cover himself. "So you
worship Bhowanee?" went on his tormentor.

The Indian's face expressed lively curiosity. "The great goddess."

"Yes. Kalee, you know. Did you make Tupounee after you used your roomal
on Aaron Norman?"

Hokar gave a guttural cry and gasped. Tupounee is the sacrifice made by
the Thugs after a successful crime, and roomal the handkerchief with
which they strangled their victims. All this was information culled from
Colonel Meadow Taylor's book by the accomplished detective. "Well," said
Hurd, smoking placidly, "what have you to say, Mr. Hokar?"

"I know nozzin'," said the man, sullenly, but in deadly fear.

"Yes, you do. Sit still," said Hurd, with sudden sternness. "If you try
to run away, I'll have you arrested. Eyes are on you, and you can't take
a step without my knowing."

Some of this was Greek to the Indian, owing to his imperfect knowledge
of English. But he understood that the law would lay hold of him if he
did not obey this Sahib, and so sat still. "I know not anysing," he
repeated, his teeth chattering.

"Yes, you do. You're a Thug."

"Zer no Thug."

"I agree with you," said Hurd; "you are the last of the Mohicans. I want
to know why you offered Aaron Norman to Bhowanee?"

Hokar made a strange sign on his forehead at the mention of the sacred
name, and muttered something--perhaps a prayer--in his native tongue.
Then he looked up. "I know nozzing."

"Don't repeat that rubbish," said Hurd, calmly; "you sold boot laces in
the shop in Gwynne Street on the day when its master was killed. And he
was the husband of the lady who helped you--Mrs. Krill."

"You say dat," said Hokar, stolidly.

"Yes, and I can prove it. The boy Tray--and I can lay my hands on
him--saw you, also Bart Tawsey, the shopman. You left a handful of
sugar, though why you did so instead of eating it, I can't understand."

Hokar's face lighted up, and he showed his teeth disdainfully. "Oh, you
Sahibs know nozzin'!" said he, spreading out his lean brown hands. "Ze
shops--ah, yis. I there, yis. But I use no roomal."

"Not then, but you did later."

Hokar shook his head. "I use no roomal. Zat Sahib one eye--bad, ver bad.
Bhowanee, no have one eye. No Bhungees, no Bhats, no--"

"What are you talking about?" said Hurd, angrily. His reading had not
told him that no maimed persons could be offered to the goddess of the
Thugs. Bhungees meant sweepers, and Bhats bards, both of which classes
were spared by the stra