As the turban was stripped from the head of Hunsa the Pindari gave it a whirling twist that sent its many yards of blue muslin streaming out like a ribbon and the parchment message fell to the floor. "Ah-ha!" and a man, stooping, thrust it into the hands of the Commander. The Pindari who held the turban, threw it almost at the feet of Bootea, saying, "Methinks the slayer will need this no more." Bootea picked up the blue cloth and rolled it into a ball, saying, "If it is permitted I will take this to those who entrusted Hunsa with this foul mission to show them that he is dead." "A clever woman thou art--it is a wise thought; take it by all means, for indeed that dog's head will need little when they have finished with him," the soldier agreed. Kassim had taken the written paper closer to the light. At sight of the thumb blood-stain upon the document, he gave a bellow of rage. "Look you all!" he cried holding it spread out in the light of the lamp; "here is our Chief's message to us given after he was dead; he sealed it with his thumb in his own blood, after he was dead. A miracle, calling for vengeance. Hunsa, dog, thou shalt die for hours--thou shalt die by inches, for it was thee." Kassim held the paper at arm's length toward Barlow, asking: "Is this the message thou brought?" "It is, Commander." Kassim whirled on Hunsa, "Where didst thou get it, dog of an infidel?" "Without the gate of the palace, my Lord. I found it lying there where the Sahib had dropped it in his flight." "Allah! thou art a liar of brazenness." He spoke to a Jamadar: "Have brought the leather nosebag of a horse and hot ashes so that we may come by the truth." Then Kassim held the parchment close to the lamp and scanned it. He rubbed a hand across his wrinkled brow and pondered. "Beside the seal here is the name, Rana Bhim," and he turned his fierce eyes on Barlow. "Yes, Commander; the Rana has put his seal upon it that he will join his Rajputs with the British and the Pindaris to drive from Mewar Sindhia--the one whose Dewan sent Hunsa to slay your Chief." "Thou sayest so, but how know I that Hunsa is not in thy hand, and that thou didst not prepare the way for the killing? Here beside the name of the Rana is drawn a lance; that suggests an order to kill, a secret order." He turned to a sepoy, "Bring the Rajput, Zalim." While they waited Bootea said: "It was Nana Sahib who sent Hunsa and the decoits to slay Amir Khan, because he feared an alliance between the Chief and the British." "And thou wert one of them?" "I came to warn Amir Khan, and--" "And what, woman--the decoits were your own people?" "Yonder Sahib had saved my life--saved me from the harem of Nana Sahib, and I came to save his life and your Chief's." Now there was an eruption into the chamber; men carrying a great pot of hot ashes, and one swinging from his hand the nosebag of a horse; and with them the Rajput.