It was drawing near to sundown when the head of the retiring troops
filed on to the bridge and crossed the orange-tinted, flashing river.
Swift messengers had preceded them at a gallop, bearing their captain's
message to his master, the Rajah--the news of the safety of the
artillery troop and the Wazir's defeat and death.
Consequently the bridge and streets were lined with troops and people,
through whom the English and their glittering escort rode, the
gun-carriage, with its dead burden, and its guard of artillery-men with
drawn sabres, riveting every eye.
They were received in utter silence, not a murmur rising. Only the
sound of trampling horse and rumbling gun and wagon wheels was heard.
The long line filed on right away to the front of the Rajah's palace,
where the young prince stood waiting, surrounded by his people; and when
the gun-carriage with its ghastly burden was drawn up at the foot of the
steps, the Rajah came slowly down and stood gazing for a few minutes at
his great enemy's face, before turning and bowing coldly to the English
officers, who had dismounted.
"Gentlemen," he said, "it was not my will that you were attacked. I am
glad that you are safe."
"And we are glad, sir," said Hulton, "that we can show you how high the
honour of the English stands."
The Rajah gave him a stern look.
"Mr Darrell," continued Hulton, "you have something to give back to his
highness."
Dick stepped eagerly forward to place the silken bag, bursting with
jewels, in the Rajah's hands.
"Hah!" he exclaimed excitedly. "For the Ranee's sake I am glad you have
brought them back. But it was a vile thing for an English _gentleman_
to do," he added scornfully.
Dick smiled in his face.
"Hear all first, sir," he said; and in a few words he told him Sergeant
Stubbs's tale.
The Rajah's eyes flashed with eagerness.
"Yes--yes," he cried; "I know the priest is missing. Send--send at
once. No, no; we must go and see."
He waited for no elephant, but mounted the first horse that was offered,
and rode with the officers and a large escort to the temple gates, from
whence the chief Brahmin was about to set forth with the whole of his
followers to meet the body of his dead friend, the Wazir.
The coming of the Rajah checked all this, he fiercely ordered the
Brahmins to be watched.
"Where is this missing priest?" he said to the old man sternly.
"Thy servant does not know," said the old man, beginning to tremble.
"Where did you send him yesterday, when the English officer was charged
with theft?"
The old Brahmin's jaw dropped, and he sank upon his knees and raised his
hands for mercy.
"Bring him up," said the Rajah; and a few minutes later the whole party
was standing at the back of the great idol, where one of the stones was
drawn aside, and a couple of the guard entered the cell-like place, to
lift out the half-demented prisoner, who crouched upon the floor.
In a few minutes he began to recover and gaze wildly round, till his
eyes fell upon his kneeling superior, and he cried piteously:
"I did all you told me. I fetched the bag, and was hiding it here, but
I was seized, and the jewels taken away. It has been horrible--
horrible," he groaned; "worse than death."
"Stop!" cried the Rajah, speaking with fierce energy. "Brahmin or no
Brahmin, I'll have the truth or you die. Was this a plot to hide those
jewels and charge the English officer with stealing?"
"Yes, yes," cried the shivering creature, who had been rescued from so
terrible a death; "but I did what I was told. It was he--it was he."
He pointed at the kneeling Brahmin. "Is this true?" said the Rajah.
The old man murmured "Yes," as he bowed his forehead upon the stones.
Then rising, he cried with wild energy, "Spare my life, O Rajah; it was
the Wazir."
"Ah! and that poison?" cried the prince. The old man's head dropped
again. "Was it the Wazir who prepared that draught?"
"It was at their orders I--I--"
"At whose orders?" cried the Rajah.
"Those of the Wazir and the Ra--"
"Silence!" cried the Rajah, catching the old man by the throat. "A word
more, and, Brahmin though you are, you die."