it to his commander. Then, advancing in
line across the room, they drove the surviving servants of Sher Singh
before them until, brought up by the opposite wall, they threw down
their arms and cried for quarter. Then Rukn-ud-din went back along the
passage for the piece of burning match in a metal holder by means of
which he and Amrodh Chandh had made their way to the fight, the sounds
of which had stirred their blood, and the extinguished lamp was found
and relighted. Sher Singh's body was crouched on the charpoy, in a
listening attitude, the matchlock with which he had shot at the lantern
slipping from his hands. Four of his men were killed outright, besides
the one outside who had tried to close the door, and whom Gerrard had
shot through the opening, and the other two were badly wounded, while
the victors bore abundant traces of the struggle. But there was no
time for binding up their hurts just yet, for hurried footsteps and
excited voices could be heard faintly overhead, though no words were
distinguishable.

"The sentries are disturbed in their minds, and have turned out the
guard," said Charteris. "And no wonder; that shot of Sher Singh's must
have sounded uncommonly like a distant mine exploding. Well, we had
better appear amongst them by way of the lions' cage and explain
matters, I suppose. What d'ye think of taking the prisoners with us,
and leaving everything else as it is, Hal?"

"I don't see that it matters. Wouldn't it be better to make them carry
out Sher Singh's body?" said Gerrard.

"My dear fellow, it does matter, very much. I should say leave things
exactly as they are. Otherwise we may get into trouble. Don't touch
the Rajah, Rukn-ud-din!" he cried sharply. "Oh, I see; it's a case of
'Is not the gown washed white?'"

The two natives had unwound the discoloured fragments of the Rani's
cloth which they wore wrapped round their waists, and were dipping them
in Sher Singh's blood.

"Our vow, sahib!" said Amrodh Chand proudly. "Now our faces are white
once more, for all has fallen out as it was spoken, and the innocent
blood is avenged."

"All very well, but our faces are likely to be particularly black,"
muttered Charteris morosely. "Take the prisoners on. Look here, Hal,"
as they obeyed; "don't you perceive that we may find ourselves in a
very nasty fix? If we had been able to produce Sher Singh alive to
stand his trial, nothing would have been too good for us, but as it is,
w