ive orders for the murder of the women
and children?"

"I fear he will do so," Rujub answered gloomily.

Each day Bathurst had learned in the same manner as before what
was doing in the prison. Isobel was no longer being nursed; she was
assisting to nurse Mary Hunter, who had, the day after Isobel was
transferred to the prison, been attacked by fever, and was the next
day delirious. Rabda's report of the next two days left little doubt in
Bathurst's mind that she was rapidly sinking. All the prisoners suffered
greatly from the close confinement; many had died, and the girl's
description of the scenes she witnessed was often interrupted by her
sobs and tears.

CHAPTER XXI.

While Bathurst was busying himself completing his preparations for the
attempt, Rabda came in with her father.

"My lord," she said, "I tremble at the thought of your venturing your
life. My life is of no importance, and it belongs to you. What I would
propose is this. My father will go to Bithoor, and will obtain an order
from one of the Nana's officers for a lady of the zenana to visit the
prisoners. I will go in veiled, as I was on the day I went there. I will
change garments with the lady, and she can come out veiled, and meet you
outside."

"I would not dream of such a thing, Rabda. You would be killed to a
certainty when they discovered the trick. Even if I would consent to the
sacrifice, Miss Hannay would not do so. I am deeply grateful to you for
proposing it, but it is impossible. You will see that, with the aid of
your father, I shall succeed."

"I told her that would be your answer, sahib," Rujub said, "but she
insisted on making the offer."

It was arranged that they were to start at nine o'clock, as it was safer
to make the attempt before everything became quiet. Before starting,
Rabda was again placed in a trance. In reply to her father's questions
she said that Mary Hunter was dead, and that Isobel was lying down. She
was told to tell her that in an hour she was to be at the window next to
the door.

Rujub had found that the men inside the prison were those who had been
employed as warders at the jail before the troubles began, and he had
procured for Bathurst a dress similar to that which they wore, which
was a sort of uniform. He had offered, if the attempt was successful,
to conceal Isobel in his house until the troops reached Cawnpore, but
Bathurst preferred to take her down the country, upon the ground that
every