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Page 99
"The collecting of this data was extremely perilous, and one of
my informants, with whom I had come in contact while passing
through the central provinces, died mysteriously the night before
I left Nagpur. I wondered very much on my way north why I was not
molested, for I did not fail to see that the death of the man in
Nagpur was connected with the fact that he had divulged to me
some of the secrets of the religion of Fire-Tongue. Indeed, it
was from him that I first learned the name of the high priest of
the cult of Fire. Why I was not molested I learned later.
"But to return to Vadi, my Brahmin guide. We had camped for the
night in the shadow of one of those giant tors which I have
mentioned. The bearers were seated around their fire at some
little distance from us, and Vadi and I were consulting
respecting our route in the morning, when I decided to take him
into my confidence. Accordingly:
"'Vadi,' I said, 'I know for a positive fact that we are within
ten miles of the secret Temple of Fire.'
"I shall never forget the look in his eyes, with the reflection
of the firelight dancing in them; but he never moved a muscle.
"'The sahib is wise,' he replied.
"'So is Vadi,' said I. 'Therefore he knows how happy a thousand
pounds of English money would make him. It is his in return for a
sight of the Temple.'
"Still as a carven image, he squatted there watching me,
unmoving, expressionless. Then:
"'A man may die for nothing,' he returned, softly. 'Why should
the sahib pay a thousand pounds?'
"'Why should the sahib die?' said I.
"'It is forbidden for any to see the Temple, even from a
distance.'
"'But if no one ever knows that I have seen it?'
"'Fire-Tongue knows everything,' he replied, and as he pronounced
the name, he performed a curious salutation, touching his
forefinger with the tip of his tongue, and then laying his hand
upon his brow, upon his lips, and upon his breast, at the same
time bowing deeply. 'His vengeance is swift and terrible. He
wills a man to die, and the man is dead. None save those who have
passed through the tests may set eyes upon his temple, nor even
speak his name.'
"This conversation took place, as I have already mentioned, in
the shadow of one of those strange stone hillocks which abounded
here, and it was at this point that I received a warning which
might have deterred many men, since it was inexplicable and
strangely awesome.
"My attention was drawn to the phenomenon by a sudden cessation
of chatter amongst the bearers seated around their fire. I became
aware that an absolute stillness had fallen, and in the eyes of
the Brahmin who sat facing me I saw a look of exaltation, of wild
fanaticism.
"I jerked my head around, looking back over my shoulder, and what
I saw I shall never forget, nor to this day have I been able to
explain the means by which the illusion was produced.
"Moving downward toward me through the jungle darkness, slowly,
evenly, but at a height above the ground of what I judged to be
about fifteen feet, was a sort of torch or flambeau, visible
because it was faintly luminous; and surmounting it was a darting
tongue of blue flame!
"At the moment that I set eyes upon this apparently supernatural
spectacle the bearers, crying some word in Hindustani which I did
not understand, rose and fled in a body.
"I may say here that I never saw any of them again; although,
considering that they took nothing with them, how they regained
the nearest village is a mystery which I have never solved.
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