He was right, for the next morning a couple of horse artillery-men rode up to the gate, causing intense excitement among the Rajah’s troops, who, as Dick found out later, had seemed disposed to refuse them entrance; but the news was brought in by one of the native servants, and Dick had orders to turn out with twenty men to meet the party.
In accordance, then, with his orders, he rode down to the gate, met the advance-guard, and rode off with them back along the road to bring in the little party with their heavy, slow train of ammunition-wagons and stores.
Stubbs was with the young leader, and as they were escorting the party back in a way which accounted for the length of time they had been on the road, an unpleasant thought occurred to Dick.
It was so troublous that he could not keep it to himself, and he rode up alongside of Stubbs.
“I’ve been thinking,” he said, “that we should be awkwardly placed if the Rajah’s enemies took advantage of our being outside to refuse us entrance.”
“That’s rum, sir,” said Stubbs.
“Rum? I don’t see the droll side of it, Stubbs, because it would mean taking advantage of the troop being weakened to attack them.”
“I meant it was rum that you should think just the same as I did. It has been bothering me ever since I found that they stopped our two men at the gate.”
“I’m afraid I ought to have halted and sent word back to Captain Wyatt.”
“Would have been better, sir; but it’s too late now. We must get in somehow. Bounce may do it.”