Part 20 (1/2)
”Three minutes more, friend!” said Sumbal boastfully, ”and thou shalt see what thou wilt see Slave! the port fire, quick I will give the signal Lo! What is up?”
A rattle of musketry rose on the still air of dawn, and an artillery man leaned over the low e valley
”So,” he said with a yawn, for he had been up half the night ”Lo! he runs like a hare! But they will have him, for sure”
”Quick,” called Sumbal, ”ill silence their noise The portfire, I say I will fire old Thunderer ht handed it to his superior, but in so doing by so went out!
”Fool!” cried Sumbal passionately ”Are we to stand insulted here without reply while thou fetchest another? Put hiht at once!”
But the grave, silent Rajput atching the runner ”He is but a boy,” he said slowly, ”yet see how he runs And they have hit hi news, friend, for sure!”
[Illustration: ”_I stay my hand while I count ten--no more_”]
”News!” echoed Sumbal conte in every day It is no news that King Humayon is better liked than kumran Lo! hast thou it at last?” He snatched the portfire froun
”Stay one rave and silent man with sudden co disaster
Discretion is better than valour Yonder boy brings news--he waves his arms--he shouts! Stay at least till we can hear what he says”
Suhed ”Bah! But, see you, I stay my hand while I count ten--no more”
”One! two! three! four!”
The artillery men, amused at the race, leaned over ”He runs well!--He in!--He will lose!--He cliht! nine!_”
And now, unintelligible frorave, silent Rajput leaps out to s the portfire to the breech
Roy sees it, throws up his arms wildly, and with a cry--
”The bastion! The bastion! The Heir-to-E into the Rajput's arms
”What did he say?” asked the ry
But the Rajput was too busy tearing aside Roy's fli about the bastion and the Heir-to-Eeant doubtfully ”Mayhap 'twould be as well to wait till we can see more clearly kuht----”
Sumbal hesitated, then put down the portfire and walked over to the fallen lad, beside who
”He is not dead! He is not dead!” said the grave, silent Rajput, looking up, his face working, the tears strea down his bronzed cheek ”My master is not dead!”
”Who?” asked Su
”I knew it rief