My guards looked anxiously in that direction, and uttered sundry curses.

When it was dusk, Sivajee and eight of the Dacoits came up.

From what they said, I gathered that the rest of the band had dispersed, trusting either to get through the line of their pursuers, or, if caught, to escape with slight punishment, the men who remained being too deeply concerned in murderous outrages to hope for mercy.

Sivajee himself handed me a letter, which the man who had taken my note had brought back in reply.

Major Knapp, the writer, who was the second in command, said that he could not engage the Government, but that if Lieutenant Hastings was given up the act would certainly dispose the Government to take the most merciful view possible; but that if, on the contrary, any harm was suffered by Lieutenant Hastings, every man taken would be at once hung.