em to advance.

At that moment there was a cry raised by the sepoys--

"We are betrayed! We are betrayed! The rebel cavalry are upon us. We
shall be cut to pieces."

On hearing this Captain Hawkesford turned round, and saw a large body of
horse advancing, with an Englishman at their head. From their
appointments and general appearance, he at once knew that they were a
well-organised body of troops, and not like a rebel band; and as they
advanced he recognised Captain Burnett, with whom he was personally
acquainted. Even had they been rebels, they so far outnumbered his own
company of sepoys and his small party of Englishmen that he would have
had very little hope of contending with them successfully,--especially
as the sepoys showed no inclination to fight. He had indeed from the
first suspected that he had been misled by the information he had
received. It had been given by the traitor Balkishen, in the hope that
it would lead to the destruction of Reginald and the young ranee. He
therefore considered that it would be wise to assume a pacific attitude;
so as Burnett and his troopers advanced towards the gate he ordered his
own men to ground their arms, and going forward, he shouted out--

"Glad to see you, Burnett! We have made a terrible mistake, misled by a
rascally Brahmin; but, except that one poor fellow has lost his life, no
great harm has been done."

"Who is it?" asked Burnett anxiously, fearing that he might allude to
Reginald, of whom he had gained information from Buxsoo and Sambro at
the village where he had met them as they were purchasing provisions.

Captain Hawkesford's answer relieved his anxiety; and he soon had
evidence that Reginald was unhurt, by seeing him descend the steps,
accompanied by Nuna; while Faithful stood at the foot glaring round at
the strangers, of whose intentions she was not yet fully satisfied.

Reginald, from the place in which he had taken shelter, had observed
Burnett's approach; and overhearing the conversation which had ensued,
he knew that the tables were turned, and that his sister was at length
in safety. Captain Hawkesford, who feared that very awkward
consequences might ensue from his conduct, apologised to Reginald, and
made all the excuses he could think of.

Reginald, however, received these somewhat stiffly. "Had the ranee,
whom I had undertaken to conduct to her grandfather, been injured, the
case would have been very different," he observed. "As