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〃'Take him to the main guard；' said I。 The two Sikhs closed in upon
him on each side； and the giant walked behind； while they marched in
through the dark gate…way。 Never was a man so compassed round with
death。 I remained at the gate…way with the lantern。
〃I could hear the measured tramp of their footsteps sounding through
the lonely corridors。 Suddenly it ceased； and I heard voices； and a scuffle；
with the sound of blows。 A moment later there came； to my horror； a
rush of footsteps coming in my direction； with the loud breathing of a
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running man。 I turned my lantern down the long； straight passage； and
there was the fat man； running like the wind； with a smear of blood across
his face； and close at his heels； bounding like a tiger； the great black…
bearded Sikh； with a knife flashing in his hand。 I have never seen a man
run so fast as that little merchant。 He was gaining on the Sikh； and I
could see that if he once passed me and got to the open air he would save
himself yet。 My heart softened to him； but again the thought of his
treasure turned me hard and bitter。 I cast my firelock between his legs as
he raced past； and he rolled twice over like a shot rabbit。 Ere he could
stagger to his feet the Sikh was upon him； and buried his knife twice in his
side。 The man never uttered moan nor moved muscle； but lay were he
had fallen。 I think myself that he may have broken his neck with the fall。
You see； gentlemen； that I am keeping my promise。 I am telling you
every work of the business just exactly as it happened； whether it is in my
favor or not。〃
He stopped； and held out his manacled hands for the whiskey…and…
water which Holmes had brewed for him。 For myself； I confess that I
had now conceived the utmost horror of the man； not only for this cold…
blooded business in which he had been concerned； but even more for the
somewhat flippant and careless way in which he narrated it。 Whatever
punishment was in store for him； I felt that he might expect no sympathy
from me。 Sherlock Holmes and Jones sat with their hands upon their
knees； deeply interested in the story； but with the same disgust written
upon their faces。 He may have observed it； for there was a touch of
defiance in his voice and manner as he proceeded。
〃It was all very bad； no doubt；〃 said he。 〃I should like to know how
many fellows in my shoes would have refused a share of this loot when
they knew that they would have their throats cut for their pains。 Besides；
it was my life or his when once he was in the fort。 If he had got out； the
whole business would come to light； and I should have been court…
martialled and shot as likely as not； for people were not very lenient at a
time like that。〃
〃Go on with your story；〃 said Holmes； shortly。
〃Well； we carried him in； Abdullah； Akbar； and I。 A fine weight he
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was； too； for all that he was so short。 Mahomet Singh was left to guard
the door。 We took him to a place which the Sikhs had already prepared。
It was some distance off； where a winding passage leads to a great empty
hall； the brick walls of which were all crumbling to pieces。 The earth
floor had sunk in at one place； making a natural grave； so we left Achmet
the merchant there； having first covered him over with loose bricks。 This
done； we all went back to the treasure。
〃It lay where he had dropped it when he was first attacked。 The box
was the same which now lies open upon your table。 A key was hung by a
silken cord to that carved handle upon the top。 We opened it； and the
light of the lantern gleamed upon a collection of gems such as I have read
of and thought about when I was a little lad at Pershore。 It was blinding
to look upon them。 When we had feasted our eyes we took them all out
and made a list of them。 There were one hundred and forty…three
diamonds of the first water； including one which has been called； I believe；
'the Great Mogul' and is said to be the second largest stone in existence。
Then there were ninety…seven very fine emeralds； and one hundred and
seventy rubies； some of which； however； were small。 There were forty
carbuncles； two hundred and ten sapphires； sixty…one agates； and a great
quantity of beryls； onyxes； cats'…eyes； turquoises； and other stones； the
very names of which I did not know at the time； though I have become
more familiar with them since。 Besides this； there were nearly three
hundred very fine pearls； twelve of which were set in a gold coronet。 By
the way； these last had been taken out of the chest and were not there when
I recovered it。
〃After we had counted our treasures we put them back into the chest
and carried them to the gate…way to show them to Mahomet Singh。 Then
we solemnly renewed our oath to stand by each other and be true to our
secret。 We agreed to conceal our loot in a safe place until the country
should be at peace again； and then to divide it equally among ourselves。
There was no use dividing it at present； for if gems of such value were
found upon us it would cause suspicion； and there was no privacy in the
fort nor any place where we could keep them。 We carried the box；
therefore； into the same hall where we had buried the body； and there；
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under certain bricks in the best…preserved wall； we made a hollow and put
our treasure。 We made careful note of the place； and next day I drew four
plans； one for each of us； and put the sign of the four of us at the bottom；
for we had sworn that we should each always act for all； so that none
might take advantage。 That is an oath that I can put my hand to my heart
and swear that I have never broken。
〃Well； there's no use my telling you gentlemen what came of the
Indian mutiny。 After Wilson took Delhi and Sir Colin relieved Lucknow
the back of the business was broken。 Fresh troops came pouring in； and
Nana Sahib made himself scarce over the frontier。 A flying column
under Colonel Greathed came round to Agra and cleared the Pandies away
from it。 Peace seemed to be settling upon the country； and we four were
beginning to hope that the time was at hand when we might safely go off
with our shares of the plunder。 In a moment； however； our hopes were
shattered by our being arrested as the murderers of Achmet。
〃It came about in this way。 When the rajah put his jewels into the
hands of Achmet he did it because he knew that he was a trusty man。
They are suspicious folk in the East； however： so what does this rajah do
but take a second even more trusty servant and set him to play the spy
upon the first？ This second man was ordered never to let Achmet out of
his sight； and he followed him like his shadow。 He went after him that
night and saw him pass through the doorway。 Of course he thought he
had taken refuge in the fort； and applied for admission there himself next
day； but could find no trace of Achmet。 This seemed to him so strange
that he spoke about it to a sergeant of guides； who brought it to the ears of
the commandant。 A thorough search was quickly made； and the body
was discovered。 Thus at the very moment that we thought that all was
safe we were all four seized and brought to trial on a charge of murder；
three of us because we had held the gate that night； and the fourth because
he was known to have been in the company of the murdered