spread itself round the threatened town.

In the afternoon Mr. Clive summoned me to him. I found him in the tent
with Mr. Scrafton, and he held a letter in his hand.

"The Nabob has sent to me," he said, "desiring me to appoint some
persons to treat with him of the peace, and I have chosen Mr. Scrafton
and you as my deputies. What do you say, Ford? Are you ready to trust
your head in the tiger's jaws again, after your late adventures?"

"If you think fit to send me, sir, I am ready at all times to obey any
orders I may receive from Colonel Clive."

He smiled, well pleased.

"Well said, my lad. I knew you were something better than a purser,
and as soon as this business is over I will see to it that you get a
commission in the Company's forces, if that will serve your turn."

I thanked him, and Mr. Scrafton and I at once set out for Surajah's
quarters, which we were informed were at a place called Nabob-gunge.
But on arriving there we found that the treacherous Moor had pursued
his march towards the town and when we at last overtook him, late in
the evening, we found him with his headquarters established in a house
belonging to the Gentoo merchant Omichund, which house lay actually
within the Morattoe ditch, and was therefore included in the
territories of Calcutta.

We were here received by Roy Dullub, the Dewan, who instantly
recognised me, and manifested some alarm at my thus appearing in the
character of Colonel Clive's emissary. He glanced over us both with an
air of suspicion, and desired to know whether we had pistols concealed
in our dress.

Mr. Scrafton laughed in his face.

"We are not assassins," he said severely. "We do not deal with our
enemies in that way. If our employer, Mr. Clive, desires to kill the
Nabob, rest assured he will come in broad daylight, at the head of his
army, and do it that way."

Roy Dullub gave way after this rebuke, and led us into the presence of
his master. The Nabob was seated in full durbar, with all his officers
round him and the evil Lal Moon crouched like a snake beside his ear.
All the way round the walls of the apartment was placed a row of huge
guards, men of formidable size and ferocious countenances, who, to
appear still more dreadful, had their dresses stuffed out and their
turbans of twice the common size. Throughout the audience they kept
their eyes fixed on us with a most bloodthirsty expression, as though
expecting the signal to fall upon and slay us.

S