One day, as they were plodding slowly on, a little cavalcade of men and camels and Ghoorka soldiers, coming from the opposite direction, met them. On both sides a halt was immediately called. Tom, who was in front, saw, as the party opened out, that a litter was being carried between them. His pulses had begun to beat so furiously that he could scarcely breathe or speak, and he motioned that Hoosanee should speak for him. A few words were exchanged. He could not hear them for the tumult of his senses. Then Hoosanee came up. 'Well!' he said fiercely. 'My master, it is Tikaram. He is dying.' 'If he is _dead_, he must speak to me,' cried Tom. In the next instant he had sprung from his horse, and was standing beside the litter. He set aside the curtains and looked in. At the sight of him, the fever-stricken wretch within, who had been lying in a kind of trance, seemed to be galvanised into new life. 'Are you the rajah?' he said feebly. 'You--promised--a lakh of rupees.' 'A lakh!' echoed Tom. 'I tell you that if you have found them--if you can guide us to where they are--I will make you rich beyond the dreams of avarice.' The man gave a deep sigh. 'A lakh!' he said slowly. 'But tell me! tell me!' said Tom. 'A lakh!' he repeated. 'I could win it yet. But I am dying.' 'You shall not die. I have medicines with me and nourishing food. Good God!' He broke into English in his agitation. 'The man is going, and he knows something. I read it in his eyes. Hoosanee, bring me wine or spirits.' A strong restorative was brought in a cup, which Hoosanee put to the lips of the stricken man. He swallowed a few drops, and his eyes, which had been closing, opened once more. Tom was going to speak again; but Hoosanee stopped him. 'Let me speak, my master,' he said. 'The life is nearly gone, and flutters like a spent flame. A breath may put it out.' 'Right!' said Tom. 'Take my place!' Then, in the silence of both cavalcades, Hoosanee stooped over the litter. 'Do you know me, O brother?' he whispered. 'You are the seller of garnets,' answered Tikaram. 'You came to Nowgong, and the lotus-eyed trusted you, and you carried her away.' 'She was taken from me, Tikaram.' 'She was taken from you. I saw it all. I followed her to the fort, and when the evil-hearted Soubahdar took her out of the gates----' He paused. 'Let my brother go on,' said Hoosanee gently. 'There is no enemy here. Why did the Soubahdar take the lotus-eyed forth?' 'The White Ranee commanded him. She was black of heart and evil. I saw her at the gate, and she saw me, and her servants, whom she commanded, caught me by the girdle and would have slain me, only that the God whom I serve was my friend. For a night and a day I lay like one dead, suffering grievously. My strength came back and I set out in search of her.' Again his breath failed him; but a few drops of Hoosanee's potion made him strong enough to go on with his tale.