as well to secure a few coils of rope, as it may be an easier
task to get up than to come down again--especially if we have got a
young lady with us."

"But if we were to be seen carrying the rope, suspicion of our intention
would be excited, and the rebels would take measures to counteract it,"
observed Reginald.

"Then we must not let them see it," answered Dick. "I would not mind
carrying a coil covered up in a piece of muslin, to look like a turban,
on the top of my head; and I dare say Mister Buxsoo and the nigger here
would do the same. And though I am pretty stout already, I would coil a
few more lengths round my waist; and if the natives were to find out by
chance what I had got about my body, they would only fancy that I was
doing a bit of penance like themselves. Keep up your heart, sir; and if
the young lady is shut up in the old tower, as you suppose, we'll
manage, by hook or by crook, to get her out."

We must now return to the temple in which Reginald and his party had
taken shelter a few nights before. The Brahmin Balkishen and his slave
were not the only occupants; and as soon as the travellers had gone,
another personage crept out of a small chamber in which he had been
hidden during the time of their stay, an interested spectator of their
proceedings. He was no other than Khan Cochut. Hearing of the rajah's
restoration to power, he was on his way back to Allahapoor with a
cunningly-devised tale, by means of which he hoped to be restored to
power. The astounding information, however, that he received from
Balkishen made him change his plans, and he resolved, at all events, to
defer his visit till a more convenient opportunity. The two worthies
were actually holding a discussion together, when they were interrupted
by the arrival of Reginald's party. Khan Cochut, though not very
scrupulous, hesitated about firing, although he might have done so from
his place of concealment, and have killed Reginald and Buxsoo, whom he
himself feared; but, on the other hand, he might have missed, and have
been caught and killed himself. Altogether, he came to the conclusion
that it would be more prudent to try and ingratiate himself with the
young rajah, till he could safely retire with the wealth he had
accumulated.

His plan had been to go boldly to the court, to assert that he had been
carried off by the orders of the rebel Mukund Bhim, and pretending to be
greatly surprised on hearing of the abduction o