'
"'It is nothing against the fort,' said he. 'We only ask you to
do that which your countrymen come to this land for. We ask you
to be rich. If you will be one of us this night, we will swear
to you upon the naked knife, and by the threefold oath which no
Sikh was ever known to break, that you shall have your fair share
of the loot. A quarter of the treasure shall be yours. We can
say no fairer.'
"'But what is the treasure, then?' I asked. 'I am as ready to be
rich as you can be, if you will but show me how it can be done.'
"'You will swear, then,' said he, 'by the bones of your father,
by the honor of your mother, by the cross of your faith, to raise
no hand and speak no word against us, either now or afterwards?'
"'I will swear it,' I answered, 'provided that the fort is not
endangered.'
"'Then my comrade and I will swear that you shall have a quarter
of the treasure which shall be equally divided among the four of
us.'
"'There are but three,' said I.
"'No; Dost Akbar must have his share. We can tell the tale to
you while we await them. Do you stand at the gate, Mahomet
Singh, and give notice of their coming. The thing stands thus,
Sahib, and I tell it to you because I know that an oath is
binding upon a Feringhee, and that we may trust you.
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