King's grip did not tighten. The train began to scream itself to
a standstill at a wayside station, and King (the absent-minded--very
nearly grinned.

"If I weren't in such an infernal hurry to reach Bombay--" Hyde
grumbled; and King nearly laughed aloud then, for the thief knew
English, and was listening with all his ears, "--may I be damned
if I wouldn't get off at this station and wait to see that scoundrel
brought to justice!"

The train jerked itself to a standstill, and a man with a lantern
began to chant the station's name.

"Damn it!--I'm going to Bombay to act censor. I can't wait--they
want me there."

The instant the train's motion altogether ceased the heat shut in
on them as if the lid of Tophet had been slammed. The prickly beat
burst out all over Hyde's skin and King's too.

"Almighty God!" gasped Hyde, beginning to fan himself.

There was plenty of excuse for relaxing hold still further, and
King made full use of it. A second later be gave a very good
pretense of pain in his finger-ends as the thief burst free. The
native made a dive at his bosom for the knife, but he frustrated
that. Then he made a prodigious effort, just too late, to clutch
the man again, and he did succeed in tearing loose a piece of shirt;
but the fleeing robber must have wondered, as he bolted into the
blacker shadows of the station building, why such an iron-fingered,