第67章 THE DIAMOND OF KALI(2)

"After the rites were concluded the Thugs slipped away into the forest as silently as they had come.The priest stood for a few minutes in the door of the temple enjoying the cool of the night before closing his rather warm quarters.Suddenly a dark, lithe shadow slipped down into the hollow, leaped upon the priest; and struck him down with a glittering knife.Then the murderer sprang at the image of the goddess like a cat and pried out the glowing central eye of Kali with his weapon.Straight toward me he ran with his royal prize.When he was within two paces Irose to my feet and struck him with all my force between the eyes.He rolled over senseless and the magnificent jewel fell from his hand.That is the splendid blue diamond you have just seen -- a stone worthy of a monarch's crown.""That's a corking story," said the reporter."That decanter is exactly like the one that John W.Gates always sets out during an interview.""Pardon me," said General Ludlow, "for forgetting hospitality in the excitement of my narrative.Help yourself.""Here's looking at you," said the reporter.

"What I am afraid of now," said the General, lowering his voice, "is that I may be robbed of the diamond.The jewel that formed an eye of their goddess is their most sacred symbol.Somehow the tribe suspected me of having it; and members of the band have followed me half around the earth.They are the most cunning and cruel fanatics in the world, and their religious vows would compel them to assassinate the unbeliever who has desecrated their sacred treasure.

"Once in Lucknow three of their agents, disguised as servants in a hotel, endeavoured to strangle me with a twisted cloth.Again, in London, two Thugs, made up as street musicians, climbed into my window at night and attacked me.They have even tracked me to this country.My life is never safe.A month ago, while I was at a hotel in the Berkshires, three of them sprang upon me from the roadside weeds.I saved myself then by my knowledge of their customs.""How was that, General?" asked the reporter.

"There was a cow grazing near by," said General Ludlow, "a gentle Jersey cow.I ran to her side and stood.The three Thugs ceased their attack, knelt and struck the ground thrice with their foreheads.Then, after many respectful salaams, they departed.""Afraid the cow would hook?" asked the reporter.

"No; the cow is a sacred animal to the Phansigars.Next to their goddess they worship the cow.They have never been known to commit any deed of violence in the presence of the animal they reverence.""It's a mighty interesting story," said the reporter.

"If you don't mind I'll take another drink, and then a few notes.""I will join you," said General Ludlow, with a courteous wave of his hand.

"If I were you," advised the reporter, "I'd take that sparkler to Texas.

Get on a cow ranch there, and the Pharisees --""Phansigars," corrected the General.

"Oh, yes; the fancy guys would run up against a long horn every time they made a break."General Ludlow closed the diamond case and thrust it into his bosom.

"The spies of the tribe have found me out in New York," he said, straightening his tall figure."I'm familiar with the East Indian cast of countenance, and I know that my every movement is watched.They will undoubtedly attempt to rob and murder me here.""Here?" exclaimed the reporter, seizing the decanter and pouring out a liberal amount of its contents.

"At any moment," said the General."But as a soldier and a connoisseur Ishall sell my life and my diamond as dearly as I can."At this point of the reporter's story there is a certain vagueness, but it can be gathered that there was a loud crashing noise at the rear of the house they were in.General Ludlow buttoned his coat closely and sprang for the door.But the reporter clutched him firmly with one hand, while he held the decanter with the other.

"Tell me before we fly," he urged, in a voice thick with some inward turmoil, "do any of your daughters contemplate going on the stage?""I have no daughters -- fly for your life -- the Phansigars are upon us!"cried the General.

The two men dashed out of the front door of the house.

The hour was late.As their feet struck the side-walk strange men of dark and forbidding appearance seemed to rise up out of the earth and encompass them.One with Asiatic features pressed close to the General and droned in a terrible voice:

"Buy cast clo'!"

Another, dark-whiskered and sinister, sped lithely to his side and began in a whining voice:

"Say, mister, have yer got a dime fer a poor feller what --"They hurried on, but only into the arms of a black-eyed, dusky-browed being, who held out his hat under their noses, while a confederate of Oriental hue turned the handle of a street organ near by.

Twenty steps farther on General Ludlow and the reporter found themselves in the midst of half a dozen villainous-looking men with high-turned coat collars and faces bristling with unshaven beards.

"Run for it!" hissed the General."They have discovered the possessor of the diamond of the goddess Kali."The two men took to their heels.The avengers of the goddess pursued.

"Oh, Lordy!" groaned the reporter, "there isn't a cow this side of Brooklyn.We're lost!"When near the corner they both fell over an iron object that rose from the sidewalk close to the gutter.Clinging to it desperately, they awaited their fate.

"If I only had a cow!" moaned the reporter -- "or another nip from that decanter, General!"As soon as the pursuers observed where their victims had found refuge they suddenly fell back and retreated to a considerable distance.

"They are waiting for reinforcements in order to attack us," said General Ludlow.

But the reporter emitted a ringing laugh, and hurled his hat triumphantly into the air.

"Guess again," he shouted, and leaned heavily upon the iron object."Your old fancy guys or thugs, whatever you call 'em, are up to date.Dear General, this is a pump we've stranded upon -- same as a cow in New York (hic!) see? Thas'h why the 'nfuriated smoked guys don't attack us --see? Sacred an'mal, the pump in N' York, my dear General!"But further down in the shadows of Twenty-eighth Street the marauders were holding a parley.

"Come on, Reddy," said one."Let's go frisk the old 'un.He's been shown' a sparkler as big as a hen egg all around Eighth Avenue for two weeks past.""Not on your silhouette," decided Reddy."You see 'em rallyin' round The Pump? They're friends of Bill's.Bill won't stand for nothin' of this kind in his district since he got that bid to Esopus."This exhausts the facts concerning the Kali diamond.But it is deemed not inconsequent to close with the following brief (paid) item that appeared two days later in a morning paper.

"It is rumored that a niece of Gen.Marcellus B.Ludlow, of New York City, will appear on the stage next season.

"Her diamonds are said to be extremely valuable and of much historic interest."