Part 9 (1/2)
The extraordinary information he had received made him still more anxious to recover Nuna, who, if she was really his sister, had a right to claim all the a.s.sistance he could afford her; and he at once, therefore, begged the rajah to allow him to set forth on his expedition without delay. Before going, however, it was of the greatest importance to know what had become of the doc.u.ments which the rajah was supposed to possess.
He had learned from his father that his mother was a Christian, but he found a difficulty in reconciling this with the communication the rajah had just made him. He was afraid, however, of putting the question abruptly. ”Your highness tells me that my mother was your daughter,” he said at length. ”I have long earnestly wished to know more about her than my father told me. I was young when he died, and though his words were fixed on my memory, I might not probably have comprehended the meaning of all he said.”
”My daughter was one of those beings who are seldom found on earth,”
answered the rajah; ”and so was she who gave her birth. Her mother was fair as the houris in Paradise; the daughter of an English officer sent here on a mission by that great man Lord Clive. Her parents died, and she was left under the protection of my father. I saw and loved her, and she consented to become my wife; but nothing would induce her to change the faith she held. I respected her opinions, the more so as they made her that which I esteem most excellent; and she taught me to regard women in a very different light to that in which I had formerly held them. Her only child she brought up in the same faith; and when that child--your mother--grew to womanhood, she was married to your father, according to the rites of your religion, by an English minister, who was travelling through the country.”
”That fact my father impressed on me; and, as far as my interests are concerned, much depends on it,” said Reginald, who had been listening eagerly to the account the rajah had been giving him. ”There were certain papers signed on the occasion, which, with other doc.u.ments, my father left behind in the country, and which to me are of the greatest importance. Has your highness possession of them, or can you inform me where they are to be found?”
”Papers! Doc.u.ments! Of what do you speak? I remember that some time back Khan Cochut, in whom I then placed unlimited confidence, at my order examined into the state of my treasures, and found some papers which I was unable to decipher. He informed me that they were of no value; but I directed him to allow them to remain in the casket in which they were placed. Some time afterwards, on visiting my treasury with the intention of placing the doc.u.ments in the hands of some person understanding English, to be certain that Khan Cochut had not deceived me, I found that the casket had disappeared. Cochut protested that he knew nothing about the casket, and pretended to make diligent search after it.”
”If they were the papers which my father directed me to recover, they are, as I before told your highness, of the very greatest consequence, and I entreat you to a.s.sist me in recovering them.”
While Reginald was engaged in this exciting conversation with his supposed grandfather, an attendant entered the room, announcing that an officer who had just arrived, bringing important information, requested an audience immediately; and Reginald was compelled to wait till he could again speak in private to the rajah.
CHAPTER SIX.
REGINALDS'S EXPEDITION IN SEARCH OF NUNA--BURNETT SETS OFF FOR THE SAME PURPOSE--ADVENTURES IN A TEMPLE--DISAPPEARANCE OF FAITHFUL--THE BRAHMIN'S TREACHERY--BUXSOO GAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION--PLANS FOR LIBERATING NUNA--FAITHFUL ESCAPES FROM HER PRISON, AND TURNS THE TABLES ON THE TRAITORS.
The important information which had arrived was to the effect that the expected English resident, with two regiments of sepoys and a company of English troops, was on his way to Allahapoor, and would in the course of a few days reach the city.
The preparations for their reception now gave ample occupation to the rajah and his n.o.bles.
As soon as Reginald had an opportunity, he told Burnett of the unexpected information the rajah had communicated regarding his birth.
”I have no reason to doubt it, yet it seems so strange, that I can scarcely believe the fact that I am the grandson of the old man, and that the beautiful girl of whom we caught a glimpse is my sister.”
”I can believe it very readily,” answered Burnett. ”To tell you the truth, I fancied that I saw a likeness, and it struck me that she was far more like a European than an Oriental; besides which, no Indian woman of high rank would have been allowed to be present at the introduction of strangers. It was very evident that the rajah had broken through the usual customs of the country when he permitted us to see his grand-daughter. The more I think of it, the more anxious I am to try and recover her, as it seems strange that she should have been spirited away without any clue to the place in which she is concealed.
You must get the rajah's leave to set off at once; and beg him to allow us to go together. My plan will be to scour the country with two or three hundred hors.e.m.e.n; and if she is concealed, as I suspect is the case, by some fugitive rebels, we are certain to come upon them, and shall be able to compel them to surrender her.”
”You may command the hors.e.m.e.n, if the rajah will give them, and I will try a plan I have thought of. My idea is to set out with d.i.c.k Thuddichum and Faithful, and one native as a guide. I have fixed upon one of the sons of Dhunna Singh,--a fine, intelligent young fellow, who will, as we travel through the country, pick up information from the natives, and thus we shall be more likely to find out where Nuna is concealed than will be any number of armed men.”
Burnett confessed that Reginald's plan might be more successful than his; but they had to wait till the next morning for the rajah to decide.
The morning came at length, and as soon as the rajah was on foot they hurried into his presence. He received Reginald with marked affection, and was most gracious to Burnett. Reginald having described his plan, pointed out the advantages of having two expeditions; and although the rajah continued very unwilling to let both of them go together, he at length consented to Burnett's proposal, and issued an order for two hundred hors.e.m.e.n to accompany him,--a sufficient number to overawe any rebels who might still be in arms.
Having paid their farewells to the rajah, the friends hastened away to make preparations; Reginald at once repairing to the house of Dhunna Singh, to explain his intended plan. He did not hesitate to tell him also of the discovery which he had made, that he was the rajah's grandson.
”Praise be to Him who governs the world that you are so, for we may then hope to have a Christian prince to reign over us who will help the oppressed and suffering, and will see justice done to all men,” was the answer. ”I do not so much congratulate you, khan, as I do myself and all those beneath you, for your post will be one of difficulty and danger. You little think of the dark deeds often done in the palaces of our n.o.bles and rulers. I would not throw a shade over your path, yet I warn you to beware of secret as well as of open foes, for many of the former will surround your throne and smile most blandly when they are most actively plotting to destroy you.”
”I will remember your warning, should I ever become Rajah of Allahapoor; but I hope the day may be far distant when my grandfather shall cease to rule the country. But of the matter on which I came to see you: I have to ask that one of your sons will accompany me, for I know that I can trust them all. Had Wuzeer Singh been sufficiently recovered, I would have engaged his services; but as he is not yet able to travel, I must depend on the a.s.sistance of one of them.”
”They are all at your service, sahib; but I would recommend Buxsoo, my second son, as he has travelled much about the country, and has intelligence and ready wit.”
The old man forthwith summoned the son he named, and he, without hesitation, agreed to accompany Reginald. He begged, however, that he might take a faithful servant--Sambro, a black slave, who was powerful and brave, and thoroughly to be depended on. Reginald accepted his offer; and in a few minutes both were ready to accompany him to the palace, where d.i.c.k Thuddichum and Faithful were waiting for them.
Buxsoo and Sambro were there introduced to Faithful, who showed at once that she understood she was to treat them as friends.
They waited till the shades of evening settled down over the city, that they might take their departure without exciting observation, when they quickly traversed the numerous deserted streets till they reached the northern gate. It was instantly opened on Reginald's showing an order from the rajah. No one recognised them, or inquired where they were going; indeed, the inhabitants of Allahapoor were not addicted to troubling themselves about affairs that did not concern them.
The travellers had got a mile or two from the city when the moon arose and enabled them to continue their journey during the greater part of the night. There was no lack of ruins of mosques and paG.o.das, of forts and once gorgeous tombs, in which they could find lodging when they needed rest; so at length Buxsoo proposed that they should stop at a paG.o.da which, though deserted by the priests, was almost entire. To this Reginald at once agreed, for, unaccustomed to walking such long distances, he felt very tired. A quant.i.ty of dried wood having been found, Sambro, a.s.sisted by d.i.c.k, soon had a fire lighted in the courtyard, on which they cooked their provisions--Buxsoo, having become a Christian, had thrown aside all prejudice of caste; and Reginald always made a practice, when on expeditions on sh.o.r.e, of messing with his men. They therefore seated themselves together around their frugal fare, under the shelter of an arcade, with a fire burning brightly in front of them. Faithful had had her usual supper before starting, but her long march had perhaps given her an appet.i.te, and seeing her master thus employed, she stole away, forgetful of her duty, to forage for herself.
A curious spectacle the scene would have presented to the eye of a native: Reginald, though in his nautical costume, looking, as he was, a high-born gentleman; d.i.c.k had the cut of a thorough British tar; Buxsoo could not be distinguished from an ordinary high-caste Hindoo; while Sambro's black skin and scanty garments clearly showed the cla.s.s to which he belonged.