They were summoned, but none knew it. "Then," said I, "I will go even now and find it out, and will return when my plan is perfected." "And I will go and bring some of my men," said Bhudrinath; "I will be back by noon." "See that they bring their swords and shields, Bhudrinath; some of them may volunteer to accompany me." "I will do so for one, Meer Sahib; I have confidence in you in spite of your want of faith,"--and he laughed. "I understand you," said I; "you forgive me?" "Certainly; did I ever quarrel with you?" "No, indeed, though you had cause; I was foolish." "Why, what is all this?" said my father; "you have not surely been offended with each other?" "It is nothing," I replied, "for you see the end of it: but I am losing time, I must depart." I went into the city, and easily got a person to show me the Kotwal's habitation. It was in a long, narrow street, which did not appear much of a thoroughfare. This exactly suited my purpose, for we could have done little in a crowded place. It seemed very practicable to surprise the men who should escort our friends, and I had no doubt, if suddenly attacked, they would scamper off, and leave their prisoners to their fate. I returned, and laid the result of my inquiries before my father. He was not averse to the undertaking, but was in much alarm at the prominent part I should have to play, and the chance of our being defeated. "But," said he, "my son, these thoughts are the cowardly ones which affection often suggests, and Alla forbid they should have any effect with you; go, in the name of the Prophet, to whose protection I commend you." Towards evening, therefore, myself, Bhudrinath, and six others, two of whom were Rajpoots, who swore to die rather than come back unsuccessful, went into the city. We separated, but kept in view of each other, and they all followed me to the street in which the Kotwal resided. There we lounged about for some hours, and I grew very impatient. Would they ever come? had they even before this been tried, condemned, and cast into prison? were questions I asked myself a thousand times. That the durbar was being held I knew by the number of persons who went in and came out of the house, but still there was no sign of our brethren. I was sitting listlessly in the shop of a Tumbolee, almost the only one in the street, when Himmat Khan came up to me. I saw by his face that he had news, and descended from the chubootra, upon which the man exposed his goods, and turned round a dark corner. "They come," said he, panting for breath from anxiety; "I have been watching one end of the street, and Khoseal Sing the other: they are coming by my end, and will be now about half-way up." "And by whom are they guarded?" I asked. "Oh," said he, "a parcel of Line-wallas--about twenty soldiers with old muskets; we could cut through a hundred of them." "Have they their bayonets fixed?" I inquired.