144 SPORT AND TRAVEL 



us to approach and behold the guilty exposed. As 

 the novel would put it, the villain stood with guilt 

 written on every line of his countenance, but as 

 Thomas looked away for a moment, I saw the vil- 

 lain make a quick pass and hide something under the 

 rock which formed the stove. We then approached, 

 determined to see justice done, and told Thomas to 

 prove his accusation. Thomas, with a self-confident 

 smile, stated that the cook had just hidden in his 

 pocket half the rice which was to be used for our 

 pudding and which he, Thomas, had measured out 

 to the cook from the locked rice-kilta a moment be- 

 fore. We coldly told him to show us the rice, and 

 piece by piece Thomas undressed the unresisting 

 cook, carefully examining each garment, till the de- 

 fendant stood as Heaven first made him, apparently 

 acquitted. 



Poor Thomas was flustered : he thought he had 

 made an embarrassing mistake which would forever 

 lower him in our estimation and in that of the shi- 

 karis, and the tears began to come. I thought the 

 old man had had enough, though his discomfiture 

 was most amusing, and stepping forward, I pointed 

 carelessly to the stone. Thomas swooped on it like 

 an eagle and gave a battle-shout of triumph, which 

 must have been heard by half the village, as he un- 

 earthed the stolen rice. We had a hard time to keep 



