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 Dick Thuddichum.

To the rajah's satisfaction, he found that the merchant to whom the
caravan belonged was a Parsee 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
assumed 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,
assuming a jaunty air, and armed with a spear and shield, marched by his
side. They soon reached the bazaar, where they saw a crowd assembled,
reading a huge placard announcing that Mukund Bhim, in consequence of
the death of the old rajah, had assumed 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