REGINALDS'S EXPEDITION IN SEARCH OF NUNA--BURNETT SETS OFF FOR THE SAME
PURPOSE--ADVENTURES IN A TEMPLE--DISAPPEARANCE OF FAITHFUL--THE
BRAHMIN'S TREACHERY--BUXSOO GAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION--PLANS FOR
LIBERATING NUNA--FAITHFUL ESCAPES FROM HER PRISON, AND TURNS THE TABLES
ON THE TRAITORS.
The important information which had arrived was to the effect that the
expected English resident, with two regiments of sepoys and a company of
English troops, was on his way to Allahapoor, and would in the course of
a few days reach the city.
The preparations for their reception now gave ample occupation to the
rajah and his nobles.
As soon as Reginald had an opportunity, he told Burnett of the
unexpected information the rajah had communicated regarding his birth.
"I have no reason to doubt it, yet it seems so strange, that I can
scarcely believe the fact that I am the grandson of the old man, and
that the beautiful girl of whom we caught a glimpse is my sister."
"I can believe it very readily," answered Burnett. "To tell you the
truth, I fancied that I saw a likeness, and it struck me that she was
far more like a European than an Oriental; besides which, no Indian
woman of high rank would have been allowed to be present at the
introduction of strangers. It was very evident that the rajah had
broken through the usual customs of the country when he permitted us to
see his grand-daughter. The more I think of it, the more anxious I am
to try and recover her, as it seems strange that she should have been
spirited away without any clue to the place in which she is concealed.
You must get the rajah's leave to set off at once; and beg him to allow
us to go together. My plan will be to scour the country with two or
three hundred horsemen; and if she is concealed, as I suspect is the
case, by some fugitive rebels, we are certain to come upon them, and
shall be able to compel them to surrender her."
"You may command the horsemen, if the rajah will give them, and I will
try a plan I have thought of. My idea is to set out with Dick
Thuddichum and Faithful, and one native as a guide. I have fixed upon
one of the sons of Dhunna Singh,--a fine, intelligent young fellow, who
will, as we travel through the country, pick up information from the
natives, and thus we shall be more likely to find out where Nuna is
concealed than will be any number of armed men."
Burnett confessed that Reginald's plan might be more successful than
his; but they had to wait till the next morning for the rajah to decide.
The morning came at length, and as soon as the rajah was on foot they
hurried into his presence. He received Reginald with marked affection,
and was most gracious to Burnett. Reginald having described his plan,
pointed out the advantages of having two expeditions; and although the
rajah continued very unwilling to let both of them go together, he at
length consented to Burnett's proposal, and issued an order for two
hundred horsemen to accompany him,--a sufficient number to overawe any
rebels who might still be in arms.
Having paid their farewells to the rajah, the friends hastened away to
make preparations; Reginald at once repairing to the house of Dhunna
Singh, to explain his intended plan. He did not hesitate to tell him
also of the discovery which he had made, that he was the rajah's
grandson.
"Praise be to Him who governs the world that you are so, for we may then
hope to have a Christian prince to reign over us who will help the
oppressed and suffering, and will see justice done to all men," was the
answer. "I do not so much congratulate you, khan, as I do myself and
all those beneath you, for your post will be one of difficulty and
danger. You little think of the dark deeds often done in the palaces of
our nobles and rulers. I would not throw a shade over your path, yet I
warn you to beware of secret as well as of open foes, for many of the
former will surround your throne and smile most blandly when they are
most actively plotting to destroy you."
"I will remember your warning, should I ever become Rajah of Allahapoor;
but I hope the day may be far distant when my grandfather shall cease to
rule the country. But of the matter on which I came to see you: I have
to ask that one of your sons will accompany me, for I know that I can
trust them all. Had Wuzeer Singh been sufficiently recovered, I would
have engaged his services; but as he is not yet able to travel, I must
depend on the assistance of one of them."
"They are all at your service, sahib; but I would recommend Buxsoo, my
second son, as he has travelled much about the country, and has
intelligence and ready wit."
The old man forthwith summoned the son he named, and he, without
hesitation, agreed to accompany Reginald. He begged, however, that he
might take a faithful servant--Sambro, a black slave, who was powerful
and brave, and thoroughly to be depended on. Reginald accepted his
offer; and in a few minutes both were ready to accompany him to the
palace, where Dick Thuddichum and Faithful were waiting for them.
Buxsoo and Sambro were there introduced to Faithful, who showed at once
that she understood she was to treat them as friends.
They waited till the shades of evening settled down over the city, that
they might take their departure without exciting observation, when they
quickly traversed the numerous deserted streets till they reached the
northern gate. It was instantly opened on Reginald's showing an order
from the rajah. No one recognised them, or inquired where they were
going; indeed, the inhabitants of Allahapoor were not addicted to
troubling themselves about affairs that did not concern them.
The travellers had got a mile or two from the city when the moon arose
and enabled them to continue their journey during the greater part of
the night. There was no lack of ruins of mosques and pagodas, of forts
and once gorgeous tombs, in which they could find lodging when they
needed rest; so at length Buxsoo proposed that they should stop at a
pagoda which, though deserted by the priests, was almost entire. To
this Reginald at once agreed, for, unaccustomed to walking such long
distances, he felt very tired. A quantity of dried wood having been
found, Sambro, assisted by Dick, soon had a fire lighted in the
courtyard, on which they cooked their provisions--Buxsoo, having become
a Christian, had thrown aside all prejudice of caste; and Reginald
always made a practice, when on expeditions on shore, of messing with
his men. They therefore seated themselves together around their frugal
fare, under the shelter of an arcade, with a fire burning brightly in
front of them. Faithful had had her usual supper before starting, but
her long march had perhaps given her an appetite, and seeing her master
thus employed, she stole away, forgetful of her duty, to forage for
herself.
A curious spectacle the scene would have presented to the eye of a
native: Reginald, though in his nautical costume, looking, as he was, a
high-born gentleman; Dick had the cut of a thorough British tar; Buxsoo
could not be distinguished from an ordinary high-caste Hindoo; while
Sambro's black skin and scanty garments clearly showed the class to
which he belonged.
The repast was nearly over, when Dick looking up, his keen eyes
discovered a figure stealing along under the shadow of the arcade on the
opposite side of the court.
"Hallo! There's an eavesdropper of some sort. We must capture him, and
ask him what he wants," he exclaimed, starting up.
Reginald and the rest of the party followed; but when they reached the
spot where the figure had been seen no one was visible. They hunted
about in every direction, aided by such light as the moon afforded, but
without success; and at length returned to the spot where they had left
their supper. Buxsoo was inclined to believe that Dick had been
deceived by the shadow of a column falling against the wall.
"No, no, I tell you. My sight never plays me false," answered Dick. "I
set eyes on a fellow in the long petticoat sort of robes the natives
wear, as sure as I have seen salt water; and how he got away from me,
unless he darted through the wall, is more than I can tell."
"I don't think you are likely to have been deceived," said Reginald.
"But what can have become of Faithful? Had she not gone off her post,
she would have caught the fellow."
No one had remarked when the tigress stole away, and her disappearance
was another mystery to be solved.
Fatigued with their long march, rest was absolutely necessary; they
therefore determined to sleep where they were, one at a time keeping
watch.
"Please your honour, I will keep the first watch," said Dick; "and if
you will lend me one of your pistols, I will send a bullet through the
body of the first petticoated gentleman who heaves in sight, whether he
is a ghost or not. If so be I starts off, just be good enough to follow
me when I make chase, and we will have him in limbo before many minutes
are over."
Reginald now lay down, feeling perfectly confident that Dick would keep
wideawake; and recommending his companions to follow his example, they
were all in a few seconds fast asleep.
We must now follow Faithful, who maybe was in search of a lamb or goat
from some flocks feeding at no great distance from the temple. She had
not left the precincts of the place when a person in the robes of a
Brahmin fearlessly approached her, and patting her head, offered her
something which he held in his hand. She took it, and fawning on him,
followed as he led the way to a distant part of the ruin. Here was a
high tower with some winding steps leading to the summit. The Brahmin,
for such he was, began to ascend, the tigress still following. When on
the summit, the stranger opened a door and proceeded along a narrow
gallery, scarcely affording room for the shoulders of the animal to
pass. Suddenly he slipped through another small door. The poor
tigress, missing him or the tempting bait he held, advanced stealthily,
when there came a crash, and down she fell head foremost; her betrayer
looking over the parapet, exulting in the success of his treachery.
"Aha! I have often tried to poison you, but you were too sagacious to
be taken in," he said. "Now I have succeeded in finishing you, your
master the young rajah will easily become my prey. He expects to rule
this country, does he, and reform abuses and destroy our ancient
religion! Clever as he thinks himself, he will find that he is
mistaken, and that there are those who can outwit him. It has been
prophesied that when the Feringhees rule the land the ancient
institutions of the country will be destroyed and caste abolished. What
will then become of us Brahmins? We must put off that evil day, if it
is ever to arrive, as long as possible."
Thus the Brahmin Balkishen continued muttering. He was an ally of Khan
Cochut, and had been a chief agent in the late rebellion, as, through
having been the rajah's principal secretary, he was fully informed of
all that took place at the palace. But though an ally of the ex-barber,
he hated him cordially, both on account of his religion--or rather his
utter want of it--and the familiar and somewhat coarse way in which Khan
Cochut treated him. He had also assisted in carrying off Nuna, and was
afraid that Reginald, though the instrumentality of Buxsoo and Sambro,
would discover her place of concealment.
Notwithstanding his boasted enlightenment, he had a superstitious dread
of the tigress, whom he fully believed to be a "familiar" of the young
Englishman, and that while she was his protectress it would be useless
to make any attempt against his life. He had often tried to ingratiate
himself with Faithful for the purpose of destroying her; but being
unable to succeed, he bethought him of making use of a secret he
possessed, by means of which he believed that even the most savage wild
beast could be tamed. He had ordered one of his slaves--whom he had
left in the city--to keep a watch on the Englishmen, to follow them
wherever they went, and to bring him information of their movements.
Fortune, as he thought, had favoured him more than he could have
expected, and they had actually taken shelter in the very temple in
which he was lying concealed.
Having disposed of Faithful, as he hoped, he must next attempt to get
hold of the sturdy sailor--a more difficult task, as he rightly judged.
He was afraid to proceed by force, and he trusted that stratagem would
prove more successful. He felt an eager desire to carry his plan into
execution at once, but the watchful vigilance of Dick Thuddichum foiled
him. He had, indeed, been nearly captured by the sailor, and saw that
he must be more prudent in future. Little did honest Dick suppose that
a pair of keen eyes were fixed on him as he paced up and down on his
watch, and that had he gone a few yards further he might have found a
rope thrown round his neck, which would have prevented him from crying
out, and rendered his strength of no avail.
Sambro succeeded Dick, and was equally vigilant; Buxsoo kept the morning
watch; while Reginald, who was the most fatigued of the party, slept
till daylight.
Faithful's disappearance caused considerable anxiety. In vain they
searched about in all directions--no trace of the tigress could be
found; and at length, as it was important to take advantage of the cool
morning air, they started, hoping that her sagacity would enable her
quickly to follow them. Often and often Reginald looked back, hoping to
see his pet. They overtook numerous country-people,--some on foot,
others on asses or on horseback,--nearly all the men being armed. They
regarded the two Englishmen with suspicious eyes; but Buxsoo mingled
among them, inquiring what news was stirring. All had something to
tell, and he thus picked up a good deal of information. People were
generally full of the expected arrival of the English troops, wondering
what they were coming for. Their suspicions were generally aroused; and
some even declared that the rajah had sold his country to the English.
Buxsoo did not think it worth while to contradict this, as it would have
excited their enmity against him, and they might believe that he was in
favour of the transaction. This, however, was not the information he
was anxious to obtain.
Two more days passed by. Reginald began to despair of recovering
Faithful; and he had, as yet, received no tidings from Burnett. They
were resting during the heat of the day in the shade of a banyan-tree,
at a little distance from which was a well. They had not been seated
long, when several natives, with a couple of laden camels, drew near to
the well to quench their thirst. Buxsoo, begging his companions to
remain quiet, went forward to meet the strangers. After the usual
salutations, he inquired the price of ghee, corn, and lentils; and they,
believing him to be a trader like themselves, willingly imparted the
information he requested. His first questions led to others, and they
soon got into familiar conversation. He asked if they had heard
anything of the late rebellion, or of the audacious way in which the
ranee had been carried off. They knew very little about the matter; but
rumours had reached them that there had been disturbances in the
country. At length one of the party informed him that, on the previous
day, he had gone to a village at some distance from the high road to
sell his goods, and that on his return he passed near a deserted temple
on the summit of a hill, the doors of which were all closed; but that on
looking up he was greatly surprised to see a female at the top of one of
the towers, waving to him, apparently to attract his attention.
Wondering what was wanted, he was approaching, when two armed men rushed
out of the building with threatening gestures. To escape them, he ran
off at full speed; but after pursuing him for some distance the armed
men turned back, and he reached his friends in safety. Buxsoo also
inquired whether the merchants had heard anything of the movements of a
body of the rajah's cavalry; but they could give him no information on
the subject.
He waited till they and their camels, having quenched their thirst, had
moved forward on their journey, and then he hurried back to his friends
with the important information he had obtained.
Reginald was, of course, eager to move on at once to the place where the
female had been seen, feeling almost sure that it could be no other than
Nuna.
"That may be the case," observed Buxsoo; "but, supposing that the temple
is guarded by a strong garrison, how are we to get in and rescue her?
Would it not be wiser to try and fall in with the cavalry, who may take
the place by storm should the rebels refuse to deliver up their
prisoner?"
"The cavalry would have less chance than we should have, my friend,"
answered Reginald. "If the place is fortified, we must trust to
stratagem rather than to an open attack. A handful of men, well
provided with ammunition, may keep at bay the whole of Captain Burnett's
cavalry. I would rather attempt to scale the walls; and I feel sure
that Dick and I might accomplish the feat. We sailors are as active as
goats; and as no one within would suspect our intentions, we might get
to the top of the tower, and perhaps liberate the ranee, before any of
the garrison could discover what we are about. It is very evident that
she must be confined in the tower, where her guards think that she is
perfectly safe; while they probably keep in the large hall in the lower
part of the building. However, we must get there first and survey the
place before we can decide what is to be done."