Part 11 (2/2)

But I fear I really know little of its truths. I must get you, my brother, to instruct me, and tell me all about the country of our mother's ancestors.”

While they were speaking d.i.c.k hurried up, exclaiming--

”Hurrah, sir! I see a body of sepoys with some English redcoats among them coming this way. We need no longer have any fear of the rebels.”

”Are you certain that there are English soldiers among them? For if not, the men you take for sepoys may be the rebels themselves,” observed Reginald. ”It may be safer for you, my sister, to take shelter in the tower till we ascertain the truth; and we shall be able to defend you, as only one man at a time can force his way up.”

Scarcely had Nuna ascended a few steps when half a company of sepoys, with a corporal and five English soldiers, and led by a British officer, appeared in front of the building.

Reginald shouted out to them that he was an Englishman, and that having rescued the rajah's daughter from a band of rebels, he was returning with her to her father.

”I don't believe you,” answered the officer. ”On, my lads, and capture the young fellow! From the information I have received, he is himself a rebel.”

A second glance at the speaker showed Reginald that it was his acquaintance, Captain Hawkesford; but in another instant the gates were burst open, and the soldiers, rus.h.i.+ng in, captured d.i.c.k, who was making his way to the foot of the steps on which Reginald stood with Nuna behind him, while Faithful crouched by his side glaring at the a.s.sailants.

”Back, I say--back; you are mistaken, my men,” cried Reginald, drawing his revolvers. ”Your lives be on your own heads, if you advance.--Fly up the steps, Nuna. Fly under shelter: in case they should dare to fire, the bullets may strike you.”

Still the English soldiers advanced,--though the sepoys hung back, afraid of facing the tigress, and awed by Reginald's daring att.i.tude.

Unhappily the corporal, a brave fellow, believing that it was his duty to seize the supposed rebel, rushed forward, and began to mount the steps, presenting the point of his bayonet at Faithful; on which, no longer able to restrain herself, she sprang at his throat and gave him a death-gripe, hurling him down backwards a lifeless corpse, while his musket fell from his band.

”Fire!” cried Captain Hawkesford.

”If you do, I must fire in return,” shouted Reginald.

As he spoke the bullets rattled thickly around his head; so he discharged both his pistols, and again urging Nuna to escape, he with a bound sprang after her, before another musket could be aimed at him; while Faithful, who had wonderfully escaped, kept the soldiers at bay, notwithstanding their commander's urgent orders to them to advance.

At that moment there was a cry raised by the sepoys--

”We are betrayed! We are betrayed! The rebel cavalry are upon us. We shall be cut to pieces.”

On hearing this Captain Hawkesford turned round, and saw a large body of horse advancing, with an Englishman at their head. From their appointments and general appearance, he at once knew that they were a well-organised body of troops, and not like a rebel band; and as they advanced he recognised Captain Burnett, with whom he was personally acquainted. Even had they been rebels, they so far outnumbered his own company of sepoys and his small party of Englishmen that he would have had very little hope of contending with them successfully,--especially as the sepoys showed no inclination to fight. He had indeed from the first suspected that he had been misled by the information he had received. It had been given by the traitor Balkishen, in the hope that it would lead to the destruction of Reginald and the young ranee. He therefore considered that it would be wise to a.s.sume a pacific att.i.tude; so as Burnett and his troopers advanced towards the gate he ordered his own men to ground their arms, and going forward, he shouted out--

”Glad to see you, Burnett! We have made a terrible mistake, misled by a rascally Brahmin; but, except that one poor fellow has lost his life, no great harm has been done.”

”Who is it?” asked Burnett anxiously, fearing that he might allude to Reginald, of whom he had gained information from Buxsoo and Sambro at the village where he had met them as they were purchasing provisions.

Captain Hawkesford's answer relieved his anxiety; and he soon had evidence that Reginald was unhurt, by seeing him descend the steps, accompanied by Nuna; while Faithful stood at the foot glaring round at the strangers, of whose intentions she was not yet fully satisfied.

Reginald, from the place in which he had taken shelter, had observed Burnett's approach; and overhearing the conversation which had ensued, he knew that the tables were turned, and that his sister was at length in safety. Captain Hawkesford, who feared that very awkward consequences might ensue from his conduct, apologised to Reginald, and made all the excuses he could think of.

Reginald, however, received these somewhat stiffly. ”Had the ranee, whom I had undertaken to conduct to her grandfather, been injured, the case would have been very different,” he observed. ”As it is, although you refused to believe my word when I a.s.sured you I was not a rebel, and that you had been deceived, I am ready to receive your apologies; and I must now request you to a.s.sist in making immediate arrangements for the conveyance of the young lady to Allahapoor, where her grandfather is anxiously awaiting her return.”

Burnett, however, undertook that task, and despatched a party of his hors.e.m.e.n to the nearest place where elephants were to be found, to bring one with a proper howdah for the conveyance of the young ranee; while he also sent off another party to Allahapoor, to announce her recovery to the rajah.

Captain Hawkesford volunteered to remain in the meantime, with his men, for her protection. But Burnett politely declined his offer; observing, in a somewhat sarcastic tone, which he could not restrain, that she was as perfectly safe, guarded by his troopers, as she would be with the sepoys and the corporal's guard he had brought with him.

”Well, then,” said Captain Hawkesford, ”if my services are declined, it is my duty, I conceive, to rejoin the main body of the force sent to the a.s.sistance of the rajah. I will inform Colonel Ross that we were deceived by the information given us by the Brahmin, and that the supposed rebel was no other than Mr Hamerton, who was escorting the young lady home whom he had so gallantly rescued from imprisonment.”

”Colonel Ross, did you say?” asked Reginald.

”Yes, sir. He is in command of the troops marching to Allahapoor; and he and his daughter--who accompanies him--will be much interested on hearing of your gallant exploit.”

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