Captain Hulton was waiting eagerly for the return of the two officers,
fully aware that something was very wrong, but still in ignorance of its
full bearing. The news of the hurried return of Sergeant Stubbs and the
detachment had made the position appear more strange; and directly Wyatt
and Dick entered his questioning began, and he heard everything that had
occurred.
"The weak child!" he exclaimed angrily. "That is the way with these
Eastern princes--they are always swayed by the one who has the last
word."
"You seem to think as we do, then?" said Wyatt. "Of course. That woman
is hand and glove with the other party still, and working with them.
The Rajah, after all, has an intense affection for his mother, and looks
upon all those ancient jewels as something sacred. It was like a blow
at him for them to be stolen, and to his eyes the case looked black
against Darrell here."
"You think he believes it still then?" said Dick.
"Without doubt. They are all mixed up in it--Wazir, Brahmins, and the
rest of the party--I feel sure, and they have schemed so that you have
not cleared yourself, Darrell."
"But I tell you I saw the Wazir, with the light shining on his face,
come down those steps, pick up the bag of jewels after he had dropped
it, and go into the cell I pointed out, come back, and fasten it up
again."
"Yes, yes, _yes_--of course you did, Dicky," cried Wyatt impatiently;
"and I wish you had gone in and got them afterwards, so as to have
brought them out and shown the Rajah you spoke the truth."
"Ha, ha!" laughed Dick. "Why, that would have made the case look
worse."
"Humph! so it would," said Wyatt. "I give it up. I'm better at
fighting than scheming, and I feel now just as if I should like to have
the guns out and a regular go-in at somebody."
"Oh, we can't fight," said Hulton. "I must see the Rajah and prove to
him that it was all a trick. He'll lean to the last man."
"Send the doctor in to him to make him believe he's worse, and then
he'll be ready to hang over to our side again."
"I wish Robson would give the Wazir and that sanctified old Brahmin a
dose of his strongest stuff."
"To poison them?" said Dick.
"Poison! Bah! No. To make 'em both ill for six months. What shall we
do, Hulton? Go and insist upon having an interview with this baby?"
"No," replied Hulton after a minute's silence. "Have everything ready
for emergencies, and then wait to see how matters turn."
"Hallo! Who's this?" cried Wyatt, for there were steps outside, and an
orderly announced the captain of the Rajah's guard, who was ushered in,
looking very stern.
"Nice business this!" said Wyatt in his bluff way, for, since the night
of the attempted poisoning, they two had been on the friendly terms that
would bring two brave men into a state of mutual respect.
"I come from his highness," said the Rajah's officer. "His commands are
that the English sahibs and their men leave here directly, and take up
their quarters in the old palace till he has decided what steps to take;
and I and my men are to see these orders executed now--at once."
"Dismissed like bad servants," cried Hulton indignantly.
"But suppose we won't go, old fellow?" said Wyatt to the officer.
"Then, sir, we must fight," said the officer, with a shrug of his
shoulders. "It is sad; but I command the Rajah's guard, and I must do
my duty."
"Of course," said Wyatt.--"There, Dick Darrell, you see what a mess you
have got us all in by taking a fancy to the old Ranee's pretty
playthings."
"It is a lie," cried the Indian officer, turning upon Wyatt fiercely.
"The Dah Rel is a brave soldier. He would not do such a thing."
"Thank you," said Dick, smiling and taking the messengers hand. "But
Captain Wyatt does not mean it."
"Mean it? No, old fellow," said Wyatt, clapping the officer on the
shoulder. "Then you do not believe all this story about the stealing?"
"No; it is a plot--a trick," cried the messenger fiercely. "But he
does--now. It is the Ranee--and the cursed dogs of her party. It was
peace, and all would have been well for Soojeepur, and we should have
been strong in the friendship of the English, so that we could defy all
our foes; but now the Ranee will come to the front again, the Wazir will
rule, the Brahmins will master him, and the poor Rajah will be a doll
amongst them, if they do not poison him out of the way. But I must obey
my orders. Go and tell what I have said, and my head will roll upon the
pavement in the court."
"You are not afraid of that," said Dick.
"No. How soon will the sahibs be ready?"
"Now," said Hulton firmly, "as soon as our servants have put together
our things."
"The escort of my men will be waiting in the court in half-an-hour's
time," said the officer shortly, and he turned and left the room.
"I want to fight," said Wyatt grimly.
"So do I," said Hulton, "but with plenty of elbow-room. Oh, if we could
only have the Wazir and his men out on the broad plain yonder!"
"With the two regiments of cavalry we have drilled to help him," cried
Wyatt fiercely. "I begin to hate the Rajah for a coward and a fool.
Fancy! we have been teaching these mounted men the quickest and surest
way to cut our throats."
"The escort will be waiting in half-an-hour," said Hulton sternly.
"Quick! Let them see how smartly we can turn out with all we have."
"Yes," said Wyatt. "There is one good thing to be said, though--we can
hold the old palace now that Dick here has shown us how to stop the
leak. I should like to use that passage for carrying a few kegs of
powder to blow the temple about the old Brahmin's ears."
Within the half-hour the troop was on parade in the great opening in
front of the palace, a couple of wagons holding all that the officers
and men had brought in the way of extras. The escort, a hundred strong,
was waiting, every man looking sullen and morose, but not unfriendly
towards their charge; but at the far end there was cause for uneasiness
in the gathering of a strong force of horse and foot, holding quite
aloof.
All was ready, and the troop waited the order to march, when, after a
few words together, Wyatt and Dick rode up to the captain of the guard,
who was sitting like a statue in the front of his men.
"Send in word to the Rajah, sir," said Wyatt, "that we are ready to go,
and ask him if he wishes to see us before we depart. Quick," he added
in a low voice; "who commands those men yonder?"
"The Wazir. Beware. My men will not attack their friends," said the
captain, making believe to calm his restive horse. Then aloud for all
to hear:
"The Rajah's commands are that the English officers go at once. He has
nothing to say."
"Come, Dick!" said Wyatt laconically, and the pair rode back,
communicated with Hulton, and an order or two was given.
A dozen of the escort took their places in front, the trumpet was
sounded, and the men with their guns began to move off; while a movement
amongst the Wazir's men at the other end of the open parade-ground
showed that something was intended.
But the next minute the main body of the escort had closed in behind,
and Hulton saw directly after that a mounted man came galloping up to
the officer of the guard to make some communication.
It was the Wazir's move on the great chess-board, but it was met by the
captain of the guard obeying the orders he had received from the Rajah
himself, and not giving way to the Wazir's men; while, fully aware of
the peril that would await if the artillery were caught by charging
horsemen in the narrow streets and lanes, the order was given by Hulton
for two of the guns to go on at a gallop and take up position on either
side of the street in front of the palace, to cover the rest of the
troop, which was to follow at a trot.
This was brilliantly carried out, Dick being sent forward with the two
guns, which were unlimbered, loaded, and stood ready as the head of the
little column came up and filed rapidly in through the old palace gates.
There was barely room for the troops to pass, but ample for the two guns
to block the street now as they were left free, just as the Wazir's men
came on with a roar of shouting as if to charge.
The effect was magical as the front ranks crowded forward and began to
check their horses at the sight of the guns and the men's smoking
linstocks. A loud shouting and yelling followed, and the pursuing force
turned and fled in confusion.
"Such a chance, sir," grumbled one of the sergeants reproachfully to
Dick. "He could have got two rounds of grape into 'em before they were
clear."
"Wait a bit," said Dick, smiling; "the game has not yet begun."
The words were spoken without thought, and their utterer wondered
afterwards what he meant. Were they really likely to have a fierce
encounter with the Wazir's party?
He had no more time for musing, for the orders came for the guns to be
withdrawn within the great gates, which were directly after closed and
manned, the troop standing ready for any emergency; while Dick played
guide to show Wyatt the entrance to the temple passage, in which a mine
was laid and guards set, so that an explosion might, if necessary,
completely close the opening against any attack.
"For we will not blow it up yet," said Wyatt. "It might prove useful."
This done, the officers made a tour of inspection of men and quarters,
but everything was ready for any emergency. Forethought had seen to
that. Rations, provender, water, ammunition--all were there, without
counting what might be done in the way of foraging; and at last Hulton
said, with a smile:
"We can't do much in the way of attack, but their horsemen are useless
against us in here; and if things go against us now, we are ready for a
little siege."