Page:Rajmohan's Wife.djvu/83

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WHEN THIEVES FALL OUT
77

"My legs are free yet," roared Rajmohan, dealing a tremendous kick at his antagonist beneath which even the sturdy frame of the robber chief staggered some paces back, involuntarily letting go his hold of the agile antagonist's arms.

"Pin him, Bhiku, pin him down," roared the bandit as he saw Rajmohan running to regain his lost dagger; and before the sounds were uttered the vigorous arm of the second robber felled their opponent to the ground.

The sardar now sprang to the fallen man's breast with the agility and fierceness of a tiger, and while he thus held him down, the other bound Rajmohan's hands and feet with a piece of rope which, fastened to two bamboo-sticks on two of the walls, had formed a sort of rude cloth-stand for Matangini.

"Now, traitor!" said the sardar, "you are at our mercy."

"Yes, because you are two to one—but what have I done," asked Rajmohan, "that you should do thus to me?"

"What have you done? You have been a traitor, know [that]! Did you not send warning to the house and save your brother-in-law? You, hypocrite, you," he added fiercely, his eyes gleaming in rage, "you did it, you deserve to die."

"I! I give notice to him! I would sooner tear open his eyes," returned Rajmohan gnashing his teeth.

"Have done with your hypocrisy," said the sardar threateningly, "Fool that I was to believe