Sir Colin beckoned Ted to approach, and asked questions similar to those being answered by Jung Bahadur's informant. "Went all through the siege of Delhi, eh?" said he, when his enquiries had been satisfied. "And your friend also? Acting as lieutenants of Boldre's Horse now?" "Yes, sir." "Were you the fellows who got that information about the Nana a week or two ago?---- You were, eh? You seem to know the natives well. Wish more of my officers did. I'll see about---- Well, what does Mr. Jung want now?" The Gurkha prince rode up and addressed Ted in Urdu. "You were with my countrymen at Delhi?" said he. "How did they fight?" "Like heroes," Ted replied. "Ah, that was a fight of giants!" exclaimed the Gurkha with animation. "Would I had been there! But I heard about it, and the death of Nikkulseyn." The generals rode on, the boys saluted, and Ted said ruefully: "I believe he was going to say that he would see about confirming our appointments when old Jung interrupted." "Russell," said Claude solemnly, "I'm going to kidnap that Gurkha chap some dark night with a few of our Sikhs. Did you notice his diamonds? He just dazzled. Hullo, who's this?" With a group of English officers who had witnessed the incident was a gentleman wearing an unmilitary frock-coat and Hessian boots, whom Ted had observed more than once in intimate conversation with the commander-in-chief. He now greeted the boys, and courteously asked what had interested the Maharaja so. Ted explained, and the stranger thanked him, and after a few moments' conversation, in which he drew out the youngsters to speak of those things which interested them most, he rejoined his friends. "Who's that, Alec?" asked Ted. "He seems a clever chap. Decent too." "Don't you know? It's your namesake of the _Times_." "What? Dr. Russell?---- Crimea Russell?" "That's the man. Sir Colin seems to think a lot of him, and trusts him absolutely with his plans." Next day began the movements on Lucknow. On the morning of March 6th, Outram, with Hope Grant as second in command, set out to make a flanking movement and co-operate with Sir Colin from the north bank of the Gumti. They were to work along the north-east and north of the city with a strong column, while the main force pushed forward from the east and south-east, the two armies being in touch and their artillery able to play upon the same positions from different sides. The rebel defences, it must be borne in mind, were vast and strong. Outram's force marched away to the east, and to those ignorant of its destination it appeared to be deserting Lucknow. Before reaching the southward bend of the river the engineers constructed a bridge of floating barrels, over which the column crossed and proceeded northwards, and presently wheeled to the west and encamped, having completed the half of a circle. Alec Paterson was with Outram, Boldre's Horse with the Southern Army.