Adventure Magazine Cover, December 10, 1922 — page 76: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

70 the right also, only dimly discernible beyond the pillars, was a blank wall with a huge image at either end and a long stone bench between the two. Eight of the Committee went and sat on that bench, while a ninth opened the door to look out on the temple portico. A vicious-looking rascal stood out there with his back to the door, but turned and. saluted. “Remember,” warned the committeeman, “Tf anybody comes, rap loudly and give us ample warning!”’ He spoke Hindustanee, the lingua franca. They all did. Among nine committeemen there were five races and three creeds, and they could not have understood each other or their servants in any other tongue. “All is well,” said the ninth, joining the others on the stone bench. The Moplah chairman no longer sat in the midst but at the far end. The place of importance was occupied by Aurung Ali, the little, self-important man. He was the only one who looked quite comfortable, lolling back against the wall with his hands folded on his lap contentedly. “Well, your honor Judge Wilmshurst,” he began sarcastically, “I believe the plea- sure of recognition is mutual, eh? I recall you were in no hurry when you sentenced me to twenty years’ imprisonment. I will be equally patient and provoking! We are all going to enjoy ourselves thoroughly in secret session. Isn’t it nice!” He said that in English; then to the Com- mittee in Hindustanee: _ “Now you understand. The evidence of torture can not be applied to a body success- fully after death. It must lg done pains- takingly while they are living. I will not have them killed too soon. There must be proof, positive and convincing, that they were done to death miserably. This is an opportunity of a life-time to inaugurate a reign of reprisal and counter-reprisal that will last until India is aflame from end to end! Now, who has a pistol?” They all had. They produced them, thinking he wished that. He cackled mean- ingly. ‘There you are! You produce them much too readily! You will use them too readily!” “T say, shoot them first!”’ said a rather fat man, shifting his legs nervously. ‘Only Moplahs will see the bodies afterwards. They have no professional coroners. We Adventure can say they were tortured, and they will believe it. I am against this business of torturing.” “You mean, I suppose, that your brain has become as fat and flabby as your stom- ach! Idiot! We must take great care that the bodies fall into British hands! What would be the use of inflaming the passions of one side, without a corresponding hatred on the other?” “We can easily make marks on them with a hot iron directly after death—almost the same second. None would ever know the difference,” the other objected. “No! Look here, you’re going to spoil everything! Lay down your pistols, all of you! Lay them on the bench! Look—see— there is mine. To hear you talk you might be a lot of ghandis preaching non-violence! Now, no backing out of this! We were all agreed. You must all commit yourselves. Each of you must lend a hand and torture somebody. Take your knives, and some- body bring the hot coal. Leave Mrs. Wilmshurst to me—I am sure the judge would rather have it that way!” They obeyed him, laying their pistols on the bench, and in proof that it was fear and not compunction that had made him flinch it was the fat man who went at once to drag a glowing charcoal brazier out from behind one of the stone images. The remainder chose their victims with a business-like air. Aurung Ali bowing sarcastically’ to Mrs. Wilmshurst. “T want you to watch this, judge!” he said pleasantly, moving toward the brazier to choose an iron. Not one of the prisoners said a word. Each stared at the devil in front of him. Each devil fingered a long knife, hesitating even yet to begin the abominable business. ‘““Now watch!” said Aurung Ali, whirling —~a hot iron. But his movement was arrested by a quiet tap on the temple door, from outside. Every member of the Committee turned and faced the door as if Nemesis had already entered. “Go on, go on!” exclaimed Aurung Ali. “That is nothing. I ordered him to knock loud for danger. This is some minor matter. I will go and see.” He walked to the door, after thrusting the iron back into the fire to keep it hot, and drew the bolt back gingerly. The in- stant the edge of the bolt was clear the Eomichoo cS (E(o)