"Not attacked on the road," said Brace, excitedly. "No," said the rajah, hastily; "my people would not attack him." "There's something wrong at the barracks," cried Brace, excitedly. "He said treachery." I felt the blood thrill through my veins at these words; and then I stepped closer to Gunner Denny, whose eyes had now opened widely, and he was staring wildly round, till his gaze rested on me, and he made a sign to me to bend down. "Look out, sir," he said, in a faint voice. "Ah! Water!" His eyes seemed to film over, but as water was trickled between his lips, he swallowed a little with difficulty, and revived, while we leant over him, listening intently for his next words. "Mutiny," he panted; "don't go back." "What!" cried Brace; and I saw a movement amongst the rajah's people, and they gathered round him. "This morning," said Denny, faintly. "Quarters seized; Major and Mr Barton cut down." "Great Heavens!" cried Brace. "Masters of the barracks--Sepoy regiment--down town--murdered their officers--I--got away--came on, and--" He uttered a low sigh and fainted. "Dr Danby! You hear?" "Yes," said the doctor, in a low voice. "What I always feared. They've risen against us at last." "But both regiments? Absurd!" "No; of course our men wouldn't. And they've seized the barracks, I gather. Brace, old fellow, we're in for it. The storm has broken." "I don't understand you. There is trouble with the native infantry regiment, I suppose, and some of the men have gone up and seized our barracks. Oh, why was I not there?" "Because you've other work to do, man," whispered the doctor. "Look at the rajah. Brace, old fellow, we shall have to fight for our lives. This is the first flash of the fire; the whole country is rising in revolt." "No, no; impossible!" said Brace. Then, turning to the rajah, he saw that in his face which made him flash into a tempest of passion, and he seized the double rifle he had thrown on the ground, cocked both barrels, and advanced furiously toward the chief, while at his first menace the men advanced, drew their tulwars, slung their shields round from where they hung over their shoulders, or presented spears. "You dog!" roared Brace, whose manner had completely changed. "You knew of all this!" The rajah waved one hand to his men, who stopped short, scowling angrily, and with their dark eyes flashing, as, following my captain's example, I cocked my own piece. "Captain Brace will not fire on his host," he said, in very good English, and I saw his nostrils quivering as he spoke and stepped forward. "We have eaten salt and are brothers." Brace lowered his piece and I did the same. "Yes, I knew of it," said the rajah, quietly. "That the men of the native regiment meant to mutiny," cried Brace, "and did not warn us?" "I knew and did not warn you," said the rajah, quietly. "What treachery!"