120 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



" It was a magnificent trick," said W , " for 



though I knew what was to follow, having seen it 

 before, and studiously watched every motion, I have 

 not gained the slightest clue towards finding it out, 

 and I cannot understand it at all." 



" It was certainly an extraordinary deception," I 

 replied, "but the mangoe-trick puzzles me most. I 

 have a shrewd suspicion that I know how the child 

 vanished from under the basket, although I must 

 confess that I did not see it move ; but do you not 

 remember that, when he struck the first blow through 

 the cloth and drew out the sword reeking with blood, 

 several women rushed frantically round with shrieks 

 and cries of horror, causing some confusion: well, I 

 imagine that at this time the child must have crept 

 from under the basket, and slipped away concealed 

 under the flowing drapery of a female accomplice. 

 I remember I fancied the outrageous grief of one 

 old Mussulmannee woman was got up for the occa- 

 sion to divert our attention, for I noticed that, al- 

 though she was wailing and beating her breasts 

 most vehemently, no tears fell, and she raised her 

 hand and put a piece of betel-nut and a paun leaf 

 into her mouth, which action impressed me with the 

 idea that she was a confederate, and that her grief 

 was ' all my eye.' " 



" It must have been as you say," says Jock, " if 

 Sawbone's friend ' Old Hornie ' did not play a part 

 in the performance, which, in my eyes, at first bor- 

 dered on the supernatural, I must confess." 



