well-known border signal proved effectual, and the horsemen--it was
now clear that there were two of them--approached rapidly. Gerrard
uttered an exclamation of astonishment as he saw by the moonlight that
one of them was a European, and rode back to meet him.

"Bob!" he exclaimed, in utter surprise, as Charteris slipped from his
exhausted horse. "What is it?"

"Bad news. No use going on."

"What! They are not dead?"

"Murdered--both of 'em. Tomb was shelled, but they held out. Then
Sher Singh sent messengers to the escort--promised 'em double pay to
join him--pair of gold bracelets to Nihal Singh. They accepted and
went over--left Nisbet and Cowper all alone, except for a few faithful
servants. Cowper was too badly wounded to get up, he was lying on his
cot, and Nisbet sat beside him holding his hand. There was no hope of
further resistance, and they told the servants to escape if they could.
One of 'em hid, and brought the news to me just now. Sher Singh's men
burst in, with old Sarfaraz Khan at their head, shouting all the
wickedness he could lay his filthy old tongue to. Nisbet told him he
might kill them, as they were only two to thousands, but that he might
be sure thousands of English would come and destroy Sher Singh and his
city."

"And they killed them?"

"Hacked 'em to pieces, and took their heads to Sher Singh."
Charteris's face twitched, and he turned away angrily.

"There's no possibility that the servant's tale is false, I suppose?"

"I wish to Heaven there were. But why should Sher Singh make things
out worse when they were bad enough already? Besides, I questioned the
fellow pretty sharply, and he was not to be shaken. So I started at
once to catch you up."

"Thanks," said Gerrard absently. "That poor little woman, Bob! How
will she ever stand it?"

"Doesn't bear thinking of," said Charteris brusquely. "Question is,
what are we going to do?"

"Why, what can we do? Rescue their bodies, do you mean?"

"Not a bit of it. Look here, Hal; I've been thinking it out as I came
along. Sher Singh has drawn the sword and thrown away the scabbard
now--burnt his boats, in fact. He can't stop where he is and take his
punishment quietly; he must call upon the Granthis generally to back
him up. Remember, they wouldn't rise against us in cold blood, but now
that he has plucked up courage to give them a lead they'll go. The
servant tells me that they called upon the escort to join the