He may have observed it, for there was a touch of defiance in his
voice and manner as he proceeded.
"It was all very bad, no doubt," said he. "I should like to know
how many fellows in my shoes would have refused a share of this
loot when they knew that they would have their throats cut for
their pains. Besides, it was my life or his when once he was in
the fort. If he had got out, the whole business would come to
light, and I should have been court-martialled and shot as likely
as not; for people were not very lenient at a time like that."
"Go on with your story," said Holmes, shortly.
"Well, we carried him in, Abdullah, Akbar, and I. A fine weight
he was, too, for all that he was so short. Mahomet Singh was
left to guard the door. We took him to a place which the Sikhs
had already prepared. It was some distance off, where a winding
passage leads to a great empty hall, the brick walls of which
were all crumbling to pieces. The earth floor had sunk in at one
place, making a natural grave, so we left Achmet the merchant
there, having first covered him over with loose bricks. This
done, we all went back to the treasure.
"It lay where he had dropped it when he was first attacked.
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