"We are betrayed! We are betrayed! The rebel cavalry are upon us. We
shall be cut to pieces."
On hearing this Captain Hawkesford turned round, and saw a large body of
horse advancing, with an Englishman at their head. From their
appointments and general appearance, he at once knew that they were a
well-organised body of troops, and not like a rebel band; and as they
advanced he recognised Captain Burnett, with whom he was personally
acquainted. Even had they been rebels, they so far outnumbered his own
company of sepoys and his small party of Englishmen that he would have
had very little hope of contending with them successfully,--especially
as the sepoys showed no inclination to fight. He had indeed from the
first suspected that he had been misled by the information he had
received. It had been given by the traitor Balkishen, in the hope that
it would lead to the destruction of Reginald and the young ranee. He
therefore considered that it would be wise to assume a pacific attitude;
so as Burnett and his troopers advanced towards the gate he ordered his
own men to ground their arms, and going forward, he shouted out--
"Glad to see you, Burnett! We have made a terrible mistake, misled by a
rascally Brahmin; but, except that one poor fellow has lost his life, no
great harm has been done."
"Who is it?" asked Burnett anxiously, fearing that he might allude to
Reginald, of whom he had gained information from Buxsoo and Sambro at
the village where he had met them as they were purchasing provisions.
Captain Hawkesford's answer relieved his anxiety; and he soon had
evidence that Reginald was unhurt, by seeing him descend the steps,
accompanied by Nuna; while Faithful stood at the foot glaring round at
the strangers, of whose intentions she was not yet fully satisfied.
Reginald, from the place in which he had taken shelter, had observed
Burnett's approach; and overhearing the conversation which had ensued,
he knew that the tables were turned, and that his sister was at length
in safety. Captain Hawkesford, who feared that very awkward
consequences might ensue from his conduct, apologised to Reginald, and
made all the excuses he could think of.
Reginald, however, received these somewhat stiffly. "Had the ranee,
whom I had undertaken to conduct to her grandfather, been injured, the
case would have been very different," he observed. "As it is, although
you refused to believe my word when I assured you I was not a rebel, and
that you had been deceived, I am ready to receive your apologies; and I
must now request you to assist in making immediate arrangements for the
conveyance of the young lady to Allahapoor, where her grandfather is
anxiously awaiting her return."
Burnett, however, undertook that task, and despatched a party of his
horsemen to the nearest place where elephants were to be found, to bring
one with a proper howdah for the conveyance of the young ranee; while he
also sent off another party to Allahapoor, to announce her recovery to
the rajah.
Captain Hawkesford volunteered to remain in the meantime, with his men,
for her protection. But Burnett politely declined his offer; observing,
in a somewhat sarcastic tone, which he could not restrain, that she was
as perfectly safe, guarded by his troopers, as she would be with the
sepoys and the corporal's guard he had brought with him.
"Well, then," said Captain Hawkesford, "if my services are declined, it
is my duty, I conceive, to rejoin the main body of the force sent to the
assistance of the rajah. I will inform Colonel Ross that we were
deceived by the information given us by the Brahmin, and that the
supposed rebel was no other than Mr Hamerton, who was escorting the
young lady home whom he had so gallantly rescued from imprisonment."
"Colonel Ross, did you say?" asked Reginald.
"Yes, sir. He is in command of the troops marching to Allahapoor; and
he and his daughter--who accompanies him--will be much interested on
hearing of your gallant exploit."
Reginald hesitated what remark to make. The news he had just heard gave
him great pleasure, as he hoped that he might soon again meet Violet.
At the same time, he felt sure that Captain Hawkesford would give a
false colouring to what had occurred, and would try to make her jealous
of the ranee and suspicious of his conduct. He was much inclined to
explain the true state of affairs to Captain Hawkesford, so that he
might be prevented from making out a story to his prejudice. Captain
Hawkesford, however, saw very clearly that Burnett did not wish for his
presence; so desiring his syce to bring up his horse, he hastily
mounted, and ordering his men to march, rode off--the dead body of the
unfortunate corporal being carried by some of the sepoys, whose low
caste allowed them thus to employ themselves.
Dick Thuddichum, who had been liberated, watched them with no very
friendly eye. "The next time you manhandle a fellow, just be good
enough to ask whether he is a friend or an enemy," he shouted out. "If
it had not been for the sharp points of your bayonets, I should have
laid not a few of you sprawling on the ground before you had got me
down, I can tell you."
Reginald, however, soon pacified his follower, and told him to look
after Faithful, who seemed disposed to chase the sepoys, and might
possibly have laid her paws upon some of them, or have fought to recover
her victim, whom she probably considered her lawful prey.
"I am glad that the fellow has gone," exclaimed Burnett, who had heard
from Reginald of Captain Hawkesford's manner towards him on board the
_Glamorgan Castle_. "I never liked him; and his conduct in this affair
has not favourably impressed me. You, at all events, will soon have an
opportunity of seeing Miss Ross, and explaining matters to her."
While waiting the arrival of the expected elephants, Nuna was resting
beneath the shade of some wide-spreading trees, close to the walls of
the temple. Reginald seated himself by her side, and invited Burnett to
join them. Nuna seemed in no way displeased, and listened with
eagerness to the conversation which ensued between the two; though
unable, from her imperfect knowledge of English, to understand more than
a few words. Reginald told Burnett more of her history than he was yet
acquainted with--that she not only had English blood in her veins, but
had been instructed in her mother's faith; and the more, indeed, Burnett
saw of the young creature, the more he admired her, and a warmer feeling
than he had yet allowed himself to entertain took possession of his
breast. He could not believe that she would willingly consent to become
the wife of a native prince; so he resolved to devote his life to her
service, hoping to be the means of preserving her from the dangers to
which, from the unsettled state of the country, she must be exposed, and
to win her some day as his bride. That he was her brother's friend, he
naturally felt was much in his favour; and he believed he was not too
presumptuous in thinking she would regard him with interest. He was
able to converse with her in her native tongue; and for the next few
days, till their arrival at Allahapoor, he would enjoy her society far
more easily than he could expect to do when she had returned to the
rajah's court.
The troopers meantime were resting beneath the trees scattered around,
while their horses were picketed near. They probably looked on with
astonishment at the familiar way their leader and the young stranger
were conversing with the ranee, so contrary to the customs of the
country.
Some time had passed, when two elephants were seen approaching, with
several men on foot. On the back of one was a handsome howdah without
occupants; on the other rode Buxsoo, with Sambro, who had engaged the
animals, and made all arrangements for the journey. He had also brought
some provisions, which were very welcome both to the ranee and her
brother. They spent but a short time in discussing these; after which,
the elephant kneeling down, the ranee took her seat in the howdah,
urgently begging Reginald to accompany her.
"The sooner our relationship is known the better," she observed. "Our
grandfather can have no objection. A few words to Buxsoo will be quite
sufficient; and if you tell him that the fact need not be kept secret,
it will soon be known among all our followers."
Reginald saw no objection to this; and scarcely had the elephants begun
to move on when loud shouts rent the air, issuing from the throats of
the troopers, and the peasantry who had accompanied the elephants,
expressive of wishes for the happiness and prosperity of the young rajah
and his sister the ranee. Thus they moved on, the news preceding them,
spread by the advance-guard of cavalry.
As the roads were far from good, the elephants travelled at a slow pace.
Having no tents, they were compelled to deviate from the high road in
order to remain during the night at the house of a wealthy khan; who, of
course, was highly honoured in receiving the grandchildren of the rajah,
though he looked askance at Reginald, as if he doubted whether the
account he had heard was true. He received them, however, with every
outward mark of respect. As the elephant knelt down, they dismounted
from the howdah, and Nuna was conducted to the apartments of the females
of the family. An entertainment was afterwards prepared for Reginald
and Burnett; but at this it was contrary to the custom of the country
for Nuna to be present. She, indeed, was far too much fatigued and
agitated to leave her couch; and the next morning she appeared to be
worse, and unable to proceed on the journey. Reginald and Burnett were
anxious to place her in safety with the rajah, and were much
disappointed, besides being grieved at hearing of her illness. She sent
them word, however, that she hoped, after another night's rest, to be so
far restored as to be able to proceed without further delay.
To pass the time away, their host proposed a hunt in the forest. While
Reginald was getting ready, Dick Thuddichum presented himself, and asked
whether he was to go also.
"No, Dick; I wish you to remain with Faithful, and act as a guard to my
sister. Our host may be a very honest gentleman, but I don't like to
leave her without protection; and had it not been for the sake of
Captain Burnett, I would myself have remained behind."
As Reginald was going through the courtyard to mount his horse he met
his friend Buxsoo, who, in a low voice, said--
"Be on your guard. I would that you had refused the invitation of the
khan. There are foes on the watch to injure you; and if you can,
unobserved, get the ear of your friend, I would urge you to tell him
what I say, and to make an excuse for returning speedily without
exciting suspicion. I have told Sambro to accompany you. Trust to
him."
From the experience Reginald had already had of the natives, he fully
believed that Buxsoo had good reason for warning him, and he promised to
follow the advice he had received.
As they rode along he took the opportunity of telling Burnett what he
had heard.
"It may be the case; but I should like to stick a few pigs first," was
his friend's answer.
The khan had ordered some tents to be pitched, in which, before
returning, they could take refreshment. The distance was greater than
Reginald had expected; but they were rewarded for their long ride by
finding ample sport, and soon, excited in the chase, he forgot all about
the warning he had received. At length, by some chance, he was
separated from his companions. When quite alone he encountered a wild
boar, which the low underwood prevented him from assailing to advantage,
while the savage beast with its sharp tusks severely injured his steed
before he could plunge his spear into its side. In doing so his weapon
broke. The animal again attacked him, and he was compelled to draw his
pistol and shoot it dead, to save his horse from further injury.
Unwilling to lose the spear, however, he dismounted to draw it out; and
while thus engaged he inadvertently let slip his rein. For a few
moments the horse stood quietly by his side; but, suddenly seized with a
panic, off it started at full speed before he could catch hold of the
rein. Having recovered the spearhead, he sprang after the animal,
hoping to catch it before it had got far. He continued on for several
minutes, keeping the steed in view, in spite of the obstructions in his
way, when he caught sight of the tents, near which he had no doubt he
should find the rest of the party; and thinking it probable the instinct
of his horse would lead it towards its companions. Considering,
therefore, that it was useless to exert himself further, he was walking
leisurely on, when, to his horror, he saw a huge tiger in the act of
springing at him from the jungle. He had just time to shout at the top
of his voice, in the hope of attracting the attention of any of his
companions who might be near, and to grasp the broken end of his spear,
when, as he instinctively leaped on one side to avoid the first spring
of the tiger, his foot slipped and he fell on his back, holding the
spear in a perpendicular position, with the point upwards. The savage
animal came directly down upon him, with its huge jaws open to seize him
by the neck; but as it did so, the point of the spear entering at its
chest made it again attempt to bound backwards. Still one blow of its
mighty paw, in its death-struggle, might, Reginald knew, break a limb or
inflict a mortal injury; so again he shouted out, while he endeavoured
to drag himself from under the savage animal, which still retained life
sufficient to destroy him. He had now cause to regret that he had not
brought Faithful, who would undoubtedly have fought bravely in his
defence, and might have prevented the tiger from springing on him.
Retaining his presence of mind, he kept the spear in a perpendicular
position, hoping that it would soon find its way to the heart of his
assailant. Still the tiger struggled more to escape than to attack him,
when suddenly there came the sound of a shot, and the creature rolled
over dead with a rifle-ball in its head. On looking up, he saw Burnett
hurrying towards him.
His friend now assisted him to rise; and though his clothes were torn
and his flesh deeply scarred with the claws of the animal, he found that
he had received no material injury. He and Burnett soon reached the
camp, where the khan and their other companions, with apparent
cordiality, congratulated him on his escape.
"Knowing the courage of you Englishmen, I am sure that your adventure
will not induce you to abandon the sport for the day," observed the
khan, in a tone which at once raised Reginald's suspicions, and
instantly the warning he had received from Buxsoo flashed into his mind.
The same thought occurred to Burnett, who replied:
"I cannot allow my friend to exert himself further, as, slight as his
injuries may appear, a fever might be brought on; so I must insist on
his returning to the house."
"As the sahibs think fit; but they will take some refreshment before
they start," observed the khan.
Rich viands were placed in the centre of the tent, around which the
party seated themselves. Sambro appeared among the attendants. As he
passed behind Reginald and Burnett he whispered, "Take only what I give
you." Neither of them had any great appetite. Reginald, indeed, even
without Sambro's warning, had no inclination to eat, and after partaking
of a dish the faithful slave placed before him, declined all other food.
He likewise simply drank a glass of sherbet which Sambro poured out for
him.
Immediately the repast was over, Burnett desired that the horses might
be brought up, and declining the pressing request of their entertainer
that he would hunt for a short time while his friend rested in a tent,
he rode off with Reginald, the natives being compelled to follow. Well
accustomed to traversing a wild country, even without a guide, Reginald
had taken careful note of the way they had come, and was thus able to go
ahead without waiting for the rest of the party. They reached the
khan's house in safety, where they found a party of horsemen arrived
from the city, with a despatch from the rajah to Reginald, highly
praising him for his conduct, and expressing a desire that he would at
once assume the costume becoming his rank, with which he had sent an
officer of state to invest him. Though Reginald, whose notions were
very far from Oriental, would much rather have retained his unassuming
dress, he felt that it was right to obey his grandfather. Burnett being
of the same opinion, he therefore submitted to being rigged out, as he
called it, in the jewelled turban and rich robes which had been prepared
for him.
"I hope, sir, as how they don't want me to dress up in petticoats?"
observed Dick, with a comical twist of his features. "I'd rather be as
I am, unless you order me."
"No, Dick; I think that will not be necessary except on state occasions,
when, if I want a henchman, I would rather have you than any native."
Dick was satisfied, and agreed to rig himself out like a Turk, or in any
other strange fashion, whenever his master required him to do so.
Next morning, Nuna had sufficiently recovered to continue the journey;
and for the first time Reginald sat by her side on the back of the
elephant, and appeared in public as an Indian prince. As they moved
through the villages crowds assembled to do them honour, though Reginald
felt more pain than pleasure as he witnessed the abject way in which the
natives bowed down, touching the ground with their foreheads on either
side of the elephant as they moved along.
Having started at an early hour, they made good progress, but they were
still several days' journey from the capital. Burnett, who rode at the
head of his troopers, was some little way in advance of the elephants,
when, towards evening, a horseman came galloping up. He brought
unsatisfactory intelligence. The rebels having reunited, were in great
force not far off, and with so valuable a prize in view as the ranee and
the young rajah, as Reginald was already called, they might be tempted
to make an attack on the party. They had some light field-pieces, as
well as horse and foot, against whom Burnett's troopers would find it
difficult to contend. Had he been called on to meet them without having
the ranee to defend, he would not have hesitated; but the risk was too
great to run if it could be avoided. Not far off was a strong fort,
however, and he judged it wise to throw himself into it till he could
obtain reinforcements, either from Allahapoor or from the troops under
Colonel Ross.
Reginald of course agreed to his proposal, and before nightfall the
party was safe within the fort. It had, it appeared, been occupied a
short time before by the rebels, but had been again abandoned by them.
An apartment was quickly made ready for the ranee. The night passed
away without the appearance of the insurgents; indeed, they were not
likely to attack the fort with the garrison it now contained.
The next morning, as Reginald and Burnett were walking on the
battlements, they caught sight of a body of men approaching the fort, so
the garrison were immediately called to arms. As the advancing forces
drew nearer, however, Burnett and Reginald discovered, to their great
satisfaction, the English flag; and in a little time they could
distinguish a body of sepoys and a small party of Europeans. They
immediately ordered their horses out to meet the officer in command, who
was some way ahead of his men.
"Faith, I am glad to see you all alive!" exclaimed the officer, as he
and Captain Burnett shook hands. "We were given to believe that you
were surrounded by a whole host of rebels, and I expected by this time
to be engaged in cutting them to pieces like mincemeat."
"We have not so much as seen an enemy," answered Burnett; "but
understanding that they were likely to attack us on the road to
Allahapoor, I thought it prudent to halt here, in order to wait till we
could obtain reinforcements from the capital, as we have the young ranee
in our charge."
"So Colonel Ross understood," observed the officer "And now have the
goodness to introduce me to this young prince, sultan, or rajah, or
whatever he is; and just interpret what I say, for I am no great hand at
talking their lingo."
"With all my heart," answered Burnett.
"Then just tell him that Major Molony, of Her Britannic Majesty's 990th
Regiment of Foot, desires to express his delight and satisfaction at
having arrived with a force under his command to defend him against all
the foes, past, present, and future, who may venture to interfere with
him in the execution of the humane and beneficent laws which he has
established for the peace and prosperity of his people. I conclude he
does not cut off more than half-a-dozen heads a day, and only
confiscates the property of those of his nobles who are unable to defend
themselves."
Burnett began to translate what the major had said. Unfortunately
Reginald could not command his countenance, so putting out his hand, he
exclaimed, laughing heartily--
"I assure you, my dear major, you scarcely do me justice. Half-a-dozen
heads a day! That's nothing. How do you think I could keep the country
in order by such simple means? People would look upon me as a mere
milksop. Put it down as a hundred, and you would be quite as near the
mark."
Burnett now joined in the laugh at the major's astonishment and
confusion.
"I beg your highness's pardon," he exclaimed. "I had no idea you could
speak English. Faith, you speak it remarkably well too, I assure you,
on my honour; and I hope your highness is not offended at the remark I
made."
"Not at all," said Reginald, still laughing. "May I ask after Mrs
Molony, and whether she has recovered from her voyage in the _Glamorgan
Castle_?"
"Why, as I am alive," exclaimed the major, "I do believe that you are
Mr Reginald Hamerton! And your highness will pardon me if I make a
mistake."
Reginald at once acknowledged who he was, and the major, greatly
relieved, rode on with him and Burnett to the fort. Scouts were at once
sent out to ascertain, if possible, the position and strength of the
enemy. Major Molony said that he had received orders to assist in
escorting the ranee to Allahapoor; and it was agreed that, as soon as
they received intelligence that a force was marching out of that city to
assist them, they should proceed,--the major feeling confident that his
sepoys would be able to keep in check any number of the rebel forces.