In the morning Angus rode with Saleh to the fort, Azim following with the pony carrying the bales of goods. Two men stood as sentries on the platform on the top of the plain, half a dozen others were posted round it. The officer in charge came out.
"Have you anything to report, Suleiman?"
"No, captain, except that the prisoners complain that this place is little better than the last they were confined in."
"They are particular, these ladies and gentlemen," Saleh said with a laugh. "The place might be better, no doubt, but they will be lucky if they do not find themselves very much worse lodged when they get among the Usbegs."
"Major Pottinger was asking, captain, that a few blankets should be given them for the use of the women and children."
"We will see about it. However, this trader here has some warm robes to sell, and they may just as well pay for the things themselves as that I should put my hand into my pocket, for my instructions said nothing about buying things of this sort for them; and from the manner in which Prince Akbar gave me my orders, I should say that the more they suffered the better he would be pleased. However, I am sorry for them, and have given permission to this Cashmerian to see them and try to sell his goods to them."
The officer looked doubtful. "I do not think there is a rupee among them."
"No, but the trader has faith that if they give him notes for his goods, their people will assuredly cash them."
"He must be a very confiding fellow," the officer said.