Part 42 (1/2)

”We at once fired three shots, our usual signal that the tiger was dead, and in a few ers, who hardly knehether to be delighted at the death of their enerieve over the injury to the fakir We proposed taking the latter to our hospital at Jubbalpore, but this he positively refused to listen to However, we finally persuaded him to allow his arm to be set and the wounds dressed in the first place by our regio to one of the native villages and have his arm dressed in accordance with his own notions A litter was soon improvised, and aent to Jubbalpore, which we reached about eight in the evening

”The fakir refused to enter the hospital, so we brought out a couple of trestles, laid the litter upon theeon set his arht, when he was lifted into a dhoolie, and his bearers again prepared to start for the village

”Hitherto he had only spoken a feords; but he now briefly expressed his deep gratitude to Simmonds and myself We told him that ould ride over to see hi on rapidly

Another one

”It happened that we had three or four felloay on leave or on staff duty, and several others laid up with fever just about this time, so that the duty fell very heavily upon the rest of us, and it was over a month before we had tioing on well; but ere surprised, on reaching the village, to find that he had already returned to his old abode in the jungle However, we had reed that ould endeavor to persuade him to do a prediction for us; so we turned our horses' heads towards the jungle We found the fakir sitting on a rock in front of the teer He rose as we rode up

”'I knew that you would co those who have preservedagain, though your ar in Hindustani

”'How did you know that ere co?' I asked, e had tied up our horses

”'Siva has given to his servant to know s,' he said quietly

”'Did you know beforehand that the tiger was going to seize you?' I asked

”'I knew that a great danger threatened, and that Siva would not let me die before my time had come'

”'Could you see into our future?' I asked

”The fakir hesitated, looked atin mockery, and then said:

”'The sahibs do not believe in the power of Siva or of his servants

They call his ers impostors, and scoff at them when they speak of the events of the future'

”'No indeed,' I said 'My friend and I have no idea of scoffing We have heard of sotrue, that we are really anxious that you should tell us so of the future'

”The fakir nodded his head, went into the temple, and returned in a minute or tith two s, and a brazier of burning charcoal The pipes were already charged He ns to us to sit down, and took his place in front of us Then he began singing in a low voice, rocking hi a staff which he held in his hand Gradually his voice rose, and his gesticulations and actions became more violent So far as I could liht benefit the sahibs who had saved the life of his servant Presently he darted forward, gave us each a pipe, took two pieces of red-hot charcoal fro to know that they aring and gesticulations

”A glance at Charley, to see if, like h, and then I put the pipe to my lips I felt at once that it was opium, of which I had before made experiine, hasheesh, a preparation of he overhi and his face distorted Another ers, and I fell back insensible

”How long I lay there I do not knoith a strange and not unpleasant sensation, and presently beca, with a sort of sha action, my temples and head

When he saw that I opened my eyes he left me, and performed the same process upon Charley In a fewposition, waved his hand in token of adieu, and walked slowly back into the temple

”As he disappeared I sat up; Charley did the same

”We stared at each other for a , and then Charley said:

”'This is a ruht, Charley My opinion is, we've made fools of ourselves

Let's be off out of this'