"The information he has to give will not allow of an instant"s delay, he says," added the officer.
The rajah ordered that the man should be immediately admitted to his presence.
"What news do you bring? Speak at once," exclaimed the rajah.
"Unhappy I am to bring it, for it is bad news," answered the man. "The whole city is in a tumult. Mukund Bhim has been proclaimed rajah, and already more than half the people have sided with him; still there are some who remain faithful, and if your highness were to appear among them at once, the rebellion might be quelled, and your power restored. Your servant ventures to advise that you should gallop on during the night, so as to enter the city by daybreak--though the distance is great, your steeds may get over the ground in time--and by taking the rebels by surprise you may overcome them before they can offer resistance; when the loyal people will gather around you, and you may once more find yourself the undisputed ruler of Allahapoor."
"Your advice sounds full of wisdom," answered the rajah. "To horse, my friends! And we will not pull rein till the walls of my rebellious city appear in sight."
The whole camp was immediately astir. The horses, unfortunately, in consequence of the rapid march of the two previous days, were ill able to gallop on for thirty miles without stopping, with the prospect of some hot fighting at the end of it. Still, march they must at all hazards.
Each horseman, before mounting, tightened up the girths of his saddle; and all having fallen into their ranks, the order to move forward was given. A strong advance-guard led the way, with their arms ready for instant use, as they knew that at any moment they might be attacked by the rebels,--who, should they by any means get tidings of their approach, would a.s.suredly send out a numerous force against them. The rajah, attended by Reginald and Burnett, rode with the main body. There was no time for conversation, and Reginald had still to wait for the important information he was so anxious to obtain. A few words only could be occasionally exchanged. On they rode, keeping a tight rein, to prevent their horses from stumbling. Now and then a poor beast came down; and the rider, if he escaped a broken limb, had to make his way on foot, with the risk of either being set upon by a tiger, or murdered by the villagers whose property he and his comrades had plundered. The rajah hoped that he should either be able to force the gates, or that the guards would open them at his summons, and that he might thus be able to catch Mukund Bhim and the rest of the rebel chiefs while they were still locked in slumber.
They were now rapidly approaching the city. Already, in the far distance, the outlines of the domes and minarets of the temples and mosques could be seen defined against the clear sky. No rebels had appeared to dispute their progress, and the rajah began to hope that the rebellion had not yet fully broken out, and that he might still have time to crush it. He and the main body moving on, came up with the advance-guard, which had halted. The rajah inquired the cause. The officer in command answered that they had met a person who had brought tidings from the city. "Let me hear his report," said the rajah; and a man, looking more like a wild beast than a human being, advanced from among the hors.e.m.e.n. He was a byraghee, or religious mendicant. His body was naked, with the exception of a narrow piece of cloth pa.s.sed between the legs, and fastened before and behind to a string tied round the waist. His hair was long and matted, its bulk increased by plaits of other hair mixed with it. His body was smeared with the ashes of cowdung, giving it a most unearthly hue; while his inflamed and bleared eyes could scarcely be perceived amidst the ma.s.s of dirt which clung around them. Anything less human could scarcely be imagined than the appearance of the miserable being.
"What tidings do you bring from the city?" asked the rajah anxiously.
"Bad--very bad, O Refuge of the World," answered the mendicant. "Last night, ere I pa.s.sed through the gates, I saw your foes shouting forth the name of Mukund Bhim, their new rajah. It was reported that you had perished, and all your followers had been slain amid the mountains; and no one I met discredited the tale. Thus your friends are disheartened; but if you were to appear among them, to show that you are still alive, they would regain their courage and fight bravely in your cause."
"But how to get among them, is the difficulty," observed the rajah.
"Tell me, byraghee, are the gates closed?"
"Not only closed, but strongly guarded," answered the mendicant. "It would be vain to attempt to force them; your only way of entering will be in disguise. I pa.s.sed, encamped at a short distance from the gates, a caravan of merchants with their camels, who had arrived too late to find admittance last night. If your highness would condescend to disguise yourself as one of them, they would consent to your entering among them,--trusting to your generosity for the reward you would bestow should you succeed."
The rajah, after considering the matter, agreed to the proposal of the byraghee. He then invited Reginald to accompany him, while he begged Burnett to take the command of the hors.e.m.e.n, and to remain concealed in the wood in which they were drawn up till he could send word to them that a favourable opportunity had arrived for making a dash into the city. "The risk, I know, is great," he added; "but I am ready to hazard my own life for the sake of recovering what I have lost."
"The commands of your highness shall be obeyed," said Burnett; "and may you and my young friend be preserved in your undertaking! Unless treachery is at work,--as no one will suspect that you are among the merchants,--the hazard is not so great as it may appear."
All necessary arrangements being made, the rajah, accompanied by Reginald, proceeded on foot to the merchants" camp; while Faithful, whose appearance might have betrayed them, remained behind in the care of d.i.c.k Thuddichum.
To the rajah"s satisfaction, he found that the merchant to whom the caravan belonged was a Pa.r.s.ee with whom he had formerly had satisfactory dealings, and who might be thoroughly trusted. The required dress was produced--the rajah"s rich costume being packed up among the bales--and he appeared in the guise of one of the merchant"s clerks; while Reginald a.s.sumed the costume and arms of a common sowar employed in guarding the merchandise.
CHAPTER FIVE.
THE CARAVAN ENTERS THE CITY--REGINALD MEETS THE BYRAGHEE--SENDS A MESSAGE TO BURNETT--THE RAJAH AND REGINALD FIND THE GUARDS MURDERED AT THE PALACE, AND NUNA CARRIED OFF--REGINALD PRESERVES THE LIFE OF A WOUNDED SEPOY--HE AND THE RAJAH TAKE REFUGE IN THE HOUSE OF A CHRISTIAN NATIVE--ESCAPE FROM THE CITY--PURSUED--VICTORY--THE RAJAH ENTERS THE CITY IN TRIUMPH--NO TIDINGS OF NUNA--REGINALD MAKES AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.
Immediately on the appearance of the first streaks of daylight in the sky, the merchant, Hurdeo Buksh, aroused the caravan, which, as soon as the camels were loaded, moved forward to the gate of the city. As he was well known, he had no difficulty in gaining admittance, and they were soon threading the narrow lanes which led to the chief bazaar. The rajah, seated on a camel, with a hood over his head which completely concealed his features, rode next to the merchant; while Reginald, a.s.suming a jaunty air, and armed with a spear and shield, marched by his side. They soon reached the bazaar, where they saw a crowd a.s.sembled, reading a huge placard announcing that Mukund Bhim, in consequence of the death of the old rajah, had a.s.sumed the reins of government, and ordering all the people, under pain of death and confiscation of their property, to obey his edicts. The crowd impeding the progress of the caravan, the rajah as well as Reginald had time to read the whole of the placard, which also went on to announce the various persons who had been appointed to offices under the new rajah. Among others appeared that of Khan Cochut, as also of several of the chiefs who had deserted Meer Ali Singh among the mountains. "The villains," muttered the rajah, "I will punish their treachery; as for that rascally Cochut, his head shall part company from his body before many days are over."
But people continued eagerly to press forward to read the placard,-- traders in long coats and turbans, sowars with shields and spears, women and children,--people in every costume, and people in no costume at all except the dirty cloths around their loins or over their shoulders, and the ever-present turban on their heads. Reginald, knowing the agitation into which the announcement would throw the rajah, was afraid that he would betray himself, so, swaggering on according to the character he had a.s.sumed, he forced the crowd to make way for the caravan; which at length got clear, and was able to proceed onward to the house which the merchant was wont to occupy during his stay in Allahapoor.
So far the adventure had been successful, and the rajah took up his lodgings in a room where he was not likely to be discovered. The difficulty, however, was to gain information. The next morning Hurdeo Buksh was obliged to appear in public to make arrangements for the sale of his goods, and was afraid of exciting suspicion should he be seen visiting the rajah"s hiding-place. Reginald was willing enough to try and pick up information, but the rajah charged him on no account to do so: his manners and mode of speaking would be sure to betray him. The rajah had ordered his own dress to be brought to him, and he now put it on, telling Reginald that he had come to the resolution of visiting his palace as soon as darkness would allow of his pa.s.sing through the streets un.o.bserved, and appealing to the loyalty of his guards,--who would, he supposed, be found at their old quarters, the usurper, Mukund Bhim, he had learned from the byraghee, still residing at his own palace.
Reginald thought the attempt a hazardous one, but yet, as it was the only scheme likely to succeed, he consented. After the rajah had told him this, he was sauntering about in the gateway of the house, imitating the manners of a sowar, when he caught sight of the mendicant slowly approaching, asking alms of all he met. The man"s little bleared eyes twinkled as he came up to Reginald, whom he appeared at once to recognise.
"You can be trusted, I see," said Reginald. "You will receive a handsome reward if you faithfully perform the service I require of you."
"Say what it is, sahib, and you shall be obeyed," responded the byraghee.
"To hasten forthwith to the spot where our friends lie concealed, and to direct them, as soon as the shades of evening appear, to push forward at hot speed towards the northern gate, which they may reach before they are challenged. Should they succeed in pa.s.sing through, they are to gallop on to the palace, where they will find the rajah and such friends as he may be able to rally round him. If they fail in the attempt, they are to retire till they hear from his highness or me." Reginald, as he spoke, put a piece of money into the mendicant"s hand, to deceive any who might have observed them speaking together.
"You shall be obeyed, sahib," said the mendicant, moving on, and continuing as before to beg of all he met. Instead of going in the direction he had been following, however, he contrived to turn round; and Reginald saw him making his way in the direction of the northern gate, as if bent on carrying out the orders he had received.
"So far our scheme prospers," thought Reginald; "but I wish that I had the means of ascertaining where the rajah"s grand-daughter has taken refuge. Should the traitor Mukund Bhim have got her into his power, he would have as little scruple in putting her to death as he would in killing any of the rajah"s sons. Poor young creature! I don"t like to increase the old man"s anxieties by alluding to her, but he must tremble at the thought of what may have become of her."
Notwithstanding the rajah"s caution to Reginald, he could scarcely refrain from going out and mixing with the crowd, to obtain information of what was going on. Prudence, however, restrained him. He walked up and down impatiently at his post, in the hope of seeing some one among them who had frequented the court, and who he thought might be trusted; but of the thousands who continued to hurry by he did not recognise a single person. He forgot that all the time he was running a great risk of being recognised himself; for although he had done his utmost, aided by the worthy merchant, to change his appearance, he might easily have been detected by any one who had before known him.
Thus the hours pa.s.sed slowly away, and at length the shades of evening began to steal over the city. On going up into the rajah"s room, Reginald found him habited in his usual costume, with a large robe ready to throw over his shoulders, which, with the aid of the darkness of night, would conceal his figure from those he might meet. His scimitar was by his side, and a brace of pistols in his belt.
"The time for action has arrived," he said in a firm voice. "We will go forth, my young friend, and succeed, or perish in the attempt. Our first care, as soon as we have gathered my faithful guards about us, must be to secure the safety of my grandchild, Nuna; and we may then, should we be attacked, defend the palace till the arrival of your English friend with my brave hors.e.m.e.n. Come, we will set out. I do not fear discovery, as no one will suppose that I am in the city; and people will take me for a foreign merchant on his way to transact business with some khan or other wealthy person."
"Should any one venture to interfere with you, I shall be ready to sacrifice my life in your defence," answered Reginald.
"I fully confide in you, my brave young friend," exclaimed the rajah; "and I would rather have you by my side than a hundred of my native sowars."
They then set out, Reginald having ascertained that no one was near. As they left the gates of the house the rajah walked rapidly along, concealing his face in his robe, while Reginald swaggered on by his side with a martial strut a.s.sumed generally by the sowars. A large number of people were still abroad; and as they pa.s.sed on they caught some of the expressions which were being uttered. It was very evident that a rebellion had taken place, and that the star of Mukund Bhim was in the ascendency.
At length, as they approached the palace, the crowd grew thinner. When they got close to it no one was seen standing about the gates,--the usual guards wore not there,--nor were they challenged as they entered.
The silence which reigned everywhere was ominous. After pa.s.sing across the outer courtyard, the rajah was about to enter the vestibule of the hall of audience, when, drawing aside a curtain which hung across it, he started back with an exclamation of horror and dismay. The whole pa.s.sage, as well as the flight of steps leading to the upper storey, was strewn with corpses.
"Alas, alas! My faithful guards! On your courage I depended to regain my power!" exclaimed the rajah. "You have died bravely fighting at your posts." Ali Singh stood for some seconds contemplating the scene with a look of despair. "On whom have I now to depend!" he exclaimed; "and my child, what can have become of her!"
"Your highness has your faithful troopers and many friends who are ready to fight for you," said Reginald, advancing. "Some of your guard may be still alive, and concealed in the palace; and they may be able to inform us what has become of your grand-daughter."
Reginald"s words seemed to restore the rajah"s courage. His first care was to examine the bodies which filled the pa.s.sage, in the hope that some might be found breathing; but in all life was extinct Reginald urged the rajah to hurry forward, in case the rebels should return before they had time to search the palace. They walked on through the deserted corridors and pa.s.sages, looking into the rooms as they pa.s.sed, but not a living being was to be seen. At length, as they were pa.s.sing a room the door of which was partly ajar, a groan reached Reginald"s ear; and calling to the rajah, who was going on, he entered. By the light of the pale moon which streamed through a window, he discovered in the further corner the form of a sepoy stretched on a mat. The blood which had flowed from several wounds on his head and body had trickled over the ground. The man had been apparently endeavouring to stanch them, but had fainted before he had done so effectually. Reginald knelt down by his side, and did his best, by means of a handkerchief which he tore into bandages, to stop the further flow of blood. In a short time the man returned to consciousness; and as his eye fell on the rajah his countenance brightened up.
"Have the rebels been defeated?" he exclaimed. "I thought all was lost."
"We wish to learn from you what has happened," said Reginald. "Numbers of your comrades lie dead at the entrance, and the palace appears to be deserted. We know no more."
"All that I can tell you is that we were attacked last night by Mukund Bhim with a large band of followers; we fought desperately to defend our post, till numbers fell killed or wounded, when the rest were carried off as prisoners. I then, in spite of my wounds, managed to escape, the rebels having left me for dead. They had begun to pillage the palace, when they were summoned away to defeat an attempt of the loyal inhabitants to keep possession of the city till the return of the rajah, the report of whose death they refused to credit."
"And can you give me no account of my child, the Ranee Nuna?" asked the rajah. "Have the rebels carried her off, or is she still in the palace?"
"I know not, O Rajah," answered the wounded man. "While I lay here, expecting every instant to be put to death, I heard the tramp of feet through the pa.s.sages, and cries and shrieks from female voices."
"The villainous traitors have deprived me, then, of my child," exclaimed the rajah. "Come, my friend, we must ascertain the worst," he said, addressing Reginald. "You must not waste any more time on this man: if it is his fate to live, he will live; if not, he will have the satisfaction of dying in my cause."
Reginald, although as anxious as the rajah to ascertain what had happened, was unwilling to leave the brave sepoy, who was still in much need of aid; but the rajah"s impatience would brook no delay, so telling the poor man that he would return as soon as possible, Reginald followed the rajah, who was hurrying from the room.
They made their way towards the women"s apartments, observing on either side signs of the fearful struggle which had taken place, though it was still evident that the rajah"s own guard had remained faithful. The doors of the women"s apartments were open--those sacred chambers into which, hitherto, no man had dared to enter. Female ornaments and dresses were strewn on the ground, articles of all sorts were broken, and the marks of violence were visible even on the walls. The worst antic.i.p.ations of the rajah were realised: Nuna had undoubtedly been carried off by the rebels. Reginald had difficulty in quieting the old man"s agitation. He seemed incapable of deciding what course to pursue.
Reginald himself felt deeply grieved at the loss of the young girl, whose possession, he foresaw, would add greatly to the power of the rebels, as, even should they be ultimately defeated, it would enable them to treat on favourable terms with the rajah; and he endeavoured in vain to tranquillise the mind of the old man, by reminding him that it would be to the interest of Mukund Bhim to behave courteously to her.
As it would be dangerous to remain long in the palace, to which the rebels might at any moment return, Reginald endeavoured to persuade the rajah to go back to the merchant"s house, where he might remain till the arrival of their friends, should the mendicant have succeeded in reaching them, and should they be able to enter the city. No other course seemed practicable, unless, abandoning all effort to recover his power, the rajah should resume his disguise and attempt to make his escape from the city. Reginald suggested this course, and offered to protect him with his life; the rajah, however, would not hear of it.
Darkness had now set in, and, wrapped in his mantle, the rajah could walk abroad without hazard of being recognised. They first, however, made a circuit of the whole palace; but not a human being was found alive. Before quitting it altogether, Reginald hurried back to the wounded sepoy, whom he was unwilling to leave to perish, as he undoubtedly would if deserted. The man had somewhat recovered his strength, and thought that, with Reginald"s a.s.sistance, he might be able to walk a short distance.
"You need not do that," said Reginald; "your weight is not great, and I will carry you on my shoulders."