ictim. It was judged afterwards that this prompt
retribution prevented the offender from having time to realise the
enormity of his offence.

"It was therefore ordained that in all such cases the retribution should
be left in the hands of the _chelas_, or immediate disciples of the
holy man, with power to extend or shorten it at their will, exacting
it either at the time or at any future anniversary of the day when the
crime was committed.

"Why punishment should come on those days only it does not concern
you to know. Suffice it that you are the murderer of Ghoolab Shah,
the thrice blessed, and that I am the senior of his three _chelas_
commissioned to avenge his death.

"It is no personal matter between us. Amid our studies we have no
leisure or inclination for personal matters. It is an immutable law, and
it is as impossible for us to relax it as it is for you to escape from
it Sooner or later we shall come to you and claim your life in atonement
for the one which you have taken.

"The same fate shall be meted out to the wretched soldier, Smith, who,
though less guilty than yourself, has incurred the same penalty by
raising his sacrilegious hand against the chosen of Buddha. If your
life is prolonged, it is merely that you may have time to repent of your
misdeed and to feel the full force of your punishment.

"And lest you should be tempted to cast it out of your mind and to
forget it, our bell--our astral bell, the use of which is one of our
occult secrets--shall ever remind you of what have been and what is to
be. You shall hear it by day and you shall hear it by night, and it will
be a sign to you that do what you may and go where you will, you can
never shake yourself clear of the _chelas_ of Ghoolab Shah.

"You will never see me more, accursed one, until the day when we come
for you. Live in fear, and in that anticipation which is worse than
death."

With a menacing wave of the hand the figure turned and swept out of my
tent into the darkness. The instant that the fellow disappeared from my
sight I recovered from my lethargy which had fallen upon me. Springing
to my feet, I rushed to the opening and looked out. A Sepoy sentry was
standing leaning upon his musket, a few paces off.

"You dog," I said in Hindustani. "What do you mean by letting people
disturb me in this way?"

The man stared at me in amazement. "Has any one disturbed the sahib?" he
asked.

"This instant--this moment. You must have seen