TIGERLAND 



remonstrances, and finally told him plainly that if he 

 interfered they would treat him as they intended treating 

 us. The inspector, being unarmed and unattended by any 

 of his men, was thus as helpless as ourselves. Nevertheless, 

 it was entirely owing to his tact and intimate knowledge 

 of these people and their ways that we were eventually 

 delivered from the peril we were in. Taking the Comman- 

 dant aside, he said 



" You see how matters stand ; but if you will follow 

 my advice I think you may save the sahibs' lives, for I 

 know the character of these people, and it is the presence 

 of the dead body which makes them so vindictive. Once 

 it is burnt and buried out of sight they will very soon calm 

 down. Tell them then, in an authoritative voice, to go 

 now and dispose of the body, and that when they return 

 you will arrange matters." 



Although this suggestion did not at the time commend 

 itself to the Commandant as one likely of success, yet, like 

 the drowning man who sees even in a floating straw some- 

 thing to support him, he eagerly adopted it, and in loud, 

 commanding tones, addressed his noisy audience, for some 

 time without avail. But soon their interest seemed 

 awakened, and before he had concluded they were listening 

 with attention, and as he ceased, broke out in loud applause. 

 " True ! true ! The sahib says well ! " they shouted, with 

 one accord ; and presently, to our inexpressible relief, 

 moved off towards the village, whence they issued shortly, 

 carrying faggots, torches, and earthenware pots, and went 

 in the direction of the lake, evidently to perform the 

 funeral rites. 



The next hour or two were the longest I ever passed, 

 as we stood there in the dark expecting every moment to 

 hear the men returning and yet unable to do anything to 

 better our position. None of us believed the men would 

 not return, and to me the ordeal of thus waiting for the 

 end was necessarily most painful, but I was still deter- 

 mined to sell my life as dearly as possible, and to make 

 a fight for it whether assisted or alone. However, about 

 eight o'clock the inspector, who had followed the 

 villagers to the lake, returned alone, and informed us 

 that he had spoken to some of the leading men and 

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