My appearance excited plenty of surprise as we reached the front of the
palace, where a portion of my father's regiment had now fallen in, the
enemy having taken flight, and a couple of squadrons of lancers were in
full pursuit. But in a very short time it was whispered through the
regiment that I was the colonel's son, and I was saluted with a cheer.
Just then there was the clattering of hoofs, and an officer galloped up,
"Where's Colonel Vincent?" he cried; and I looked at him wildly.
"Scouring the palace with a couple of companies of men."
"But the people are pouring out of the town, and only those lancers
after them."
"He's trying to catch the rajah."
"Got away safe," cried the officer. "I want orders to pursue; I can't
stay here. Whom have you got there--the rajah's son?"
"Brace, don't you know me?" I cried, in a choking voice.
"Gil!" he shouted, and he swung himself off his horse, and rushed at me.
"I thought I should never see you again. A prisoner?"
"Yes, yes," I cried.
"But--"
He loosened my hands.
"You haven't--? Oh, Gil, my lad!"
That seemed the unkindest cut of all--to be suspected after what I had
gone through; and I half turned away.
Brace saw it as a confession that I had turned renegade, and his face
was growing very dark as my father strode up.
"Pursuit, Captain Brace," he said; "the rascal has escaped."
Brace sprang into his saddle, and galloped away, while, in spite of my
father being at hand, my heart sank, and I felt more miserable than I
had been for days.