ROBBERS. 
33 
tokened no friendly intentions towards him: their 
chief however, who was not to he mistaken, put him 
at his ease by his frank and ready offer of protection. 
The Rohillah was a remarkably well-made man, com- 
pactly muscular, under the middle age, full of vigour 
and activity, with a clear, steady eye, which betoken- 
ed a resolute and undaunted character. The robber 
who had attracted the deserter’s attention by his un- 
familiar manner and repulsive aspect, had that low- 
ering and downcast look which seemed to tell you 
there was an apprehension lest the expression of 
his eye should betray the lurking treachery of his 
thoughts. 
Well,” said the chief, “ assure yourself of protec- 
tion in this retreat ; it is not our practice to assail the 
distressed. We are robbers, and though plunder is 
our aim, we prefer stripping the lazy of their ill-got- 
ten treasure, than the industrious of their hard-earned 
pittance. You might have revealed yourself in the 
jungle without scruple ; you would have been as safe 
with us there as here.” 
I knew not,” said the soldier, “ that robbers 
were in the habit of making distinctions ; I had taken 
up the erroneous persuasion that wherever money 
could be had, they did not scruple to seize it ; and 
though mine is but a mere mite, the loss of it, never- 
theless, would reduce me to complete destitution, and 
be of little benefit to you.” 
The eye of the sinister robber seemed to kindle 
when he heard the Englishman confess that he had 
money ; for he no doubt suspected, and, if he did so, 
he suspected truly, that a deserter would not quit his 
