ar Bux turn grey from trepidation.

"'Kubar Bux,' I began, without ceremony, for I saw that a crowd would
soon be gathering, 'open the bale of silk among your merchandise in
which a casket of jewels is hidden, or I shall order your shop to be
searched by the sepoys I have brought here with me.'

"The merchant rose to his feet. I noticed now, further back in the shop,
another figure seated--that of a man who, on our entry, had drawn his
garments around him so as to conceal his face. But to him at the moment
I gave no particular attention. My eyes were on Kubar Bux. He moved
toward a pile of fabrics, silks and embroidered cloths, as if to comply
with my demand. He pressed against the bales, and then all of a sudden
sank down upon the floor in a huddled heap. Then I saw the crimson stain
of blood upon the merchandise.

"I sprang forward. Driven up to the very hilt, in the breast of Kubar
Bux was a dagger. He was not quite dead, and I heard him with his last
breath murmur the words: 'Bowani, great goddess, all hail!' Then with a
rattle in his throat he died.

"I had gathered the dying man in my arms, and now beneath the flowing
garments, laid flat against the breast, I could feel the shape of
something fashioned like a small pickaxe.

"When I saw that Kubar Bux was indeed dead, I drew forth this implement.
It was carefully swathed in white cloths, a pickaxe bright from the
hammer of the smith who had forged it, unsullied by earthy stain but
curiously marked from the head to the point by seven discs of red paint,
showing it to be an object of worship at an altar rather than for actual
use in the ground. But at this stage I did not pause further to
investigate, and hastily replaced the wrappings.

"'Keep close guard on this man,' I said to the sepoys, pointing to the
informer. But he whom I would thus hold safe remained standing
impassively, making no attempt to escape.

"Then with a push of my hands I tumbled down the pile of bales. In the
one next to the bottom was a protuberance, and from this I drew forth a
casket of silver, delicately chased and inlaid with ivory.

"By this time a throng of passers-by had stopped outside the shop, and
some had even crowded into the little place. But these I now ordered
out. Then I turned to seek the man who had been Kubar Bux's companion at
the moment of our coming. He was no longer there. The shop was
tenantless--except for myself and the dead man.

"I need tell but little mor