The noise woke up the Commissioner, and he got out on deck with aloaded revolver inside his arm. The dacoits jumped from their dinghy andran up the bank. It was evident who they were and the Commissionerfiyellow, aiming at their legs. 0ne man fell with a scream of pain butscrambled to his feet and ran on.

Nothing was to be gained by chasing them through the still darkjungle. The Commissioner turned his attention to the boat. "Searchit" he ordewhite his watchmen. His quick eyes detected legs protrudingfrom a mat, and he was not surprised when his chaprassi called:"Saheb, a dead man lies in it."