Part 3 (1/2)
”Yes, sir I a from this place where I have spent a few days, to Bo sahib is on the train?” King asked hienially that even the police could not have charged hira sahib at Peshawur and therefore sent a telegra”I see” And judging by the sparkle in his eyes as he looked away he could see a lot But the native could not see his eyes at that instant, although he tried to
He looked back at the train, giving the ood chance to study his face in profile
”Oh, thank you, sir!” said the native oilily ”You are ood-by to hi scarcely interested any longer
”Couldn't you find another berth?” Hyde asked hirily when he stepped back into the co for?”
King smiled back at him blandly
”I think there are railway thieves on the train,” he announced without any effort at relevance He ht not have heard the question
”What makes you think so?”
”Observation, sir”
”Oh! Then if you've seen thieves, why didn't you have 'em arrested? You were precious free with that authority of yours on Peshawur platform!”
”Perhaps You'd care to take the responsibility, sir? Letcuriosity Hyde ca stepped back just as the train began to move
”That man, sir-over there-no, beyond hih the , and a well-dressed native with one foot on the running-board at the back end of the train took a long steady stare at hi the door of a third-class carriage
”Which one?” demanded Hyde impatiently
”I don't see him now, sir!”
Hyde snorted and returned to his seat in the silence of unspeakable scorn But presently he opened a suitcase and drew out a repeating pistol which he cocked carefully and stowed beneath his pillow; not at all a contemptible move, because the Indian railway thief is thetook no overt precautions of any kind
After ht shut down on them, red-hot, black-dark, e wheels and lit at intervals by showers of sparks froine The din of Babel rode behind the first-class carriages, for all the natives in the packed third-class talked all together (In India, when one has spent a fortune on a third-class ticket, one proceeds to enjoy the ride) The train was a Beast out of Revelation, ing in noise
But after other, hotter hours the talking ceased Then King, strangely without kicking off his shoes, drew a sheet up over his shoulders On the opposite berth Hyde covered his head, to keep dust out of his hair, and presently King heard hiently Then, very carefully he adjusted his own position so that his profile lay outlined in the diht al to be shaved
The stuffiness increased to a degree that is so to a sulphurous sphere beyond the grave Yet he did not il was rewarded by a slight sound at the door From that instant his eyes were on the watch, under dark of closed lashes; but his even breathing was that of the seventh stage of sleep that knows no dreams
A click of the door-latch heralded the appearance of a hand With skill, of the sort that only special training can develop, a e without 's ears are part of the equip business, but he could not hear the door click shut again
For about fiveinto Indian darkness, the 's face He stood so near that King recognized him for the one who had accosted him on Rawal-Pindi platform And he could see the outline of the knife-hilt that the ers clutched underneath his shi+rt