delay them until our coming.
The rest were strangers to us, yet none the less thugs. For we had left
signs on the road telling such as could read them that more help was
needed and in what direction we were moving; and, although those who
responded to this call were in varied disguises, one, perhaps, coming up
to us as a petty chief with a mounted escort, another as a merchant with
a bullock cart to draw his packages of goods and a servant in
attendance, yet another as a juggler or a musician, we could instantly
recognize them as belonging to our brotherhood of Bowani by the secret
signals with which they introduced themselves.

"'So we fared onward, increasing our numbers until our caravan was full
one hundred strong. We walked or rode together, ate together, worshipped
at the wayside shrines together, chatted and amused ourselves at night
around the camp fire, slept side by side, thugs and our intended
victims, until our strength should be sufficient and a suitable place
for the final deed attained.

"'At last these two requirements were satisfied. We were now three to
one, just the proper proportion--a strangler to use the roomal, a holder
of legs, and a holder of arms, three thugs for each man to be
sacrificed, so that there could be no mistake, no outcry for help, no
possibility of escape for our victims. And one day's journey ahead, as
we knew well from previous experience, there was a lonely gorge densely
grown with jungle. Here the sacrifice to Bowani would be consummated, so
the grave-choosers and the grave-diggers were sent on in advance. We
acted now with the certainty of good fortune, for day by day every omen
had continued to be propitious, as interpreted by the movements and
cries of beasts and birds.'

"The man's story fell on my ears in an even flow. He spoke without
emotion. I feared to interrupt with a single word, lest any untoward
comment from me should put an abrupt end to the appalling confession. So
I just listened while I chewed my betel-nut.

"'On the succeeding night,' continued the thug, 'we reached the nullah.
The camp fire was lighted the bullocks and riding ponies were placed
within the circle formed of the carts, for the gorge beneath us was full
of wild beasts, and we had even heard the roar of a tiger disturbed from
his hunting. The bales and boxes of merchandise had been piled up in
heaps, close to where each of the owners would sleep, some on the open
ground, some in tents erected