The day after the Bagrees had taken the oath of allegiance to Sindhia
the jamadars were summoned to the Dewan's office to receive their
instructions for the carrying out of the mission.
In writing the Raja of Karowlee for the decoits, Dewan Sewlal had not
stated that the mission was for the purpose of bringing home in a bag
the head of the Pindar Chief. As the wily Hindu had said to Sirdar
Baptiste: "We will get them here before speaking of this dangerous
errand. Once here, and Karowlee's hopes raised over getting territory,
if they then go back without accomplishing the task, that rapacious old
man will cast them into prison."
So when the Bagree leaders, closeted with Baptiste and the Dewan in a
room of the latter's bungalow, learned what was expected of them they,
to put it mildly, received a shock. They had thought that it was to be
a decoity of treasure, perhaps of British treasure, and in their
proficient hands such an affair did not run into much danger generally.
The jamadars drew to one side and discussed the matter; then Ajeet
said: "Dewan Sahib, what is asked of us should have been in the written
message to our Raja. We be decoits, that is true, it is our
profession, but the mission that is spoken of is not thus. Hunsa has
ridden with Amir Khan upon a foray into Hyderabad, and he knows that
the Chief is always well guarded, and that to try for his head in the
midst of his troops would be like the folly of children."
The Dewan's fat neck swelled with indignation; his big ox-like eyes
bulged from their holding in anger:
"Phut-t-t!" he spat in derision. "Bagrees!" he sneered; "descendants
of Rajputs--bah! Have you brought women with you that will lead this
force? And danger!" he snarled--he turned on Sookdee: "You are
Sookdee, son of Bhart, so it was signed."
"Yes, Dewan, it is true."
"_You_ are the son of your mother, not Bhart," the Dewan raved; "he was
a brave man, but _you_ speak of danger--bah!"
The Dewan's teeth, stained red at the edges from the chewing of _pan_,
showed in a sneering grin like a hyena's as he added: "Bah! Ye are but
thieves who steal from those who are helpless."
Ajeet spoke: "Dewan Sahib, we be men as brave as Bhart--we are of the
same caste, but there is a difference between such an one as he took
the head of and a Pindari Chief. The Pindaris are the wild dogs of
Hind, they are wolves, and is it easy to trap a wolf?"
But the Dewan had worked himself into a frenzy at their questioning of
the possibilities; he waved his fat hands in a gesture of dismissal
crying: "Go, go!"
As the jamadars stood hesitatingly, Sewlal swung to the Frenchman:
"Sirdar Sahib, make the order that I cease payment of the thousand
rupees a day to these rebels, cowards. Go!" and he looked at Ajeet;
"talk it over amongst yourselves, and send to me one of your wives that
will lead a company--lend your women your tulwars."
Ajeet's black eyes flashed anger, and his brows were drawn into a knot
just above his thin, hawk-like nose; suppressed passion at the Dewan's
deadly insult was in the even, snarling tone of his voice:
"Dewan Sahib, harsh words are profitless--" his eyes, glittering, were
fixed on the bulbous orbs of the man of the quill--"and the talk of
women in the affairs of men is not in keeping with caste. If you pass
the order that we are not to have rations now that we are far from
home, what are we to do? Think you that Raja Karowlee--"
"Do! do! if you serve not Sindhia what care I what you do. Go back to
your honourable trade of thieving. And as to Raja Karowlee, a man who
keeps a colony of cowards--what care I for him. Go, go!"
The jamadars with glowering eyes turned from the Dewan, even the harsh
salaam they uttered in going sounded like a curse.
And when they had gone, Baptiste was startled by a gurgling laugh
bubbling up from the Dewan's fat throat.
"Sirdar," he chuckled, "I've given that posing Rajput a poem to commit
to memory. Ha-ha! They have two strong reasons now for going--their
shame and lean stomachs."
"They won't go," Baptiste declared. "When a man is afraid of anything
he can find a thousand reasons for not making the endeavour. If
Sindhia will give me the troops I will make an end of Amir Khan."
"And make enemies of the Pindaris: that we do not want; we want them to
fight with us, not against us. The great struggle is about to take
place; Holkar and Bhonsla and Sindhia, perhaps even the King of Oudh,
leagued together, the accursed English will be driven from India. But
even now they are trying to win over Amir Khan and his hundred thousand
horsemen by promises of territory and gold. With the Chief out of the
way they would disband; he is a great leader, and they flock to his
flag. You saw the Englishman, Captain Barlow?"
"Yes, Dewani. Good soldier, I should say."
"Well, Sirdar, we think that he waits here to undertake some mission to
Amir Khan. You see, no office can be conducted without clerks, and
sometimes clerks talk."
The Frenchman twisted nervously at his slim grey moustache. "I
comprehend, Dewani," he said presently; "it is expedient that Amir Khan
be eliminated."
"It would be a merciful thing," Sewlal added--"it would save bloodshed."
"Well, Dewani, I must depart now. It will be interesting to see what
your Bagrees do, especially when they become hungry."