Isawtheceiling-clothnearlyinthecentreoftheroombagwithashapethatwaspressingitdownwardanddownwardtowardthelightedlampsonthetableIsnatchedalampoutofdangerandstoodbackThentheclothrippedoutfromthewalls，tore，split，swayed，andshotdownuponthetablesomethingthatIdarednotlookattillStricklandhadsliddowntheladderandwasstandingbymyside。
　　Hedidnotsaymuch，beingamanoffewwords，buthepickedupthelooseendofthetable-clothandthrewitoverthethingonthetable。
　　“Itstrikesme。”saidhe，pullingdownthelamp，“ourfriendImrayhascomebackOh！youwould，wouldyou？”
　　Therewasamovementunderthecloth，andalittlesnakewriggle’dout，tobeback-brokenbythebuttofthemasheerrodIwassufficientlysicktomakenoremarksworthrecording。
　　StricklandmeditatedandhelpedhimselftodrinksliberallyThethingundertheclothmadenomoresignsoflife。
　　“IsitImray？”Isaid。
　　Stricklandturnedbacktheclothforamomentandlooked“ItisImray，’1hesaid，“andhisthroatiscutfromeartoear。”
　　Thenwespokebothtogetherandtoourselves：
　　“That’swhyhewhisperedaboutthehouse。”
　　Tietjens，inthegarden，begantobayfuriouslyAlittlelaterhergreatnoseheaveduponthedining-roomdoor。
　　ShesniffedandwasstillThebrokenandtatteredceiling-clothhungdownalmosttothelevelofthetable，andtherewashardlyroomtomoveawayfromthediscovery。
　　ThenTietjenscameinandsatdown，herteethbaredandherforepawsplantedShelookedatStrickland。
　　“It’sbadbusiness，oldlady。”saidhe“Mendon’tgoupintotheroofsoftheirbungalowstodie，andtheydon’tfastenuptheceiling-clothbehind’emLet’sthinkitout。”
　　“Let’sthinkitoutsomewhereelse。”Isaid。
　　“Excellentidea！TurnthelampsoutWe’llgetintomyroom。”
　　IdidnotturnthelampsoutIwentintoStrickland’sroomfirstandallowedhimtomakethedarknessThenhefollowedme，andwelightedtobaccoandthoughtStricklanddidthethinkingIsmokedfuriouslybecauseIwasafraid。
　　“Imrayisback。”saidStrickland“Thequestionis，whokilledImray？Don’ttalk-IhaveanotionofmyownWhenItookthisbungalowItookmostofImray’sservantsImraywasguile-lessandinoffensive，wasn’the？”
　　Iagreed，thoughtheheapundertheclothlookedneitheronethingnortheother。
　　“IfIcalltheservantstheywillstandfastinacrowdandlielikeAryansWhatdoyousuggest？”
　　“Call’eminonebyone。”Isaid。
　　“They’llrunawayandgivethenewstoalltheirfellows。”saidStrickland。
　　“Wemustsegregate’emDoyousupposeyourservantknowsanythingaboutit？”
　　“Hemay，foraughtIknow，hutIdon’tthinkit’slikelyHehasonlybeenheretwoorthreedays。”
　　“What’syournotion？”Iasked。
　　“Ican’tquitetellHowthedickensdidthemangetthewrongsideoftheceiling-cloth？”
　　TherewasaheavycoughingoutsideStrickland’sbedroomdoor。
　　ThisshowedthatBahadurKhan，hisbody-servant，hadwakedfromsleepandwishedtoputStricklandtobed。
　　“Comein。”saidStrickland“Itisaverywarmnight，isn’tit？”
　　BahadurKhan，agreat，green-turbaned，six-footMohammedan，saidthatitwasaverywarmnight，butthattherewasmorerainpending，which，byhishonor’sfavor，wouldbringrelieftothecountry。
　　“Itwillbeso，ifGodpleases。”saidStrickland，tuggingoffhishoots“Itisinmymind，BahadurKhan，thatIhaveworkedtheeremorselesslyformanydays-eversincethattimewhenthoufirstcameintomyserviceWhattimewasthat？”
　　“Hastheheaven-bornforgotten？ItwaswhenImraySahibwentsecretlytoEuropewithoutwarninggiven，andIevenI-cameintothehonoredserviceoftheprotectorofthepoor。”
　　“AndImraySahibwenttoEurope？”
　　“Itissosaidamongtheservants。”
　　“Andthouwilttakeservicewithhimwhenhereturns？”
　　“Assuredly，sahibHewasagoodmasterandcherishedhisdependents。”
　　“ThatistrueIamverytired，butIcangobuck-shootingto-morrowGivemethelittleriflethatI
　　useforblackbuck；itisinthecaseyonder。”
　　Themanstoopedoverthecase，bandedbarrels，stock，andfore-endtoStrickland，whofittedthemtogetherYawningdolefully，thenhereacheddowntothegun-case，tookasoliddrawncartridge，andslippeditintothebreechofthe。360express。
　　“AndImraySahibhasgonetoEuropesecretly？Thatisverystrange，BahadurKhan，isitnot？”
　　“WhatdoIknowofthewaysofthewhiteman，heaven-born？”
　　“Verylittle，trulyButthoushaltknowmoreIthasreachedmethatImraySahibhasreturnedfromhissolongjourneyings，andthatevennowheliesinthenextroom，waitinghisservant。”
　　“Sahib！”
　　Thelamp-lightslidalongthebarrelsoftherifleastheyleveledthemselvesagainstBahadurKhan’sbroadbreast。
　　“Gothenandlook！”saidStrickland。
　　“TakealampThymasteristired，andhewaitsGo！”
　　Themanpickedupalampandwentintothedining-room，Stricklandfollowing，andalmostpushinghimwiththemuzzleoftherifleHelookedforamomentattheblackdepthsbehindtheceiling-cloth，atthecarcassofthemangledsnakeunderfoot，andlast，agreyglazesettingonhisface，atthethingunderthetable-cloth。
　　“Hastthouseen？”saidStrickland，afterapause。
　　“IhaveseenIamclayinthewhiteman’shandsWhatdoesthepresencedo？”
　　“Hangtheewithinamonth！Whatelse？”
　　“Forkillinghim？Nay，sahib，considerWalkingamongus，hisservants，hecasthiseyesuponmychild，whowasfouryearsold。
　　Himhebewitched，andintendayshediedofthefeverMychild！”
　　“WhatsaidImraySahib？”
　　“Hesaidhewasahandsomechild，andpattedhimonthehead；
　　whereforemychilddiedWhereforeIkilledImraySahibinthetwilight，whenhecamebackfromofficeandwassleepingTheheaven-bornknowsallthingsIamtheservantoftheheaven-born。”
　　Stricklandlookedatmeabovetherifle，andsaid，inthevernacular：
　　“ThouartwitnesstothissayingHehaskilled。”
　　BahadurKhanstoodashengreyinthelightoftheonelampTheneedforjustificationcameuponhimveryswiftly。
　　“Iamtrapped。”hesaid，“buttheoffencewasthatman’sHecastanevileyeuponmychild，andIkilledandhidhimOnlysuchasareservedbydevils。”heglaredatTietjens，crouchedstolidlybeforehim，“onlysuchcouldknowwhatIdid。”
　　“ItwascleverButthoushouldsthavelashedhimtothebeamwitharopeNow，thouthyselfwilthangbyaropeOrderly！”
　　AdrowsypolicemanansweredStrickland’scallHewasfollowedbyanother，andTietjenssatstill。
　　“Takehimtothestation。”saidStrickland“Thereisacasetoward。”
　　“DoIhang，then？”saidBahadurKhan，makingnoattempttoescapeandkeepinghiseyesontheground。
　　“Ifthesunshines，orthewaterruns，thouwilthang。”saidStricklandBahadurKhansteppedbackonepace，quivered，andstoodstillThetwopolicemenwaitedfurtherorders。
　　“Go！”saidStrickland。
　　“Nay；butIgoveryswiftly。”saidBahadurKhan“Look！Iamevennowadeadman。”
　　Heliftedhisfoot，andtothelittletoethereclungtheheadofthehalf-killedsnake，firmfixedintheagonyofdeath。
　　“Icomeofland-h~dingstock。”saidBahadurKhan，rockingwherehestood“Itwereadisgraceformetogotothepublicscaffold，thereforeItakethiswayBeitrememberedthatthesahib’sshirtsarecorrectlyenumerated，andthatthereisanextrapieceofsoapinhiswashbasinMychildwasbewitched，andIslewthewizard。
　　Whyshouldyouseektoslayme？Myhonorissaved，and-and-I
　　die。”
　　Attheendofanhourhediedastheydiewhoarebittenbythelittlekariat，andthepolicemanborehimandthethingunderthetable-clothtotheirappointedplacesTheywereneededtomakeclearthedisappearanceofImray“This。”saidStrickland，verycalmly，asheclimbedintobed，“iscalledthenineteenthcenturyDidyouhearwhatthatmansaid？”
　　“Iheard。”Ianswered“Imraymadeamistake。”
　　“Simplyandsolelythroughnotknowingthenatureandcoincidenceofalittleseasonalfever。
　　BahadurKhanhasbeenwithhimforfouryears。”
　　IshudderedMyownservanthadbeenwithmeforexactlythatlengthoftimeWhenIwentovertomyownroomIfoundhimwaiting，impassiveasthecopperheadonapenny，topulloffmyboots。
　　“WhathasbefallenBahadurKhan？”saidI。
　　“Hewasbittenbyasnakeanddied；therestthesahibknows。”wastheanswer。
　　“Andhowmuchofthematterhastthouknown？”
　　“AsmuchasmightbegatheredfromonecominginthetwilighttoseeksatisfactionGently，sahibLetmepulloffthoseboots。”
　　IhadjustsettledtothesleepofexhaustionwhenIheardStricklandshoutingfromhissideofthehouse：
　　“Tietjenshascomebacktoherroom！”
　　AndsoshehadThegreatdeer-houndwascouchedonherownbedstead，onherownblanket，andinthenextroomtheidle，emptyceiling-clothwaggedlight-heartedlyasitflailedonthetable。
　　MOTIGUJ——MUTINEER
　　ONCEuponatimetherewasacoffee-planterinIndiawhowishedtoclearsomeforestlandforcoffee-plantingWhenhehadcutdownallthetreesandburnedtheunderwood，thestumpsstillremainedDynamiteisexpensiveandslowfireslowThehappymediumforstump-clearingisthelordofallbeasts，whoistheelephantHewilleitherpushthestumpoutofthegroundwithhistusks，ifhehasany，ordragitoutwithropesTheplanter，therefore，hiredelephantsbyonesandtwosandthrees，andfelltoworkTheverybestofalltheelephantsbelongedtotheveryworstofallthedriversormahouts；andthissuperiorbeast’snamewasMotiGujHewastheabsolutepropertyofhismahout，whichwouldneverhavebeenthecaseundernativerule；forMotiGujwasacreaturetobedesiredbykings，andhisname，beingtranslated，meantthePearlElephantBecausetheBritishgovernmentwasintheland，Deesa，themahout，enjoyedhispropertyundisturbedHewasdissipatedWhenhehadmademuchmoneythroughthestrengthofhiselephant，hewouldgetextremelydrunkandgiveMotiGujabeatingwithatent-pegoverthetendernailsoftheforefeetMotiGujnevertrampledthelifeoutofDeesaontheseoccasions，forheknewthatafterthebeatingwasover，Deesawouldembracehistrunkandweepandcallhimhisloveandhislifeandtheliverofhissoul，andgivehimsomeliquorMotiGujwasveryfondofliquor-arrackforchoice，thoughhewoulddrinkpalm-treetoddyifnothingbetterofferedThenDeesawouldgotosleepbetweenMotiGuj’sforefeet，andasDeesagenerallychosethemiddleofthepublicroad，andasMotiGujmountedguardoverhim，andwouldnotpermithorse，foot，orcarttopassby，trafficwascongestedtillDeesasawfittowakeup。
　　Therewasnosleepinginthedaytimeontheplanter’sclearing：thewagesweretoohightoriskDeesasatonMotiGuj’sneckandgavehimorders，whileMotiGujrootedupthestumps-forheownedamagnificentpairoftusks；orpulledattheendofarope-forhehadamagnificentpairofshoulders-whileDeesakickedhimbehindtheearsandsaidhewasthekingofelephants。
　　AteveningtimeMotiGujwouldwashdownhisthreehundredpounds’weightofgreenfoodwithaquartofarrack，andDeesawouldtakeashare，andsingsongsbetweenMotiGuj’slegstillitwastimetogotobedOnceaweekDeesaledMotiGujdowntotheriver，andMotiGuilayonhissideluxuriouslyintheshallows，whileDeesawentoverhimwithacoirswabandabrickMotiGujnevermistookthepoundingblowofthelatterforthesmackoftheformerthatwarnedhimtogetupandturnoverontheotherside。
　　ThenDeesawouldlookathisfeetandexaminehiseyes，andturnupthefringesofhismightyearsincaseofsoresorbuddingophthalmiaAfterinspectionthetwowouldcomeupwithasongfromthesea。”MotiGuj，allblackandshining，wavingatorntreebranchtwelvefeetlonginhistrunk，andDeesaknottinguphisownlongwethair。