uppose," he
said, speaking slowly, for he knew that he was treading on delicate
ground. "My friend and I are not the first Englishmen who have resided
at your court. There was one who served you faithfully, and whose sword
preserved your life when surrounded by foes in battle; but traitors, who
were jealous of the favour you bestowed on him, conspired to take his
life; and they would have succeeded, had he not, leaving all he held
dear, together with his worldly wealth, and undergoing great hardships,
been successful in making his way to Calcutta with his young son. When
there, important information he received compelled him to return to his
native land. Once more he came back to India, with his son, intending
at all hazards to revisit you; but the trials he had gone through had
shattered his health, and when just about to set out on his journey he
died, leaving to his only son the duty of vindicating his fair fame, and
regaining the property of which he had been deprived."

"Who told you all this?" exclaimed the rajah in an agitated voice.
"Where is the son of whom you speak? I would greatly rejoice to see the
boy. I would not only restore him his father's property, but raise him
to a rank next to myself in my government."

Just at that moment an officer hurried up to the rajah, and after making
the usual salutation, informed him that the scouts had fallen in with a
messenger from the city who was on his way to try and find their party.
"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 Allah