th the bold swinging gait of
the mountaineer, their drawn tulwars flashing in the sun, their voices
shouting 'Jai, jai,--Hail, hail!' in deafening chorus.

"The effect was instantaneous and tremendous, and from all the assembled
multitude went up the loud acclaim--'Jai, jai, jai!' There seemed to be
not a dissentient in the throng. And a moment later the young prince was
standing on the dais by his mother's side, one hand resting proudly on
her shoulder.

"Among the nobles there had hitherto been the silence of stupefaction.
But at last, one of their number, an elderly man, advanced, and
prostrated himself on the rich carpet spread in front of the dais, thus
rendering public homage to his rightful king. 'Jai, jai, jai!' shouted
the mob, and soon a dozen others among the nobles had given the pledge
of fealty.

"Meanwhile the kinglet on the throne of gold had been forgotten. He had
made no move, but had contented himself with staring around in confused
and helpless surprise. But now Todar Rao, the sirdar, had sprung to his
side and dragged the youth to his feet.

"'O princes and people, this is your rightful king,' cried the soldier
in stentorian tones, 'crowned and proclaimed and accepted by your
pledges of loyalty. My orders to the troops are death to those who now
betray him.'

"But the words had hardly passed his lips, when two score of the
mountaineers, shouting 'Deen, deen,--Kill, kill,' had swarmed over the
silver railings surrounding the throne. There was the momentary clash of
steel on steel, the impotent curse of an angry man, a shrill pitiful cry
of anguish from the youth who in his terror had crouched behind the
awnings descending from the canopy. And when the tribesmen again faced
the multitude, the soldierly figure of Todar Rao had disappeared, and
the throne was vacant for the reception of its rightful occupant.

"Amidst a wild tumult of joy the young prince ascended from the dais and
took the royal seat, showing in his every movement the natural grace and
dignity that might almost in themselves have proved his right of
heritage, and that certainly won to his cause the last waverers among
the onlooking multitude. Even the bodyguard of the slain sirdar were
now joining in the universal acclaim.

"The first to bend a knee to the rightful king enthroned was the royal
queen, his mother. And then the lady stepped back, a little to the rear
and to the side of the throne, drawing her silken sari over the l