"And to think but for the Presence having arrived
here first I most assuredly would have gone into the village, and
perhaps have been slain for my--"
He stopped and rolled his eyes apprehensively. He had been on the
point of mentioning his jewels, but, though he was amongst saints and
kings, he suddenly remembered the danger.
"We would not have camped here," Ajeet declared, "had we not been a
strong party, because this village has an evil reputation. You have
been favoured by the gods in finding honest men in the way of
protection, and, no doubt, it is because you are one who makes
offerings to the deity."
"And if the Maharaja will suffer the presence of a poor merchant, who
is but a shopkeeper, I will rest here in his protection."
Ajeet Singh graciously consented to this, and the merchant commanded
his men to erect his small tent beneath the limbs of the deep green
mango trees.
The decoits watched closely the transport of the merchant's effects
from the cart to the tent. When a strong iron box, that was an evident
weight for its two carriers, was borne first their eyes glistened.
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