A GUNPOWDER PLOT--COCHUT CAUGHT--BALKISHEN HOISTED WITH HIS OWN PETARD--
THE MAJOR'S NARROW ESCAPE--COCHUT GIVES IMPORTANT INFORMATION--DICK
DESPATCHED WITH IT TO CALCUTTA--REGINALD ENTERS THE CITY--THE RAJAH'S
ILLNESS--TIDINGS OF THE CASKET--VISIT TO THE TEMPLE--THE CASKET
RECOVERED--DEATH OF THE RAJAH.
The traitor Balkishen had not been idle. He had managed to collect the
rebel forces, and had been with them in the very fort that Reginald and
his party now occupied. When they evacuated it, he with his slave Bikoo
had remained behind, intending to proceed from thence secretly to
Allahapoor, according to the information he might receive from his ally,
Khan Cochut. Below the fort were some vaults in which, some time
before, the rebels had stowed a large supply of powder and other
munitions of war, concealed in huge oil-casks. Just as he was about to
set out, he was joined by Cochut, who brought intelligence which seemed
to afford the two conspirators immense satisfaction.
"The fatal draught has been taken,--there can be no doubt of it. The
whole city will soon be in a tumult!" whispered the khan, as if afraid
the very walls would hear him. "Our friends will take possession of the
city, and the young rajah will be disappointed of his hopes. When you
arrive, they will receive you with shouts of joy, as they know you will
restore the good old ways, and have nothing to do with the infidel
Feringhees. For myself, I detest the English, and should delight in
seeing them driven out of the whole of India."
Balkishen assured Khan Cochut that his services should be amply
rewarded; and they agreed to remain a day or two longer in the fort, and
then to proceed leisurely to Allahapoor, calculating that they should
receive the expected intelligence of the rajah's death just before they
reached the city. The sudden arrival of Burnett's advance-guard,
however, prevented them from escaping, and they found themselves shut up
like rats in a hole, with a scanty supply of food, and afraid to strike
a light lest a spark should set fire to the combustible materials around
them.
A day and a night passed away. Unless they could make their escape, all
their plans would be defeated; for if Balkishen could not make his
appearance in the city at the right moment, a rival might gain the
power, from which it would be difficult to displace him.
They were neither of them very conscientious persons. A bright idea
struck Balkishen. "We may blow up the fort," he whispered to his
friend, "destroy the ranee and her brother, and make our escape in the
confusion. You are a brave man, Khan Cochut, and shall have the post of
honour. While Bikoo and I seize three horses, you shall have the
privilege of lighting the slow match; and we shall have time to reach
our steeds and gallop off before the stones come rattling about our
heads."
"I am much obliged to you for the compliment," answered Cochut; "but I
must leave that honour to you. I am unable to run fast, and should
prefer securing the horses."
Cochut was so positive, that at length Balkishen, who calculated that
the task of setting fire to the slow match might be the least dangerous,
undertook it. Afraid of creeping out by daylight, they were unable to
ascertain what was taking place in the fort above them; but they
calculated that the most propitious time for putting their nefarious
project into execution would be just before daybreak.
At length the time arrived. Balkishen had prepared a long slow match.
"Now, my friend," he said, "do you and Bikoo creep out and secure three
horses, and I will light the slow match."
Khan Cochut, who was unusually brave when any wicked deed was to be
done, silently made his way out of the vault through a door which led
into a narrow passage, and from this into an open court. Knowing that
he might meet with opposition from some of the syces in charge of the
horses, he held a pistol in his hand. A few threatening words, he
thought, would induce them to keep silence. He was surprised to find
that the dawn had already broken. He hesitated a minute; but
recollecting that Balkishen would by this time have set fire to the slow
match, he boldly stepped out from behind the wall which concealed him,
closely followed by Bikoo. As he did so, he found himself face to face
with a powerful-looking black slave conducting an elephant across the
yard. The slave looked at him for an instant, and, pronouncing his
name, asked him where he was going. Instead of replying, he pointed his
pistol at the black's head, expecting to intimidate him. The next
instant his weapon was knocked out of his hand; and the slave, seizing
him by the throat, exclaimed, "You are the traitor who carried off the
young ranee. You must come with me to the rajah, and tell him what you
have been doing here."
"I'll come, my friend, willingly," exclaimed Cochut; "only take me out
of the fort. You don't know what is going to happen. You and I and the
elephant may be blown into atoms in a few minutes. Take me out of the
fort,--take me out of the fort! Quick! Quick!"
"That's where I am going to take you," answered Sambro; for he was the
black slave. "Come along, my friend; come along."
At that moment casting his eyes on Bikoo, who stood trembling near by,
he made a sign to the elephant, which immediately wound its trunk round
the slave's body, and walked behind Sambro and the khan. To the
surprise of the latter, he found the gates open, and saw a number of
elephants and a large party of foot and horse winding along the road.
He and his fellow-conspirator, not being aware of the custom of English
troops to perform their marches during the cooler hours of the day--that
is to say, in the latter part of the day and early in the morning--had
not calculated on the possibility of their prey escaping them. Still,
apparently, some of the troops had not left the fort; and he could only
hope that those he wished to destroy were still there. He therefore
turned many an anxious glance back at the fort, and kept urging Sambro
to move faster.
Meanwhile, Balkishen having waited till he thought his accomplice would
have been able to secure the horses, set fire to the train, and then
hurried away to join him. On ascending the steps, however, his foot
slipped and down he fell. In vain he shouted to Khan Cochut and Bikoo
to come and help him. The slave was too far off to hear his master's
voice. The match went on burning, approaching the fatal barrel with
fearful rapidity. In vain Balkishen endeavoured to rise. He had
dislocated his ankle, or otherwise injured it. Again and again he
shrieked out. Though unable to stand, he crawled up the steps. To save
his life, he must have run faster than he had ever before done. In his
imagination he pictured the match not an inch from the barrel. In a few
seconds the fire would touch the powder, and all would be over.
Major Molony had mounted his horse, and the sepoys having moved on, the
European troop had just fallen in outside the fort, and were beginning
to march, when suddenly an awful roar was heard, and a vast sheet of
flame ascended from the middle of the fort. The major, clapping spurs
into his horse's flanks and dashing forward, ordered his men to run for
their lives. But the warning came too late, for many of the poor
fellows were struck down. Though pieces of stone and huge masses of
timber fell around on every side, the gallant major escaped uninjured,
as did happily the larger portion of his men; and, as he rode forward to
meet Burnett, who came galloping up, he passed Sambro, dragging on Khan
Cochut, and the elephant carrying the slave Bikoo. Sambro explained the
way in which he had captured the khan and his companion, and described
their suspicious conduct. Burnett ordered him to give them in charge of
a party of sepoys, who were directed on no account to let them escape.
A short halt was called, for the purpose of burying the dead. During
the time, Burnett and the major examined the fort, but made no discovery
which enabled them to fathom the mysterious circumstance. Not a living
being remained within it. Should any unfortunate persons have been left
behind, they must have been blown to pieces. Burnett then rode forward
to explain what had happened to Reginald; but as a long delay was
unadvisable, he deferred the examination of Khan Cochut and his
companion till their noonday halt.
Though Reginald was very happy to devote himself to his young sister,
and to go through any amount of ceremony which his new position demanded
of him, he soon got tired of sitting in a howdah; so ordering a horse to
be prepared, he mounted, and took his place with Burnett at the head of
his troops.
The scouts sent out returned with the report that the enemy had
retreated--probably overawed by the imposing force protecting the
ranee--and the intelligence that other troops were advancing from the
capital. A strong body of these troops were met at the spot fixed on
for the noonday halt, and handsomely-furnished tents were already
pitched.
That there had been a nefarious plot to destroy the lives of himself and
his sister, Reginald felt convinced; therefore, as soon as the necessary
ceremonies had been gone through in receiving the officers of the
newly-arrived troops, Reginald ordered that Khan Cochut and the slave
should be brought before him. The only person present besides Burnett
was Buxsoo, on whose judgment and acuteness Reginald knew that he could
rely to elicit the truth from the slave, if not from Cochut, who was not
at all likely to confess it unless from dire necessity. Both were
subjected to a close cross-examination; and Buxsoo also examined them,
in a way worthy of an English lawyer. Reginald, indeed, felt convinced
that they had been instrumental in blowing up the fort. The slave
pleaded that he had to obey the commands of his master, who was probably
destroyed; while Cochut, who had no such excuse to offer, exhibited the
most abject fear, and offered to give information of the greatest
importance, provided his life was spared and his property secured to
him. He declined, however, doing so in the presence of Buxsoo.
"You may say anything before him without fear of being betrayed,"
answered Reginald; "I am responsible for his fidelity. And if I find
that the information you give is not perfectly correct, I shall leave
you to the fate you deserve; but if, on the contrary, it is of the
consequence you state, I will undertake that you shall be allowed to go,
with all your wealth, ill-gotten as I am afraid it has been."
After much hesitation, Cochut declared that the natives throughout the
greater part of the country were ripe for rebellion against the English,
and all who favoured their rule; that the rajah had been especially
marked out for destruction, because he was evidently attached to the
Feringhees; and that before long it was hoped that they might be driven
out of the country.
Again and again Cochut protested that what he said was correct.
Reginald appealed to Buxsoo, who acknowledged that the statement made by
Cochut was probably too true. He himself had had his suspicions aroused
for some time, but he had not as yet gained sufficient information to
enable him to warn the authorities.
Reginald consulted with Burnett, and they agreed that they were bound at
all events to warn the authorities at Calcutta as soon as possible, and
also to let Colonel Ross know what they had heard. The difficulty was,
to find a messenger who could be trusted. Burnett was unwilling to go,
for he felt that his presence was necessary for the protection, not only
of the ranee, but of Reginald, as he fancied that he could at all events
trust his troopers while he continued in command of them. If Buxsoo
were sent, he might be suspected and stopped, and too probably murdered
on the road.
"Then I will send Dick Thuddichum," said Reginald. "No one will suspect
him; and any message I give he will deliver to the letter. He is well
known in Calcutta by persons who can vouch for him, and who will
immediately enable him to obtain an interview with the Government
gentlemen or members of Council; and he will explain why I considered it
prudent not to send any written despatch."
Burnett agreed to Reginald's proposal; and Cochut and Bikoo having been
given into safe keeping, Dick was summoned and received the necessary
directions. In a few minutes he was ready for his departure, with his
master's verbal despatches carefully stowed away in his capacious head,
out of which no one but those to whom they were to be delivered were
likely to draw them.
"You'll look after Faithful, sir!" exclaimed Dick, giving a hitch to his
trousers. "I don't much like leaving the poor beast to the mercy of
these nigger fellows, lest they should play her any tricks. Though with
me she's as gentle as a lamb, she don't much fancy them. But you'll not
forget her, sir, I know. Just let her have half a sheep a day, at
least. It will keep her in condition, and prevent her from doing any
mischief or helping herself to a blackamoor baby, which she might be apt
to do if she didn't get her proper food; and small blame to her, seeing,
so to speak, it's her nature."
Reginald assured Dick, that notwithstanding the affairs of state which
would occupy his attention, he would take good care that the faithful
tigress was not neglected.
"I'm sure as how it wouldn't be your fault if she was, sir," answered
Dick. "But it's them niggers I'm mistrustful of; though, I think, if
you was to let 'em know that you'll hang half-a-dozen of them if any
harm comes to her, they'll be inclined to treat her properly."
The mind of the honest sailor being at length set at rest on that score,
he took leave of his master and Burnett Dick made his way without
interruption to the Ganges, where he found a boat descending the river,
and in due course reached Calcutta. Following Reginald's directions, he
soon got himself conducted before the members of Council--the Board
fortunately sitting at the time. He entered with his usual undaunted
air, not at all abashed by finding himself in the presence of so august
an assembly.
On being asked what information he brought, he doffed his hat, and
replied--
"Please your worships, I am sent by my master, the young Rajah of
Allahapoor--as he now is, seeing that his grandfather, the old rajah,
has ordered him to tack that title to his name--to tell your worships
that the rascally natives have determined, if they can get the chance,
to cut the throats of every mother's son among the English, on the first
opportunity. It may be soon or it may be some time hence, but he thinks
it as well that you should be warned, and be prepared for whatever may
happen."
Dick then gave verbatim Reginald's message; after which he was directed
to retire, while the members held a consultation on the extraordinary
information they had received.
The next day Dick was ordered to return, and to inform his master that
the Council would pay due attention to the warning he had been good
enough to send them.
We must now go back to Reginald. While encamped next day at noon, the
expected reinforcements from the city arrived, with a despatch from the
rajah telling him that he was very ill, and urging him to advance
without delay. It was his wish that his grandson should enter the city
in due state, to produce an impression on the population. Reginald had
therefore, against his own inclination, to don a still richer costume
than he had yet appeared in; and with a body of officers and guards
walking on either side of him, and Burnett's troopers following on
horseback, he prepared to enter the city. The ranee, no longer looked
upon as a chief personage, sat concealed in a howdah on the back of an
elephant towards the rear of the procession. The vast crowd assembled
filled the air with their acclamations; and had not Reginald been well
acquainted with the state of affairs, he might have supposed himself the
popular ruler of a happy and loyal people. He very well knew, however,
that any one of the nobles and guards surrounding him would be ready, at
a convenient opportunity, to send a bullet through his head, or give him
a cup of poison; and that the populace, now shouting his praises, would
with equal delight drag his mangled body through the streets, should a
rival succeed in deposing him. His satisfaction at the exalted position
he had so unexpectedly obtained was, therefore, not without alloy. His
thoughts, however, flew away to Violet Ross, and he could not help
hoping that her father would no longer object to him as a son-in-law.
That she had remained faithful, he had no doubt; and he should soon have
the happiness, he hoped, of again seeing her. Should she object to live
surrounded by the splendour of an Oriental court, he was ready, could he
do so with honour, by placing the country under the English Government,
to give up India, and assume that position in England to which he hoped
to prove himself entitled, should he recover the missing documents of
which he was in search.
Such were the thoughts which occupied his mind as he rode through the
streets, amid the obsequious and bowing multitude who thronged around.
As he approached the palace, rich carpets covered the road; and the
rajah's bodyguard, with their officers in gorgeous costumes, stood drawn
up to receive him. He felt considerable anxiety at not seeing the rajah
himself, and it was increased on being informed that he lay too ill to
rise, but that he waited the arrival of his grandson on his couch in his
private apartment. Saluting the officials of the palace as he passed
along, he hurried to the old man's side.
"I am thankful that you have come, my son, for I am sick unto death,"
said the rajah. "My own physicians know not what is the matter with me,
and I have sent to beg that the English doctor who has accompanied the
resident may forthwith come and prescribe for me."
Reginald, of course, expressed a hope that the doctor would soon arrive,
and have the happiness of restoring him to health.
"And now let me hear an account of your adventures," said the rajah.
Reginald briefly gave it; not forgetting to speak in the highest terms
of Burnett, in the hope that the rajah would be induced to sanction his
marriage with Nuna. He then thought it right to tell his grandfather of
the information he had received from Khan Cochut.
"He is a cunning fellow, and may have wormed it out of some of the
natives, though I doubt whether many would trust him," observed the
rajah. "But you tell me that a slave of that traitor Balkishen has been
captured; let him be brought to me. He knows more about his master's
affairs than any one else, and for the sake of saving his life will
willingly give all the information he possesses."
Reginald was still with the rajah when Nuna arrived. She was
overwhelmed with grief at seeing him so ill. He spoke to her kindly,
but it was evident that he had transferred his affections to his
grandson, whom he looked upon as his successor. Reginald did his best
to make amends to her for the change in their grandfather's manner; but
she seemed rather pleased than otherwise, having had no ambition to
occupy the exalted position to which she had been destined. Perhaps she
reflected that it might remove all objections the rajah would have
entertained with regard to bestowing her hand on her brother's friend.
Soon after she had retired, the slave Bikoo, for whom Reginald had sent,
was brought, heavily chained, into the presence of the rajah, who at
once promised him his life on condition that he would afford all the
information he possessed regarding the proceedings of his late master
Balkishen.
"You have described him certainly as a great villain," observed the
rajah, when the slave had apparently finished his account; "but is there
nothing else you can add? I was already aware of most of the
circumstances you have told me."
"I will confess to another crime, if I may be pardoned for taking part
in it; for consider, O Rajah! In your benignity, that I am but a slave,
and my master compelled me to act the part I did," answered Bikoo,
trembling all over.
"You have my promise, wretched slave, that no punishment shall overtake
you on account of anything you may confess," said the rajah. "Say on,
slave."