A NOBLE QUEEN:
_A ROMANCE OF INDIAN HISTORY._
BY
MEADOWS TAYLOR,
C.S.I., M.R.A.S., M.R.I.A., &c.
AUTHOR OF 'SEETA,' 'TARA,' AND OTHER TALES.
'O, never was there queen
So mightily betray'd!'
_Antony and Cleopatra_, act i. sc. iii.
IN THREE VOLUMES.
VOL. I.
LONDON:
C. KEGAN PAUL & CO., 1 PATERNOSTER SQUARE.
1878.
(_The rights of translation and of reproduction are reserved._)
TO
HIS EXCELLENCY
MOOKHTAR-OOL MOOLK
SIR SALAR JUNG BAHADUR, G.C.S.I.
THE EMINENT AND ACCOMPLISHED STATESMAN
AND
LEADER OF ALL THE ADVANCING CIVILIZATION OF THE DEKHAN
THIS WORK,
ILLUSTRATIVE OF A PORTION OF ITS HISTORY,
IS DEDICATED
BY HIS FAITHFUL FRIEND,
_MEADOWS TAYLOR_.
INTRODUCTION.
The favour with which my former Indian tales have been received has
induced me to write another, in illustration of one of the most
important epochs in the history of the Dekhan. The character of the
noble Queen Chand Beebee is still popular in the country; and her
memory is reverenced, not only as the preserver of Beejapoor, but
for the heroic resistance she made to the Moghul armies in their
first invasion of the Dekhan and siege of Ahmednugger. The whole
circumstances relating to the Queen, upon which this tale has been
founded, are detailed in the history of Mahomed Kasim Ferishta, and
can be read and verified in the translation of that work by the late
Major-General Briggs.
MEADOWS TAYLOR.
OLD COURT, HAROLD'S CROSS, CO. DUBLIN.
_August 27, 1875._
CONTENTS
OF
THE FIRST VOLUME.
_BOOK I._
CHAPTER PAGE
I. THE CATARACT OF THE KRISHNA 1
II. "A NIGHT'S VIGIL" 25
III. THE PRIESTS OF MOODGUL 44
IV. AN INSULT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES 54
V. A NEW ARRIVAL 80
VI. THE STORM AND THE FLOOD 97
VII. CONFIDENCES AND FAREWELLS 119
VIII. MÁMA LUTEEFA PROPHESIES 138
IX. TREACHERY 156
X. HOW THE NIGHT PASSED 175
XI. SAVED 188
_BOOK II._
CHAPTER PAGE
I. BEEJAPOOR. 200
II. A RETROSPECT 222
III. THE EVENTS OF A DAY 237
IV. THE EVENTS OF A DAY--_continued_ 251
V. THE ORDEAL 265
VI. THE COMBAT 286
Errata.
At page 81, vol. i., line 4, _for_ Hoosein-bee _read_ Mamoolla.
" 176, " " 4, _for_ Hoosein-bee _read_ Mamoolla.
" 176, " " 17, _for_ Hoosein-bee _read_ Mamoolla.
" 177, " " 6, _for_ Hoosein-bee _read_ Mamoolla.
" 181, " " 11, _for_ Hoosein-bee _read_ Mamoolla.
" 199, " " 4, _for_ Hoosein-bee _read_ Mamoolla.
" 201, " " 8, _for_ corn _read_ cover.
A NOBLE QUEEN.
BOOK I.
CHAPTER I.
THE CATARACT OF THE KRISHNA.
Queen Elizabeth reigned in England. In the Dekhan, King Boorhan Nizam
Shah ruled over Ahmednugger, and King Ibrahim Adil Shah II. over the
kingdom of Beejapoor. They were rivals.
It was a fiery day in the end of the month of May 159-, when a small
party of horsemen, evidently weary from long travel, were passing over
the plains which lie north of the Krishna river. They carefully avoided
village and road tracks, and kept a steady course eastward across the
cultivated and uncultivated ground which seemed well known to them.
There were no hedges, as the fields are unenclosed, except near the
villages; and there were no trees, except distant clumps here and
there, which marked the site of a village or hamlet, or perchance a
lonely Mussulman shrine or Hindoo temple.
Nothing could be more dreary or desolate in appearance than the
landscape; every green thing had long ago been burnt up; the soil was
for the most part black and cracked; and the fields, which had been or
were being ploughed, were broken into large clods, over which the tired
horses strained with difficulty.
Beyond the river Krishna, which lay at a few miles' distance to the
right hand, was a small cluster of hills, and directly before them a
continuation of the range, which seemed to be broken in the middle by
a gap; but the hills themselves were continually distorted by the hot
wind and mirage, which had effect on everything about them.
Trees suddenly appeared to start up, which dwindled into bushes as the
party approached them; villages, with their walls and roofs of white
slaty limestone, rose into seeming palaces, glittering in the sun, and
disappeared; lakes of water seemed to gather together, and again vanish
under the fierce blasts of the burning wind, which carried with it at
times clouds of choking dust. Men and bullocks ploughing were seen for
a moment, then rose quivering and misshapen into the air, and vanished
under an increased blast.
Now and then the droning song of the ploughmen came upon them in
snatches, borne by the wind, and again ceased, and there was no sound
except the plaintive whistle of the red plover, as flocks ran swiftly
over the ground, the shrill chirrup of grasshoppers, or the wail of the
lapwing when it was disturbed and flew away. Occasionally large lizards
with red throats raised their heads stupidly as the party passed them,
or the small blue-throated species looked pertly from its position on a
stone or high clod, puffed out its beautiful azure neck, and whistled a
defiant note as it beheld the unusual sight, or darted into the hole or
crack in which it lived, and was seen no more.
Over ploughed fields flocks of crows or white storks, with their beaks
wide open, searched among the newly-turned clods for insects, and rose
up with harsh cries and flew away before the mirage, and were soon lost
to view; or trembling in the hot air took a short flight and settled
again. Here and there a small river bed or a brook suggested a pool of
water or thread of stream, at which the horses and men could quench
their thirst; but they stayed rarely for this, and pursued their way
with all the speed, a quick amble, that their horses were capable of.
In truth, painful to endure as it undoubtedly was, this hot wind and
mirage had proved to be their preserver from capture, and probably
death. The times were lawless and fierce; party feeling ran high in
the Dekhan kingdom, and partizans showed little mercy to each other in
the civil war then raging. Early that morning a small force of cavalry
in the service of the King of Beejapoor had started on its way to join
one of the main bodies of the Royal army on its march to subdue the
rebellion of the Prince Ismail, the King's younger brother. But the
rebellion was, in fact, that of Eyn-ool-Moolk, the ex-Prime Minister,
who in putting forward the young prince had trusted to regain his old
influence and power. Nor did this seem at all improbable, as he was
certain of the assistance of the King of Ahmednugger and his powerful
armies, in order to pay off scores with his cousin of Beejapoor.
It was necessary, therefore, for Beejapoor to send all the troops at
its disposal to quell the insurrection which had begun at Belgaum,
and the party of cavalry under the young Abbas Khan, which had held a
frontier outpost, being ordered to join a larger division, had been
pushing on incautiously that morning before daylight, when it was
attacked suddenly by an overwhelming force, and, after losing half its
number on the field, was forced to fly. Many more were pursued, and
captured or slain; many followed their brave young leader, occasionally
showing front to their pursuers; but they gradually fell off, and only
the four best mounted remained. Even they had had a narrow escape. From
the brow of an undulation they had caught the glint of spears on the
plain below, while they had also been seen in their elevated position,
and were pursued with fresh ardour; but as they plunged into the hot
waves of mirage, then beginning to blow, they had been concealed by it,
or their figures so distorted that they could not be recognised.
We have no concern in this tale with the progress of the rebellion, or
its sudden collapse after the death of Eyn-ool-Moolk, its instigator,
and have only mentioned it incidentally to account for the flight of
the small party whom we are following.
They seldom spoke one to another, for their heads were muffled in folds
of cotton cloth, and the cotton sheets they usually carried on their
saddles were now thrown over their persons to keep off the fierce heat
of the sun. It was evident that two of them were wounded; and exhausted
by the heat and loss of blood, could barely sit their horses. One of
these was the young leader of the party, Abbas Khan, who occasionally
reeled in his saddle as if about to faint from weakness, but again
revived by a drink of water from a companion's leathern bottle, rallied
bravely, and the march was resumed as before.
Abbas Khan, the nephew of Humeed Khan, and his adopted son, was,
perhaps, twenty-five years old, or it might be less. His dress of
Genoa velvet, braided with gold, was rich and handsome, but frayed
with perpetual use, as were also the crimson velvet saddle-cloth and
housings. On his head he wore a steel morion with a spike at the top,
covered partly with padded velvet flaps, which fell over his ears and
part of his neck behind, and were protected by small scales of steel;
and a steel bar, as part of the morion itself, projected over his
forehead, and was covered with velvet as the side pieces. Long Persian
boots of soft leather, embroidered in coloured silk, greaves of padded
velvet, strengthened by steel scales, covered his thighs, and steel
gauntlets, richly inlaid with gold, defended his wrists and his arms up
to his elbow; a waistband of a rich green muslin scarf, the brocaded
ends of which were tied at his right side, partly supported his sword,
which hung from a baldrick embroidered with gold, crossing his breast.
It was the handsome dress of a Dekhan cavalier of the period, and there
was not a braver, nor as yet one more distinguished, than the young
Abbas Khan. For the times were rough. Insurrections and rebellions were
the normal condition of the country, and especially of the capital;
while from Ahmednugger on the north, and Beeder and Golconda on the
east, the frontier was rarely or ever secure. Often, indeed, great
leagues were made among the rival Sovereigns, and large armies sent
into the field, when heavy actions were fought with terrible slaughter.
Abbas Khan's service had always been in frontier posts, and his
daring character and athletic frame urged him to undertake perilous
enterprises, with little heed as to the possible results; indeed, he
seemed to have no perception of danger, nor thought but to strike a
blow against an enemy whenever he might appear. Rash to a degree, his
uncle had refused him a command in his own army lest by his indiscreet
valour he might compromise the effect of military skill; but he had no
wish to curb the young man too much, and as the best experience was
to be gained in frontier service, he had from time to time committed
important posts to his nephew's charge.
Those who had escaped with him from the skirmish at Kórla were his own
retainers; but they had, as we know, fallen behind from exhaustion,
wandered into other paths, or taken refuge in villages. There were
only three left--one, by name Jumal, as badly wounded as the young
leader himself, who with difficulty kept his seat. He was the Khan's
standard-bearer, and still carried the small green pennon he had
defended so bravely in the fight. The second was Yasin, an attendant
of his own; the third Runga, a chief of the Beydurs of the country to
the eastward, a tall grim-looking Hindoo, who acted as guide. All were
well mounted, but the hardy, active horse of the Beydur was perhaps the
freshest.
The day was now declining, and the furious wind had somewhat fallen,
but still blew in occasional gusts, accompanied by clouds of dust; but
the wounded men could barely hold out, and there were drops of blood
oozing from the bandages with which the Khan's chest and left arm had
been hastily bound up, while the pressure of the velvet coat, soaked
in blood, which had dried hard and adhered to a part of the wound, was
exquisitely painful.
The Beydur saw that it was so, and tried to cheer his young master,
saying in his rough Canarese tongue, which the Khan understood
perfectly, "Fear not, Abbas Khan, fear not, an hour hence thou wilt
be safe in the fort. See, the trees of Nalutwar are already behind us,
and my own hills are growing more and more distinct amidst the haze and
dust. Cheer up, and set thy teeth like a true soldier as thou art; I
say another coss and thou art safe among my people, and the wound shall
be dressed again. And thou, too, Jumal, we will care for thee also.
Faint not, man, but keep a good heart."
"I do not like the ceasing of the wind so suddenly," said Yasin Khan;
"if the rebels were to see us now, we should have a poor chance for
life."
"We could at least die like soldiers," was the Khan's reply. "It was my
rashness which caused this disaster and the loss of so many of our poor
fellows! May God forgive me, for I fear my uncle will not; and to your
fidelity I owe my life, O friends; may Alla reward ye. Yes, I will hold
out, if the bleeding will let me, but even now the ground swims before
my eyes. Give me some more water, for I thirst." And after a long
draught from the leathern bottle, the young man settled himself afresh
in his saddle, spoke cheerily to his horse, and pressed on again.
They had not proceeded more than a mile when several men sprang out of
a thicket and rushed towards the Beydur chief, whose feet they kissed
with passionate tears and cries of joy. "Oh, thou art safe, thou art
safe," was all they could find words to say. "We heard thou wert dead,
lying on the field by Kórla, and some have gone to seek thee there."
"Peace," cried the chief, laughing. "See, children, I am unharmed and
safe."
"But there is danger," cried several. "A party of the rebel horsemen
have tracked ye, and are near us now. Can ye not ride faster? once
within the pass and ye are safe. Ride on, we will follow."
"On your lives," returned the chief, "stop them there. Keep yourselves
close within the brushwood, and fire at them as ye can. Their horses
are as weary as our own, and can do little. Ye can defend the mouth of
the Cháya Bhugwuti; or, if they are many, ye may entice them into the
hills on the main road."
"And what would ye do by the Cháya Bhugwuti? Do ye not know, master,
that Mother Krishna is running full, and ye cannot get refuge in the
fort?"
"Ha!" cried the chief, "is it so indeed? and when did this happen? We
did not hear the mother."
"About noon," was the reply of several. "She comes down before her
time. Listen!"
As the man spoke, a deep hollow sound fell upon their ears. The wind
blowing from the west, along the course of the great river, had
prevented this sound reaching them before; but there could be no
mistake now, and on passing a small eminence they saw the river in
flood, from bank to bank, rushing rapidly along; while in the gap of
the hill before them rose a column of mist, which increased as the
wind lulled, and again was blown away as a gust came down the river.
"If there were time," said the leader of the new party with his men,
who were running beside the horses, "ye should turn by the upper road,
and make straight for Korikul, but it is too late now for that; and how
are ye to cross the river?"
"Let us reach Narrainpoor first, and we will see to that," said Runga,
quietly. "Away, some of ye, to Narrainpoor, and tell the fishermen to
go on to the lower ferry with their gear. Their lives shall answer
for the young Khan's if there be any delay, and I, Runga, declare it.
Tell Krishna, the barber, to have his needles ready; there may be time
to dress the Khan's wound. Ye remember him, children, how he slew the
panther with his sword, and how ye all worshipped him. Away! we have to
save his life; no matter what the flood is, we shall be cowards if we
do not place him in the fort ere the sun sets."
The men he spoke to were Beydurs like himself. Indeed, Runga was not
only a chief but a relative of the Rajâh of the Clan, then a very
powerful one, which could bring twenty thousand men into the field.
Runga Naik held the lower part of the western frontier with horse and
footmen, and had been summoned to join the young Khan according to the
tenor of his service to the State. He was a true adherent, not only
because of his service, but because of his love for and admiration of
the Khan, and this was shared by the people. It would be disgrace
indeed if aught happened to Abbas Khan or his followers; and at their
chief's appeal several of them dashed forward in the direction of the
hollow booming sound and cloud of mist.
They were fleet of foot, and admirably equipped for tough frontier
service. On their heads they wore conical caps of leather, which drew
in by a string round the forehead and temples. Each wore loose leather
drawers reaching as far as the knee, with a red waistband of strong
stuff, and pliant sandals completed their costume. Some had sword and
shield, with a knife in the girdle; others carried long matchlocks,
with the powder-horns and bullet-bags hanging at their waists.
Among rocks and brushwood they were invisible, and as the aspect of
the country had suddenly changed, there were now granite rocks and
brushwood enough to conceal a host of such men as they.
"Some of us had better stop here," cried the leader of the footmen, as
they approached a small pass in the hill, "and wait for the rebel dogs
if they come up."
"Do so, my sons," replied the leader, "but do not fire unless they make
an attempt to pass you. And now, Khan," he said to the young man, as
he pointed out a small village with some green rice fields around it,
"that is Narrainpoor, and I vow an offering to Cháya Bhugwuti herself,
if she allow us to pass her in safety. Cheer up now, and keep thy heart
thankful, for all danger is past."
It was well, indeed, that the refuge was near, for Abbas Khan was past
speech. He was faint and sick, reeling in his saddle at every stumble
of his noble horse in the rough ground. Often he had patted its neck
and encouraged it by his voice; and met with a response in a low whinny
and a toss of the head; but now horse and rider were alike exhausted.
The young Khan was conscious of nothing but a dull booming sound in his
ears, which increased every moment, yet he clung instinctively to the
saddle, and his standard-bearer's powerful arm alone had prevented him
from falling to the ground for the last few miles. He had heard the
Beydur's last speech with only a dim consciousness of what it meant,
but he smiled faintly, and pointed to his wound, and to his mouth,
which was parched, and was becoming swollen. Then Runga Naik dashed
forward and returned with a number of men and a low bedstead; the young
Khan was placed upon it, and borne gently into the village, while
his charger was cared for by kindly men, who allowed him to nibble
mouthfuls of the fresh green rice, as he passed on.
"See whom I have brought you, Bheemajee," said the Naik. "'Tis Abbas
Khan, our young master, and a brave one too; therefore assist him, for
he is badly wounded, and, notwithstanding, hath ridden through this
fearful day without a murmur, true soldier as he is: but now he has
fainted at last. Where is Krishna, the barber? He must see to the wound
directly."
"I am here, Maharaj," said that functionary, stepping forward. "Show me
the wound, and I will do what is needful."
They stripped him as he lay unconscious on the bed, and the stiff
velvet coat being carefully removed, as well as the heavy steel morion,
and his head bathed with cool water, the young man sat up, and at first
looked wildly about him.
"Ul-humd-ul-Illa," said the standard-bearer, piously. "He wakes from
his trance, and will live; but I thought he would have died."
"Not this time, friend," said the Khan, faintly enough, but with a
cheery smile. "How much farther have we to go? Let me mount again and
get on; we have yet far to ride, and I feel strong and well already."
"You are among my people now," cried Runga Naik, cheerily; "no more
riding, and the fort is nigh at hand, where you will be safe for a long
rest. Fear not, therefore; old Krishnajee will dress your wound, and
they are cooking some kicheri. Praise to the gods! you are safe, my
noble master!"
Then the barber performed his duty skilfully and tenderly. The wound
was long, extending from the left breast across the left arm, and had
bled much, but was not very deep. A few stitches were put into it to
keep the lips together, a poultice of green herbs, carefully mashed,
was placed over it, and a few bandages completed the simple dressing,
which was borne, though it had been exquisitely painful, without a
murmur.
The other wounded man was treated in the same manner, but he was
weaker, and his wound was deeper, and a Mussulman fakeer who was
present took charge of him carefully.
It was surprising to see how the young Khan had rallied; but his great
strength of frame and vigorous constitution enabled him to conquer
at last the weakness that had overtaken him, and after a slight but
grateful meal, he professed himself ready to go on.
But now the old Patell interfered. "The mother river is raging," he
cried; "do not ye hear her? and, indeed, the thunder of the cataract
has increased as the wind fell. No one could attempt to cross the
rapids below and live. My sons, be not mad! and let the lives the gods
have spared rest here with us in safety. Go not to certain death!"
"Peace, Bheemajee!" returned Runga Naik, somewhat scornfully. "I have
crossed the rapid myself when it was worse than it is now, and the
mother has done me no harm. I tell thee there is no time to delay.
Hark! dost thou hear that--and that? The enemy are at the pass, and
there are only twelve men to hold it. Burma will not let them through
if he can help it; but if they are many he must fail, and we perish.
Ho! my sons," he cried to the people around, "who will swim with me
across the ford? do ye fear?"
With a shout and yell, such as Beydurs only can give, a number of stout
young fellows answered the appeal and ran for their bundles of gourds,
which were always ready. "We are your children," they said, touching
their master's feet and the Khan's; "we will take you over, and fear
not. Let us go now. There is an hour's good light, and we can remain in
Juldroog and cross by the lower ferry in the boat. Come!"
It was indeed time, for the first few shots in the pass seemed to
be followed up by others, and the shouts and shrieks of the Beydurs
sounded closer. "Away with ye," cried the Beydur Naik to the men who
had accompanied him; "tell Burma to hold the pass with his life for
half an hour, then to retreat to the Cháya Bhugwuti, and hold that till
death, if needs be." And as the men departed, the Khan's bed was taken
up, the horses sent on before, and the little procession, leaving the
village, proceeded at as rapid a pace as the rugged ground would permit.
"If the pass is forced," said Runga to the Patell, "keep the wounded
man safely concealed, and bring what men ye have to the entrance of
Cháya Bhugwuti, and all of ye defend that. If Burma and his people are
safe, fire two shots down the ravine over the ford, and we shall know
what they mean."
"May the Mother guide you, my lord," said the old man piously. "I vow a
sacrifice to Cháya Mata if she let you pass safely."
The path was narrow and intricate, among huge masses of granite rock,
which sometimes almost blocked the way. It would have been impossible
to have ridden through it. Suddenly Runga Naik stopped.
"You would like, perhaps, to see the nymph in her fury," he said, "and
you can do that without walking. Come on to the edge," he said to the
bearers of the Khan's litter, "and set it down on the terrace." The men
did so, and Abbas Khan beheld a scene which, from its combined grandeur
and beauty, struck him with utter amazement.
The terrace of rock was level, and his bed had been set down on the
very edge. At first he closed his eyes, for he hardly dared to look
on the turmoil of waters below him; but the tall figure of Runga Naik
was even nearer the fearful precipice, and he seemed to stand unmoved.
"Wait a little, Khan Sahib," he said in his strong, manly voice; "wait
till a gust of wind drives away this blinding mist, and thou wilt see
it all." And almost as he spoke the spray, driven by the wind, passed
to the other side of the chasm, slowly unveiling by degrees the noble
cataract, which he could now see nearly from the top, whence the water
of the mighty river precipitated itself--to the bottom, where it was
still partially veiled with spray. The river was full from bank to
bank, and about a quarter of a mile, perhaps indeed more, in breadth,
and fell from point or step to step of the incline of four hundred feet
with a fearful crash and clamour. In no part of its course, except one,
was the rock perpendicular, but it was broken by huge masses of rock
which showed their tops only in a few places. The steps of the whole
incline were in irregular portions, which caused breaks in the fall
and added to its sublimity. Here and there the action of the water
had hollowed out large deep holes, which now and again spouted forth
columns of water and spray to a surprising height, and fell back with
a roar and splash with marvellous effect. The whole was a seething,
roaring mass, which dazzled his eyes and, weak as he was, overpowered
his senses, and he sank back almost fainting; but he rallied directly,
and again the Beydur chief spoke.
"The pool is clear, Meeah," he said. "See, it is like all the horses in
the world tossing their manes and fighting."
It was, indeed, a frightful place to look upon. At his feet, as it
seemed, in a wide pool at the foot of the fall, the tremendous masses
of water falling into it met other currents and eddies of equal power,
and dashing together raised enormous waves which met in innumerable
shocks, and cast their spray high into the air, whirling, foaming,
breaking, with inconceivable violence and grandeur almost impossible
to look on with a steady eye for a moment together. Yet the Beydur, to
whom the scene was familiar, beheld it with a serene gravity.
"This is the nymph in her fury," he said, "and we worship her, and cast
flowers and our simple offerings into her bosom to appease her. When it
is past we can wander over the rocks and make offerings at the holy
pools, which now vomit forth the columns of water you see rising, and
the pool now so fearful to look upon is as still as a lake. Come, you
have seen enough."
But the Khan was fascinated. "A little while more, and I shall be
ready," he said. "The first shock of the sight was almost too much for
me, but now I am calmer, and I would watch awhile."
The sun had become low in the heavens, and the slanting beams of his
light played over the boiling water with exquisite effect. The terror
of the cataract had passed away, and only its beauty remained. Although
the water was yellow and muddy, yet the rosy light played among every
giant stream, or tiny portion of the vast fall, causing rainbows to
appear, to vanish, and to re-appear in every part of the spray on which
the sun shone. No one could count them: some remained steady for an
instant, then broke to pieces; some were seen only to disappear; while
beneath them the stupendous rushes of water from the great holes,
rising in perpetual changes, seemed hung with these lovely garlands
ever varying. The banks of the chasm were huge piles of granite rock,
covered with trees and brushwood, which seemed to bend in homage to
the genius of the place, and they were all now lighted up with roseate
tints, while the deep shadows of the ravine increased the beauty and
solemnity of the scene.
"Enough!" cried the young Khan, after a silence of some minutes. "My
soul is full of it. And such are the powers and works of the Lord of
Might! Yet no one had told me of this most wonderful sight. Lead on,
friend. I shall not forget what I have seen. This is, indeed, a land of
wonders. And is yon roaring torrent to be crossed?"
"Even so," said his guide. "The Holy Mother will protect us if we are
brave and trust to her. The water is smooth at the ferry though it is
rapid, and we need to be careful. A hundred times have I crossed it
alone, with only a few gourds tied to my back; but my lord is precious,
and we have made every preparation."
Then the bed was taken up and carried on along the almost level top
of the bank of the ravine, but the way became more difficult and
intricate as they proceeded. Presently, as they emerged from behind a
great cluster of rocks piled one upon another, as it were by mortal
hands, the noble fort of Juldroog appeared. At first it seemed to
belong to the rocky range on which the party were proceeding, but after
a little time the Khan saw that it was detached and stood alone. It
was a lofty hill, consisting of the same granite rocks as the range,
and in its natural state must have been almost inaccessible; but it
had been strengthened by bastions and curtains wherever they could be
placed, and had been made a perfectly impregnable citadel. The house
of the commander surmounted all, and from its roof flew the Royal
standard of Bejapoor. The sun shone brightly upon the rocks, the
brushwood, and the massive fortifications, and seemed to soften and
harmonise their rugged details, and the young Khan looked eagerly to
his place of refuge and his cousin's pleasant society with a degree of
feverish anxiety, which was the consequence of his wound as well of the
exhausting day he had gone through.
Now the bearers began to descend a narrow pass in the bank, which was
traversed with difficulty, even by men; but the people who carried him
were sure footed, and performed their task steadily and successfully.
At the foot was a small portion of green sward, on which some persons
were resting, with a bed smaller than that the Khan had been carried
upon, with, as it seemed, piles of dry gourds tied to its legs and
sides.
From this spot the view of the fort was even more impressive than from
above. It appeared to rise like a cone to the height of five hundred
feet or more; a pile of masses of granite, built up by Titans, but
softened by foliage and brushwood. The bastions, which from above
seemed to be part of the fort itself, now projected from the rocks in
bold relief against the reddened sky, and the sun, shining down the
river, lighted the waters with a soft red glare, which rested upon
the fort and the mountains beyond with a rich, but lovely, effect.
Before them the channel they had to pass was hardly more than a bowshot
across, but the current, though smooth, was very rapid, and the water
passed in undulations, either caused by masses of rock beneath or by
its own inherent force. These undulations were regular, and nowhere
formed breakers. Already they saw the walls beyond and the beach,
filling with people to watch their progress; but even the powerful
voice of the Beydur chief could not be heard, and, taking a brass horn
from one of the men, he blew a loud blast, with a peculiar quivering
note at the end of it, which was answered at once from the fort.
"Ah! they know my signal, you see, Khan, and now we shall have thy
cousin to welcome thee. Come, the raft is ready, Bismilla!"
Runga Naik had divested himself of his dress and arms, and placed only
his sword upon the frail raft, where the Khan's dress and arms were
also bestowed. The horses and the Khan's followers had been sent by the
upper path to the village of Jernalpoor, and would rest there till the
flood subsided. And all was now ready.
"Stay," cried the Beydur, "I would fain hear that my people are safe,
and I have arranged the signal. Hark!"
Almost as he spoke two shots were discharged from the upper pass, and
he knew that the enemy's attack had been repulsed. "Bismilla!" he
exclaimed, as he sat astride between two piles of gourds, united by
a broad and strong horse-girth, "one cannot be drowned with such as
these. Now, my sons, take the Khan up gently, and place the bed in
the water--wait my signal, and let the next wave pass by. Now!" he
shouted, as one of the waves of the current, passing by, broke on the
pebbly beach. "Now, for your lives, Jey Mata!" "Jey Mata!" was repeated
by the ferrymen, and the little raft shot out with the vigorous strokes
of the swimmers into the stream.
The passage was not without extreme danger, for the power of the
current was immense and carried them down a long distance, and the
young Khan, as the banks seemed to shoot past him, and the raft was
whirled round and round with great velocity, almost gave up hope that
the stream would be passed; but the Beydur cried to him not to fear,
for all danger was over; and, in any case, resigning himself, like a
good Moslim, to his fate, he saw, after a time that appeared to him
interminable, that the raft was urged into a backwater, and men on the
bank flung ropes to them, by which the shore was soon gained.
"Well done! well done!" cried a manly voice from a crowd of soldiers.
"I say, well done, Runga Naik, 'tis like thee to do a feat of daring
like that; but whom hast thou there? By the Prophet, but I should know
his face. Abbas Khan! brother! how comest thou here in such a woful
plight; and wounded, too?"
"It is no time to ask questions of him now, my lord," said the Beydur;
"but for that ugly wound he would be as strong and fresh as I am; but
you see he has been bleeding all day in the hot wind, and has been
often insensible, and seems to have fainted again. Yet run to some
shelter, I pray thee, and let thy surgeon look after him."
"He is gone to Moodgul, alas!" said Osman Beg, the killadar or governor
of the fort, who was usually termed Nawab, "and all I can do is to
recall him when any one can get across the large channel, which I fear
may not be for some days. There is, however, the old Dervish, who hath
a rare skill, and he can be taken there at once."
"Good, my lord; let him be taken up as he is by my people, and if thou
wilt send one of thy servants with him, the holy Syud will no doubt
help him, though he is blind."
"I will go myself," said the Nawab, "and see to his comfort."
Then the bed was taken up and carried on gently, and set down within
the enclosure of a small mosque and dwelling-place. At first the old
Dervish could not understand why he had been so suddenly disturbed, but
on hearing that a wounded man needed his care, bade him to be brought
in, and, after examining him, declared he must remain for the present
where he was, and that the attendant whom the governor had nominated to
wait upon his cousin should remain also to minister to him.
The young Khan was at once bathed, dressed in dry garments, and laid in
a comfortable bed. The barber's stitches of his wound had at least held
well, and bleeding had ceased. He was already refreshed, but he could
not give a clear account of what had happened to the old Sheykh and
his cousin, who sat by him. His pain had increased, and a low delirium
had commenced.
"Oh that I could see you," he said, "but I am blind! Zóra, my child,
make up the soothing potion for him and a poultice of herbs, and tell
his people how it is to be applied. We will both watch him to-night,
for the fever is strong; but, Inshalla, ere many days he will be strong
again. Be assured, Nawab Sahib, that your poor servant will do his
best."
"Then I leave my cousin in thy care, Hazrar, and will return early to
see him," said the Nawab, as he saluted the Dervish reverentially and
took his departure.