"No, no, they are gone," returned Fazil; "it is useless to follow: better for us to see after that poor wretch yonder--the villains may have murdered him, after all;" and they hastened to him. The flickering blaze was still playing about the little fire, and served them with enough light to distinguish the objects by it, disclosing, too, more of the apartment or verandah than they had yet seen; and as both entered the place at the same moment, a cry of execration burst simultaneously from them. "The villains have been too sure! While we scrambled among those stones they killed him. See, here is an ugly gash, Meah!" said Bulwunt Rao. "That would not kill him," said Fazil, stooping to raise up the body--"and he is quite warm. I most fear this cloth about his neck; but look for some water. I would not have him die. So now--dash some in his face--his heart beats, too--he lives, Bulwunt Rao!" "Praise to Narayun! there is at least a chance for him," cried Bulwunt. "Awake--arise, O Lalla! and fear not," he continued to the wounded man; "your enemies are gone, and you are with friends who can protect you. Here, drink some water. I am a Hindu who give it; and speak, O man with a small liver!" These cheering words, accompanied by a few gentle blows on his back, and a little water forced into his mouth, restored something like consciousness to the wretch. He opened his eyes and stared wildly about, and into the faces of those who stood over him: then he put his hand to his throat as if it hurt him. "Ay, I dare say," continued Bulwunt--"I dare say they hurt thee badly; but fear not, Sree Swâmi has sent you friends; drink, and it will do you good. Tut, man, you need not be particular about caste; here is my junwha, and there is no need to ask further. That's well--can you speak?" "Ye are not they," said the Lalla huskily, and in a low tone. "Friends, how came ye here? Hai, Hai!--alas, where is my gold? and where are the robbers who would have killed me? May their mothers be defiled!" "Perish the gold, meanhearted," cried Fazil; "with thy soul hovering betwixt life and death, is thy first thought for thy gold?" "I worship thy feet, brave Gosai," returned the Lalla; "but it was all I had, for which I had risked much. Hai, Hai! it is all gone now, and I am in a strange place without a copper or a friend;" and he turned to the wall and sobbed bitterly. "It was a round sum to lose, certainly," said Bulwunt; "but thy life is safe, and thou hast only to steal again, Lallajee!" "Better to have died--better to have died, sirs!" cried the man distractedly. "When shall I see so much gold again? Look, noble sirs, is all gone? has he taken all?" "It was here they counted it," said Fazil; "look about--a piece or two may be found; or they may have dropped some in their flight." Bulwunt blew a dry stick into a blaze, and looked around. He was fortunate--a few coins had escaped Pahar Singh, which he gave to the Lalla, who tied them up in his waist-cloth.