"Good-bye; I am not angry. You are behaving very well, boy. I respect
and esteem you the more. But be reasonable; try and see what is before
you, and do not trifle with the great opportunity of your life."
He nodded pleasantly to me, and we walked on together to where his horse
had been led.
"I will send you some clothes," he said. "I cannot send you an English
uniform; but, whenever you like, men shall come to make that of my horse
artillery according to your wish." I made a quick gesture.
"When you like," he said quietly. "I am not hurrying you, for you're
still too weak. When would you like your horse?"
"Directly," I said, so eagerly that he smiled. "To try and escape," he
said sadly. I started and drew back.
"Yes," I said firmly. "I shall try to escape, and as soon as I possibly
can."
He held out his hand again, and I gave mine reluctantly to be held in a
firm grip.
"You make me like you, Gil," he said, "even when you cause me most
anger. I like that; it is so frank and honest. You must come to me. I
shall never meet with another whom I can trust as I do you."
I shook my head, but he smiled. "It is your fate," he said. "Now come
and see some of my men. They are drawn up outside. You shall see then
what stuff there is for making good regiments when you begin."
He glanced at my dress and saw that I noted it. "It does not matter,"
he said; "you are my friend. They will not think of your dress.
Englishmen are careless, and do not mind how they look. Come."
I hesitated, but his will was stronger than mine, and I gave way,
following him through the opening, and passing the twelve fierce-looking
troopers who had formed the advance, and one of the men who was holding
the beautiful Arab, which looked so perfect in its rich trappings that,
lover of a horse as I was, I could not help going up to caress it, and
pat its graceful arched neck, and pass my hand over its velvety nose.
"Mount," said the rajah, who had followed me. "You will like his
paces."
"You wish it?" I said eagerly.
"And so do you," he said, smiling. "Mount; and as a gentleman, I ask
you to remember your honour to your host. You will not run away. It
would be useless. You would surely be captured again."
"I give you my word," I said coldly.
"Then mount."
I hesitated for a moment or two, and then mounted, for a thrill of
delight to run through me as I felt the quivering muscles of the
beautiful beast, and its eagerness to be off.
"Now try a short canter," he said; and at a touch the graceful,
thoroughly docile beast moved off, and my pulses began to bound as the
wind played round my cheeks; for it was glorious. There was the open
country before me, and I had but to slacken the rein, and the spirited
Arab would have borne me off, far beyond pursuit; but I had given my
word, and I turned just as we were increasing our speed, and I saw that
the rajah was watching me intently.
"Wondering whether he can trust me," I said to myself, as we rapidly
approached.
Then, all at once, I found that I had overtaxed my strength. There was
a curious mistiness before my eyes which blotted out the rajah and his
men, and two companies of troops which I saw off to my left. Then I
felt that I was falling, and made a clutch or two at vacancy. The next
moment my sound arm was caught in a strong grip, and I heard the rajah's
voice say--
"Help him down. Too ill and weak yet for so much exertion."
Then all was blank, and when I came to, the doctor was with me.
"Only beginning a little too soon," he said pleasantly. "It takes long
to grow strong."
He left me after a short time to the care of Salaman, from whom I
learned that the rajah had been very anxious about me, and had given
orders that every care was to be taken, and that I was to be told how
sorry he was that he could not stay.
"I am glad he is gone," I said to myself; and then I turned cold with
the thought which struck me.
"Suppose my note had been found!"
For a few moments I was afraid to try whether it was still where I had
placed it, lest it should have been taken; but in thrusting my hand down
into my pocket, there it was quite safe, and I drew a long deep breath
full of satisfaction. For though I could not make it out, the rajah or
the doctor would probably have guessed its meaning in an instant.
As I lay there I half determined to destroy it at once, but I gave up
the idea, thinking that perhaps, after all, I might yet read it with
ease.
"Did the rajah say when he was coming again?" I said to Salaman, as he
was about to go.
"No, my lord; he--"
"Don't say `my lord' to me," I cried pettishly. "I am only an English
officer."
Salaman smiled.
"I will obey in everything; but you are his highness's greatest friend,
and he said I was to treat you as if you were his brother. How can I
call you less than `my lord'?"
"Well, what did he say?"
"That he would be back soon, and that I was to make you strong enough to
ride away with him upon your horse."