, but his language
differed widely from either Mahratti or that spoken by the people
of Bengal. However, he signed to the troopers to lay down their
arms and, when they had done so, started to rejoin the others; and,
leading the horses, the party followed. The path was fairly firm,
and Harry had no doubt that it was used by fowlers, in search of
the game with which, at certain seasons of the year, the lakes and
morasses abounded.

When they arrived at the edge of the swamp, where the others were
awaiting them, Harry handed his sword to their leader. He and his
party then mounted and, surrounded by the Jats, rode to Bhurtpoor.
Their entrance was greeted with loud shouts and acclamations by the
populace. Making their way straight through the town, which covered
a large extent of ground, they reached the palace, a noble building
built upon a rock that rose abruptly from the plain. Ascending the
steep path leading to the gate, the party entered the courtyard.
Here the captives remained in charge of the horsemen, while the
leader went in to report to the rajah.

[Illustration: View of the Rajah's Palace, Bhurtpoor.]

Presently he came out, with four of the rajah's guard, and these
led Harry and Abdool into the audience chamber. The rajah, with a
number of personal attendants, entered and took his seat.

"You are an officer in the English army. What is your rank?" the
rajah said in Mahratti.

"I am a major."

"Of what regiment?"

"I am on the personal staff of the general."

"And this man?"

"He is a native officer, at present commanding a portion of the
general's escort."

"How was it that you were alone, last night?"

"I had ridden to Agra, the day before; and was too late, in
starting back, to gain the camp before it was dark. I lost my way
and, finding that we were in the heart of the morass, we were
obliged to wait till morning."

"It is well that you did not try to get out. Had you done so, none
of you would be here now.

"You speak Mahratti like a native."

"I was some years at Poona and, as a child, had a Mahratta woman as
a nurse, and learnt it from her."

The rajah was silent for a minute or two, then he asked:

"Does your general think that he is going to capture my town?"

"I do not know, but he is going to try."

"He will not succeed," the rajah said, positively. "We gave up
Deeg, because we did not want a large force shut up there. Our
walls are strong but, were they levelled to the gro