d its hold on the lamp, and in
its fall the light was extinguished.

"Alone in the dark with the Ganapati, and with the human tiger at the
other side of the door, I shrieked aloud.

"In prompt answer to my cry of pent-up agony came the sharp sound of
splintering timber, and before me, revealed by the flare of a torch held
aloft in one hand, appeared the dread visage of the Hindu priest,
contorted now by his mingled emotions of hate and triumph. For his eyes
had lighted on the idol, and it was with a shout of joyful recognition,
'Ganapati! Ganapati!' that the fanatic flung himself upon me, and
plunged a dagger into my throat. Then the curtain of black
forgetfulness descended and covered me with its folds.

"I know not what time elapsed, but I was awakened to the consciousness
that I was yet alive by a tongue of flame that leaped at my face, and,
scorching my skin, caused me to stir instinctively in self-preservation.
Raising my head from the pool of blood in which it had been weltering,
and moving my stiffened neck with difficulty because of the dagger
wound, the mark of which I carry to this day"--upraising his chin, the
fakir laid a finger on a tiny but palpable scar--"I struggled to a
sitting posture, and looked about in dazed bewilderment. But ere I could
realize what had happened, again the blistering heat of fire that ran
along the walls of the room caused me to stagger to my feet. Then as I
gazed around, through a haze of smoke illumined by fitful, flickering
gleams of ruddy radiance, all of a sudden came remembrance of the deadly
assault and comprehension of my present danger.

"One swift sweeping glance showed me that the Ganapati was gone, and
that my strong box, too, with its silver hoard had disappeared, together
with the package of gold coin and jewellery. My hands went instantly to
my waistband; it had been torn open, and the crystal casket that held
the blue diamonds abstracted.

"So the murderous priest had not only recovered his own, but had robbed
me of my all!

"There was no time, however, to reflect or to moralize, for the loud
crackling of fire amid the woodwork warned of my imminent peril.
Flinging the skirt of my robe across my face, I made one frantic dash
for safety through the splintered panels of the door, the only exit from
the room, regardless of the billows of mingled smoke and flame that were
now rolling along the corridor.

"Half suffocated, almost blinded by the pungent fumes, my