[CHAPTER XI]
WE ARE TAKEN FOR ROBBERS
Various adventures befell Prince Alemguir and myself at Beejapoor, which was the first city to be reached after leaving the chapel of Ganesa, and where we were obliged to remain several months.
The English (the real masters of India) were in great numbers in Beejapoor, which contained the Residence of a Governor.
While here we were secure from any hostile act on the part of the Maharajah of Mysore, himself an English subject, and permitted to retain his sovereignty only by payment of a tribute; but other dangers threatened us; first of all, my Master was taken for a thief!
Seeing him wan, emaciated, almost naked, stripped of everything, his wrists and ankles scarred with the marks of chains, they would listen to nothing he said.
They suspected him of having escaped from prison—and what they accused him of stealing was nothing other than myself!
They were about to confiscate me, and separate us, but upon their venturing to lay hands on me my scream of rage scattered and sent flying both the police agents and the idlers that had gathered about, like a flock of sparrows!