"Spoken like my beloved and honoured father!" I exclaimed, "and I am now happy. I ask your blessing, and leave you to carry our plans into execution. We shall meet again at Puttuncherroo in the evening." "Inshalla! we shall," he replied. "Be wary and careful. I apprehend no danger; but you had better take some men with you." "I will," said I, as I rose to depart; "I will take some of my own, whom I can trust;" and I left him. My horse was soon ready and my men prepared; but some conveyance was necessary for Azima, and I ran to a house a short distance off where dwelt a man who had a cart for hire. I had been in previous treaty with him, to be ready in case I should get intelligence of Zora, and had engaged him to go as far as Beeder. "Come," said I, "Fazil, I am ready and the time is come." "And the lady?" said the fellow, grinning. "Ah, she is ready too, only make haste, we have not a moment to lose." "Give me twenty rupees for my mother, and I will harness the bullocks and put in the cushions and pillows." "Here they are," said I; "now be quick--by your soul be quick!" "I will be back instantly," said he; and he disappeared inside his house, but returned almost immediately with the cushions and curtains of his cart. "There," said he, as he completed his preparations and jumped on the pole, where was his driving-seat, "you see I have not been long. Now whither shall I drive? to the city?" "No," said I; "to Hussain Shah Wullee's Durgah. Do you precede, and we will follow you, for I know not the road." "I know it well," said he; "follow me closely." "Does it lead through the Begum Bazar or the Karwan?" I asked. "Through both, or either, just as you please." "And is there no other way?" "There is, but it is somewhat longer. We must go by the English residence and turn up towards the Gosha Mahal; the road will lead us far behind both the Karwan and Begum Bazar." "That will do," said I; "I wish to avoid both." "Bismilla! then," cried the driver, "let us proceed;" and twisting the tails of his bullocks, a few gentle hints from his toes about their hind-quarters set them off into a trot, which, however, they exchanged for a more sober pace before we had got far. I allowed him to proceed to some distance, and then put my small party in motion. CHAPTER XXI.