Part 12 (2/2)
Rich viands were placed in the centre of the tent, around which the party seated themselves. Sambro appeared among the attendants. As he pa.s.sed behind Reginald and Burnett he whispered, ”Take only what I give you.” Neither of them had any great appet.i.te. Reginald, indeed, even without Sambro's warning, had no inclination to eat, and after partaking of a dish the faithful slave placed before him, declined all other food.
He likewise simply drank a gla.s.s of sherbet which Sambro poured out for him.
Immediately the repast was over, Burnett desired that the horses might be brought up, and declining the pressing request of their entertainer that he would hunt for a short time while his friend rested in a tent, he rode off with Reginald, the natives being compelled to follow. Well accustomed to traversing a wild country, even without a guide, Reginald had taken careful note of the way they had come, and was thus able to go ahead without waiting for the rest of the party. They reached the khan's house in safety, where they found a party of hors.e.m.e.n arrived from the city, with a despatch from the rajah to Reginald, highly praising him for his conduct, and expressing a desire that he would at once a.s.sume the costume becoming his rank, with which he had sent an officer of state to invest him. Though Reginald, whose notions were very far from Oriental, would much rather have retained his una.s.suming dress, he felt that it was right to obey his grandfather. Burnett being of the same opinion, he therefore submitted to being rigged out, as he called it, in the jewelled turban and rich robes which had been prepared for him.
”I hope, sir, as how they don't want me to dress up in petticoats?”
observed d.i.c.k, with a comical twist of his features. ”I'd rather be as I am, unless you order me.”
”No, d.i.c.k; I think that will not be necessary except on state occasions, when, if I want a henchman, I would rather have you than any native.”
d.i.c.k was satisfied, and agreed to rig himself out like a Turk, or in any other strange fas.h.i.+on, whenever his master required him to do so.
Next morning, Nuna had sufficiently recovered to continue the journey; and for the first time Reginald sat by her side on the back of the elephant, and appeared in public as an Indian prince. As they moved through the villages crowds a.s.sembled to do them honour, though Reginald felt more pain than pleasure as he witnessed the abject way in which the natives bowed down, touching the ground with their foreheads on either side of the elephant as they moved along.
Having started at an early hour, they made good progress, but they were still several days' journey from the capital. Burnett, who rode at the head of his troopers, was some little way in advance of the elephants, when, towards evening, a horseman came galloping up. He brought unsatisfactory intelligence. The rebels having reunited, were in great force not far off, and with so valuable a prize in view as the ranee and the young rajah, as Reginald was already called, they might be tempted to make an attack on the party. They had some light field-pieces, as well as horse and foot, against whom Burnett's troopers would find it difficult to contend. Had he been called on to meet them without having the ranee to defend, he would not have hesitated; but the risk was too great to run if it could be avoided. Not far off was a strong fort, however, and he judged it wise to throw himself into it till he could obtain reinforcements, either from Allahapoor or from the troops under Colonel Ross.
Reginald of course agreed to his proposal, and before nightfall the party was safe within the fort. It had, it appeared, been occupied a short time before by the rebels, but had been again abandoned by them.
An apartment was quickly made ready for the ranee. The night pa.s.sed away without the appearance of the insurgents; indeed, they were not likely to attack the fort with the garrison it now contained.
The next morning, as Reginald and Burnett were walking on the battlements, they caught sight of a body of men approaching the fort, so the garrison were immediately called to arms. As the advancing forces drew nearer, however, Burnett and Reginald discovered, to their great satisfaction, the English flag; and in a little time they could distinguish a body of sepoys and a small party of Europeans. They immediately ordered their horses out to meet the officer in command, who was some way ahead of his men.
”Faith, I am glad to see you all alive!” exclaimed the officer, as he and Captain Burnett shook hands. ”We were given to believe that you were surrounded by a whole host of rebels, and I expected by this time to be engaged in cutting them to pieces like mincemeat.”
”We have not so much as seen an enemy,” answered Burnett; ”but understanding that they were likely to attack us on the road to Allahapoor, I thought it prudent to halt here, in order to wait till we could obtain reinforcements from the capital, as we have the young ranee in our charge.”
”So Colonel Ross understood,” observed the officer ”And now have the goodness to introduce me to this young prince, sultan, or rajah, or whatever he is; and just interpret what I say, for I am no great hand at talking their lingo.”
”With all my heart,” answered Burnett.
”Then just tell him that Major Molony, of Her Britannic Majesty's 990th Regiment of Foot, desires to express his delight and satisfaction at having arrived with a force under his command to defend him against all the foes, past, present, and future, who may venture to interfere with him in the execution of the humane and beneficent laws which he has established for the peace and prosperity of his people. I conclude he does not cut off more than half-a-dozen heads a day, and only confiscates the property of those of his n.o.bles who are unable to defend themselves.”
Burnett began to translate what the major had said. Unfortunately Reginald could not command his countenance, so putting out his hand, he exclaimed, laughing heartily--
”I a.s.sure you, my dear major, you scarcely do me justice. Half-a-dozen heads a day! That's nothing. How do you think I could keep the country in order by such simple means? People would look upon me as a mere milksop. Put it down as a hundred, and you would be quite as near the mark.”
Burnett now joined in the laugh at the major's astonishment and confusion.
”I beg your highness's pardon,” he exclaimed. ”I had no idea you could speak English. Faith, you speak it remarkably well too, I a.s.sure you, on my honour; and I hope your highness is not offended at the remark I made.”
”Not at all,” said Reginald, still laughing. ”May I ask after Mrs Molony, and whether she has recovered from her voyage in the _Glamorgan Castle_?”
”Why, as I am alive,” exclaimed the major, ”I do believe that you are Mr Reginald Hamerton! And your highness will pardon me if I make a mistake.”
Reginald at once acknowledged who he was, and the major, greatly relieved, rode on with him and Burnett to the fort. Scouts were at once sent out to ascertain, if possible, the position and strength of the enemy. Major Molony said that he had received orders to a.s.sist in escorting the ranee to Allahapoor; and it was agreed that, as soon as they received intelligence that a force was marching out of that city to a.s.sist them, they should proceed,--the major feeling confident that his sepoys would be able to keep in check any number of the rebel forces.
CHAPTER EIGHT.
A GUNPOWDER PLOT--COCHUT CAUGHT--BALKISHEN HOISTED WITH HIS OWN PETARD-- THE MAJOR'S NARROW ESCAPE--COCHUT GIVES IMPORTANT INFORMATION--d.i.c.k DESPATCHED WITH IT TO CALCUTTA--REGINALD ENTERS THE CITY--THE RAJAH'S ILLNESS--TIDINGS OF THE CASKET--VISIT TO THE TEMPLE--THE CASKET RECOVERED--DEATH OF THE RAJAH.
<script>