n the hull."

"That depends on the size of the holes, fool!" said the subahdar with a
snort.

"True, huzur; that is what the serang said. But he went on to tell me of
a case like your Excellency's. His ship was once captured by the pirates
of the Sandarbands. They drilled several holes in the hull, and rowed
away, leaving my friend and several of the crew to sink with the vessel.
But the holes were not big enough. When the pirate had disappeared, the
men on the ship, using all their strength, managed to run her ashore,
filled up the holes at low tide, and floated her off when the tide came
in again."

A look of concern crept over the subahdar's face as he listened. He was a
man without experience of ships, and became uneasy at the suggestion that
anything might mar the execution of his task. Manik Chand would not
lightly overlook a failure.

"Hearing this, huzur," Hubbo continued, "I venture to mention the matter
to your Excellency, especially as it seemed to me, from what the serang
said, that the holes drilled by the pirates were even larger than those
made by the mistris {head workmen} sent from the fort."

The subahdar looked still more concerned.

"Hai!" he exclaimed, "it is very disturbing. And there is no time to do
anything; the Firangi's ships are reported to be on their way up the
river; the dogs of Kafirs {unbelievers} may be here soon."

He bit his fingers, frowned, looked anxiously down the river, then across
to the brick fort at Tanna, then to the new mud fort at Aligarh on the
other bank, as if wondering whether he should send or signal a message to
one or the other. Hubbo was silent for a moment, then he said:

"Have I the huzur's leave to speak?"

"By the twelve imams {high priests descending from Ali, the son-in-law of
Mahomet}, yes! but quickly."

"There is a mistri on board the serang's boat who is used to working in
ships--a khalasi from Gujarat. He might do something on board your
Excellency's ship. If this vessel sank, according to the plan, the
Firangi would not be able to get aboard the others, and they would have
time to sink slowly."

"Barik allah {bravo!}! It is a good idea. Bid the mistri come aboard at
once."

Hubbo sent a long hail over the water. The serang cast off the rope by
which he had made fast to the sloop, and the petala came slowly down
until it was abreast of the subahdar's vessel. Hossain, Desmond, and
Karim stepped aboard, the last carrying a small box of tool