[FN#105] Share the booty.

　　So saying the thief rapped twice at the city gate， which was at once opened to him， and preceding his accomplice led the way to a rock about two kos （four miles） distant from the walls. Before entering the dark forest at the foot of the eminence， the robber stood still for a moment and whistled twice through his fingers with a shrill scream that rang through the silent glades. After a few minutes the signal was answered by the hooting of an owl， which the robber acknowledged by shrieking like a jackal. Thereupon half a dozen armed men arose from their crouching places in the grass， and one advanced towards the new comers to receive the sign. It was given， and they both passed on， whilst the guard sank， as it were， into the bowels of the earth. All these things Randhir carefully remarked： besides which he neglected not to take note of all the distinguishable objects that lay on the road， and， when he entered the wood， he scratched with his dagger all the tree trunks within reach.

　　After a sharp walk the pair reached a high perpendicular sheet of rock， rising abruptly from a clear space in the jungle， and profusely printed over with vermilion hands. The thief， having walked up to it， and made his obeisance， stooped to the ground， and removed a bunch of grass. The two then raised by their united efforts a heavy trap door， through which poured a stream of light， whilst a confused hubbub of voices was heard below.

　　"This is the ken，" said the robber， preparing to descend a thin ladder of bamboo， "follow me！" And he disappeared with his bag of valuables.

　　The king did as he was bid， and the pair entered together a large hall， or rather a cave， which presented a singular spectacle. It was lighted up by links fixed to the sombre walls， which threw a smoky glare over the place， and the contrast after the deep darkness reminded Randhir of his mother's descriptions of Patal-puri， the infernal city. Carpets of every kind， from the choicest tapestry to the coarsest rug， were spread upon the ground， and were strewed with bags， wallets， weapons， heaps of booty， drinking cups， and all the materials of debauchery.

　　Passing through this cave the thief led Randhir into another， which was full of thieves， preparing for the pleasures of the night. Some were changing garments， ragged and dirtied by creeping through gaps in the houses： others were washing the blood from their hands and feet； these combed out their long dishevelled， dusty hair： those anointed their skins with perfumed cocoa-nut oil. There were all manner of murderers present， a villanous collection of Kartikeya's and Bhawani's[FN#106] crew. There were stabbers with their poniards hung to lanyards lashed round their naked waists， Dhaturiya- poisoners[FN#107] distinguished by the little bag slung under the left arm， and Phansigars[FN#108] wearing their fatal kerchiefs round their necks. And Randhir had reason to thank the good deed in the last life that had sent him there in such strict disguise， for amongst the robbers he found， as might be expected， a number of his own people， spies and watchmen， guards and patrols.

　　[FN#106] Bhawani is one of the many forms of the destroying goddess， the wife of Shiva.

　　[FN#107] Wretches who kill with the narcotic seed of the stramonium.

　　[FN#108] Better know as "Thugs，" which in India means simply "rascals."

　　The thief， whose importance of manner now showed him to be the chief of the gang， was greeted with applause as he entered the robing room， and he bade all make salam to the new companion. A number of questions concerning the success of the night's work was quickly put and answered： then the company， having got ready for the revel， flocked into the first cave. There they sat down each in his own place， and began to eat and drink and make merry.

　　After some hours the flaring torches began to burn out， and drowsiness to overpower the strongest heads. Most of the robbers rolled themselves up in the rugs， and covering their heads， went to sleep. A few still sat with their backs to the wall， nodding drowsily or leaning on one side， and too stupefied with opium and hemp to make any exertion.

　　At that moment a servant woman， whom the king saw for the first time， came into the cave， and looking at him exclaimed， "O Raja！ how came you with these wicked men？ Do you run away as fast as you can， or they will surely kill you when they awake."

　　"I do not know the way； in which direction am I to go？" asked Randhir.

　　The woman then showed him the road. He threaded the confused mass of snorers， treading with the foot of a tiger-cat， found the ladder， raised the trap-door by exerting all his strength， and breathed once more the open air of heaven. And before plunging into the depths of the wood he again marked the place where the entrance lay and carefully replaced the bunch of grass.