He turned to the decoit:  “Commence again, and tell the truth; and if I believe, you may be given protection from the British; but as to Sindhia I have no power to protect his criminals.”

The decoit cleared his throat and began:  “I, Ajeet Singh, hold allegiance to the Raja of Karowlee, and am Chief of the Bagrees, who are decoits.”

The Resident held up his hand:  “Have patience.”  He rose, and took from a little cabinet a small alabaster figure of Kali which he placed upon the table, saying in English to Barlow, “When these decoits confess to be made Approvers, half of the confession is lies, for to swear them on our Bible is as little use as playing a tin whistle.  If he’s a Bagree this is his goddess.”

In Hindi he said:  “Ajeet Singh, if you are a Bagree decoit you are in the protection of Bhowanee, and you make oath to her.”

“Yes, Sahib.”

“This is Bhowanee,—­that is your name for Kali,—­and with obeisance to her make oath that you will tell the truth.”

“Yes, Sahib, it is the proper way.”

“Proceed.”

The jamadar with the fingers of his two hands clasped to his forehead in obeisance, declared:  “If I, Ajeet Singh, tell that which is not true, Mother Kali, may thy wrath fall upon me and my family.”

Then Hodson shifted the black goddess and let it remain upon a corner of his table, surmising that the sight of it would help.

“Speak, now,” the Resident commanded; and the Jamadar proceeded.

“Dewan Sewlal sent to Raja Karowlee for men for a mission, and whether it was in the letter he sent that thugs should come I know not, but in our party were thugs, and that led to why I am here.”

“What is the difference, Ajeet,” Hodson asked sharply.  “You are a decoit who robs and kills, and thugs kill and rob; you are both disciples of this murderous creature, Kali.”

“We who are decoits, while we make offerings to Kali, are not thugs.  They have a chief mission of murder, while we have but desire to gain for our families from the rich.  The thugs came in this wise, sahib.  Bhowanee created them from the sweat of her arms, and gave to them her tooth for a pick-axe, which is their emblem, a rib for a knife, and the hem of her garment for a noose to strangle.  The hem of her sacred garment was yellow-and-white, and the roomal that they strangle with is yellow-and-white.  They are thugs, Sahib, and we are decoits.”

“A fine distinction, sir,” and Barlow laughed.

“Proceed,” Hodson commanded.

“We were told by the Dewan to go to the camp of the Pindaris and bring back the head of Amir Khan.”

“Lovely!” Barlow muttered softly; but Hodson started,—­a slight rouge crept over his pale face and he said, “By Gad! this grows interesting, my dear Captain.”

“Absolutely Oriental,” Barlow added.

Then when their voices had stilled Ajeet continued:  “But Hunsa had ridden with the Pindari Chief and he knew that he was well guarded, and that it would be impossible to bring his head in a basket, so we refused to go on this mission.  The Dewan was angry and would not give us food or pay.  Through Hunsa the Dewan sent word that we must obtain our living in the way of our profession, which is decoity.”