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When I had recovered from the first momentary shock I turned and
looked behind me。 There； close upon me； with his huge form blocking
the narrow entrance； stood Rama Ragobah； my rival； his face hideous
with malignant triumph！ I was trapped； and that； too； by a man whom
my hatred； could it have worked its will； would have plunged into the
uttermost hell of torment。 I felt sure my hour had come； but my
assassin should not have the satisfaction of thinking I feared him。
I did not permit myself to betray the slightest concern as to my
position … indeed； after the shock of the first surprise； I did not
care so very much what fate awaited me。 Why should I？ Had I not
seriously thought of taking my own life？ Was it not clear now that
Lona； whose own handwriting had decoyed me； had most basely
betrayed me into her husband's hands？ If I had wished to end my
own life before； surely now； death； at the hands of another； was no
very terrible thing。 Could I have dragged that other down with me；
I would have rejoiced at the prospect！
Ragobah broke the silence。 〃You have left your stick this time； I
see；〃 he said； as he unsheathed the long knife I had once before
escaped； and ostentatiously felt its edge as if he were about to
shave with it。
〃You were in haste； Sahib； when you left me last time； or I should
not now have the pleasure of this interview。 Be assured I shall do
my work more thoroughly this time。 Behind you there is a hole
partly filled with water。 If you drop a stone into this well； it
is several seconds before you hear the splash； and there is a saying
hereabouts that it is bottomless。 I am curious to know if this be
true； and I am going to send you to see。 Of course； if the story is
well founded； I shall not expect you to come back。 That would be
unreasonable； Sahib。〃
All this was said with a refined sarcasm which maddened me； and； as
he concluded； he began to edge stealthily toward me。 So strong is
the instinct of self…preservation within us that I doubt not a
would…be suicide； caught in the act of hanging himself； would
struggle madly for his life were someone else to forcibly adjust the
noose about his neck。 At all events； I found myself unwilling； at
the last moment； to have someone else launch me into eternity and；
as I wished to gain time to think what I should do to escape； I
said to him：
〃Why do you bear me such malice？ Can you not see that any injury I
may have done you was purely in self…defence？ You sought the quarrel；
and I took the only means at hand to protect myself。 I did not； as
you know； seek to kill you； a thing I could easily have done； but
was content merely to make good my escape。 I …〃
〃Bah！〃 he said； interrupting me savagely。 〃That has nothing to do
with it。 Had you only pounded my head you might live； but you have
pounded my heart！ It is for that I hate you； and for that you die！〃
〃What have I done？〃 I asked。
〃What have you done？〃 he roared； furious with rage。 〃I will tell
you。 You have by magic possessed the mind of my wife。 Your name；
your cursed name is ever upon her lips！ My entreaties； my
supplications are answered by nothing else。 Even in her sleep she
starts up and calls for you。 You have cast a spell upon her。 Day
by day she droops and withers like a lotus…flower whose root is
severed； yet ever and always； is your cursed name upon her lips；
goading me to madness； until at last I have registered a sacred oath
to kill you； and remove the accursed spell you have thrown upon her。〃
Had he advanced upon me at this moment he would have found me as
helpless as a child； so overcome was I by the sudden joy which seized
upon me； and seemed to turn my melancholy inside out。 Those words of
hatred had been as a torch illumining the gloom of my despair； for
they had shown me that my existence was not altogether barren and
unproductive。 The life which has known the heaven of true love
cannot be called a failure。 There is no wall so high； no distance
so great； no separation so complete as to defy the ineffable commerce
of two loving hearts！ Lona； then； was still mine； despite all
obstacles。 What a change this knowledge made！ In an instant life
became an inexpressible benefaction； for it permitted me to realise
I was beloved； … and death was dowered with a new horror … the fear
that I should cease to know it。
I was roughly aroused from my reflections by Rama Ragobah。
〃Come； Sahib；〃 he said； as his thick lips curled sneeringly； 〃suppose
you try your spells upon me？ You will never have a better chance
than now to show your power；〃 and again he made a slight movement
toward me with the gleaming knife。 The moon； low down upon the
horizon； sent a broad beam of light into the entrance of the cave
and over the head and shoulders of the Indian。 Its cold light
shimmered along the blade which was now held threateningly toward
me。 The crisis had been reached。
In times of such great urgency one has frequently an inspiration
… instantaneous； disconnected； unbidden … which no amount of quiet；
peaceful thought would suggest。 Such extraordinary flashes are the
result of reasoning too rapid for consciousness to note。 The Indian
had already laid bare his right arm to the elbow before I had
determined upon the desperate course I would pursue； and upon which
I must hazard all。 As he advanced upon me I seized the large； white
sola hat from my head； and hurled it full in his face。 It was a
schoolboy trick； yet upon its success depended my life。
Instinctively； and in spite of himself； Ragobah dodged； closed his
eyes； and raised his right hand； knife and all； to shield his face。
I sprang upon him at the same instant I threw my hat； and so was
able to reach him before he opened his eyes。 I had well calculated
his movements； and had made no mistake。 As I reached him his head
was bent downward and forward to let the hat pass over him。 His
position could not have been better for my purpose。 I 〃swung on
him；〃 as we used to say at the gymnasium； catching him under his
protruded jaw； not far from the region of the carotid artery。 The
blow was well placed； and desperation lent me phenomenal strength。
It raised him bodily off his feet； and hurled him backward out
of the cave； where he lay motionless。 He was now in my power。 I
seized his knife and bent over him。 Words cannot express the hatred；
the loathing I felt for him then and always。 Between me and the
light of my happiness he had ever stood； an impenetrable black mass。
Twice had he sought my life； yet now； when he was in my power； I
could not plunge his weapon into his heart。 Would it not be just；
I thought； to drag him into the cave； and hurl him down the abyss
he had intended for me？ Yes； he certainly merited it； yet I could
not do that either。 I wished the snake a thousand times dead； yet
I could not stamp it into the earth。
He was beginning to slightly move now； and something must be done。
It was useless to run； for the way was long； and he could easily
overtake me。 You may wonder why I did not take to the thicket；
but if you had ever had any experience with Indian jungles you
would know that； withou