Colonel Thorndykes Secret | Page 8

and thought

that I had come out to hide the things. However, there they are, sir. One
of my mates brought my musket here a quarter of an hour ago, and
emptied the barrel out for me. Now, sir, you did your best to save my
life last night, and you killed that fellow who did for me, and you pretty
nearly got killed yourself. I have got no one else I could give the things
to, and if I were to give them to one of my mates in the regiment they
would probably cost him his life, as they have cost me mine. But you
will know what to do with the things; they are worth a lot of money if
you can get them home. Mind, sir, you have got to be careful. I have
heard tales of how those priests will follow up a temple jewel that has
been lost for years, and never give it up until they get it back again.'
"'I ought to give it up,' I said.
"'You don't know where it came from, sir,' he replied. 'I was one of a
party of convalescents who were sent up just before that fight, and my
own regiment was not there: it might have been here, and it might have
been in the Carnatic. Bill never told me, and I have no more idea than a
babe unborn.'
"The gems were certainly magnificent; and though I knew well enough
that these untiring Brahmins would not be long in guessing that the
things had come into my possession, I took the bracelet. I thought,
anyhow, that I might have a few hours' start; the fellow I had killed
might, of course, have one or two others with him, but I had to risk that.
I got leave an hour later, and went down to Madras, and got them put
into a place of safety. That I was watched all the time I was in India
afterwards I have no doubt, but no attempts were made to assassinate
me. They would have known that I went straight away, but whether I
had buried them somewhere on the road, or had given them to
someone's care at Madras they could not know, and there was,
therefore, nothing for them to do but to wait till I made a move.
"I have no doubt whatever that they came over in the same ship with
me. Two or three times during the week I was in London I saw colored
men in the street outside the hotel. Once it was a Lascar seaman,
another time a dark looking sailor in European clothes: he might pass
for a Spaniard. Several times as I was going about in a sedan chair I

looked out suddenly, and each time there was a dark face somewhere in
the street behind. I had a letter this morning from the lawyer, and he
mentioned that two days ago his offices had been broken into, and
every strong box and drawer forced open, but that, curiously enough,
they could not find that anything had been stolen, though in the
cashier's box there were 30 pounds in gold. Of course it was my friends.
I have no doubt that one or two of them have followed me down here;
and for anything I know they may be lurking somewhere in your
garden at the present moment-- that is, if they are not standing beside
us in this room."
John Thorndyke looked round with an uncomfortable feeling.
"How do you mean, George?"
"I mean some of those Indian fellows can do all sorts of wonderful
conjuring tricks. I have seen them go up into the air on a rope and never
come down again, and for aught I know they may be able to render
themselves invisible. Seriously, I think that it is likely as not."
"Well, and where are the things to be found now, George?"
"That I won't tell you, John. Before I go I will whisper it in your ear,
and give you the means of finding them, but not till then. No, I will
write it down on a piece of paper, and slip it into your hand. As soon as
you get out of the room you glance at it, and then put the piece of paper
into your mouth, chew it up and swallow it. I tell you I dare not even
whisper it; but whatever you do, take no steps in the matter until your
son comes of age."
"There can surely be no danger in another twelve years, George; they
will have given up the search long before that."
"Not they," the Colonel said emphatically. "If they die others will take
their places: it is a sacred business with them. My