Draw Swords! Part 43

"Yes, but very slowly. The doctor says that he must have complete change."

A month had glided by since the Rajah of Singh's forces had returned to their own country to await the retaliation they felt sure must come; but, so far, the Rajah of Soojeepur had contented himself with trying to consolidate his own state, and to convince his people that they must accept his plans for being in alliance with the English--a task, as yet, far from being accomplished.

The old palace, under Wyatt's eye, had become a strong little fort, well provided with ammunition and provisions, so that they were well prepared in case of a siege, either from within or without the walls, though there were no signs of a fresh attack on the part of the Singh people, while the att.i.tude of the natives within the city had ceased to be menacing. The result was that the orders respecting the men's going about had ceased to be stringent.

d.i.c.k took advantage of this in his natural desire to see all he possibly could of the place and of the people, a ramble being more pleasant now that it could be taken without seeing scowling looks, and hearing knife-armed men cursing aloud at the dog of an infidel who dared to profane the streets with his presence.

On the morning that the above short conversation took place, he rose from the table to take his puggree-covered cap from where it hung.

"Where are you going, my son?" said Wyatt, with an Eastern metaphoric style which he sometimes put on.

"Just to say a word or two to Hulton, and then I'm going to have a look at the big temple."

"What for?"

"To see it. One of the men told me it was very curious inside."

"Who told you?"

"Hanson."

"Humph! That letting-off and his wounds seem to have done that ruffian good. I didn't know that he was the sort of fellow to visit temples.

What's to be seen?"

"I hardly know; only that it's a wonderful place inside, with a gigantic bronze figure of that fat Indian G.o.d with the elephant's head."

"You'll wear your side-arms?"

"Of course."

"Don't let the priests do anything to you for profaning their place. If they kill you, I promise you, though, that I'll blow the temple up, if that's any comfort to you."

"Oh, thank you; that is good of you!" cried d.i.c.k, laughing. "Now, I call that friendly."

"Don't chaff. You mind what you are about, and take care of yourself.

If you are not back in three hours from now, I shall call out half the troop and come in search of you."

"Mounted?" said d.i.c.k mockingly.

"Bah!"

"And with a couple of guns?"

"Be off at once before it gets hotter. I want to go and see Hulton myself."

As the call on the captain was more to keep him from feeling dull than anything else, d.i.c.k buckled on his sword, crossed the court, acknowledged the sentry's salute, and pa.s.sed out, to go up and down several crooked streets, at the end of one of which, as he was crossing from the sunny to the shady side of the way, he noticed something which made him stop short and turn as soon as he had pa.s.sed round a corner, when he met Hanson, now quite convalescent, face to face.

The man looked staggered at the unexpected meeting, but drew himself up and saluted.

"There you are again, then, Hanson," said d.i.c.k sharply.

"Yes, sir. The doctor said I was not to return to duty for a few days longer, and I have a pa.s.s."

"So I suppose, or you would not be out," said d.i.c.k. "But now, look here, Hanson; no nonsense--I want the truth. For the past week whenever I've gone out for a stroll you've followed me."

"I had leave to be out, sir," said the man evasively. "I know that; but you've been following me."

"I am quite strange to the place, sir."

"That's gammon," said d.i.c.k, who in his fit of annoyance did not carefully select his words. The man was silent.

"What's that you've got b.u.t.toned up under your fatigue-jacket?"

"Pistol, sir."

"Yes; I could see it was. Loaded?"

"Yes, sir."

"And what's that stuck down inside your overalls on the left side?"

"Bayonet, sir."

"Sharp?"

"Yes, sir--very."

"Well, look here, my good fellow, I'm not a baby."

"No, sir."

"And I don't like to be treated as if I were one. Who sent you?" No answer.

"Look here; I will know the truth. Captain Wyatt told you to arm yourself and always keep me in sight?"

"No, sir."

"Is that the truth?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then who did turn you into my bodyguard?" Still no answer.

"Will you speak, sir, or am I to go back and investigate the matter?"

"I'll speak, sir."

"Very well, then, who sent you, Mr Stubbs?"