"I have been inclined to believe
them to be a gang of political _dacoits_, probably coming to meet the
Bhuttias and take Miss Daleham from them, but in that case they would have
been young Brahmins and better armed. This lot were low-caste men and their
weapons were mostly old muzzle-loading muskets."
"Perhaps they were just ordinary _dacoits_," hazarded a planter.
"Possibly; but they must have been new to the business," replied the Major.
"For there wouldn't be much of an opening for robbers in the middle of the
forest."
"It's a puzzle. I can't make it out," said Granger, shaking his head.
The others discussed the subject for some time, but no one could elucidate
the mystery. At length Dermot said to Daleham:
"No answer has come to that telegram you sent to Ranga Duar, I suppose?"
"No, Major; though there's been plenty of time for a reply."
"It's strange. Parker would have answered at once if he'd got the wire, I
know," said Dermot. "But did he? Most of the telegraph clerks in this
Province are Brahmins--I don't trust them. Anyhow, if Parker did receive
the wire, he'd start a party off at once. It's a long forty miles, and
marching through the jungle is slow work. They couldn't get here before
dawn. And the men would be pretty done up."
"I bet they would if they had to go through the forest in the dark," said a
planter.
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