"My regiment took the lead," said the rissaldar, proudly. "We had long chafed under the commands of the huzoors. At last we rose and made short work of our officers. You see here--" and he touched a rent in his right side, "where one of them tried to stop the thrust that ended him. But I clave him to the chin, the swine-eater, and when Larrence-sahib attacked us at Chinhut we chased him over the Canal and through the streets." "Wao! wao! This is good hearing! Wast thou sent by some of the faithful to summon me, brother?" "To summon thee and all true believers to the green standard. Yet had I one other object in riding to Rai Bareilly. A certain Nazarene, Malcolm by name, an officer of the 3d Cavalry, was bidden by Larrence to make for Allahabad and seek help. The story runs that the Nazarenes are mustering there for a last stand ere we drive them into the sea. This Malcolm-sahib--" "Enough!" said the moulvie, fiercely, for his self-love was wounded at learning that the rebel messenger classed him with the mob. "We have him here. He is in safe keeping when he is in the hands of Ahmed Ullah!" "What!" exclaimed the newcomer with a mighty oath. "Are you the saintly Moulvie of Fyzabad?" "Whom else, then, did you expect to find?" "You, indeed, O revered one. But not here. My orders were, once I had secured the Nazarene, to send urgently to Fyzabad and bid you hurry to Lucknow with all speed." "Ha! Say'st thou, friend. Who gave thee this message?" "One whom thou wilt surely listen to. Yet these things are not for every man to hear. We must speak of them apart." The moulvie was appeased. Nay, more, his ambition was fired. "Come with me into the house. You are in need of food and rest. Come! We can talk while you eat." He drew nearer, but a woman's voice was raised from behind a screen in one of the rooms. "Tarry yet a minute, friend. I would learn more of events in Lucknow. Tell us more fully what has taken place there." "The Begum of Oudh must be obeyed," said Ahmed Ullah with a warning glance at the other. He was met with a villainous and intriguing look that would have satisfied Machiavelli, but the officer bowed low before the screen. "I am, indeed, honored to be the bearer of good tidings to royal ears," said he. "Doubtless I should have been entrusted with letters for your highness were not the city in some confusion owing to the fighting." "Who commands our troops?" came the sharp demand. "At present, your highness, the Nawab of Rampur represents the King of Oudh." "The Nawab of Rampur! That cannot be tolerated. Ahmed Ullah!" "I am here," growled the moulvie, smiling sourly. "We must depart within the hour. Let my litter be prepared, and send men on horseback to provide relays of carriers every ten miles. Delay not. The matter presses."