Confessions of a Thug

by Meadows Taylor

  CHAPTER X.

  I heard the Bhutteara bustling about in the interior of his house fora while, and was gratified to see that he so evidently exerted himselfto please me. In a short time more the sherbet was prepared, and itsgrateful coolness, with the rose-water which had been mingled with it,allayed the irritation of my mouth, and enabled me to enjoy a hookah,which, if served in a less costly apparatus than that the Nuwab hadoffered me, was as good in flavour: its pleasing fumes composed me, andquieted the feverish excitement I had hitherto been in.

  "You appear comfortable," said Bhudrinath.

  "I am so," I replied; "and I doubt not you envy me, in spite of yourBrahminical belief."

  "Perhaps I do," said he; "yet having never tasted the luxuries ofmeat and other things you set such value upon, I cannot estimate themsufficiently, and I care not about them: nay more, the very ideaof meat, the sight of it in its raw state, the blood, the garbageaccompanying it, are loathsome to me; and I very much question, wereI to become a Mahomedan, whether I could ever bring myself to eat it.Pah! the idea is horrible."

  I could not help laughing heartily at his disgust, and he was notangry. "But," said I, "how are we to wake at the proper time? an hourtoo soon or too late, and our enterprise is ruined."

  "I was thinking of the same thing," he replied; and turning to theBhutteara, he asked him how late he remained up: "For," he continued,"my friend and I have a small matter on our hands about midnight. Canwe trust to you to awaken us if we sleep?"

  "Certainly," said the man; "I never shut up my shop till aftermidnight, for sometimes travellers drop in, and, poor hungry souls,the first place they seek is the Bhutteara's shop, and were there notsomething hot for them woe be to me!"

  "Here is a trifle over and above the price of the kabobs," said I,throwing him a few rupees, "to keep you awake."

  He picked up the money with many salams and good wishes, and my hookahbeing smoked out, and feeling drowsy, I laid myself down and slept,but not long. As is often the case, excitement overpowered sleep, andI awoke in alarm lest I had overslept the time; I had not however doneso. Looking round me, I saw the Bhutteara busily employed in cookingcakes, while his little daughter was turning some kabobs on the fire;he observed me, and said, "You are soon awake, Sahib, it wants a goodhour yet of your time; you had better go to sleep again; you see Ihave work in hand which will keep me up beyond that time, for sometravellers have arrived, and it is as much as I can do to satisfy theirhungry stomachs."

  "I cannot sleep again," said I; "I am refreshed, and another hookah ortwo will keep me awake till it is time to go."

  "I understand you," said he; "you young men are hot-blooded, and arealways seeking adventures; but it is only as it ought to be: I wouldnot give a couree for a young fellow who had not the spirit you appearto possess."

  "May you prosper," said I; "but let me have another hookah, for trulythe first has left a grateful flavour in my mouth."

  He disappeared into the interior of his house for a short time, andreturned with it. "Now," said he, "if the first pleased you, you cannotbut be gratified with this; it is prepared from a choice receipt, andit is only persons of rank and taste like yourself to whom I ever giveit: it would be lost on the multitude."

  It was, as he said, delicious; and my pipe had been refilled severaltimes to my great satisfaction, when he told me the time I desiredwas come. "Yonder star," said he, "rises over the houses a short timebefore midnight, so rouse your companion; you will be expected."

  I did so; Bhudrinath was soon awake, and ready to accompany me. Wetook leave of our host, and directed our way through the now desertedstreets to the place of assignation. "We are wonderfully like twothieves," said he to me; "what if the village watch should catch us? weshould look very foolish."

  "I see no danger of it," said I: but hardly were the words out of mymouth, when we saw the patrol coming down the street before us. Therewas an open gate close to us, and stepping inside, we hid ourselvesbehind the large doors. We had however been observed, and as the menpassed, one said he was sure he had seen two men lurking there.

  "Nonsense," said another fellow, "you are always seeing men in thedark. Come along! it is just midnight, and I am sleepy; we will go alittle further, and then beat the duphra; if there are any thievesabout they will run away."

  A loud yawn was a pretty good proof of the truth of his assertion, andthey passed on. Just as we emerged from our hiding-place the duphra andhorns were sounded, and answered from the other sides of the town; andthen all was again as still as death, save when a village dog howledhis wild cry to the moon. "There is now no danger," said I; "come on,we are near the place."

  A few paces further brought us to the corner where the old woman saidshe would await our coming, and there, to our great joy, we found her."My blessings on ye that ye are come," said she; "I thought the nightwould never wear away, and I have been waiting here for some hours."

  "Is all prepared?" said I: "Is she ready?"

  "Ay, that she is; I warrant the hours have gone as slowly with her aswith me; and listen," said the old woman, "she has hit upon a raredevice, which will mislead suspicion:" and she laughed heartily.

  "For the love of Alla be quiet!" said I; "were we heard or seen we areundone."

  "For that matter there is not much to apprehend, for this house on oneside is deserted, and inside the wall, on the other, is nothing but thenuwab's garden, where no one stays at night."

  "Tell me then what her plan is; can we assist it?"

  "Oh no," said the woman; "it is her own invention, and a rare one itis. I had just come to her, when she sent me out to get a bladder fullof blood. I could not make out what she wanted it for, but I went andbought it, though I had to get a kid killed on the pretence that themeat was suddenly required. Well, no sooner had I returned, than shepoured some of it on her bed, rumpled and daubed the sheets, tore offpieces of her dress, and scattered them about the room, also some ofthe beautiful hair from her head, which she also threw about, and inshort made the place look as if she had been wounded, and there hadbeen a scuffle to get her out. Ah, it was a rare device! and the bestof it is, that a nuwab who lives at a distance, and who has been tryingto get this one to give her up (and there has been much quarrellingbetween them on the subject), will be suspected, and it will never bethought that she has run off of her own accord."

  "'Tis wonderful," said I; "and, proverbial as is woman's wit, yet, byAlla! this is an instance which ought to be written in a book; but weare delaying here to no purpose."

  "Come, then," said the old woman; "it is but a few steps further." Westationed ourselves under the window, in which there was a strong lightburning; and the old woman giving a sharp but low cough, a figure wasseen at the casement; it opened; it was she!

  "Is he here?" said a low, sweet voice, which thrilled through me.

  "Yes, lady, the humblest of your slaves is here, and prays you to bequick, for the sake of Alla; there is no time to lose."

  "I will be with you instantly," replied she.

  "Do so," said I; "but be quick, or we are lost."

  She withdrew from the window, and a few instants after reappeared,and let down a box and bundle. I unfastened them, and she drew up thesheet. "Now," said she, "I come; but what is to be done with the sheet?I must fasten it inside ere I descend."

  "Leave that to me," said I, "only come down."

  A few instants more were occupied in fastening the cloth, and she thenstepped out on the ledge. My heart beat audibly lest she should falland hurt herself, and we should be observed; but I and Bhudrinathplaced ourselves underneath, to catch her if she fell. It was howeverunnecessary, for she was on the ground in an instant, and I had pressedher to my heart! "The rest must not be left undone," said I; andascending by the sheet, I entered the window. The room was a small one,and, by the hasty glance I threw around it, it appeared, indeed, asthough there had been a scene of violence and bloodshed. Clothes werestrewn about, the floor and bed were stained with blood, and pieces
oftorn apparel, lying here and there, gave to the whole the appearance ofwhat was intended. I did not stay a moment, but unfastening the sheet,threw it down, and getting outside the window, dropped to the ground.The shock hurt me considerably, but it was not the time for complaint.We held a hurried consultation as to which gate we should go out by,Bhudrinath again preferring the one by which we entered. This, however,was overruled by all of us, and guided by the old woman we took ourway to the other. We met not a soul in the lonely streets, and, by theblessing of Alla, on reaching the gate we found the wicket open, andthe man who should have guarded it fast asleep, with his shield underhis head and his sword by his side. Stealthily and slowly we passed byhim, lest our footfall should awake him; and gaining the outside, wehurried along under the shadow of the walls until we gained the plainon which was our encampment.

  When fairly within our guards, who were stationed round the spot, thefair being, who had hitherto clung to me, suddenly sunk down. To fetchwater for her was the work of a moment, and after forcing some intoher mouth she recovered. "I was overcome with joy," said she, throwingherself at my feet; "and indeed, if you knew the anxious suspense Ihave been in ever since last afternoon, you would believe me. At onetime I was overjoyed at the prospect of deliverance from my hatefulservitude, and again, as the night wore on, and I tried to count thehours, I sometimes thought that the time had passed, and that mypreparations had been but a mockery. And now to find myself free andwith you, ah! my lord, it is too much joy--my heart is like to burst."

  I raised her up and caressed her, and seating her under a tree, putmy arm around her, and we sat in the lovely moonlight in silence; shecould not speak, and I would not break the current of her thoughts,whatever they might be. How long we sat there I cannot tell; we wereinterrupted by the old woman. "This is no time for dalliance," saidshe; "my lady requires rest; and methinks, sir, were you to find meansof getting us on before morning breaks, we should elude pursuit, andyou could follow us."

  "You say truly," said I, "and it shall be cared for."

  Fortunately the cart of the Sahoukar had not been sold, and though itwas still laden with his effects, there was plenty of room in it forthe two females. I went to Bhudrinath, whom I found fast asleep afterhis night's work; when he was fully awakened, he seemed to comprehendthat his services were again required.

  "What, more work!" said he. "Well, Meer Sahib, I am ready; what is it?"

  "It is too bad for me to rouse you so soon," said I, "and to requireyou to go on with this matter; for Alla, who sees my heart, alone knowshow grateful it is to you for your assistance this night."

  "Do not say so, my young friend," cried he laughing; "I would doanything for a little fun and excitement."

  "Why," I rejoined, "you must know the old woman has advised instantflight from hence; so you and some of the men must be ready to beoff before daylight; and as I have prepared the old Sahoukar's cartfor her, you will be easily able to get eight or ten coss from henceto-morrow, and the same the next day, when you must halt till wecome up. Remember you are a Moosulman for the time, and she must beprotected and screened as though she were the wife of one."

  "I understand," said he, "and will do my trust faithfully."

  "I believe you," I replied; "and now for the road,--which to take I amundecided. I have heard that two branch off from this to Hyderabad."

  "Stay," said Bhudrinath; "I think Peer Khan knows both. I will go andbring him; you know he is one of my set."

  He went, and returned with the man. "I have explained all to him," saidhe, "and now hear what he has to say."

  "I beg to represent," said Peer Khan, "that I know both roads, butnot perfectly; still I should think what the Meer Sahib counsels thebest, for the other is a sad lonely one, and few travellers go by it.As to the chance of being pursued, we must trust to our good Tukdeer(destiny), which has brought us thus far without an accident, andInshalla! will carry us on."

  "Well, Peer Khan," said I, "you must be the guide; you are the onlyperson who knows anything about the road, and I can only say that ifyou are steady and faithful I will make you a handsome present when Iovertake you at Nirmul."

  "May your condescension increase, Meer Sahib," said he; "but puttingthe enam out of the question, you know very well that there is not aman among us who would not give his blood to-morrow, or any time hemight be called upon, for you. But come, Bhudrinath, as we are to startsoon, I had better get the men together, and be ready."

  I returned to the tent, where I found Zora and the old woman sittingcovered up in their sheets, and warming themselves over a fire they hadlighted. In a few words I told them of the necessity of flight, andadded, "Alas! I do not accompany you now; we have had a consultation onthe subject, and have determined that, for the sake of mutual safety,we must for the present separate. Alla, who sees my heart, knows thatit will burn with anxiety and care while I am absent from you; forknow, lady, that from the time I first beheld you in the durbar, mysoul hath been consumed by your beauty, and as then I was plunged intodespair at the thought that you never could be mine, so now is theexcess of grief that I must part with you."

  She was silent for some time; but at last throwing back her veil, andagain displaying her beautiful face to me, she put her hand into mine."I trust you," said she; "I have no fear now except for you; I will gowithout a murmur, for I see how necessary it is for us to separate;yet assure me, my beloved, that you will not be long away, and I amcontent."

  "I repeat," said I, "only two days at the furthest; we shall follow youto-morrow evening, or the next morning; and once that we are in motion,I will push on till I overtake you, where we will wait for my fatherand the rest."

  "By what road do we travel?" asked the old woman.

  "By Nirmul," said I; "it is out of the way, and we have thereforechosen it; it is not probable that the Nuwab's people, if he sends anyout, will take that direction."

  "You are right," she replied; "they will not. But I would give much tosee him to-morrow, when the flight of this pretty bird is known."

  "What shall we care," said I, "except to laugh at his old beard? I willgo into the town as soon as the alarm has spread, and you shall haveall the news when we meet again."

  "Now bid me start," said Bhudrinath, who then entered the tent, "and Iam off. For the present I am Jumal Khan, by which name inquire for meon the road."

  "May God protect you all! You have a precious charge, my friend," saidI, "and would that I could even now take your place."

  The women were soon ready, and I saw them comfortably settled in theirvehicle. "Now I am off," cried Bhudrinath: "drive on the cart; and dosome of you fellows keep about it, as though it were a decent man'szenana."

  "Alla Hafiz!" said I, "and may the Prophet guide you safely!" Theywent on; I stood watching them, until a turn in the road hid them frommy sight, and I betook myself to my tent, where throwing myself down,sleep soon came over me.

  I was awakened by my father, who came into the tent where I was lying;he seemed angry with me for having been out all night, as he said, onsome unprofitable if not unworthy business; "but," said he, "it is timefor the morning prayer, and after that I will hear what you have beenabout." I accompanied him to the skirts of our camp, where, spreadingour carpets, we watched for the blush of dawn to go through the usualforms; when they were over, he seated himself and desired to hear whatI had done: "I fear me no good," said he, "but tell me." So I recountedthe events of the night, and was prepared for a severe lecture,and a great deal of advice and reproof. I was for once agreeablydisappointed; instead of being angry, he laughed heartily at the wholeaffair, and applauded our arrangements in having sent Zora out of theway.

  The sun was barely risen, when there arose a noise from the town, andit was plain enough to us that the discovery had taken place. Thewhole place was in a ferment; people hurried out of the gates andcollected into groups, and by the pointing to our camp, and theirgesticulations, we were obviously the suspected persons; and, as we hadanticipated, about twenty
horse and some foot soldiers issued from thegate nearest to us, and came directly towards us. They surrounded ourlittle camp, and one or two who appeared the leaders of the party rodeup, and in an authoritative manner demanded to see our leader. I hadpreviously arranged with my father that he was to continue to supporthis character as a merchant and to put me forward as the jemadar ofthe party; and as he knew that I had appeared in the character at theNuwab's durbar, and supported it well, he had readily acceded to myrequest.

  "You see the leader," said I, "in my poor person. And what may be thedemands of the Nuwab Sahib so early? Is there anything his poor servantcan do to prove how much he is impressed with the kind treatment he hasreceived?"

  "You must be content to be our prisoner," said the man, haughtily,"until your camp is searched; a strange event has happened, and you aresuspected."

  "Of what?" said I, appearing thunderstruck; "of what can I besuspected? But the camp is before you, sirs, by all means search it.Perhaps," said I, bitterly, "your town has been robbed, and it is notwonderful that persons of respectability should be suspected in thisunmannerly country."

  "Peace!" cried the man, "we must do our duty; and I for one, for thesake of appearances, should be glad to find you had not requited theNuwab's hospitality with treachery."

  "I am dumb," said I, "notwithstanding that I am in utter astonishmentat your words; but by all means search the place, and afterwardsperhaps you will in kindness unravel this mystery to me."

  He rode with me to my tent, and, dismounting, entered it with me,followed by two or three of his men. There was nothing in it but thecarpet and mattress on which I had slept, a few cooking utensils, andsome of the bales of plunder piled up at the farther end. "She is nothere," said Azim Khan, the leader of the Nuwab's party, "let us go tothe other tent."

  I accompanied them, and, making a salam to my father, told him that theNuwab's people wished to search his tent, as they had done mine, andadded, "Do not oppose them, lest the Nuwab should in truth see reasonto suspect us."

  "Certainly not," said my father; "here is the tent, and I am theNuwab's slave; it is not likely that an old man like me should havewomen concealed here."

  So his tent was searched as mine had been, and afterwards the temporaryscreens of the men, but nothing was found, and the party were evidentlydisappointed. "We are on the wrong track, and I told you so," said AzimKhan to the leader: "depend upon it, as I told the Nuwab, it is thatrascal Sheffee Khan's work; we all know him to be in the employ of theHakim of Nursee, who wanted to get the girl; and we had better be afterhim than wasting our time here."

  "A girl!" cried I; "truly this is most wonderful. For the sake of Allasatisfy my curiosity--what is all this about? By your head," said I tothe leader, "but that it seems a serious matter, I feel much temptedto laugh at the idea of my poor camp being searched for a girl,--someslave, I presume, who has run away or been carried off by her lover;say, sahib, what has happened?"

  "Why, it is no laughing matter to us, whatever it may be to you," saidthe leader; "send your men out of hearing, and you shall have the wholestory."

  "Away with you!" cried I to our men, who had crowded round; "this is notale for your ears."

  "The affair is this," said the man: "Until last night, there wasin the zenana of the Nuwab a dancing-girl of surpassing beauty andaccomplishments; but early this morning her apartment was found empty,marks of violence everywhere about it, blood on the sheets of her bed,and some of her hair and portions of her clothes strewn about the room.There was no alarm in the night, the gates of the town were closed andguarded as usual; and it seems some work of the Shitan that this shouldhave taken place, and that we should have had dirt thrown on our beardswithout knowing by whom. There is the Nuwab raving and swearing like amadman; his zenana is all in confusion; and, what is worst of all, hethreatens to discharge every one of us, without we either bring backthe girl or get him intelligence of her within three days."

  "Protection of Alla!" cried both I and my father; "this is mostextraordinary. And have you no suspicion who has insulted you in thismanner?"

  "Why," said the man, "you were first suspected, as being strangersand a large party, and we were desired to search your camp; but herewe find nothing but bales of goods,--and, indeed, you are not likelypersons to have carried her off, for I question whether you ever sawher."

  "I dare say," said I, "she was one of the women who were in the durbarthe other night, when I paid a visit to the Nuwab."

  "Very likely," he returned; "were those you saw good-looking?"

  "They were both so," said I; "one was tall and fair, the other wasshorter and not so fair, but very handsome."

  "That was the girl," said the man; "I have seen her myself once ortwice, when I could get inside of a night. But I am wasting my timehere, and must return; you may depend upon my fully exonerating youfrom any suspicion in the matter."

  "Your favourable opinion," said I, "will no doubt, have its due weight;and I pray you to carry our condolence to the Nuwab, and say that if wehave permission we will wait on him to express it."

  "I will deliver your message," said he; "but I think you will notbe admitted, as really he is in great grief, more on account of theinsult, perhaps, than the loss of the girl. I take my leave."

  He saluted us and rode off; and, not long after, a servant of theNuwab came with a civil message and some fruit, to say that his masterregretted he could not see us, and was sorry that he had been under thenecessity of searching our camp. We dismissed him with a present, andreiterated our condolences, which he promised to deliver. "And now,"said I to my father, "this is no place for us longer; we must be off.What say you to a march in the afternoon?"

  "It is good," said he; "we will go. Tell the men to be prepared."