I explained
the situation, and we mounted to the upper level. Not a soul was
to be seen. Quickly we advanced and took up a position to command
the door of the underground chamber; while one of the police waved
a white cloth from his bayonet as a signal to the gunners to cease
firing. Then the officer hailed the party within the cave.
"'Sivajee Punt! you may as well come out and give yourself up! We
are in possession, and resistance is useless!'
"A yell of rage and surprise was heard, and the Dacoits, all
desperate men, came bounding out, firing as they did so. Half of
their number were shot down at once and the rest, after a short,
sharp struggle, were bound hand and foot.
"That is pretty well all of the story, I think. Sivajee Punt was
one of the killed. The prisoners were all either hung or imprisoned
for life. I escaped my blowing up for having gone down the Ghauts
after the bear, because, after all, Sivajee Punt might have defied
their force for months had I not done so.
"It seemed that that scoundrel Rahman had taken back word that I
was killed. Norworthy had sent down a strong party, who found the
two dead bears, and who, having searched everywhere without finding
any signs of my body, came to the conclusion that I had been found
and carried away, especially as they ascertained that natives used
that path.
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