e have deprived the ruling powers of the opportunity for a tremendous
object-lesson in justice and clemency. Our only chance is to make it
perfectly clear what a fight we have had. They may say we ought to
have taken a larger force, but they can't very well blame us for acting
in self-defence. And if the bodies have obviously not been touched----"

"You mean that otherwise Speathley is quite capable of accusing us of
looting? Bob, if he attempts anything of the kind, I have done with
the Company for good and all. I have had about enough. I daresay the
old Habshi will take me into his service."

"Vice General Desdichado dead of drink? I think I see you playing the
part, old boy. No, stick to your colour--and your colours. We two are
in the same box, and whatever happens we'll keep together. I was
merely recommending caution. But here we are at the massy portal.
What'll you take that the lions were killed for food in the siege? No,
there they are. Sold again!"

Pride forbade Rukn-ud-din and Amrodh Chand to testify any alarm at the
place where they found themselves, but they hustled their willing
captives to the front of the cage with great celerity, hastened by the
growls which proclaimed that the lions had been awakened by the light.
The beasts seemed sluggish and disinclined to move, and Gerrard called
Charteris back with the lamp, that he might see better to perform the
complicated movements which closed the door. Almost as he did so, he
felt himself seized and flung violently sideways, Charteris following
and almost falling against him, while a heavy body descended violently
upon the very spot where they had been standing.

"What's up?" demanded Gerrard, between surprise and indignation.

"Oh, only the lion. Clear out of this, or we shall have the lioness on
us next. You don't seem to twig, my boy. Sher Singh has had the
chains lengthened!"

CHAPTER XXIV.

HONOUR AND HONOURS.

The course of events proved Charteris to be a good prophet.
Condemnation of the method adopted by Gerrard in attempting the arrest
of Sher Singh was universal. It was not the Brigadier alone who
pointed out, with much wealth of language, that the proper course would
have been to report his suspicions as to the Rajah's hiding-place, and
leave it to his superiors to detail a sufficient force--of which he
himself might or might not have formed a part--to effect the capture,
for the whole army were on the same side.