by G. A. Henty
Chapter 7: An Act Of Treachery.
Some months passed quietly. Scindia more openly assumed supremepower, imprisoned several leading men, and transferred theirjagheers to his own relations. Colonel Palmer had gone down toBombay on leave, his place being filled temporarily by Mr. Uhtoff.
Bajee was, as usual, playing a deep game. He desired to becomeindependent both of Scindia and Nana Furnuwees. The former, hebelieved, must sooner or later return to his own dominions, and hedesired his aid to get rid of Nana; therefore it was against thelatter that his intrigues were, at present, directed. The ministerwas still an object of affection to his people; who believed, asbefore, in his goodness of character, and who put down every act ofoppression as being the work of Scindia.
Harry saw Nana frequently. There being no change in the position,there was little talk of politics; and the minister generallyturned the conversation upon England, its power relatively to thatof France, the extent of its resources, the modes of life among thepopulation, and its methods of government.
"It all differs widely from ours," Nana said, after one of theseconversations, "and in most respects is better. The changes thereare made not by force, but by the will of the representatives ofthe people, in their assembly. A minister defeated there retires atonce, and his chief opponent succeeds him. The army has nodetermining voice in the conduct of affairs, but is wholly underthe orders of the minister who may happen to be in power. All thisseems strange to us but, undoubtedly, the system is far better forthe population. There is no bloodshed, no burning of villages, noplundering, no confiscation of estates. It is a change in thepersonnel of the government, but no change in the general course ofaffairs.
"It is strange that your soldiers fight so well when, as you tellme, they never carry arms until they enter the army; while ours aretrained from childhood in the use of weapons. And your enemies, theFrench, is it the same with them?"
"It is the same, Nana, so far as their civil life is concerned; fornone carry weapons or are trained in their use. There is one widepoint of difference. The French have to go as soldiers when theyreach a certain age, however much they may dislike it; while withus there is no compulsion, whatever, and men enlist in the armyjust as they might take up any other trade. There is, however, abody called the militia. This, like the army, consists ofvolunteers; but is not liable for service abroad, and only goes outfor a short period of training, annually. However, by law, shouldthe supply of volunteers fall short, battalions can be kept attheir full strength by men chosen by ballot from the population.But this is practically a dead letter, and I am told that theballot is never resorted to; though doubtless it would be, in thecase of a national emergency."
"Ah! It is pleasant to be a minister in your country, with no fearof plots, of treachery, or assassination. Were I a younger man, Ishould like to visit England and stay there for a time so that, onmy return, I could model some of our institutions upon yours.
"But no; I fear that that would be too much for the most powerfulminister to effect. The people are wedded to their old customs, andwould not change them for others, however much these might be fortheir benefit. An order that none, save those in the army, shouldcarry arms would unite the whole people against those who issuedit."
It was on the last day of 1797 that Nana Furnuwees made a formalvisit to Scindia, in return for one the latter had paid him, a fewdays before. Michel Filoze, a Neapolitan who commanded eightbattalions in Scindia's army, had given his word of honour as aguarantee for the minister's safe return to his home. The Europeanofficers in the service of the Indian princes bore a highcharacter, not only for their fidelity to those they served, butalso for their honour in all their dealings and, though Nana wouldnot have confided in an oath sworn by Scindia, he accepted that ofFiloze without hesitation.
On his arrival near Scindia's camp the traitor seized him and, withhis battalions, attacked his retinue, amounting to about a thousandpersons, among whom were many of his principal adherents. Some ofthese were killed, all of them stripped of their robes andornaments. Parties of soldiers were immediately sent, by Ghatgay,to plunder the house of Nana and those of all his adherents.
Harry was in his room when he heard a sudden outburst of firingand, a minute or two later, Abdool ran in.
"Scindia's men are in the town, sahib! They are attacking thehouses of Nana's adherents. These are defending themselves as bestthey can. There is a general panic, for it is believed that thewhole town will be looted."
"Get your things together, Abdool. I will change my dress for thatof a native soldier, and we will make for the Residency."
"Shall we ride, sahib?"
"No, we will leave the horses here. If we were to go on horseback,we might be taken for Nana's adherents trying to make their escape,and be shot down without any further question.
"I felt misgivings when I saw Nana going out; but it would havecome to the same thing, in the end, for if Scindia's whole army,villainous as is the treachery, had advanced against the town, Nanacould have gathered no force to oppose them."
Three or four minutes later they started, Abdool carrying a bundlecontaining Harry's disguises. They made their way through lanes,where the people were all standing at their doors, talkingexcitedly. Continuous firing was heard in the direction of thebetter quarters, mingled with shouts and cries. No one questionedthem, all being too anxious as to their own safety to think ofanything else.
The Residency was half a mile from the town. There Mr. Uhtoff wasstanding at his door, and the men of his escort were all underarms. Harry had been in frequent communication with him, from thetime that he had taken Colonel Palmer's place. The Resident didnot, for the moment, recognize him in his new disguise but, when hedid so, he asked anxiously what was going on in the town.
"A strong body of Scindia's troops are there, attacking Nana'sadherents. I fear that the minister himself is a prisoner in theircamp."
"That is bad news, indeed. Nana told me, yesterday, that heintended to visit Scindia, and had received a guarantee for hissafe return, from Filoze. I advised him not to go; but he said thathe could confide, implicitly, in the honour of a European officer.I told him that the various European nations differed widely fromeach other; and that, although I would accept the word of honour ofa British officer in Scindia's service, I would not take that of aNeapolitan. However, he said, and said truly, that it was incumbenton him to return Scindia's visit; and that if he did not do so itwould be treated as a slight and insult, and would serve as apretext for open war against him; and that, as he could but musterthree or four thousand men, the city must yield without resistance.
"I believe that this is the work of Bajee Rao, and of Ghatgay--twoscoundrels, of whom I prefer Ghatgay who, although a ruffian, is atleast a fearless one, while Bajee Rao is a monster of deceit. Iknow that there have, of late, been several interviews between himand Ghatgay; and I have not the least doubt that the whole affairhas been arranged between them with the hope, on Bajee's part, ofgetting rid of Nana; and on Ghatgay's, of removing a sturdyopponent of his future son-in-law, and of acquiring a largequantity of loot by the plunder of Nana's adherents.
"You did well to come here for, if the work of plunder is oncebegun, there is no saying how far it will spread. I shall ride, atonce, to see the Peishwa, and request an explanation of what hasoccurred. There is that trooper's dress still lying ready for you,if you would like to put it on. There is a spare horse in mystable."
"Thank you, sir; I should like it very much;" and, rapidly changinghis dress, he was ready by the time the horses were brought round.
He then took his place among the troopers of the escort, and rodeto Bajee Rao's country palace, which was some three miles from thetown.
After seeing everything in train, the Peishwa had left Scindia'scamp before Nana's arrival there; and had summoned a dozen of thelatter's adherents, under the pretence that he desired to see themon a matter of business. Wholly unsuspicious of treachery, theyrode out at once; and each, on his arrival, was
seized and throwninto a place of confinement.
The Resident learned this from a retainer of one of these nobles.He had made his escape when his master was seized, and was ridingto carry the news to the British official; whose influence, hethought, might suffice to save the captives' lives.
On arriving at the palace four of the troopers were ordered todismount--Harry being one of those selected--and, on demanding tosee the Peishwa the Resident was, after some little delay, usheredinto the audience chamber, where Bajee Rao was seated, with severalof his officers standing behind him. He received Mr. Uhtoff with ashow of great courtesy.
The latter, however, stood stiffly, and said:
"I have come, Your Highness, to request an explanation of what isgoing on. The city of Poona is being treated like a town taken bysiege. The houses of a number of persons of distinction are beingattacked by Scindia's soldiery. Fighting is going on in thestreets, and the whole of the inhabitants are in a state of wildalarm.
"But this is not all. Nana Furnuwees has, owing to his relianceupon a solemn guarantee given for his safe return, been seized whenmaking a ceremonial visit to Scindia."
"You must surely be misinformed," the Peishwa said. "You willreadily believe that I am in perfect ignorance of such aproceeding."
"I might believe it, Prince," Mr. Uhtoff said, coldly, "had I notbeen aware that you and your officers have decoyed a number ofNana's friends to this palace and, on their arrival, had themsuddenly arrested."
Bajee Rao, practised dissimulator as he was, flushed at thisunexpected accusation.
"I learned, sir," he said, after a pause, "that there was a plotagainst my person, by Nana Furnuwees and his adherents; and I havetherefore taken what I considered the necessary step of placingthese in temporary confinement."
"It is a little strange, Your Highness, that the man who placed youon the musnud should be conspiring to turn you from it. However,what has been done has been done; and I cannot hope that any wordsof mine will avail to persuade you to undo an act which will beconsidered, throughout India, as one of the grossest treachery andingratitude. My duty is a simple one: namely, merely to report tomy Government the circumstances of the case."
The officers behind the Peishwa fingered the hilts of their swords,and the four troopers involuntarily made a step forward, to supportthe Resident. Bajee, however, made a sign to those behind him toremain quiet; and the Resident, turning abruptly, and withoutsalutation to the Peishwa, left the hall, followed by his men.
They mounted as soon as they had left the palace, and rode back tothe Residency; Mr. Uhtoff keeping his place at their head, andspeaking no word until he dismounted, when he asked Harry toaccompany him to his room.
"This is a bad business, indeed, Mr. Lindsay. I cannot say that Iam surprised because, having studied Bajee Rao's character, I havefor some time been expecting that he would strike a blow at Nana.Still, I acknowledge that it has come suddenly, and the wholeposition of affairs has changed. Bajee has freed himself from Nana;but he has only riveted Scindia's yoke more firmly on hisshoulders. Like most intriguers, he has overreached himself. He haskept one object in view, and been blind to all else.
"His course should have been to support Nana against Scindia, andthus to keep the balance of power in his own hands. He has onlysucceeded in ridding himself of the one man who had the good of hiscountry at heart, and who was the only obstacle to Scindia'sambition. The fool has ruined both himself and his country.
"I think, Mr. Lindsay, that the best plan will be for you to mountat once, and ride down to Bombay. Your presence here, just now, canbe of no special utility; and it is most desirable that theGovernment should have a full statement of the matter laid beforethem, by one who has been present, and who has made himself fullyacquainted with the whole politics of the Deccan.
"It is better that you should not go into the town again. I willsend in for your horses, as soon as the tumult has subsided. Wehave several spare animals here, and you and your servant can taketwo of them. I will write to the Governor a report of my interviewwith Bajee, and say that I have sent you down to give him all thedetails of what has taken place; which will save the time that itwould take me to write a long report, and will be far moreconvenient, inasmuch as you can answer any point that he isdesirous of ascertaining. I do not think that you can do betterthan go in the disguise that you now have on; for a soldier to begalloping fast is a common sight, but people would be astonished atseeing either a Brahmin or a trader riding at full speed. I willgive orders for the horses to be saddled at once and, in themeantime, you had best take a meal. You will have no chance ofgetting one on the road, and I have no doubt that dinner is readyfor serving. I will tell the butler to give some food to your man,at once."
Twenty minutes later, Harry and Abdool were on their way. Skirtinground Poona, they heard the rattle of musketry still beingmaintained; and indeed, the fighting in the streets of the citycontinued for twenty-four hours. By two in the morning, they haltedat the top of the Ghauts; partly to give the horses a rest, andpartly because it would have been very dangerous to attempt to makethe descent in the dark.
At daybreak they continued their journey, arriving at Bombay sixhours later. They rode straight for the Government House, whereHarry dismounted and, throwing the reins of his horse to Abdool,told the attendant to inform the Governor that a messenger, fromthe Resident at Poona, desired to see him. He was at once shown in.
"Why, it is Mr. Lindsay!" the Governor said, "though I shouldscarce know you, in your paint and disguise. The matter on whichyou come must be something urgent, or Mr. Uhtoff would not havesent you down with it."
Harry handed over the despatch of which he was bearer and, as theGovernor ran his eye over it, his face became more and more grave,as he gathered the news.
"This is serious, indeed," he said, "most serious. Now be pleasedto sit down, Mr. Lindsay, and furnish me with all the particularsof the affair."
When Harry had finished, the Governor said:
"I imagine that you can have eaten nothing today, Mr. Lindsay. I amabout to take tiffin, and bid you do so with me. I shall at oncesend to members of the Council and, by the time we have finishedour meal, they will no doubt be here."
"I shall be very glad to do so, sir, if you will allow me to gointo the dressing room, and put on my uniform. I should hardly liketo sit down to table in my present dress."
"Do so by all means, if you wish it; but you must remember thatyour colour will not agree well with your dress."
"I will remove these caste marks, sir, and then I shall look onlyas if I were somewhat severely tanned."
In ten minutes a servant knocked at the door, and said thatluncheon was ready. Harry was already dressed in his uniform, andhad removed the marks on his forehead; the dye, however, was asdark as ever. He had, on leaving the Governor's room, sent aservant down to fetch his wallet, and to tell Abdool that he was totake the horses to the barracks.
The meal was an informal one. The Governor asked many questions,and was pleased at the knowledge that Harry showed of all theprincipal persons in Poona, and their character and ability.
"At the present moment," he said, "the information that you havegiven me cannot be utilized; but it would be most valuable, were weto get mixed up in the confusion of parties at Poona. I gather thatyou consider Nana Furnuwees to be a great man."
"My opinion is not worth much, on that point, sir. I think that hehas, over and over again, shown great courage in extricatinghimself from difficulties which appeared to be overwhelming. Ibelieve him to be a sincere patriot, and that he only desires to beat the head of the administration of affairs that he may preventcivil war from breaking out, and to thwart the ambition of thegreat princes. His tastes are simple, his house is furnishedplainly, he cares nothing for the pleasures of the table; but he ishonest and, I believe, absolutely truthful--qualities whichcertainly are possessed by very few men in the Deccan.
"I grant that he is not disposed to enter into any alliance withthe British.
He has frequently told me that he admires them greatlyfor their straightforwardness and truthfulness, as well as fortheir bravery and their methods of government, both in the greattowns and in the districts in which they are masters; but he fearsthat, were they to send an army to Poona on his behalf, or on thatof any of the other parties, it might end by their acquiringcontrol over the affairs of the country, and make them arbitratorsin all disputes."
"No doubt he is right, there," the Governor said, with a smile."However, at present we are certainly not likely to interfere inthe quarrels and intrigues beyond the Ghauts; nor do I see why weshould be brought into collision with the Mahrattas--at any rate,until they have ceased to quarrel among themselves, and unite underone master. In that case, they might make another effort to turn usout.
"And now we will go into the room where the Council must be, bythis time, assembled."
This proved to be the case, and the Governor read to them the notethat he had received from Mr. Uhtoff; and then requested Harry torepeat the details, as fully as he had already done. There was aconsensus of opinion as to the importance of the news.
"Come round again tomorrow morning, Mr. Lindsay," the Governorsaid; "by that time I shall have fully thought the matter out."
"So you have been masquerading as a native again, Mr. Lindsay?" thecolonel said, when Harry called upon him.
"I can hardly consider it masquerading, as I merely resumed thedress I wore for many years; and I certainly speak Mahratti vastlybetter than I speak English for, although I improved a good dealwhile I was here, I am conscious that, though my grammar may becorrect, my pronunciation differs a good deal from that of mycomrades."
"You speak English wonderfully well, considering that you learnedit from the natives," the colonel said. "At first, you spoke as anative that had learned English; but a casual observer would not,now, detect any accent that would lead him to suppose that you hadnot been brought up in England.
"You will, of course, be at mess this evening?"
"I think it would be better that I should not do so, sir. In thefirst place, I should have innumerable questions to answer; and inthe second, which is more important, anything that I said might beheard by mess waiters. It is quite possible that some of these arein the pay of Scindia, or Holkar, who keep themselves well informedof all that goes on here; and were it known that an English officerhad come down in disguise, it would greatly increase the dangerwhen I return there."
"I have no doubt that you are right, Mr. Lindsay. Is there anythingnew at Poona?"
"Yes, Colonel; and as it will be generally known in two or threedays, there can be no harm in my telling you. Scindia has made NanaFurnuwees a prisoner, by an act of the grossest treachery. He haskilled almost all his principal adherents and, when I got away, histroops were engaged in looting the town."
"That is grave news," the colonel said. "So long as Nana was inpower, it was certain that Scindia could not venture to take hisarmy, out of his own country for the purpose of attacking us; butnow that Nana is overthrown, and Scindia will be minister to thePeishwa, we may expect troubles."
"Not at present. Scindia's army has, for months, been without pay.He has no means of settling with them and, until he does so, theycertainly will not move."
"I do not think that would detain him long, Mr. Lindsay. He hasonly to march them into other territories, with permission toplunder, and they would be quite satisfied. He certainly can haveno liking for the Rajahs of Berar or Kolapoore, for both of themassisted Nana to regain his power; and an attack upon them would,at once, satisfy vengeance and put his troops in a good temper."
"But there is no doubt that the Peishwa will find it much moreirksome to be under Scindia's control than that of Nana. And wereScindia to march away, he would at once organize an army, and buyHolkar's aid, to render himself independent of Scindia."
"They are treacherous beggars, these Mahrattas," the colonel said."They are absolutely faithless, and would sell their fathers ifthey could make anything by the transaction.
"Then you do not know yet whether you are to return?"
"No; I shall see the Governor again, tomorrow morning; and shallthen receive orders."
"I will have some dinner sent over to your quarters, from the mess.Do not have too much light in the room, or your colour may benoticed by the servant. I will let the officers know that you havereturned. No doubt many of them will come in for a chat with you.As no one can overhear you, I do not think that any harm can bedone by it."
"I think not, Colonel."
"I will tell them," the colonel went on, "that you are on secretservice; that you will tell them as much as you can safely do, butthey must abstain from pressing you with questions. We all knowthat you have been acting as assistant to Mr. Uhtoff, because itwas mentioned in orders that you had been detailed for that duty;but they know no more than that, and will doubtless be surprised atyour colour. But you can very well say that, as you had animportant message to carry down, you thought it best to disguiseyourself."
"That will do excellently, Colonel; and I shall be very glad tohave a talk with my friends again."
After leaving the colonel, Harry went to his own room; where hefound Soyera, who had been fetched by Abdool.
"I am sorry to say that I am going away, almost directly, mother,"he said; "but it cannot be helped."
"I do not expect you always to stay here, Harry. Now that you arein the Company's service, you must, of course, do what you areordered. I am glad, indeed, to find that, although you have beenwith them only a year, you are chosen for a post in which you cangain credit, and attract the attention of the authorities here."
"It is all thanks to the pains that you took to prepare me for suchwork.
"I don't expect to be away so long, this time. And indeed, now thatNana Furnuwees is a prisoner, it does not seem to me that there canbe anything special to do, until some change takes place in thesituation, and Scindia either openly assumes supreme power, ormarches away with his army."
That evening, Harry's room was crowded with visitors. The news ofthe treacherous arrest of Nana Furnuwees excited the liveliestinterest; and was received with very much regret, as Nana wasconsidered the only honest man of all the ministers of the nativeprinces, and to be friendly disposed towards the British; and allsaw that his fall might be followed by an important change in theattitude of the Mahrattas.
Two days later, Harry returned to Poona. The next eighteen monthspassed without any very prominent incidents. In order to furnishScindia with money to pay his troops, and to be in a position tomarch away, Bajee Rao agreed that Ghatgay should, as Scindia'sminister, raise contributions in Poona. Accordingly, a rule of thedirest brutality and cruelty took place. The respectableinhabitants--the merchants, traders, and men of good family--weredriven from their houses, tortured often to death, scourged, andblown away from the mouths of cannon. No person was safe from hispersecution, and the poorest were forced to deliver up all theirlittle savings. The rich were stripped of everything, andatrocities of all kinds were committed upon the hapless population.
Bajee Rao countenanced these things, and was now included in thehatred felt for Ghatgay and Scindia. Troubles occurred between thePeishwa and the Rajah of Satara, who refused to deliver up an agentof Nana whom he had, at Bajee's request, seized. As Scindia'stroops refused to move, Purseram Bhow was released from captivityand, raising an army, captured the city of Satara, and compelledthe fort to surrender; but when ordered by Bajee Rao to disband theforce that he had collected, he excused himself from doing so, onthe plea that he had no money to pay them, or to carry out thepromises that he had given them.
Scindia himself was not without troubles. In addition to the mutiny ofhis troops, the three widows of his father who, instead of receivingthe treatment proper to their rank, had been neglected and were livingin poverty, sought an interview with him; and were seized by Ghatgay,flogged, and barbarously treated. Their cause was taken up by theBrahmins, who had held the principal offices under Scindia'
s father;and it was at last settled that they should take up their residence atBurrampoor, with a suitable establishment. Their escort, however, hadreceived private orders to carry them to the fortress of Ahmednuggur.
The news of this treachery spread, soon after they had left thecamp; and an officer in the interest of the Brahmins started, witha troop of horse which he commanded, dispersed the escort, andrescued the ladies. These he carried to the camp of Amrud Rao,Bajee Rao's foster brother; who instantly afforded them protectionand, sallying out, attacked and defeated a party of their pursuers,led by Ghatgay himself.
Five battalions of infantry were then sent by Scindia, but Amrudattacked them boldly, and compelled them to retreat. Negotiationswere then opened, and Amrud, believing Scindia's promises, movedhis camp to the neighbourhood of Poona. But, during a Mahommedanfestival, he and his troops were suddenly attacked by a fewbrigades of infantry; which dispersed them, slew great numbers, andpillaged their camp.
Holkar now joined Amrud Rao, who had escaped from the massacre. ThePeishwa negotiated an alliance with the Nizam. Scindia sent envoysto Tippoo, to ask for his assistance. Bajee Rao did the same, andit looked as if a desperate war was about to break out.
All this time, Harry had been living quietly in the Residency,performing his duties as assistant to Colonel Palmer, who had againtaken charge there. There was no occasion for him to resume hisdisguises. The atrocities committed by Ghatgay, in Poona, wereapparent to all; and at present there seemed no possiblecombination that could check the power of Scindia.
Colonel Palmer, however, had several interviews with Bajee Rao, andentreated him to put a stop to the doings of Ghatgay; but thelatter declared that he was powerless to interfere, and treatedwith contempt the warnings, of the colonel, that he was uniting thewhole population in hatred of him.
The rebellion under Amrud, and the adhesion of Holkar to it, seemedto afford some hope that an end would come to the terrible state ofthings prevailing; and Colonel Palmer became convinced that Scindiawas really anxious to return to his own dominions, where histroops, so long deprived of their natural leaders, were in a stateof insubordination. If the Nana were but released from his prisonat Ahmednuggur, something might be done, he said. He might be ableto supply sufficient money to enable Scindia to leave; and thealarm Nana's liberation would give, to Bajee, would compel him tochange his conduct, lest Nana should join Amrud and, with theassent of the whole population, place him on the musnud.
"Nana is the only man who can restore peace to this unhappycountry," he said to Harry, "but I see no chance of Scindiareleasing a prisoner whom he could always use to terrify Bajee,should the latter dare to defy his authority."
Harry thought the matter over that night and, at last, determinedto make an attempt to bring about his old friend's release. In themorning he said to the Resident:
"I have been thinking over what you said last night, Colonel, andwith your permission I am resolved to make an attempt to bringabout Nana's release."
"But how on earth do you mean to proceed, Mr. Lindsay?"
"My plans are not quite made up yet, sir. In the first place, Ishall ask you to give me three weeks' leave so that, if I fail, youcan make it evident that you are not responsible for myundertaking. In the next place, I shall endeavour to see Nana inhis prison, and ascertain from him whether he can pay aconsiderable sum to Scindia for his release. If I find that he isin a position to do so, I shall then--always, of course, indisguise--endeavour to have a private interview with Scindia, andto convince him that it is in every way to his interest to allowNana to ransom himself. He is, of course, perfectly well awarethat, in spite of Bajee's assurances of friendship, he is at heartbitterly opposed to him; and that the return of Nana, with thepowers he before possessed, would neutralize the Peishwa's power."
"It would be an excellent thing, if that could be done," the colonelsaid; "but it appears to me to be an absolute impossibility."
"I would rather not tell you how I intend to act, sir; so that, incase of failure, you can disavow all knowledge of my proceedings."
"Well, since you are willing to undertake the risk, andunquestionably the Bombay Government would see, with greatpleasure, Nana's return to power, I will throw no obstacle in yourway. You had better, to begin with, write me a formal request for amonth's leave to go down to Bombay. Is there anything else that Ican do, to aid your project?"
"Nothing, whatever; and I am much obliged to you for acceding to myrequest. If for no other reason than that my success should havethe effect of releasing the inhabitants of Poona, from the horribletyranny to which they are exposed, I shall be willing to risk agreat deal to gain it.
"I shall not leave for a day or two, as I wish to think over allthe details of my plan, before I set about carrying it out."
Going into the city, Harry went to the spot where the proclamationsof Scindia were always affixed. These were of various kinds; suchas forbidding anyone carrying arms to be in the streets afternightfall; and that every inhabitant should furnish an account ofhis income, in order that taxation should be carefully distributed.To these Scindia's seal was affixed.
One such order had been placed there that morning. A sentry marchedup and down in front of it, lest any insult should be offered tothe paper. Satisfied that this would suit his purpose, he calledAbdool to him, and explained what he wanted.
"It will not be till this evening, for I want, before that step istaken, to collect a party of ten horsemen to ride with me toAhmednuggur and back. By this time you know a great many people inthe town and, if I were to pay them well, you should have nodifficulty in getting that number."
"I could do that in half an hour, sahib. There are a great numberof the disbanded soldiers of the Peishwa's army who are withoutemployment, and who would willingly undertake anything that wouldbring them in a little money."
"Well, you can arrange with them, today. They must not attractattention by going out together, but must meet at the village ofWittulwarree."
The next morning, Harry went to the shop of a trader who was, heknew, formerly employed by Nana, and purchased from him a suit suchas would be worn by an officer in Scindia's service. Then he wroteout a document in Mahratti, giving an order to the governor ofAhmednuggur to permit the bearer, Musawood Khan, to have a privateinterview with Nana Furnuwees. This done, he told the resident thathe intended to leave that night.
Colonel Palmer asked no questions, but only said:
"Be careful, Mr. Lindsay, be careful; it is a desperate enterprisethat you are undertaking, and I should be sorry, indeed, if sopromising an officer should be lost to our service."
"I will be careful, I assure you. I have no wish to throw away mylife."
When evening came on, he went to his room, stained his skin fromhead to foot, put on the caste marks, then dressed himself in theclothes that he had that morning purchased and, at nine o'clock,left the house quietly with Abdool. At that hour Poona would bequiet, for the terror was so great that few people ventured intothe street after nightfall.
When they approached the house on which the proclamation was fixed,they separated. Harry went quietly to the corner of the street, afew yards from the spot where the soldier was marching up and down,and listened intently, peeping out from behind the wall wheneverthe sentry was walking in the other direction. Presently he heard asmothered sound, and the dull thud of a falling body.
He ran out. Abdool had crawled up to the other end of the sentry'sbeat, and taken his place in a doorway. The sentry came up towithin a couple of yards of him, and then turned. Abdool sprang outand, with a bound, leapt upon the sentry's back and, with one hand,grasped his musket.
Taken wholly by surprise, the sentry fell forward on his face,Abdool still clinging to him. He pressed his knife against thesoldier's neck and said that, at the slightest cry, he would driveit home. Half stunned by the fall, the soldier lay without moving.
Harry ran up to the proclamation and tore it down.]
Without the loss of a moment, Harry
ran up to the proclamation andtore it down, and then darted off again. Abdool, springing to hisfeet, brought the butt end of the soldier's musket down on hishead; and then, satisfied that a minute or two must elapse beforethe man would be recovered sufficiently to give the alarm, he tooran off, and joined Harry at the point where they had separated.
"That was well managed, Abdool. Now we will walk quietly until weare outside the town as, if we met some of Scindia's men, theywould question were we hurrying."
In a few minutes they were outside the city; and then, running at abrisk pace, they reached the Residency. They were challenged by thesentry but, on Harry giving his name, he was of course allowed topass.
He went quietly into his room and lighted a candle. Putting hisknife in the flame he heated it, and then carefully cut the sealfrom the paper on which it was fixed, placed it on the order thathe had written and, again heating his knife, passed it along underthe paper, until the under part of the seal was sufficiently warmedto adhere to it. He placed the order in an inner pocket, put abrace of pistols into his sash, and buckled on a native sword thathe had bought that morning; then he went out again, and found thatAbdool had the horses in readiness, with two native saddles, withembroidered housings such as was used by native officers; which hehad, by Harry's orders, purchased that morning in the bazaar.
They at once mounted, and started at a gallop for Wittulwarree.