When morning broke they could see, in the distance, the minarets of Delhi.
"They must be ten miles away, Abdool, and I will enter the next house we come to. I fancy, from our position, we must be close to the residence of the zemindar who, at once, brought in a force of fifty men to aid in the defence of the town. There we are sure of hospitable treatment and, indeed, I sorely need rest and food. I have eaten nothing since yesterday morning and, counting the distance we made to the north after leaving the fort, we must have walked nearly fifty miles."
Half a mile farther they saw a house, and made straight for it.
"Is Shuja Khan within?" Harry asked an armed retainer standing at the entrance.
The soldier recognized Harry--having seen him when he called upon his master--and replied:
"He returned last night, my lord."
"Will you tell him that Captain Lindsay, who was treacherously captured by the Rajah of Sekerah, has just escaped, and is on his way to the city; and that he asks for his hospitality?"
"Enter, my lord," the man said, salaaming deeply. "Our master will, I am sure, gladly receive you."
He showed Harry into a large room where, a few minutes later, the zemindar joined him.
"Peace be with you, sahib! I am rejoiced to see you in safety; for I heard, at Delhi, that you had not returned, and there were fears that ill had befallen you and your escort."