In the hush of surprise his voice arose, addressing the fighters:  “Bus[70] you bleedin’ soors,[71]” said Corporal Cook. “Bus; and you dekho[72] ’ere.  If any of you jaos[73] from where ’e is, I’ll pukkaro[74] ’im and give ’im a punch in the dekho.”

[70] Enough, stop. [71] Swine. [72] Look. [73] Jao = go (imperative). [74] Seize (imperative).

And, as bayonets rose breast-high and fingers curled lovingly round triggers, every knife but that of Ross-Ellison disappeared as by magic, and the Corporal beheld a little crowd of innocent men endeavouring to secure a dangerous lunatic at the risk of their lives—­terrible risk, as the bodies of five dead and dying men might testify.

“I give myself up to you as a murderer, Corporal,” said he who had been Colonel John Robin Ross-Ellison.  “I am a murderer.  If you will take me before your officer I will confess and give details.”

“I’m agoin’ to take you bloomin’ well all,” replied the surprised Corporal.  “Chuck down that there beastly carvin’ knife.  You seem a too ‘andy cove wiv’ it.”

At the Corporal’s order of, “Prod ’em all up agin that wall and shoot any bloke as moves ’and or ’oof,” the party of panting, bleeding and perspiring ruffians was lined up, relieved of its weapons, and duly marched to the guard-room.

Here, one of the gang (later identified as the man who had been known as John Robin Ross-Ellison, and who insisted that he was a Baluchi) declared that he had just murdered Mrs. Dearman in her drawing-room and made a full statement—­a statement found to be only too true, its details corroborated by a trembling hamal who had peeped and listened, as all Indian servants peep and listen.

* * * * *

Duly tried, all members of the gang received terms of imprisonment (largely a prophylactic measure), save the extraordinary English-speaking Baluchi, who had long imposed, it was said, upon Gungapur Society in the days before that Society had disappeared in the cataclysm.

A few days before the date fixed for the execution of this very remarkable desperado, Captain Michael Malet-Marsac, Adjutant of the Gungapur Volunteer Corps, received two letters dated from Gungapur Jail, one covering the other.  The covering letter ran:—­

“MY DEAR MALET-MARSAC,

“I forward the enclosed.  Should you desire to attend the execution you could accompany the new City Magistrate, Wellson, who will doubtless be agreeable.

“Yours sincerely,

“A.  RANALD, Major I.M.S.”

The accompaniment was from John Robin Ross-Ellison Mir Ilderim Dost Mahommed Mir Hafiz Ullah Khan.

“MY DEAR OLD FRIEND,