I knew him at once to be my cousin Rupert.

"Which of you is named Ford?" he asked, speaking in the Indian
language; for it was too dark for him to see my face.

"I am," I answered in English, sitting up.

He placed his finger to his lips, and stepped across the hut to where
I was, while my three companions raised themselves eagerly on their
elbows, to know what passed.

Rupert, who still wore his Moor's dress, kneeled down on the straw
beside me, and whispered in my ear--

"Hist! I am come to arrange for your escape, but you must say no word
to these others, lest they should want to join you, which would only
serve to ruin our chance."

"In that case," said I, answering him aloud in English, for I
mistrusted him, "it is useless to proceed. I will entertain no project
to escape which does not include these gentlemen here with me."

Rupert ground his teeth, cursing me beneath his breath for a fool. But
Mr. Holwell promptly rebuked me.

"You are not to act like that, Ford," he said. "Neither I, nor, I am
sure, either of these other gentlemen would consent that you should
refuse any offer of escape merely because it is not extended to us
also."

My cousin, seeing that I was resolved not to have the conversation
private between us two, now addressed himself to the others.

"I heartily wish it were in my power to deliver you all, gentlemen,
but unfortunately that is what I can't do. I have secured a means by
which I may carry off my young kinsman here, though at great danger
to myself. But if it comes to the four of you, then I confess I must
abandon the scheme."

On this Mr. Holwell renewed his protestations, urging me by no means
to neglect Rupert's offer.

"But how is it, sir," he added, speaking not unkindly, "that I find
you, an Englishman, and a relation of young Mr. Ford, in these parts,
and apparently in a position of influence with the natives?"

"Oh, as to that, it is an old story," replied my cousin, coolly.
"I came to Bengal first by land from the Malabar coast, in the time
of the late Nabob, and for that reason I was not at first included
in the hatred which Surajah Dowlah bore to the English on the
Hooghley. However, the efforts which I made to restrain the Nabob's
vindictive proceedings, and the disgust which I showed at his late
barbarities, have greatly weakened my credit with him. I believe he
knows or suspects that I am merely casting about for an opportunity
to quit his service, and has s