o thread its way between them. It did
not appear that anything had been done to insure their sinking broadside
to the current, the reason being probably that, whatever might be
attempted with this design, the river would have its will with the
vessels as soon as they sank.

"Our only chance," said Desmond, "is to get hold of the subahdar. If we
can only capture him the rest should be easy--especially as Hubbo is on
the next sloop, which screens the subahdar's from the rest. It is out of
speaking distance from the fort, too--another piece of luck for us. I
shall think things over in the night, Hossain; be sure to wake me, if I
am not awake, at least a gharri {half an hour} before dawn."

It was the first of January, 1757. At half-past seven in the morning a
heavily-laden petala was making its way slowly against the tide down the
Hugli. Four men were on board; two were rowing, one was at the helm, the
fourth stood looking intently before him. The boat had passed several
vessels lying opposite Tanna Fort, at various distances from the bank,
and came abreast of the last but one. There the rowers ceased pulling at
an order from the man standing, who put his hand to his mouth and hailed
the sloop.

An answer came from a man on deck inviting the caller to come on board.
With a few strokes of the oars the petala was run alongside, and Hossain
joined his brother.

"Is it well, brother?" he said.

"It is well," replied Hubbo.

Desmond at the helm of the petala looked eagerly ahead at the last sloop
of the line. He could see the subahdar on deck, a somewhat portly figure
in resplendent costume. A small dinghy was passing between his vessel and
the shore. It contained a number of servants, who had brought him his
breakfast from the fort. The crews of the other vessels had prepared
their food on board.

After a time a dinghy was let down from Hubbo's sloop. Hubbo himself
stepped into it with one of his crew, and was rowed to the subahdar's
vessel. Desmond, watching him narrowly, saw him salaam deeply as he went
on board.

"Salaam, huzur!" said Hubbo. "Your Excellency will pardon me, but
bismillah! I have just discovered a matter of importance. Our task,
huzur, has lain much on my mind; we have never done anything of the sort
before, and seeing on yonder petala a man I know well, who has spent many
years on the kala pani, I ventured to ask if he knew what time would be
needed to sink a ship with several holes drilled i