I had become rigid as a statue, whereas my associate appeared to be
elevated above measure. "Arise, thou faint-hearted one, and let us be
going," said he. "Thou hast done well for once; but wherefore hesitate
in such a cause? This is but a small beginning of so great a work as
that of purging the Christian world. But the first victim is a worthy
one, and more of such lights must be extinguished immediately."
We touched not our victim, nor anything pertaining to him, for fear of
staining our hands with his blood; and the firing having brought three
men within view, who were hasting towards the spot, my undaunted
companion took both the pistols, and went forward as with intent to
meet them, bidding me shift for myself. I ran off in a contrary
direction, till I came to the foot of the Pearman Sike, and then,
running up the hollow of that, I appeared on the top of the bank as if
I had been another man brought in view by hearing the shots in such a
place. I had a full view of a part of what passed, though not of all. I
saw my companion going straight to meet the men, apparently with a
pistol in every hand, waving in a careless manner. They seemed not
quite clear of meeting with him, and so he went straight on, and passed
between them. They looked after him, and came onwards; but, when they
came to the old man lying stretched in his blood, then they turned and
pursued my companion, though not so quickly as they might have done;
and I understand that from the first they saw no more of him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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