I stayed by my father, who, in the intervals of giving orders for the
occupation of the palace by the troops, the planting of sentries and
pickets, and the stoppage of all pillaging, told me how he, with his
regiment and two squadrons of lancers, had joined the other foot
regiment and Brace's horse artillery. That plans had been made for the
attack on Ahdenpore, the Maharajah Ny Deen's chief city, and this had
been carried out by one regiment of foot, half the horse artillery
battery, and two troops of light horse, the rest, the larger part of the
force, remaining at a distance quite out of sight.
The object had been to make a bold attack, and if the rajah's people
gave way, to advance and send for help from the hidden force. But, if
they fought stubbornly, to retire, and keep on making so sturdy a
defence as should lure the rajah's army on to a long pursuit, leading
them right away from the town, which was then to be attacked by Colonel
Vincent's force while the greater part of the rajah's men were away.
This had all been carried out. The retreating party would be by this
time retiring or holding its ground, and as soon as it was day, if the
rajah's men had not heard of the defeat through the fugitives from the
town, they would be attacked, and taken between two fires.
"But ought you not to advance at once, father?" I said. "Your men are
flushed with success, and you are sure of meeting the enemy as he comes
back."
He clapped me on the shoulder.
"Good!" he said, looking at me proudly. "Quite right, if the men were
fresh, but they are worn out with marching, fighting, and want of food.
They must have a few hours' rest."
"But if the rajah, with his fugitives, meets the returning force, and
they come back and attack us?"
"Let them," said my father drily. "I wish they would, and save us a
long march to-morrow morning."
"But," I said, hesitating, and afraid to hear the news, in case it
should be very bad, "mother and sister Grace?"
We had by this time entered the palace, and naturally I had led my
father to the room I had occupied.
He looked very hard and stern as he drew a long deep breath.
"They are in God's hands," he said.
"Not dead, father?" I cried wildly.
"Heaven forbid, boy!" he said excitedly. "I was summoned away with all
who could be spared, to form a junction with the --nth and Brace's
troop. My orders were to take command, break up any bands which were
collecting, and to keep an eye on Ny Deen, who has been a perfect
firebrand through the country. I left as strong a garrison as I could
at Nussoor, the place fairly provisioned and armed, and all the women
and children are shut up in the Residency. But since I have been away
with my little force I have had no communication with the place. We
have been completely cut off, and it has been impossible to send or
bring news."
"Then you know nothing of Nussoor?"
"Nothing."
"But have you sent messengers?"
"At least a dozen, Gil, my boy."
"How far is it?"
"About sixty miles from here--perhaps seventy. Once this maharajah is
taken, we shall go to the relief of the place."
Just then there was a loud shouting, and my father sent an orderly for
news; but the cause of the noise was announced directly.
The fire was gaining ground, and there was a possibility of its reaching
the palace.
My father, who had thrown himself upon the cushions to snatch a few
minutes' rest, sprang up.
"Come, Gil," he said, "you had better keep by me now, till your troop
comes back. But have you no other clothes?"
"None," I said, "and I look like a enemy."
"No, no. A friendly native," said my father, laughing, as he hurried
out to where a number of buildings were blazing furiously, and a company
of the regiment were busily engaged in trying to extinguish the flames.
A few short, sharp orders were given, the men ceased their hopeless
toil, and a sapper sergeant and a dozen men set to work to finish the
task.
This they did by making a way amongst the people who had not fled. A
quantity of powder was obtained from the rajah's magazine, and in less
than half an hour, bags were planted here and there, several houses
blown up, and all chance of the fire spreading was at an end.
As the night wore on, with every one but the pickets snatching some
rest, there were different little incidents full of excitement, officer
after officer coming in to make his report to my father. First there
was the lancer officer who had not succeeded in capturing Ny Deen, who,
with a very strong body of men, had entered a forest many miles away,
and so evaded further pursuit.
Next came Brace, to announce that he had been too late to do any good in
the darkness; but he had the news to impart that Ny Deen and his flying
men had formed a conjunction with the little army which had been in
pursuit of our men when the sham flight had been carried out.
Toward morning, this information was endorsed by the arrival of the foot
regiment with the half of our horse artillery troop, and the lancers,
who had all performed their duty with very little loss.
"Lie down and sleep, Gil," said my father. "We shall have hard work
to-morrow."
"But suppose the rajah comes back to-night to try and surprise us?"
"He will not," said my father quietly. "He would, but he will not get
his men up to the work. Hallo! what's this?"
For at that moment a white figure entered the room, looking perfectly
clean and neat.
"Dost!" I exclaimed.
"Who is Dost?" said my father.
"My servant."
He had come to announce that a supper was spread in the outer room, and
upon our going, there stood Salaman and three of his assistants, all of
whom Dost had hunted out, and ordered to set to work.
"Very tempting," said my father; "but is all this safe?"
"On my head be it, sahib," said Dost, respectfully. "There is no poison
in the meat."
The supper, which was partaken of by a dozen officers as well, being
finished, we returned, after going the rounds, to my sleeping-chamber.
"Go to sleep, Gil, boy," said my father. "Our pickets will give plenty
of notice if Ny Deen comes."
But I could not sleep for thinking of Brace, who had not been to the
supper, and I wanted to make my position clear before my mind would be
at rest.