
"Iknownothingwhateveraboutthegentleman。YourGodbemywitnessthatIdonot。Hewasasanxioustoescapeasyouwere，andhewasshotfromtheboat，thoughwealldidallthingstepreventhimfromattempting。Hewasshothere。"GungaDasslaidhishandonhisleanstomachandbowedtotheearth。
"Well，andwhatthen？Goon！"
"Andthen-andthen，YourHonor，wecarriedhimintohishouseandgavehimwater，andputwetclothsonthewound，andhelaiddowninhishouseandgaveuptheghost。"
"Inhowlong？Inhowlong？"
"Abouthalfanhour，afterhereceivedhiswound。IcallVishnutowitness，"yelledthewretchedman，"thatIdideverythingforhim。
Everythingwhichwaspossible，thatIdid！"
Hethrewhimselfdownonthegroundandclaspedmyankles。ButIhadmydoubtsaboutGungaDass’sbenevolence，andkickedhimoffashelayprotesting。
"Ibelieveyourobbedhimofeverythinghehad。ButIcanfindoutinaminuteortwo。HowlongwastheSahibhe’~？"
"Nearlyayearandahalf。Ithinkhemusthavegonemad。ButhearmeswearProtectorofthePoor！Won’tYourHonorhearmeswearthatInevertouchedanarticlethatbelongedtohim？WhatisYourWorshipgoingtodo？"
IhadtakenGungaDassbythewaistandhadhauledhimontotheplatformoppositethedesertedburrow。AsIdidsoIthoughtofmywretchedfellow-prisoner’sunspeakablemiseryamongallthesehorrorsforeighteenmonths，andthefinalagonyofdyinglikearatinahole，withabullet-woundinthestomach。GungaDassfanciedIwasgoingtokillhimandhowledpitifully。Therestofthepopulation，intheplethorathatfollowsafullfleshmeal，watcheduswithoutstirring。
"Goinside，GungaDass，"saidI，"andfetchitout。"
Iwasfeelingsickandfaintwithhorrornow。GungaDassnearlyrolledofftheplatformandhowledaloud。
"ButIamBrahmin，Sahib-ahigh-casteBrahmin。Byyoursoul，byyourfather’ssoul，donotmakemedothisthing！"
"BrahminornoBrahmin，bymysoulandmyfather’ssoul，inyougo！"Isaid，and，seizinghimbytheshoulders，Icrammedhisheadintothemouthoftheburrow，kickedtherestofhimin，and，sittingdown，coveredmyfacewithmyhands。
AttheendofafewminutesIheardarustleandacreak;thenGungaDassinasobbing，chokingwhisperspeakingtohimself;
thenasoftthud-andIuncoveredmyeyes。
Thedrysandhadturnedthecorpseentrustedtoitskeepingintoayellow-brownmummy。ItoldGungaDasstostandoffwhileI
examinedit。
Thebody-cladinanolive-greenhunting-suitmuchstainedandworn，withleatherpadsontheshoulders-wasthatofamanbetweenthirtyandforty，abovemiddleheight，withlight，sandyhair，longmustache，andaroughunkemptbeard。Theleftcanineoftheupperjawwasmissing，andaportionofthelobeoftherightearwasgone。Onthesecondfingerofthelefthandwasaring-ashield-shapedbloodstonesetingold，withamonogramthatmighthavebeeneither"B。K。"or"B。L。"Onthethirdfingeroftherighthandwasasilverringintheshapeofacoiledcobra，muchwornandtarnished。GungaDassdepositedahandfuloftrifleshehadpickedoutoftheburrowatmyfeet，and，coveringthefaceofthebodywithmyhandkerchief，Iturnedtoexaminethese。Igivethefulllistinthehopethatitmayleadtotheidentificationoftheunfortunateman：
1。Bowlofabriarwoodpipe，serratedattheedge;muchwornandblackened;boundwithstringatthecrew。
2。Twopatent-leverkeys;wardsofbothbroken。
3。Tortoise-shell-handledpenknife，silverornickel。name-plate，markedwithmonogram"B。K。"
4。Envelope，postmarkUndecipherable，bearingaVictorianstamp，addressedto"MissMon-"（restillegible）-"ham"-"nt。"
5。Imitationcrocodile-skinnotebookwithpencil。Firstforty-fivepagesblank;fourandahalfillegible;fifteenothersfilledwithprivatememorandarelatingchieflytothreepersons-aMrs。L。
Singleton，abbreviatedseveraltimesto"LotSingle，""Mrs。S。
May，"and"Garmison，"referredtoinplacesas"Jerry"or"Jack。"
6。Handleofsmall-sizedhunting-knife。Bladesnappedshort。
Buck’shorn，diamondcut，withswivelandringonthebutt;
fragmentofcottoncordattached。
ItmustnotbesupposedthatIinventoriedallthesethingsonthespotasfullyasIhaveherewrittenthemdown。Thenotebookfirstattractedmyattention，andIputitinmypocketwithaviewofstudyingitlateron。
TherestofthearticlesIconveyedtomyburrowforsafety’ssake，andtherebeingamethodicalman，Iinventoriedthem。IthenreturnedtothecorpseandorderedGungaDasstohelpmetocarryitouttotheriver-front。Whilewewereengagedinthis，theexplodedshellofanoldbrowncartridgedroppedoutofoneofthepocketsandrolledatmyfeet。GungaDasshadnotseenit;andI
felltothinkingthatamandoesnotcarryexplodedcartridge-cases，especially"browns，"whichwillnotbearloadingtwice，aboutwithhimwhenshooting。Inotherwords，thatcartridge-casehadbeenfiredinsidethecrater。Consequentlytheremustbeagunsomewhere。IwasonthevergeofaskingGungaDass，butcheckedmyself，knowingthathewouldlie。Welaidthebodydownontheedgeofthequicksandbythetussocks。Itwasmyintentiontopushitoutandletitbeswallowedup-theonlypossiblemodeofburialthatIcouldthinkof。IorderedGungaDasstogoaway。
ThenIgingerlyputthecorpse。outonthequicksand。Indoingso。
itwaslyingfacedownward，Itorethefrailandrottenkhakishooting-coatopen，disclosingahideouscavityintheback。Ihavealreadytoldyouthatthedrysandhad，asitwere，mummifiedthebody。Amoment’sglanceshowedthatthegapingholehadbeencausedbyagun-shotwound;thegunmusthavebeenfiredwiththemuzzlealmosttouchingtheback。Theshooting-coat，beingintact，hadbeendrawnoverthebodyafterdeath，whichmusthavebeeninstantaneous。Thesecretofthepoorwretch’sdeathwasplaintomeinaflash。Someoneofthecrater，presumablyGungaDass，musthaveshothimwithhisowngun——thegunthatfittedthebrowncartridges。Hehadneverattemptedtoescapeinthefaceoftherifle-firefromtheboat。
Ipushedthecorpseouthastily，andsawitsinkfromsightliterallyinafewseconds。IshudderedasIwatched。Inadazed，half-consciouswayIturnedtoperusethenotebook。Astainedanddiscoloredslipofpaperbadbeeninsertedbetweenthebindingandtheback，anddroppedoutasIopenedthepages。Thisiswhatitcontained：-"Fouroutfromcrow-clump：threeleft;nineout;tworight;threeback;twoleft;fourteenout;twoleft;sevenout;oneleft;nineback;tworight;sixback;fourright;sevenback。"Thepaperhadbeenburnedandcharredattheedges。WhatitmeantI
couldnotunderstand。Isatdownonthedriedbentsturningitoverandoverbetweenmyfingers，untilIwasawareofGungaDassstandingimmediatelybehindmewithglowingeyesandoutstretchedhands。
"Haveyougotit？"hepanted。"Willyounotletmelankatitalso？IswearthatIwillreturnit。"
"Gotwhat？Returnwhat？"asked。
"Thatwhichyouhaveinyourhands。Itwillhelpusboth。"Hestretchedouthislong，bird-liketalons，tremblingwitheagerness。
"Icouldneverfindit，"hecontinued。"Hehadsecreteditabouthisperson。ThereforeIshothim，butneverthelessIwasunabletoobtainit。"
GungaDasshadquiteforgottenhislittlefictionabouttherifle-bullet。Ireceivedtheinformationperfectlycalmly。
MoralityisbluntedbyconsortingwiththeDeadwhoarealive。
"Whatonearthareyouravingabout？Whatisityouwantmetogiveyou？"
"Thepieceofpaperinthenotebook。Itwillhelpusboth。Oh，youfool！Youfool！Canyounotseewhatitwilldoforus？Weshallescape！"
Hisvoicerosealmosttoascream，andhedancedwithexcitementbeforeme。IownIwasmovedatthechanceofmygettingaway。
"Don’tskip！Explainyourself。Doyoumeantosaythatthisslipofpaperwillhelpus？Whatdoesitmean？"
"Readitaloud！Readitaloud！IbegandIprayyoutoreaditaloud。"
Ididso。GungaDasslisteneddelightedly，anddrewanirregularlineinthesandwithhisfingers。
"Seenow！Itwasthelengthofhisgun-barrelswithoutthestock。I
havethosebarrels。Fourgun-barrelsoutfromtheplacewhereI
caughtcrowsStraightout;doyoufollowme？Thenthreeleft-Ah！
howwellIrememberwhenthatmanworkeditoutnightafternightThennineout，andsoon。Outisalwaysstraightbeforeyouacrossthequicksand。HetoldmesobeforeIkilledhim。"
’~Butifyouknewallthiswhydidn’tyougetoutbefore？"
"Ididnotknowit。Hetoldmethathewasworkingitoutayearandahalfago，andhowhewasworkingitoutnightafternightwhentheboatbadgoneaway，andhecouldgetoutnear~bequicksandsafely。Thenhesaidthatwewouldgetawaytogether。
ButIwasafraidthathewouldleavemebehindonenightwhenhehadworkeditallout，andsoIshothim。Besides，itisnotadvisablethatthemenwhooncegetinhereshouldescape。OnlyI，andIamaBrahmin。"
TheprospectofescapehadbroughtGungaDass’scastebacktohim。Hestoodup，walkedaboutandgesticulatedviolently。
EventuallyImanagedtomakehimtalksoberly，andhetoldmehowthisEnglishmanhadspentsixmonthsnightafternightinexploring，inchbyinch，thepassageacrossthequicksand;howhehaddeclaredittobesimplicityitselfuptowithinabouttwentyyardsoftheriverbankafterturningtheflankofthelefthornofthehorseshoe。ThismuchhehadevidentlynotcompletedwhenGungaDassshothimwithhisowngun。
InmyfrenzyofdelightatthepossibilitiesofescapeIrecollectshakinghandseffusivelywithGungaDass，afterwehaddecidedthatweweretomakeanattempttogetawaythatverynight。Itwaswearyworkwaitingthroughouttheafternoon。
Aboutteno’clock，asfarasIcouldjudge，whentheMoonhadjustrisenabovethelipofthecrater，GungaDassmadeamoveforhisburrowtobringoutthegun-barrelswherebytomeasureourpath。
Alltheotherwretchedinhabitantshadretiredtotheirlairslongago。Theguardianboatdrifteddownstreamsomehoursbefore，andwewereutterlyalonebythecrow-clump。GungaDass，whilecarryingthegun-barrels，letslipthepieceofpaperwhichwastobeourguide。Istoopeddownhastilytorecoverit，and，asIdidso，I
wasawarethatthediabolicalBrahminwasaimingaviolentblowatthebackofmyheadwiththegun-barrels。Itwastoolatetoturnround。Imusthavereceivedtheblowsomewhereonthenapeofmyneck。Ahundredthousandfierystarsdancedbeforemyeyes，andIfellforwardssenselessattheedgeof，thequicksand。
WhenIrecoveredconsciousness，theMoonwasgoingdown，andI
wassensibleofintolerablepaininthebackofmyhead。GungaDasshaddisappearedandmymouthwasfullofblood。IlaydownagainandprayedthatImightdiewithoutmoreado。ThentheunreasoningfurywhichIhadbeforementioned，laidholduponme，andIstaggeredinlandtowardthewallsofthecrater。Itseemedthatsomeonewascallingtomeinawhisper-"Sahib！
Sahib！Sahib！"exactlyasmybearerusedtocallmeinthemorningIfanciedthatIwasdeliriousuntilahandfulofsandfellatmyfeet。
ThenIlookedupandsawaheadpeeringdownintotheamphitheatre-theheadofDunnoo，mydog-boy，whoattendedtomycollies。Assoonashehadattractedmyattention，hehelduphishandandshowedarope。Imotioned。staggeringtoandfroforthewhile，thatheshouldthrowitdown。Itwasacoupleofleatherpunkah-ropesknottedtogether，withaloopatoneend。Islippedtheloopovermyheadandundermyarms;heardDunnoourgesomethingforward;wasconsciousthatIwasbeingdragged，facedownward，upthesteepsandslope，andthenextinstantfoundmyselfchokedandhalffaintingonthesandhillsoverlookingthecrater。Dunnoo，withhisfaceashygreyinthemoonlight，imploredmenottostaybuttogetbacktomytentatonce。
ItseemsthathehadtrackedPornic’sfootprintsfourteenmilesacrossthesandstothecrater;hadreturnedandtoldmyservants，whoflatlyrefusedtomeddlewithanyone，whiteorblack，oncefallenintothehideousVillageoftheDead;whereuponDunnoohadtakenoneofmyponiesandacoupleofpunkah-ropes，returnedtothecrater，andhauledmeoutasIhavedescribed。
Tocutalongstoryshort，Dunnooisnowmypersonalservantonagoldmohuramonth-asumwhichIstillthinkfartoolittlefortheserviceshehasrendered。Nothingonearthwillinducemetogonearthatdevilishsnotagain，ortorevealitswhereaboutsmoreclearlythanIhavedone。OfGungaDassIhaveneverfoundatrace，nordoIwishtodo。Mysolemotiveingivingthistobepublishedisthehopethatsomeonemaypossiblyidentify，fromthedetailsandtheinventorywhichIhavegivenabove，thecorpseofthemanintheolive-greenhunting-suit。
THEMANWHOWOULDBEKING
BrothertoaPrinceandfellowtoabeggarifhebefoundworthyTheLaw，asquoted，laysdownafairconductoflife，andonenoteasytofollow。Ihavebeenfellowtoabeggaragainandagainundercircumstanceswhichpreventedeitherofusfindingoutwhethertheotherwasworthy。IhavestilltobebrothertoaPrince，thoughIoncecameneartokinshipwithwhatmighthavebeenaveritableKing，andwaspromisedthereversionofaKingdom——
army，law-courts，revenue，andpolicyallcomplete。But，to-day，I
greatlyfearthatmyKingisdead，andifIwantacrownImustgohuntitformyself。
Thebeginningofeverythingwasinarailway-trainupontheroadtoMhowfromAjmir。TherehadbeenaDeficitintheBudget，whichnecessitatedtravelling，notSecond-class，whichisonlyhalfasdearasFirst-Class，butbyIntermediate，whichisveryawfulindeed。TherearenocushionsintheIntermediateclass，andthepopulationareeitherIntermediate，whichisEurasian，ornative，whichforalongnightjourneyisnasty，orLoafer，whichisamusingthoughintoxicated。Intermediatesdonotbuyfromrefreshment-rooms。Theycarrytheirfoodinbundlesandpots，andbuysweetsfromthenativesweetmeat-sellers，anddrinktheroadsidewater。ThisiswhyinhotweatherIntermediatesaretakenoutofthecarriagesdead，andinallweathersaremostproperlylookeddownupon。
MyparticularIntermediatehappenedtobeemptytillIreachedNasirabad，whenthebigblack-browedgentlemaninshirt-sleevesentered，and，followingthecustomofIntermediates，passedthetimeofday。Hewasawandererandavagabondlikemyself，butwithaneducatedtasteforwhisky。Hetoldtalesofthingshehadseenanddone，ofout-of-the-waycornersoftheEmpireintowhichhehadpenetrated，andofadventuresinwhichheriskedhislifeforafewdays’food。
"IfIndiawasfilledwithmenlikeyouandme，notknowingmorethanthecrowswherethey’dgettheirnextday’srations，itisn’tseventymillionsofrevenuethelandwouldbepaying——it’ssevenhundredmillions，"saidhe;andasIlookedathismouthandchinI
wasdisposedtoagreewithhim。
Wetalkedpolitics，——thepoliticsofLoaferdomthatseesthingsfromtheundersidewherethelathandplasterisnotsmoothedoff，——andwetalkedpostalarrangementsbecausemyfriendwantedtosendatelegrambackfromthenextstationtoAjmir，theturning-
offplacefromtheBombaytotheMhowlineasyoutravelwestward。Myfriendhadnomoneybeyondeightannaswhichhewantedfordinner，andIhadnomoneyatall，owingtothehitchintheBudgetbeforementioned。Further，Iwasgoingintoawildernesswhere，thoughIshouldresumetouchwiththeTreasury，therewerenotelegraphoffices。Iwas，therefore，unabletohelphiminanyway。
"WemightthreatenaStation-master，andmakehimsendawireontick，"saidmyfriend，"butthat’dmeaninquiriesforyouandforme，andI’vegotmyhandsfullthesedays。Didyousayyouweretravellingbackalongthislinewithinanydays？"
"Withinten，"Isaid。
"Can’tyoumakeiteight？"saidhe。"Mineisratherurgentbusiness。"
"Icansendyourtelegramswithintendaysifthatwillserveyou，"I
said。
"Icouldn’ttrustthewiretofetchhim，nowIthinkofit。It’sthisway。HeleavesDelhionthe23rdforBombay。Thatmeanshe’llberunningthroughAjmiraboutthenightofthe23rd。"
"ButI’mgoingintotheIndianDesert，"Iexplained。
"Wellandgood，"saidhe。"You’llbechangingatMarwarJunctiontogetintoJodhporeterritory，——youmustdothat，——andhe’llbecomingthroughMarwarJunctionintheearlymorningofthe24thbytheBombayMail。CanyoubeatMarwarJunctiononthattime？
’Twon’tbeinconveniencingyou，becauseIknowthatthere’spreciousfewpickingstobegotoutoftheseCentralIndiaStates——
eventhoughyoupretendtobecorrespondentofthe’Backwoodsman。’"
"Haveyouevertriedthattrick？"Iasked。
"Againandagain，buttheResidentsfindyouout，andthenyougetescortedtotheBorderbeforeyou’vetimetogetyourknifeintothem。Butaboutmyfriendhere。Imustgivehimawordo’mouthtotellhimwhat’scometome，orelsehewon’tknowwheretogo。I
wouldtakeitmorethankindofyouifyouwastocomeoutofCentralIndiaintimetocatchhimatMarwarJunction，andsaytohim，’HehasgoneSouthfortheweek。’He’llknowwhatthatmeans。He’sabigmanwitharedbeard，andagreatswellheis。
You’llfindhimsleepinglikeagentlemanwithallhisluggageroundhiminaSecond-classapartment。Butdon’tyoubeafraid。
Slipdownthewindowandsay，’HehasgoneSouthfortheweek，’
andhe’lltumble。It’sonlycuttingyourtimeofstayinthosepartsbytwodays。Iaskyouasastranger——goingtotheWest，"hesaid，withemphasis。
"Wherehaveyoucomefrom？"saidI。
"FromtheEast，"saidhe，"andIamhopingthatyouwillgivehimthemessageontheSquare——forthesakeofmyMotheraswellasyourown。"
Englishmenarenotusuallysoftenedbyappealstothememoryoftheirmothers;butforcertainreasons，whichwillbefullyapparent，Isawfittoagree。
"It’smorethanalittlematter，"saidhe，"andthat’swhyIaskedyoutodoit——andnowIknowthatIcandependonyoudoingit。A
Second-classcarriageatMarwarJunction，andared-hairedmanasleepinit。You’llbesuretoremember。Igetoutatthenextstation，andImustholdontheretillhecomesorsendsmewhatI
want。"
"I’llgivethemessageifIcatchhim，"Isaid，"andforthesakeofyourMotheraswellasmineI’llgiveyouawordofadvice。Don’ttrytoruntheCentralIndiaStatesjustnowasthecorrespondentofthe’Backwoodsman。’There’sarealoneknockingabouthere，anditmightleadtotrouble。"
"Thankyou，"saidhe，simply;"andwhenwilltheswinebegone？I
can’tstarvebecausehe’sruiningmywork。IwantedtogetholdoftheDegumberRajahdownhereabouthisfather’swidow，andgivehimajump。"
"Whatdidhedotohisfather’swidow，then？"
"Filledherupwithredpepperandslipperedhertodeathasshehungfromabeam。Ifoundthatoutmyself，andI’mtheonlymanthatwoulddaregoingintotheStatetogethush-moneyforit。
They’lltrytopoisonme，sameastheydidinChortumnawhenI
wentonthelootthere。Butyou’llgivethemanatMarwarJunctionmymessage？"
Hegotoutatalittleroadsidestation，andIreflected。Ihadheard，morethanonce，ofmenpersonatingcorrespondentsofnewspapersandbleedingsmallNativeStateswiththreatsofexposure，butI
hadnevermetanyofthecastebefore。Theyleadahardlife，andgenerallydiewithgreatsuddenness。TheNativeStateshaveawholesomehorrorofEnglishnewspapers，whichmaythrowlightontheirpeculiarmethodsofgovernment，anddotheirbesttochokecorrespondentswithchampagne，ordrivethemoutoftheirmindwithfour-in-handbarouches。TheydonotunderstandthatnobodycaresastrawfortheinternaladministrationofNativeStatessolongasoppressionandcrimearekeptwithindecentlimits，andtherulerisnotdrugged，drunk，ordiseasedfromoneendoftheyeartotheother。Theyarethedarkplacesoftheearth，fullofunimaginablecruelty，touchingtheRailwayandtheTelegraphononeside，and，ontheother，thedaysofHarun-al-
Raschid。WhenIleftthetrainIdidbusinesswithdiversKings，andineightdayspassedthroughmanychangesoflife。SometimesI
woredress-clothesandconsortedwithPrincesandPoliticals，drinkingfromcrystalandeatingfromsilver。SometimesIlayoutuponthegroundanddevouredwhatIcouldget，fromaplatemadeofleaves，anddranktherunningwater，andsleptunderthesamerugasmyservant。Itwasallintheday’swork。
ThenIheadedfortheGreatIndianDesertupontheproperdate，asIhadpromised，andthenightMailsetmedownatMarwarJunction，whereafunnylittle，happy-go-lucky，native-managedrailwayrunstoJodhpore。TheBombayMailfromDelhimakesashorthaltatMarwar。ShearrivedjustasIgotin，andIhadjusttimetohurrytoherplatformandgodownthecarriages。TherewasonlyoneSecond-classonthetrain。Islippedthewindowandlookeddownuponaflaming-redbeard，halfcoveredbyarailway-
rug。Thatwasmyman，fastasleep，andIdughimgentlyintheribs。
Hewokewithagrunt，andIsawhisfaceinthelightofthelamps。
Itwasagreatandshiningface。
"Ticketsagain？"saidhe。
"No，"saidI。"IamtotellyouthatheisgoneSouthfortheweek。
HehasgoneSouthfortheweek！"
Thetrainhadbeguntomoveout。Theredmanrubbedhiseyes。
"HehasgoneSouthfortheweek，"herepeated。"Nowthat’sjustlikehisimpidence。DidhesaythatIwastogiveyouanything？
’CauseIwon’t。"
"Hedidn’t，"Isaid，anddroppedaway，andwatchedtheredlightsdieoutinthedark。Itwashorriblycoldbecausethewindwasblowingoffthesands。Iclimbedintomyowntrain——notanIntermediatecarriagethistime——andwenttosleep。
IfthemanwiththebeardhadgivenmearupeeIshouldhavekeptitasamementoofarathercuriousaffair。Buttheconsciousnessofhavingdonemydutywasmyonlyreward。
LateronIreflectedthattwogentlemenlikemyfriendscouldnotdoanygoodiftheyforegatheredandpersonatedcorrespondentsofnewspapers，andmight，iftheyblackmailedoneofthelittlerat-
trapStatesofCentralIndiaorSouthernRajputana，getthemselvesintoseriousdifficulties。IthereforetooksometroubletodescribethemasaccuratelyasIcouldremembertopeoplewhowouldbeinterestedindeportingthem;andsucceeded，soIwaslaterinformed，inhavingthemheadedbackfromtheDegumberborders。
ThenIbecamerespectable，andreturnedtoanofficewheretherewerenoKingsandnoincidentsoutsidethedailymanufactureofanewspaper。Anewspaperofficeseemstoattracteveryconceivablesortofperson，totheprejudiceofdiscipline。Zenana-missionladiesarrive，andbegthattheEditorwillinstantlyabandonallhisdutiestodescribeaChristianprize-givinginabackslumofaperfectlyinaccessiblevillage;Colonelswhohavebeenoverpassedforcommandsitdownandsketchtheoutlineofaseriesoften，twelve，ortwenty-fourleadingarticlesonSeniorityversusSelection;missionarieswishtoknowwhytheyhavenotbeenpermittedtoescapefromtheirregularvehiclesofabuse，andswearatabrothermissionaryunderspecialpatronageoftheeditorialWe;strandedtheatricalcompaniestroopuptoexplainthattheycannotpayfortheiradvertisements，butontheirreturnfromNewZealandorTahitiwilldosowithinterest;inventorsofpatentpunka-pullingmachines，carriagecouplings，andunbreakableswordsandaxletreescallwithspecificationsintheirpocketsandhoursattheirdisposal;teacompaniesenterandelaboratetheirprospectuseswiththeofficepens;secretariesofballcommitteesclamourtohavethegloriesoftheirlastdancemorefullydescribed;strangeladiesrustleinandsay，"Iwantahundredlady’scardsprintedatonce，please，"whichismanifestlypartofanEditor’sduty;andeverydissoluteruffianthatevertrampedtheGrandTrunkRoadmakesithisbusinesstoaskforemploymentasaproof-reader。And，allthetime，thetelephone-bellisringingmadly，andKingsarebeingkilledontheContinent，andEmpiresaresaying，"You’reanother，"andMisterGladstoneiscallingdownbrimstoneupontheBritishDominions，andthelittleblackcopyboysarewhining，"kaa-pichay-ha-yeh"（"Copywanted"），liketiredbees，andmostofthepaperisasblankasModred’sshield。
Butthatistheamusingpartoftheyear。Therearesixothermonthswhennoneevercometocall，andthethermometerwalksinchbyinchuptothetopoftheglass，andtheofficeisdarkenedtojustabovereading-light，andthepress-machinesarered-hottotouch，andnobodywritesanythingbutaccountsofamusementsintheHill-stationsorobituarynotices。Thenthetelephonebecomesatinklingterror，becauseittellsyouofthesuddendeathsofmenandwomenthatyouknewintimately，andthepricklyheatcoversyouwithagarment，andyousitdownandwrite："AslightincreaseofsicknessisreportedfromtheKhudaJantaKhanDistrict。Theoutbreakispurelysporadicinitsnature，and，thankstotheenergeticeffortsoftheDistrictauthorities，isnowalmostatanend。Itis，however，withdeepregretwerecordthedeath，"etc。
Thenthesicknessreallybreaksout，andthelessrecordingandreportingthebetterforthepeaceofthesubscribers。ButtheEmpiresandtheKingscontinuetodivertthemselvesasselfishlyasbefore，andtheForemanthinksthatadailypaperreallyoughttocomeoutonceintwenty-fourhours，andallthepeopleattheHill-
stationsinthemiddleoftheiramusementssay，"Goodgracious！
whycan’tthepaperbesparkling？I’msurethere’splentygoingonuphere。"
Thatisthedarkhalfofthemoon，and，astheadvertisementssay，"mustbeexperiencedtobeappreciated。"
Itwasinthatseason，andaremarkablyevilseason，thatthepaperbeganrunningthelastissueoftheweekonSaturdaynight，whichistosaySundaymorning，afterthecustomofaLondonpaper。Thiswasagreatconvenience，forimmediatelyafterthepaperwasputtobedthedawnwouldlowerthethermometerfrom96degreestoalmost84degreesforhalfanhour，andinthatchill——youhavenoideahowcoldis84degreesonthegrassuntilyoubegintoprayforit——averytiredmancouldgetofftosleeperetheheatrousedhim。
OneSaturdaynightitwasmypleasantdutytoputthepapertobedalone。AKingorcourtieroracourtesanoraCommunitywasgoingtodieorgetanewConstitution，ordosomethingthatwasimportantontheothersideoftheworld，andthepaperwastobeheldopentillthelatestpossibleminuteinordertocatchthetelegram。
Itwasapitchy-blacknight，asstiflingasaJunenightcanbe，andtheloo，thered-hotwindfromthewestward，wasboomingamongthetinder-drytreesandpretendingthattherainwasonitsheels。
Nowandagainaspotofalmostboilingwaterwouldfallonthedustwiththeflopofafrog，butallourwearyworldknewthatwasonlypretence。Itwasashadecoolerinthepress-roomthantheoffice，soIsatthere，whilethetypetickedandclicked，andthenight-jarshootedatthewindows，andtheallbutnakedcompositorswipedthesweatfromtheirforeheadsandcalledforwater。Thethingthatwaskeepingusback，whateveritwas，wouldnotcomeoff，thoughtheloodroppedandthelasttypewasset，andthewholeroundearthstoodstillinthechokingheat，withitsfingeronitslip，towaittheevent。Idrowsed，andwonderedwhetherthetelegraphwasablessing，andwhetherthisdyingman，orstrugglingpeople，mightbeawareoftheinconveniencethedelaywascausing。Therewasnospecialreasonbeyondtheheatandworrytomaketension，but，astheclock-handscreptuptothreeo-clockandthemachinesspuntheirfly-wheelstwoandthreetimestoseethatallwasinorder，beforeIsaidthewordthatwouldsetthemoff，Icouldhaveshriekedaloud。
返回顶部