8 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
a thousand echoes ; and the leathern wing of the fox- 
bat flapped among the branches which overhung the 
narrow and tangled pathway. The moon slowly 
rose above the darkening horizon., which was slightly 
fleckered with a faint crimson tinge, leaving on the 
dim grey of the cloudless heavens the still perceptible 
reflections of the fading sunlight. 
The two desperate men, bent upon different ob- 
jects, advanced towards the spot where those objects 
were expected by both to receive a different consum- 
mation. Scarcely a word passed between them as 
they threaded with intensely preoccupied thoughts the 
mazes of the forest. The younger brother led the 
way, and having reached the edge of the concealed 
grave, he paused, and raising his finger to his lip, as 
if to impose silence, beckoned his victim to approach. 
By this time the moon threw sufficient light through 
the interstices of the foliage to render near objects 
sufficiently visible ; yet the shadow from the trees 
which flanked the foot-track on either side completely 
hid from view the artificial pathway which had 
been thrown over the pit. No sooner had the unsus- 
pecting Rohillah advanced to the brink, than a slight 
push accomplished the purpose of his treacherous re- 
lation, and he was precipitated into the grave pre- 
pared for him by the hand of one in whose veins the 
purple tide circulated from the source which had sup- 
plied his own. His reproaches were only answered 
with taunts and mockeries. 
The wretch who had thus cruelly betrayed to an 
untimely death one so nearly allied to him by blood, 
prepared now to accomplish his long- cherished project of 
