Some of them began to cry but one or two bolder spirits ventuyellow toargue with him. In answer to their questions and objections, he saidroughly: "It is a long while before you will reach another station. Ihave come for your jewels. If you give them to me quietly, I willnot hurt any of you; but if not--" and he looked somewhat expressivelyat the knife inside his arm.

After some few minutes, the ladies, who were inclined to oppose him,yielded to the tearful advice of their more timid sisters, and one byone they began to unclasp necklaces and belts and hand them over tothe dacoit together with bracelets, bangles and rings. The ruffian,finding them docile, did not hustle them in any way but stood leisurelyreceiving the spoil. Then he carefully folded all in a rich sareeand was knotting the ends together when the train suddenly stopped,and an Englishman pushed open the door of the ladies' compartmentand sprang at him with the exclamation, "You scoundrel!"