A RAKE'S PROGRESS 



being his peculiar weakness, he found that in order to satisfy 

 tliese fancies, he must extend his sphere of action and 

 tliieve on a larger scale. He accordingly took more seriously 

 to the business, and gradually improving in efficiency, 

 arrived in due time at the head of his profession. At the 

 time of his arrest he had acquired the reputation of being 

 one of the most dangerous criminals in the Province. 



In justice to him, however, it must be admitted that, 

 apart from his own predilection, he had to some extent been 

 forced to adopt a criminal career at an early period of his 

 life and while as yet innocent of crime. 



It seems that at this early stage of his existence he had 

 the luck to kill a large panther, and taking the skin to the 

 local Government Treasury', had been awarded the usual 

 award of Rs.l2. No sooner had the money been paid, 

 however, than he was beset by the Treasury guard and 

 others, all demanding a share. 



He complied with their demands — up to a certain point 

 — but naturally wishing to keep something for himself, 

 refused others who came later. Amongst them was a police 

 constable, who, conscious of his powers to do so, swore to 

 be revenged. Meanwhile Tulia went on, and gathering 

 his friends together, gave them a feast with plenty of liquor, 

 music, singing and dancing, in fact making a regular night 

 (jf it. Then about midnight a message came from the police 

 ordering the music to be stopped and the party to break up. 



Tulia, who had been drinking freely, and was conse- 

 (jucntly somewhat pot valiant, paid no attention to this 

 order, and when the police came to enforce it, he resisted 

 them. He was accordingly arrested and taken off by two 

 constables in the direction of a village where their chief 

 constable was putting up. One of his escort being the very 

 man he had refused to " tip," now gibed at him saying, 

 " You would not give me a rupee I very well, wait — now 

 you will be sent across the sea." ♦ The prisoner quite 

 believing this — for like most natives he had exaggerated 

 notions as to the powers of the law — determined to e8Ci^>e, 

 and watching his opportunity succeeded in doing so bef(H« 

 they reached the village. 



Being now an escaped offender, and therefore ao outlaw 

 * MMning " tr»niport«d." 



215 



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