‘I have fought with Hyder Ali many a time; and he who has done that may call himself a soldier,’ retorted Lingoo.
‘Well, so much the better; but say, what will ye do? here are ten or twelve; half that number is enough to protect the village, especially as the Mahrattas are gone on; will ye come?’
‘Pay us half our due here first,’ said the man, ‘and we are ready—six of us. Have I said well, brethren?’
‘Ay, that is it,’ cried several. ‘How know we that the gentlemen would not take us on, and send us back empty-handed, as the last did?’
‘By Alla, that was shameful!’ cried Kasim; ‘fear not, ye shall have half your money.’
‘Kasim, O Kasim Ali!’ cried a voice from the top of the tower, interrupting him,—it was the Khan’s, and he spoke hurriedly,—‘Kasim, come up quickly!’
‘Holy Prophet, what can it be?’ said Kasim, turning to the tower, followed by several of the men. They were soon at the summit.
‘What see you yonder?’ asked the Khan, pointing to a light which was apparently not very far off.
‘It is only a watchfire in the fields of the next village,’ said the Naik. But as he spoke there broke forth a blaze of brilliant light, which at once shot up to the heavens, illuminating a few clouds that were floating gently along, apparently near the earth.
‘That is no watchfire,’ cried Kasim, as it increased in volume every moment; ‘it is either a house which has accidentally caught fire, or the Mahrattas are there. Watch, all of ye; if there are horsemen, the light will soon show them.’