Chapter Six.
Reginalds’s Expedition in Search of Nuna—Burnett sets off for the same Purpose—Adventures in a Temple—Disappearance of Faithful—The Brahmin’s Treachery—Buxsoo gains important Information—Plans for liberating Nuna—Faithful escapes from her Prison, and turns the Tables on the Traitors.
The important information which had arrived was to the effect that the expected English resident, with two regiments of sepoys and a company of English troops, was on his way to Allahapoor, and would in the course of a few days reach the city.
The preparations for their reception now gave ample occupation to the rajah and his nobles.
As soon as Reginald had an opportunity, he told Burnett of the unexpected information the rajah had communicated regarding his birth.
“I have no reason to doubt it, yet it seems so strange, that I can scarcely believe the fact that I am the grandson of the old man, and that the beautiful girl of whom we caught a glimpse is my sister.”
“I can believe it very readily,” answered Burnett. “To tell you the truth, I fancied that I saw a likeness, and it struck me that she was far more like a European than an Oriental; besides which, no Indian woman of high rank would have been allowed to be present at the introduction of strangers. It was very evident that the rajah had broken through the usual customs of the country when he permitted us to see his grand-daughter. The more I think of it, the more anxious I am to try and recover her, as it seems strange that she should have been spirited away without any clue to the place in which she is concealed. You must get the rajah’s leave to set off at once; and beg him to allow us to go together. My plan will be to scour the country with two or three hundred horsemen; and if she is concealed, as I suspect is the case, by some fugitive rebels, we are certain to come upon them, and shall be able to compel them to surrender her.”
“You may command the horsemen, if the rajah will give them, and I will try a plan I have thought of. My idea is to set out with Dick Thuddichum and Faithful, and one native as a guide. I have fixed upon one of the sons of Dhunna Singh,—a fine, intelligent young fellow, who will, as we travel through the country, pick up information from the natives, and thus we shall be more likely to find out where Nuna is concealed than will be any number of armed men.”
Burnett confessed that Reginald’s plan might be more successful than his; but they had to wait till the next morning for the rajah to decide.