Draw Swords! Part 68

"Will you point out the place where you say the Wazir placed the bag of jewels, Mr Darrell?" said the Rajah gravely.

"Yes, sir; in that one where the stone has been slid across and the block keeps it shut."

"Are you sure it is there?"

"Yes, sir, I am certain that is the one."

The Wazir drew a deep breath.

"Open!" said the Rajah laconically; and two of the priests removed the stone fastening, and pushed the slab along in its grooves, when two more stepped in with lights, while d.i.c.k and Wyatt pressed forward, eager to see.

But they saw nothing. The place was empty, and no sign was shown of any one having lately been in.

"Open the others," said the Rajah; "open all."

This was done one by one till all were laid open to the glare of the lamps; but all were empty, and d.i.c.k turned to Wyatt, giving him a peculiar look.

The next moment, without a word being uttered, the Rajah gave the order for a return to be made to the palace, and I lick turned to him.

"Not now," he said; "I want to think."

The party returned to the palace, the Rajah going straight to his audience-chamber after, in a few words, giving the two officers to understand that their attendance would not be welcome; and as they turned to reach the officers' quarters, d.i.c.k said excitedly to his companion:

"Wyatt, I swear--"

"Don't, my boy, nor say another word till you've had tiffin. I'll say enough now for you and self: the old Brahmin's too many for us--we've been tricked."

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.

DISMISSED.

Captain Hulton was waiting eagerly for the return of the two officers, fully aware that something was very wrong, but still in ignorance of its full bearing. The news of the hurried return of Sergeant Stubbs and the detachment had made the position appear more strange; and directly Wyatt and d.i.c.k entered his questioning began, and he heard everything that had occurred.

"The weak child!" he exclaimed angrily. "That is the way with these Eastern princes--they are always swayed by the one who has the last word."

"You seem to think as we do, then?" said Wyatt. "Of course. That woman is hand and glove with the other party still, and working with them.

The Rajah, after all, has an intense affection for his mother, and looks upon all those ancient jewels as something sacred. It was like a blow at him for them to be stolen, and to his eyes the case looked black against Darrell here."

"You think he believes it still then?" said d.i.c.k.

"Without doubt. They are all mixed up in it--Wazir, Brahmins, and the rest of the party--I feel sure, and they have schemed so that you have not cleared yourself, Darrell."

"But I tell you I saw the Wazir, with the light shining on his face, come down those steps, pick up the bag of jewels after he had dropped it, and go into the cell I pointed out, come back, and fasten it up again."

"Yes, yes, _yes_--of course you did, d.i.c.ky," cried Wyatt impatiently; "and I wish you had gone in and got them afterwards, so as to have brought them out and shown the Rajah you spoke the truth."

"Ha, ha!" laughed d.i.c.k. "Why, that would have made the case look worse."

"Humph! so it would," said Wyatt. "I give it up. I'm better at fighting than scheming, and I feel now just as if I should like to have the guns out and a regular go-in at somebody."

"Oh, we can't fight," said Hulton. "I must see the Rajah and prove to him that it was all a trick. He'll lean to the last man."

"Send the doctor in to him to make him believe he's worse, and then he'll be ready to hang over to our side again."

"I wish Robson would give the Wazir and that sanctified old Brahmin a dose of his strongest stuff."

"To poison them?" said d.i.c.k.

"Poison! Bah! No. To make 'em both ill for six months. What shall we do, Hulton? Go and insist upon having an interview with this baby?"

"No," replied Hulton after a minute's silence. "Have everything ready for emergencies, and then wait to see how matters turn."

"Hallo! Who's this?" cried Wyatt, for there were steps outside, and an orderly announced the captain of the Rajah's guard, who was ushered in, looking very stern.

"Nice business this!" said Wyatt in his bluff way, for, since the night of the attempted poisoning, they two had been on the friendly terms that would bring two brave men into a state of mutual respect.

"I come from his highness," said the Rajah's officer. "His commands are that the English sahibs and their men leave here directly, and take up their quarters in the old palace till he has decided what steps to take; and I and my men are to see these orders executed now--at once."

"Dismissed like bad servants," cried Hulton indignantly.

"But suppose we won't go, old fellow?" said Wyatt to the officer.

"Then, sir, we must fight," said the officer, with a shrug of his shoulders. "It is sad; but I command the Rajah's guard, and I must do my duty."

"Of course," said Wyatt.--"There, d.i.c.k Darrell, you see what a mess you have got us all in by taking a fancy to the old Ranee's pretty playthings."

"It is a lie," cried the Indian officer, turning upon Wyatt fiercely.

"The Dah Rel is a brave soldier. He would not do such a thing."

"Thank you," said d.i.c.k, smiling and taking the messengers hand. "But Captain Wyatt does not mean it."

"Mean it? No, old fellow," said Wyatt, clapping the officer on the shoulder. "Then you do not believe all this story about the stealing?"

"No; it is a plot--a trick," cried the messenger fiercely. "But he does--now. It is the Ranee--and the cursed dogs of her party. It was peace, and all would have been well for Soojeepur, and we should have been strong in the friendship of the English, so that we could defy all our foes; but now the Ranee will come to the front again, the Wazir will rule, the Brahmins will master him, and the poor Rajah will be a doll amongst them, if they do not poison him out of the way. But I must obey my orders. Go and tell what I have said, and my head will roll upon the pavement in the court."

"You are not afraid of that," said d.i.c.k.

"No. How soon will the sahibs be ready?"

"Now," said Hulton firmly, "as soon as our servants have put together our things."

"The escort of my men will be waiting in the court in half-an-hour's time," said the officer shortly, and he turned and left the room.

"I want to fight," said Wyatt grimly.

"So do I," said Hulton, "but with plenty of elbow-room. Oh, if we could only have the Wazir and his men out on the broad plain yonder!"