Yet I am not a beggar; and I shall
reward you, young Sahib, and your governor also, if he will give
me the shelter I ask.'
"I could not trust myself to speak longer with the man. The more
I looked at his fat, frightened face, the harder did it seem that
we should slay him in cold blood. It was best to get it over.
"'Take him to the main guard,' said I. The two Sikhs closed in
upon him on each side, and the giant walked behind, while they
marched in through the dark gate-way. Never was a man so
compassed round with death. I remained at the gate-way with the
lantern.
"I could hear the measured tramp of their footsteps sounding
through the lonely corridors. Suddenly it ceased, and I heard
voices, and a scuffle, with the sound of blows. A moment later
there came, to my horror, a rush of footsteps coming in my
direction, with the loud breathing of a running man. I turned my
lantern down the long, straight passage, and there was the fat
man, running like the wind, with a smear of blood across his
face, and close at his heels, bounding like a tiger, the great
black-bearded Sikh, with a knife flashing in his hand. I have
never seen a man run so fast as that little merchant.
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