into the city. Before two
minutes had passed one had ridden back to the orderly, who reported to
the Colonel that the Dakoon had commanded the shooting of five men of
the tribe of the outlaw hill-chief, Pango Dooni, against the rear wall
of the Palace, where the Dakoon might look from his window and see the
deed.

The Colonel sat up eagerly in his chair, then brought his knuckles down
smartly on the table. He looked sharply at the three men who sat with
him.

"That clinches it," said he. "One of those fellows was Pango Dooni's
nephew, another was his wife's brother. It's the only thing to do--some
one must go to Pango Dooni, tell him the truth, ask him to come down and
save the place, and sit up there in the Dakoon's place. He'll stand by
us, and by England."

No one answered at first. Every face was gloomy. At last a grey-haired
captain of artillery spoke his mind in broken sentences:

"Never do--have to ride through a half-dozen sneaking tribes--Pango
Dooni, rank robber--steal like a barrack cat--besides, no man could get
there. Better stay where we are and fight it out till help comes."

"Help!" said Cumner bitterly. "We might wait six months before a
man-of-war put in. The danger is a matter of hours. A hundred men, and a
score of niggers--what would that be against thirty thousand natives?"

"Pango Dooni is as likely to butcher us as the Dakoon," said McDermot,
the captain of artillery. Every man in the garrison had killed at least
one of Pango Dooni's men, and every man of them was known from the Kimar
Gate to the Neck of Baroob, where Pango Dooni lived and ruled.

The Colonel was not to be moved. "I'd ride the ninety miles myself, if
my place weren't here--no, don't think I doubt you, for I know you all!
But consider the nest of murderers that'll be let loose here when the
Dakoon dies. Better a strong robber with a strong robber's honour to
perch there in the Palace, than Boonda Broke and his cut-throats--"

"Honour--honour?--Pango Dooni!" broke out McDermot the gunner
scornfully.

"I know the man," said the Governor gruffly; "I know the man, I tell
you, and I'd take his word for ten thousand pounds, or a thousand head
of cattle. Is there any of you will ride to the Neck of Baroob for me?
For one it must be, and no more--we can spare scarce that, God knows!"
he added sadly. "The women and children--"

"I will go," said a voice behind them all; and Cumner's Son stepped
forward. "I will go, if I may ri