[#] Viceroy.
"Put up your diamond, Mr. Peloti. You may repeat your offer when we reach Colonel Clive."
Diggle stopped as if shot. He looked with startled eyes at the boy, who had known him only as Diggle.
"You are going to Colonel Clive!" he exclaimed. The smoothness of his manner was gone; his tone expressed mortal anxiety. "But--but--he is a personal enemy; he will--I beseech you think again; I----"
He broke off, and with a suddenness that took Desmond by surprise he sprang away, making towards the grove of mangoes that stood between him and the shore. Desmond was instantly in pursuit. If Diggle gained the shelter of the trees he might escape in the darkness. But the race was short. Weak from fear and loss of blood, the elder was no match in speed for the younger. In less than a hundred yards he was overtaken, and stood panting, quivering, unnerved. Desmond gripped his uninjured arm, and with quickened footsteps hurried him towards the shore. There was the boat, the lascar resting motionless on his oar. Ten minutes later Diggle was assisted up the side of the Kent, and handed over to the officer of the watch. Then Desmond made his report to Clive.
"All the enemy are withdrawn within the fort, sir. The whole ground between the fort and the shore is clear. There is nothing to obstruct your landing."
"I thank you. You have exceeded your time by ten minutes. Who is that man who came aboard with you?"
"It was he who delayed me, sir. It is Mr. Diggle, or Peloti, I should say."
"The deuce he is!"
"He was stealing out of the fort; it came to a scuffle, and he was wounded--so I brought him along."