THE TEMPLE IN WHICH NUNA IS A PRISONER REACHED--DICK'S PLAN FOR RESCUING
HER--THE TOP OF THE TOWER GAINED--ESCAPE--PURSUED--FAITHFUL APPEARS AT
THE PROPER JUNCTURE--ANOTHER TEMPLE REACHED--AN UNEXPECTED ATTACK--
FAITHFUL PLAYS HER PART--BURNETT ARRIVES--CAPTAIN HAWKESFORD FINDS THAT
HE HAS MADE A MISTAKE--THE JOURNEY TO THE CAPITAL--A DAY'S SPORT--
REGINALD AGAIN ESCAPES FROM A TIGER--THE JOURNEY CONTINUED--THREATENED
BY THE REBELS--TAKE REFUGE IN A FORT--THE MAJOR'S ASTONISHMENT.
Reginald and his party continued their journey, but they had
considerable difficulty in discovering the temple of which the trader
had told Buxsoo. At length, as evening was drawing on, they caught
sight of a tall tower rising above the trees on the top of the hill. It
being of the greatest importance not to be discovered by any of the
rebel garrison, they waited till dark to approach the building, as they
could not take that careful survey of it at a distance which was so
necessary before commencing operations. They had provided themselves
with a supply of rope at a distant village, where their object was not
likely to be suspected, and had carried it as Dick had suggested.
Reginald and Dick were well armed, and felt themselves able to engage a
dozen natives; but Buxsoo and Sambro carried no weapons,--for the former
professed not to be a fighter, though the slave was active and powerful,
and would not have feared a combat on equal terms with two or even three
brown-skinned natives.
Concealed among the trees, they got close enough to the temple to
ascertain whether any person entered or left it, as also to see the top
of the tower. With anxious eyes Reginald looked out for the appearance
of Nuna, convinced as he was that she must have been the female seen by
the trader. He watched, however, in vain, and darkness came on without
any human being having been seen, or any sign being discernible that the
building was inhabited. Reginald, in his eagerness, would at once have
approached the walls; but Buxsoo advised him to wait, in the hope that
those within might have a lamp burning, the light from which, streaming
through any window or crevice, might betray the part of the building
they were occupying.
"Depend upon it, also, that some cunning officer commands the party, and
he will be on the watch for the approach of enemies," observed Buxsoo.
"My advice is that we wait till later in the night, when the sentries
are likely to be drowsy, and we may then make our survey with less risk
of being discovered."
Reginald agreeing to this proposal, the party lay down to rest,--he and
Dick with their arms ready for instant use,--while they kept their eyes
turned towards the building. Before long a ray of light shone forth
from the dark walls. It proceeded, judging from its height, from a
small window in an upper storey, and in a part of the edifice at a
considerable distance from the tower. Though they watched carefully, no
light appeared from the tower itself; but that might have been accounted
for by the supposition that there were no windows in the sides towards
them, and did not prove that the tower was uninhabited. The appearance
of the light, moreover, made it probable that the persons seen by the
trader were still there.
An hour or more passed, when Dick suggested that, as it was important to
make their survey before the moon rose, it was time to get to the foot
of the tower, and there judge what was to be done. So, still keeping
under the shelter of the trees, they crept round to the further side of
the building, on which the tower was situated, in order that they might
get up to it without being seen by any one on the watch in the temple
itself. A sentry posted on the top of the tower might have discovered
them if he was awake and on the lookout; but they must of necessity run
the risk of that--hoping, should one be there, to take him by surprise,
and gag him before he could give the alarm. In the manner described
they reached the foot of the tower,--as they hoped, without being
observed by any one. They examined it as far as the darkness would
allow; but neither a door nor a window was to be discovered. The
stucco, however, with which it had formerly been covered, had in many
places fallen out. Accustomed to climbing as Dick was, he confessed
that even a cat would have a difficulty in reaching the top without
other means than her claws. However, of this they felt sure--that _no_
sentry was posted on the top of the tower; and that the chambers inside
must either be lighted from the top or by very narrow loopholes.
"I have it, though," whispered Dick. "Just let me get a score or two of
pegs: I will fix them one above another in those holes in the wall
without making any noise; and then, by giving a turn with a rope round
each of them, they will be kept all together--so that we may get to the
top without the risk of breaking our necks."
Reginald at once agreed to Dick's proposal. It was the only way,
indeed, by which they could hope to succeed. Next they all crept
silently round the building, examining every portion in the hope of
finding some loophole or aperture into which one of them might climb if
such a place existed, and, if possible, to draw off the attention of the
garrison while Reginald and Dick were lowering the ranee from the tower.
There were apparently doors, but they were firmly closed; and the
windows, and the other apertures which time had made in the walls, were
too high up to be reached. It was evident that the building had lately
been put into a state of defence, and that all openings by which an
enemy could enter had been barricaded. This confirmed them in the
belief that the ranee was imprisoned within, and that only by the plan
they proposed could her liberation be effected.
As some time would be occupied in making the pegs as proposed by Dick,
considering they had only their knives for cutting them, they had to
defer the execution of their plan till the next night. They therefore
stole back into the forest, in the far recesses of which they formed
their camp. As, however, it was possible that the garrison might leave
their fortress and carry the ranee with them, just before daylight,
Sambro, who undertook to keep watch, stole back to the border of the
wood,--where, concealed among the thick trees, he had a perfect view of
the building, and could see if anybody went in or came out of it.
As they calculated that the tower was sixty feet in height, it was
considered that thirty pegs, at least, would be required to reach the
top. As soon as it was daylight they searched about for some hard wood,
which, on being found, they set to work diligently to form into pegs.
Its hardness made the operation a slow one, and they had to use great
care for fear of turning the edges of their tools. Buxsoo was totally
unaccustomed to the sort of work. Dick, indeed, had cut three pegs
before either of the rest of the party had completed one. Reginald
constantly looked out in the direction Sambro had taken, in the
expectation of seeing him return with some tidings or other from the
fort. But the day wore on and he did not appear. As he had taken
provisions with him, they knew that he could remain at his post without
any necessity for coming back for food, and they concluded, therefore,
that nothing had occurred worth communicating.
Eager to carry their plan into execution, Reginald proposed returning to
the tower without further delay, when a rustle was heard in the bushes,
and Sambro crept up to the camp. He had seen, he said, several lights
streaming from the upper part of the building, which made him suppose
that there must be a good many people within. Still, as they could have
no suspicion of the attempt about to be made, they would probably not
interfere with their proceedings, and he thought that they might at all
events commence operations without delay. Each of them, therefore,
carrying a bundle of pegs, they crept back to the foot of the tower.
Dick wisely selected the dark side, looking the same way as the back of
the temple, on which the moon, when she got up, would not shine, and at
once began fixing in the pegs. He soon found that he could not place
them one above another, but had to choose the spots from which the
plaster had fallen out; so that the pegs were sometimes on one side and
sometimes on another. He could have proceeded much faster had he been
able to use a stone for driving them in; but, of course, the noise that
would have made would have led to the discovery of their proceedings.
Up and up Dick climbed, fastening the rope securely to the pegs, so that
did one come out he might save himself by the rope fixed to the others.
Perseverance overcomes all difficulties. The end of the rope which hung
down enabled him to haul up the other pegs as they were required.
At length he reached the parapet, and, climbing over, found himself
standing on a flat roof. Reginald climbed up next, carrying the rope by
which it was proposed to lower Nuna down. Sambro followed them, though,
less accustomed to climbing than Reginald and Dick, he had much more
difficulty than they had in getting up. Buxsoo remained below to keep
watch, and to receive Nuna on her arrival at the bottom.
On searching about, a trap-door was found in the roof. It was easily
lifted. Reginald stationed Sambro at the top, whilst he, revolver in
hand, and followed by Dick, descended a flight of stone steps, carefully
feeling his way, and not knowing what was at the bottom. By this time
the moon was up, and her light streaming through the open trap enabled
him to ascertain that he was in a large unfurnished chamber. Carefully
groping his way round, he discovered another flight of steps, leading to
the lower storey. He and Dick cautiously descended, feeling the wall
with their hands, on the chance of discovering the door of a lower
chamber, which they guessed must exist. They were right in their
conjectures. Not only was a door found, but through the chinks
proceeded the light of a lamp burning within. Could Nuna be there?
That such was the case was probable; but the room, on the other hand,
might be tenanted by a party of armed men, and should they open the
door, there would be no little danger in finding themselves among them.
The steps, it was evident, continued on to the lower part of the
building. There might be other chambers, one of which might be that
occupied by Nuna. Should they enter, or descend to the bottom of the
tower? They listened at the door, but no sound came forth. This made
Reginald believe that Nuna must be its occupant. Still, he thought it
prudent to explore the lower part of the building before attempting to
gain an entrance. He and Dick therefore descended, till he calculated
that they were close at the bottom; and here they were stopped by a
door. They remained perfectly quiet, when the sound of loud snoring
reached their ears. Listening, they were convinced that it came from
the other side of the door; and probably was produced by a sentry,
either leaning against it or sitting on the ground. This convinced
Reginald that the upper chamber was not occupied by armed men, and he
therefore made a signal to Dick to reascend the steps. They crept
carefully up, so as to avoid creating any noise which might awake the
slumbering sentry.
On reaching the door, through which the light could still be discerned,
he knocked gently, and putting his mouth to one of the crevices, he
uttered Nuna's name in a low tone.
"Who is there?" was asked in a voice which he felt sure was his
sister's.
He told her who he was, and that he had come to rescue her; when, a bolt
being withdrawn, the door was opened, and there stood Nuna, pale and
trembling with agitation. As there was no time to be lost, Reginald
briefly told her that he had, with the rajah's permission, set out on an
expedition to find her, and had been happily directed to the right spot.
"I have much more to tell you," he added, "but only understand that I
have every right to protect you, and will do so with my life. Trust to
me, and I hope to carry you back safely to your grandfather."
"I place perfect confidence in you," she answered.
He took her hand and led her up the steps to the top of the tower,
preceded by Dick Thuddichum; and as soon as they had passed though the
trap, Sambro gently closed it. Dick now lost no time in uncoiling the
lengths of rope he had brought to the top for the purpose they had in
view. To one end was attached a sort of cradle which he had
thoughtfully constructed.
"If the young lady won't mind getting into this, we will lower her
handsomely," he observed; "and she shall be safe at the bottom in less
than no time."
Reginald explained to Nuna what was necessary, and she at once consented
to be placed in the cradle, into which she was carefully fastened with
Reginald and Dick's handkerchiefs.
"I hear some one moving below," whispered Sambro. "No time to lose;"
and Reginald and Dick carefully lowered Nuna over the wall, and let her
slowly descend, while Sambro kept watch on the trap. The end of the
rope had been secured to some ironwork on the roof, and it was an
immense relief when Reginald felt that Nuna had safely reached the
ground.
"Now, sir, you go down by the rope, and take care of the young lady,"
said Dick, "and I will make the black find his way down by the ladder."
Before Reginald had reached the bottom, Buxsoo had released Nuna, who
expressed her thankfulness at finding Reginald by her side.
"We must wait for our two followers before we take to flight," he said.
"We will then endeavour to get to a distance from the place. Here comes
one of them."
As he spoke, Sambro was seen descending the ladder. Before he reached
the bottom, however, the sound of men struggling was heard, with the
loud cries of a native, responded to by Dick Thuddichum's gruff voice.
"I must go and assist my faithful follower," exclaimed Reginald,
preparing to ascend the ladder.
"Oh, do not leave me," cried Nuna.
The sound of the struggling now became more distinct. For a moment it
ceased, and then a noise followed, as if a heavy body had fallen to the
ground, apparently on the other side of the tower. Reginald sprang to
the spot, dreading to find that it was that of honest Dick; but the
white dress which covered the mangled heap of humanity showed him that
it was a native who had been thrown down from that fearful height.
Hurrying back, he caught sight of Dick rapidly descending the rope.
"We must be away from this pretty sharp, sir," he exclaimed; "for if we
are not, we shall have a whole tribe of the ugly blackamoors after us.
I pitched half-a-dozen of them down the steps, and then had to run for
it. However, all is right at present, and it may be some time before
they find their way out of the front door."
On receiving this startling intelligence, Reginald seized Nuna in his
arms and bore her down the hill, Buxsoo keeping by his side, while Dick
and Sambro brought up the rear to cover their retreat.
"I wish, Sambro, that you had had a musket or a brace of pistols, and we
would have kept the enemy at bay till our masters had carried off the
young lady out of danger," exclaimed Dick. "But, as it is, I must fight
alone. Only let them come near enough; I'll plant my fist in the faces
of some of them, and make their noses flatter than they have ever been
before."
In a couple of minutes the fugitives had got to the bottom of the hill,
and were making their way along the high road by which they had come,
when Dick, turning round, discovered a number of men rushing out of the
building, who had evidently caught sight of them. On they came, yelling
like fiends; but they did not fire, apparently for fear of wounding the
ranee. It seemed but too likely that the whole party would be taken
prisoners, for what could two men do against the vastly superior number
pursuing them!
"On, sir! On, sir!" cried Dick; "we will tackle the fellows, and Sambro
will soon get hold of a musket or cutlass for himself. You meanwhile
push ahead to the nearest village with the young lady, and Mr Buxsoo
will tell the people who she is."
Dick, however, was calculating too much on his own powers, though he
truly felt ready to do battle with the infuriated rebels coming up to
him. They were not many paces off, when at that instant a tigress was
seen bounding along towards them. Nuna, who caught sight of the
savage-looking animal, uttered a scream. "There it comes! Oh, it will
kill us!" she exclaimed. Reginald immediately called out, "Faithful!
Faithful!" and the seemingly savage tigress came fawning up to him.
Then turning round, he pointed at the pursuing foes, and a pat on
Faithful's head made her leap on towards them. The moment they caught
sight of her, as she flew at them snarling fiercely, they turned round
and scampered up the hill faster than they had descended. Reginald
hereupon--fearing that some of them, regaining their courage, might fire
at her--called her off; upon which she came trotting back and took up a
position immediately behind the party.
Once more they moved on; Dick and the tigress every now and then looking
back to ascertain whether or not the enemy were following. The fright
given them by the sudden appearance of the tigress prevented the rebels
from again issuing out of their fortification, and Reginald and his
friends were able to get some distance before daylight.
Nuna had repeatedly asked Reginald to set her down, but to this he would
not consent, as she was not accustomed to walk over a rough road, and
her delicate feet, shod only with embroidered slippers, were ill-fitted
to support her. At length, however, he began to feel fatigued, and
anxiously looked out for a place of safety, where they might rest till
an elephant could be found to convey them to the city. They had
observed on their way a temple in a very similar situation to the one
from which they had just escaped. Buxsoo believed that that also was
deserted, although it was not in a very ruinous condition. Being not
far off, they made their way to it. A place of shelter was soon found
within it, and Reginald placing his jacket and Buxsoo his outer robe on
the ground, entreated Nuna to rest while they watched at a little
distance. Faithful, who came in last, lay down in the gateway;
evidently considering that it was her duty to keep a guard over the
premises while her master and his friends occupied them.
Their chief inconvenience arose from want of food; for the provisions
they had brought with them had been exhausted on the previous day, and
Reginald felt that it would be impossible to proceed without some
refreshment. Nuna assured him that she herself was not hungry, as she
had had some supper brought to her soon after nightfall. She had been
treated, she told him, with perfect respect.
They were still apprehensive of being pursued by the mutineers, so as
soon as there was sufficient light they set to work to fortify the
temple, and to close all the openings in the lower part of the building.
This done, Buxsoo and Sambro hastened away to obtain provisions at the
nearest village they could find; intending also to try and procure an
elephant for the convenience of Nuna and Reginald, and, if possible, one
for themselves and Dick.
After his companions had gone, Reginald seated himself by Nuna, and took
the opportunity of recounting his history, and explaining to her who he
was. She listened to him with great astonishment. At length she
answered--
"I now understand why I have been brought up in a manner so different
from the other women of rank in this country. My mother taught me her
own religion, which she was allowed to enjoy; and she charged me, with
her dying breath, should I ever marry, to teach my children the same.
But I fear I really know little of its truths. I must get you, my
brother, to instruct me, and tell me all about the country of our
mother's ancestors."