Wyatt and Dick stood watching the party file through the gate, and then the former turned to Dick.
“What are you thinking?” he said.
“That we don’t seem to have many friends here,” replied Dick. “Hallo! what does this mean? One of the enemy?”
For a richly-dressed officer rode back to the gateway, and after a moment’s parley with the sentries was allowed to pass.
His face as he rode up to the two officers plainly showed that he was upon no inimical mission, but the bearer of a message from the Rajah, requesting that the officers would come and dine with him that evening.
“I can’t go,” said Dick sharply; “I have my wounded. Besides, I was there last night.”
“It is impossible for me to go,” said Wyatt.
“You must go,” whispered Dick. “Go for as short a time as you can. It would give offence to refuse.”
“Tell the Rajah I will do myself the honour of coming,” said Wyatt shortly, and the messenger rode away.
“It would have been bad policy to refuse,” continued Wyatt; “and I must get the Rajah to follow out my plans if we are to help him. Look here, Dick, I’m in command of a troop sooner than I expected—worse luck!—so I must make a couple of temporary promotions. You will act as my lieutenant, and Stubbs must take your place.”