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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 18:57:23 -0700 |
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diff --git a/44789-h/44789-h.htm b/44789-h/44789-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d178f03 --- /dev/null +++ b/44789-h/44789-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8044 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Noble Queen (Volume III of III), by Philip Meadows Taylor. + </title> + +<link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> + +<style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 45%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:smaller; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; } + +/********** CSS taken from HTML best practices ***********/ +h1 +{ + text-align: center; + font-size: x-large; + font-weight: bold; + line-height: 1.6; +} + +h1 small +{ + font-size: small; +} + +h2 +{ + text-align: center; + font-weight: bold; + line-height: 1.5; +} + +.spaced +{ + line-height: 1.5; +} + +.space-above +{ + margin-top: 3em; +} + +#half-title +{ + text-align: center; + font-size: large; +} + +@media print, handheld +{ + #half-title + { + page-break-before: always; + page-break-after: always; + margin: 0; + padding-top: 6em; + } +} + +#toc +{ + margin: auto; +} + +#toc th +{ + text-align: right; + font-weight: normal; +} + +#toc td +{ + padding-top: 0.75em; + vertical-align: top; +} + +#toc td.chapnum +{ + text-align: right; + padding-right: 0.5em; +} + +#toc td.right +{ + text-align: right; + padding-left: 3em; + vertical-align: bottom; +} + + +/********** CSS taken from HTML best practices ***********/ + + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44789 ***</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[i]</a></span></p> + +<h1> +A NOBLE QUEEN:<br /> +<i>A ROMANCE OF INDIAN HISTORY.</i> +</h1> + +<p class="spaced space-above center"> +<small>BY</small><br /> +<big>MEADOWS TAYLOR,</big><br /> +<small>C.S.I., M.R.A.S., M.R.I.A., &c.<br /> +AUTHOR OF 'SEBTA,' 'TARA,' AND OTHER TALES.</small> +</p> + +<p class="spaced space-above center"> +<small> +'O, never was there queen<br /> +So mightily betray'd!'<br /> +<i>Antony and Cleopatra</i>, act i. sc. iii. +</small> +</p> + +<p class="spaced space-above center"> +IN THREE VOLUMES.<br /> +VOL III.</p> + +<p class="spaced space-above center"> +LONDON:<br /> +C. KEGAN PAUL & CO., 1 PATERNOSTER SQUARE.<br /> +1878. +</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[ii]</a></span></p> + +<div class="center"> +(<i>The rights of translation and of reproduction are reserved.</i>)<br /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[iii]</a></span><br /></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[iv]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CONTENTS<br /> +OF<br /> +THE THIRD VOLUME. +</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="center" colspan="3"><i>BOOK IV.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">CHAPTER</td><td align="left"> </td><td align="right">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">I.</td><td align="left">THE KING'S ENTRY</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">II.</td><td align="left">PARDON</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">III.</td><td align="left">THE TRIAL</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">IV.</td><td align="left">FREEDOM</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_50">50</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">V.</td><td align="left">CHANGES IN SOME POSITIONS</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_68">68</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VI.</td><td align="left">PROCEEDINGS AT GOA</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VII.</td><td align="left">THE INQUISITION</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_104">104</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VIII.</td><td align="left">A DEATH, A MARRIAGE, AND A DEPARTURE</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_126">126</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center" colspan="3"> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="center" colspan="3"><i>BOOK V.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">I.</td><td align="left">A SKETCH OF LOCAL HISTORY</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_148">148</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">II.</td><td align="left">A PLEASANT JOURNEY</td><td align="right">154<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">III.</td><td align="left">THE PROGRESS OF THE SIEGE</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_168">168</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">IV.</td><td align="left">THE ASSAULT</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">V.</td><td align="left">DIEGO'S DEATH AND THE BISHOP'S EMBASSY </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_208">208</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VI.</td><td align="left">PEACE FOR AWHILE</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_228">228</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VII.</td><td align="left">THE SECOND SIEGE OPENS</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_244">244</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VIII.</td><td align="left">THE LAST TRAGEDY</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_257">257</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">IX.</td><td align="left">CONCLUSION</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_273">273</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td align="left">NOTE</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_286">286</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td align="left">GLOSSARY</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_287">287</a></td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + +<div class="center"><big><b>A NOBLE QUEEN.</b></big><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<div class="center"><big><b>BOOK IV.</b></big><br /></div> + +<h2>CHAPTER I.<br /> + +THE KING'S ENTRY.</h2> + + +<p>The triumphal entry of King Ibrahim II. into his capital was not +only a glorious sight to its people, but an assurance that the long +and disastrous wars between the rival States of Beejapoor and +Ahmednugger were at an end. King Ibrahim had kept the field +against the conspiracy of his cousin, the Prince Ismail, who was +supported by a large portion of his own army under Eyn-ool-Moolk, +and by his uncle, Boorhan Nizam, Shah of Ahmednugger; +and against the possible advance of the Portuguese of Goa, +whose skill in war was well known in the Dekhan. The King +of Ahmednugger, however, could make no impression on the +Beejapoor troops, who defended the frontier stoutly, and, falling +ill, died in his camp at Puraindah. His son Ibrahim, a youth,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +was placed upon the throne, and soon after again pressed the +war against Beejapoor, which brought on the general action in +which Humeed Khan, the uncle of Abbas Khan, had proved +victorious; and as the troops of Ahmednugger fled from the field +with the loss of the whole of their artillery and war elephants, +the long continued struggle came to an end, and the Royal +army returned to Beejapoor, escorting their King in triumph. +"On the 18th Mohorrum," writes the historian of the period, +"the King made a triumphant entry into Beejapoor amid the +acclamation of the people, who on this occasion had adorned the +streets with gold and silver tissues, velvets, brocades, and other +rich cloths and ornaments." But it was not the splendour of the +spectacle which gratified the people; it was the assurance of +safety and security from further disturbance, for which all were +thankful. Those who had wavered in their allegiance now declared +a hearty loyalty; and the southern invaders, under the +Hindoo Prince of Penkonda, who had joined the conspiracy on +the assurance of the conspirators that they might thus regain the +dominions they had lost, having been defeated and driven back, +there remained no part of the Beejapoor dominions that was not +in profound peace after a long series of years of rebellion; and +the people rejoiced in a real gladness which had not been felt +for several generations.</p> + +<p>As we already know, the force under Abbas Khan had marched<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +northwards to the aid of the King; but as the rainy season +was at its height, King Ibrahim had taken up his position at the +fort of Shahdroog, or Nuldroog, and had left Humeed Khan with +the main body of the army to watch the frontier and repel incursion +should it take place. Abbas Khan, therefore, on receiving +orders from the King, had marched to join his uncle, and arrived +in time to take part in the finally victorious battle.</p> + +<p>From his uncle he had received a very hearty and affectionate +welcome, the particulars of which need not be recorded here; and +it was with a great satisfaction that the veteran commander heard +the details of the combat in the presence of the Queen Dowager, +and the discovery of Osman Beg's treason. Abbas Khan had, +indeed, to recount all the passages in his life which we already +know of, which to his uncle had been so grievously misrepresented. +There was nothing left but for Abbas Khan to show his valour in +the next engagement that ensued, which proved to be a very severe +one, for the left wing of the Beejapoor troops was broken by an +impetuous charge of ten thousand of the Ahmednugger cavalry. +Many nobles and high officers of rank were slain, and many +fugitives rode at once to the King's camp declaring that the whole +army had been routed. For three days the King was in the last +degree of anxious uncertainty, till a despatch from Humeed Khan, +sent by the hand of his nephew, who could describe the action, +assured him of the most perfect victory. Then it was, too, that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +day might have gone hard for the Royal army but for the exertions +and daring bravery of the fresh force under his nephew; and he +related, also, how bravely the enemy's heavy battery had been +stormed by the Beydurs, who appeared unconscious of danger, +and how both Abyssinians and Dekhan cavalry had vied with +each other under their young leader. In a few days the King's +forces joined those under Humeed Khan near Sholapoor, where +public thanksgiving was made for the close of the war, and some +rewards and honours were publicly bestowed. But the grand +ceremony of all was to take place at Beejapoor on the day of entry +into the capital; and the King, carrying with him the whole of his +army, with the trophies in artillery and elephants, Royal camp +equipage and treasure that had been won, crossed the Bheema +river slowly, and, as we know, safely reached his destination.</p> + +<p>While in camp together, our friends Runga Naik and Abbas +Khan had held many an anxious conversation on the subject of +the old Syud Dervish and Zóra. Runga had told him of the +forcible abduction of the girl, and of her rescue by himself and +Burma; how, when he was obliged to leave Korikul, he had made +her and the Syud over to Burma's care, but from that time he +had no news of them.</p> + +<p>If they had left Kukeyra they might be at Sugger, or, possibly, +had gone on to Gulburgah; but nothing could be known for +certain till the men who were returning from his own force should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +reach their territory, and either bring the old man and Zóra +with them to camp or to Beejapoor. It was this very party which, +crossing the country direct from the Royal camp, so providentially +rescued Zóra, unharmed, and took her to her grandfather; and +regulating their movements by those of the King himself, arrived +in time to witness his triumphal entry. I trust this slight digression +will be pardoned, for, indeed, without it the position of the +parties would hardly be understood with exactness.</p> + +<p>After the slight interruption caused by raising the infirm old +man, the grand march was resumed; and the young King rode on, +with the bitter cry of the old Syud, "Daad! Daad! Justice! +Justice!" ringing in his ears, and the sightless eyes and feeble +arms raised to heaven. Abbas Khan's tale had distressed him +seriously; but he was here face to face with one instance of the +first King Ibrahim's cruelty, and the sin of it rested on his house. +Well, it could be condoned, perhaps, for the curse of a holy Syud +could hardly be averted even by penance; but he would do, as he +had vowed to Alla, what it was possible to do ere the sun set. So +the young Monarch rode on in his pride; Humeed Khan on his +right hand, Soheil Khan and the brave commander on his left, +preceded by his gold and silver mace-bearers shouting his titles, +and followed by the crowds of nobles and officers who composed +his train. The day was as yet young, but it was bright and clear; +and the flood of light glittering on morion and coat of mail,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +on cuirass and greave, on trappings and housings of gold and silver +cloth, on banners and standards, and the great white buildings +and palaces which stood out against the clear, deep blue sky, +formed a combination of splendour which the mind can hardly +realise, and which was well-nigh overpowering to all who saw it.</p> + +<p>As to Zóra, she—who had seen nothing in all her life of splendour +such as that—was fairly overpowered. She trembled, and +her cheeks flushed as the first portion of the troops issued from the +gate and passed them, drowning the feeble chaunt she and her +grandfather were raising. But alms were showered upon them, +and Ahmed had gathered up several times already what lay on +the sheet. When the hoarse cry arose of "The King cometh! +The King cometh!" and all heads bowed to the earth as he +passed on, she did not think of him, but of one that might be +with him. And yet, if he were, would he remember her? Would +he even see her? Ah! it was an anxious moment, and her beating +heart fluttered till she could hardly breathe. As the glorious +pageant went slowly past, she could see the face she sought +distinctly. Abbas Khan was riding near his uncle, conversing +joyously with him and others around him; and the appearance of +the gallant cavalier, dressed in glittering armour and cloth of gold, +was almost too dazzling to look at. There were hundreds of +Fakeers lining the road, crying for alms in stentorian voices. +How would the faint chaunt of an infirm old man and a girl<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +be heard amidst the din—the jangling bells of elephants, the +neighing of excited horses, and the cries of the Royal titles? +And Abbas Khan must have passed the group but for the sudden +action of her grandfather, who threw himself forward with +his shrill cry. Even then the grooms who ran by the King's +horse, which had been somewhat startled, would have removed +the old man, roughly enough, perhaps, from the Royal path; +but the action of Abbas Khan had been rapid, and instantaneous, +and decisive. What he had said to the King she could not +hear; but the King's reply, "Bring him to the palace instantly," +at once gave her the assurance she needed. Now Abbas Khan +had dismounted, and stood embracing her grandfather; and was +telling Runga Naik, who had seen all, to seek for his litter, which +was under some trees at a little distance. Poor Zóra had not been +able to obtain one at Almella, and she had ridden her own stout +pony, which was also brought up; and she was preparing to +mount it when Abbas Khan cried, "Stay, Zóra! not in this +crowd; here is a palanquin of the King's for thee." So she +entered it, shut the doors, and was carried on. There was no +time for words. The whole scene was to her so altogether strange +and unexpected that she could not find speech to thank any one; +and as she shut the doors of the palanquin, and was safe from observation, +her overcharged heart found relief in a burst of grateful +sobs and tears.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> + +<p>As the King's procession went on towards the city, outside the +walls, for he had to receive the blessing of the Chishtee priest +whom we know of, it was easy for Abbas Khan to turn off with +his charge into the gate of the citadel, while Runga Naik brought +up the baggage ponies behind. All was comparatively clear in the +citadel, and would be till the King arrived; so that Abbas Khan +had no difficulty in speaking to one of the chief eunuchs of the +private apartments, whom he knew, and putting his old friend +and Zóra under his charge. He could not stay; and galloping +after the procession soon overtook it, and resumed his place by his +uncle's side.</p> + +<p>"Who was the girl beside the old man who helped to raise +him up, and whom my horse well nigh trampled down? I never +saw a more beautiful and expressive face in my life," said his +uncle with, as it seemed, a peculiar smile.</p> + +<p>"She is the old saint's granddaughter, sir; and has devoted +her life to him. Yes, she is beautiful."</p> + +<p>"Then thou hast seen her, Abbas?"</p> + +<p>"I have, uncle. The night I was in delirium at Juldroog she +watched me, and gave me medicine and cool sherbet; but I could +only see her face as that of one in a dream, and I have never +looked on it since but once, and that only as a passing glance, till +to-day, when I could not help seeing her, for the handkerchief she +had tied over her turban had fallen off. It is evident that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +Syud hath taken the vow, perhaps at Gulburgah, where His Highness +Geesoo Duráz made him a Wallee."</p> + +<p>"Was he a Fakeer before then?" asked his uncle.</p> + +<p>"No, sir. Though he called himself a Dervish, yet he had +not taken any degree as a Fakeer, and people only called him +Dervish. When he confided to me his identity his chief prayer was +to be allowed to go free, that he might pay his vows at Sugger and +Gulburgah, where, it appears, he was raised at once to the highest +rank; and his title now is Luteef Shah Wallee. His is a sad +story, uncle. Dost thou remember it?"</p> + +<p>"I was a mere boy then," was the reply, "and used to attend +the durbar with thy grandfather; but I quite remember the sadness +with which all the city heard that Syud Ahmed Ali, the +physician, had been blinded and sent to Juldroog. Everyone +grieved for him, for he was not only the most learned of all at +Court, but the most charitable. Many will remember him, and +Ekhlas Khan was an intimate friend. Yea, it will cause a murmur +in durbar when his name is mentioned, for he has been clean forgotten; +and it was believed he had died soon after he was imprisoned. +And thou hast told the King all?"</p> + +<p>"All," replied the young Khan. "As the old Dervish told the +tale to me, so did I repeat it faithfully; and I told him, too, how, +under the Lord's will, he had saved my life."</p> + +<p>"And what said he?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He wept, uncle; and said that the curse of a Syud should +never rest upon the Adil Shah's realm or people; that search +should be made for the Dervish. Then one day there came a +holy man with a great retinue from Gulburgah, and told him—I +was there—how a Fakeer had preached in the mosque, and a +miracle had been done, and the heretofore Dervish had been made +a Wallee at once, as the people demanded. And the King said to +me, 'Thou art witness, Abbas Khan, that if I ever am blessed by +the old man I will restore to him and his all he has lost.'"</p> + +<p>"And he will do it, too," replied Humeed Khan. "And +amidst the rejoicings of to-day one heart will be gladdened."</p> + +<p>"Ameen! Ameen!" was the reply; and the conversation +dropped.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER II.<br /> + +PARDON.</h2> + + +<p>Meanwhile Zóra and her grandfather had been conducted by +the eunuchs through the entrance corridor into a suite of small +but elegant apartments, which opened into a court and garden +behind the palace. Their servants were brought in by a separate +passage into a little kitchen and adjoining room; and there were +baths and everything necessary for a pleasant, though necessarily +confined residence. Here Zóra and old Mamoolla soon spread +her grandfather's carpets, and they found cushions and bedsteads +already provided. Presently, when all was arranged, Zóra led the +old man to the cushions, and he sat down with a sigh of +thankfulness.</p> + +<p>"Where am I?" he said. "Surely I heard Meeah's voice? +Where has he gone? Bring him to me."</p> + +<p>"You are in the King's palace," said Zóra, throwing her arms +around him. "Be thankful, Abba, that all thy sorrows and trials +are over. We are safe in our refuge at last."</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, "at last! More than forty years have passed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +over me since they sent me away to exile, blinded and in torment. +Dost thou think I have forgotten that?"</p> + +<p>"O, Abba!" cried the girl, putting her hand over his mouth, +"didst thou not tell me when the Fateha was said before the +tomb at Gogi that thou hadst forgiven King Ibrahim? Was it for +thy blindness, Abba?"</p> + +<p>"I am again rebuked, Zóra, and will forgive still; but it is hard +to forget the past, and the joy with which I came forth from Almella, +and within an hour was taken out, blind and bleeding! Forgive +me, child! that I am false to thee. And forgive me, O Ibrahim! +who hast received me back, that this bitter thought should have +come into my mind. Yes, as I entered, I felt I was within the +palace. This I am sure, by the turns we took as we entered, was +the very apartment which I used to dwell in whenever my visit +was prolonged. I even now scent the jessamine and tube roses of +the little garden, and I feel as though I were in my old seat, with +the soft south wind blowing on me. Methinks I see the blue +Damascus tiles which are inlaid round the arches, and the carved +window of the Zenana beyond."</p> + +<p>"It is even so, Abba," said Zóra, much moved, as her grandfather +pointed out the several objects with his finger. "Nothing +has been changed; everything is as perfect now as it was then, +and looks as quiet and peaceful as our little Zenana used to do at +Juldroog."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But it is only a gilded cage, my child; and I shall long to be +free again, and to teach and preach, ay, and beg as I used to do +even at Juldroog. And here there is more to do, else the Lord had +not brought me."</p> + +<p>"But, Abba, dear Abba!" began Zóra; and he interrupted her +with, "Be patient, child! Dost thou think I do not welcome this as +a place of rest, even as thou dost? And when Meeah comes he +may bestow us elsewhere, when we can go and come with freedom. +Then we shall have our own house, and our own servants, and +palanquin, and bearers; and a sweet garden where I shall love to +sit and discourse on the mysteries of holiness with the learned of +the city, and on medicine with the physicians; and thou wilt have +thy pigeons and flowers, and find out poor people and relieve +them."</p> + +<p>"Enough, enough, Abba!" cried Zóra, laughing and crying at +the same moment. "Thou wouldst make a princess of me at once, +and art tempting me by a hundred delightful anticipations fit but +for the noble and great. But I see only my Fakeer's garments, +and think of my uncompleted vows. And after all, am I not your +humble little Zóra?"</p> + +<p>"Thou art my precious treasure, child!" replied the old man, +with emotion; "and the most noble house in Dekhan cannot produce +one like thee."</p> + +<p>Almost as he spoke, the curtain, which was drawn across the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +entrance, was partly raised, and a man's voice said hurriedly to a +companion, "The rooms are occupied by strangers, Maria; we +must retire."</p> + +<p>Zóra started to her feet, and rushed hastily forward. She +saw two figures she at once recognised retreating into the corridor, +and cried, "Maria! Maria! it is only your little Zóra; and Abba is +here. Oh, come to us, we are alone."</p> + +<p>In their turn Maria and her brother started. There was +no doubt left when they saw the slight figure stretching out +its arms with a low cry of joy, and the soft, flushed cheeks wet +with tears; and a moment after they were locked in each other's +arms, and approached the old man's seat, who was crying out joyfully, +"Come! come to me, my friends; we are, indeed, with you +at last. O Padré Sahib, thank the Lord with me that we are here +safely, and in honour, for of a truth we have endured much."</p> + +<p>Maria was not changed, save that the bright rosy colour of her +cheeks had increased under the effects of better health; and she +had attained a true majesty of beauty which far exceeded that +which Zóra used to look on with wonder at Juldroog. Zóra seated +her beside her on the cushions, but she could not give vent to +her feelings of delight. Her loving brown eyes looked up like +those of a dog to her friend; she threw her arms round her, and +kissed her forehead, her eyes, her lips, passionately, hardly able to +speak, except to say, "Thou art here, Maria, and restored to me.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +Oh, yes, to me, who in all my troubles and tears have never forgotten +thee; and this which thou gavest me," and she drew the +little silver cross from her bosom, "has never left me, and has +been my charm and deliverer of my honour when all hope of my +deliverance seemed gone. And thou hast been happy, Maria?"</p> + +<p>"Very happy, my darling," returned her friend, "longing to +hear of you and Abba, but could obtain no news of you. Your +little letter and the feather reached me safely, and I have them +still at home. And I wrote a reply to you, Zóra, and my brother +gave it to Abbas Khan, for I was able to write that the Queen had +ordered Abba and you to be sent to her, and that he would be +restored to his old rank; and I knew you would like to hear the +good news from me, Zóra. But we had no reply, and then I heard +of the Nawab's ill-treatment of you, and that you had escaped, and +the Queen thought you might come direct to her."</p> + +<p>"And I would have done so had I heard from Meeah," said +the old man; "but I soon learned he had reached the city, and +what could I have done alone?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," observed the Padré, "we were more than a month +detained on the road, as Abbas Khan's horse fell, and his wound +opened again. He had a severe return of the fever, and I feared +for his life. Nor did he stay when he arrived; after the combat +with the Abyssinian champion, whom he slew, the Queen sent him +to the army, and I hear he has returned to-day."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, and we have seen him," said Zóra; "and he brought us +here. And thou art with the Queen, Maria?" she continued.</p> + +<p>"I am with both of them, Zóra; but chiefly, by desire of Queen +Chand, with the Queen Taj-ool-Nissa, whom my brother hath +restored to health, and she is now strong and well. It is such a +change, Zóra, and we laugh, and say the King will not know the +miserable wife he left. And she has grown very dear to me, and +loves to talk of you, who, she says, must be her sister. Come, +shall we go to Queen Chand, she will be vexed with me if I take +you not?"</p> + +<p>"But I must change these clothes, Maria; it is not fitting for +me to appear before her with these Fakeer's garments."</p> + +<p>"On the contrary, child, she will love thee the more, and +honour thee for wearing them. See, Abba, I am carrying off +Zóra already," she continued, "and my brother will be security for +me that I bring her back safely."</p> + +<p>It was a strange thing to Zóra to feel herself guided through the +intricate passages and corridors of the huge palace, and to see the +strange deference and respect shown to Maria by all the eunuchs +and Mámas on duty. At length they reached the entrance to the +private apartments of the Queen Dowager, and after a brief colloquy +with the eunuchs at the door, were admitted, and led to the +Queen's seat by one of the women in attendance.</p> + +<p>"Thou art welcome, Maria," she said, kindly; "but who is this +thou hast brought with thee?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is Zóra, your Majesty, of whom I have so often spoken. +She would have taken off her Fakeer's dress; but I said I was +sure she had better come as she was."</p> + +<p>"And you were right, child. I welcome thee in the name +of the King, thee and thy grandfather. By the blessed Prophet, +how lovely thou art: come hither and embrace me."</p> + +<p>What idea Zóra had previously entertained of a real Queen it +is difficult to say: something very awe-inspiring, no doubt, and +magnificent; but at the sight of the slight girlish figure and plain +muslin dress of the great Queen whose praises were in every one's +mouth, and who had held the power of the whole kingdom, Zóra +became assured, and advanced to kiss the Royal lady's feet, and +embrace her as she desired.</p> + +<p>"Power of God!" cried the Queen as, having embraced Zóra +she took both her cheeks in her hands and turned them alternately +to the light, and looked into her soft glowing eyes; "Power of +God! she is lovely, indeed, even in this poor dress. But thou hast +not taken the vows, Zóra?"</p> + +<p>"No, my Queen, not yet; but when my grandfather was exalted +in rank at Gulburgah I would have done so, but for a worthy lady +of Golconda, who would not allow me."</p> + +<p>"And she was right, child," returned the Queen; "such vows +only belong to widows and devotees; but thou, may God forgive +the thought, art neither one nor other; and if the blessing of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +Chand Beebee avail aught, she will live to see thy children +about thy knees;" and, stretching forth both her hands, she +placed them upon Zóra's head, praying for her welfare. Then +Zóra sat down and told her what had befallen her since the time +that Osman Beg carried her off, and the escapes she had had, +particularly the last. How her grandfather attained the rank of +Wallee; and, in short, all the story we know up to the events of +the morning.</p> + +<p>"Remember that thou art my guest," said the Queen, as she +dismissed Zóra; "and thou shalt want for nothing. Perhaps," she +added, "thou mayest be required to-morrow at the durbar, for +Osman Beg hath arrived in custody, and there may be need of +thy evidence, should he deny what is alleged against him. Thou +wilt not be afraid of the King's presence and the durbar?"</p> + +<p>"I am only a poor weak girl," said Zóra, casting down her +eyes; "but I have never yet been ashamed before God or man, +and have no reason to fear the King or the durbar. But I have forgiven +the Nawab freely. I have no claim upon him or against +him; I have left all to the good Alla to judge between us. Yet, lady, +had not my poor friends Runga and Burma Naik, whom I have +known since I was a child, rescued me, I had surely been despoiled +of my honour, and become an outcast. Now, blessed be the +Lord, I can stand before my lord the King, or you, gracious lady, +without shame, or a thought of shame. Forgive me that I speak<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +so freely, lady; but thou art as a mother to me, and my tears and +my thoughts well up together without restraint. I know none of +the manners of a court, for hitherto I have been secluded, and +my speech may appear curt and abrupt; but my thoughts are not +so—indeed, indeed, they are as a child's before its mother."</p> + +<p>"Thy speech is good courtly Persian, at which I marvel, child," +returned the Queen, "and thou needest not be ashamed of it, Zóra; +and thy fearlessness doth thee honour. Yes, I will be thy mother +truly; and though thou mayest have forgiven thine enemy, the State +hath not, and it is not seeming that such acts as Osman Beg's should +be passed by unnoticed. Now depart, both of ye, for I hear the +kettledrums from the city, and I have much to do ere the King +enters. Bid thy grandfather eat something and be ready, for I +have no doubt he will be sent for soon after His Majesty arrives."</p> + +<p>As they passed the entrance to the young Queen's apartments, +Maria asked whether they might be admitted; but it was too +late; the Queen was in the bath, and her attiring would scarcely +be finished before the King arrived. Then they went down +to the old man and his friend, whom they found deeply engaged +in the discussion of the young Queen's ailments; and in the +Padré's treatment of the case the old physician heartily agreed. +Zóra delivered the Queen's message, and after a bath, which +Ahmed had prepared, the Wallee's costly robe of honour and his +crown were put on him. Zóra had changed her tunic for one of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +her simple woman's dresses, and they sat enjoying pleasant converse +in regard to the past, while the salvoes of cannon, braying of +trumpets, and loud nobat music playing on the terrace above, +announced to them the arrival of the King.</p> + +<p>Nor had they to wait long. Another salute from a battery of +cannon before the Hall of Audience announced that he had taken +his seat; and two of the gold mace-bearers in waiting arrived to +request the attendance of His Holiness Luteef Shah Wallee as +soon as possible. And then the old man rose, and, led by Zóra, +whom he declared must guide him, passed by the lower corridors +into the great hall. It was a strange sight to the nobles and commanders +assembled there, to see the venerable man led by the +simply, not to say coarsely, dressed girl to a seat apart from the +rest, and near the group of holy men who had already taken their +places. All rose in deference to the new comer, whose rank was +indeed superior to that of any there; but he was spared the difficulty +of performing any act of reverence to the King himself, who, +rising, went to him, while Zóra fell back under charge of one of +the mace-bearers, an elderly eunuch, who took care of her; but +she could see and hear perfectly whatever passed.</p> + +<p>"We have sent for thee, illustrious Syud," said the King, as soon +as silence was enforced—for the murmur of astonishment and pity +had been loud and full of emotion—"to do an act of justice, which +shall mark this happy day with a deed peculiar to itself. We had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +heard of the illustrious Syud before from Abbas Khan, who was for +a time at Juldroog, and we had vowed to send for him. But, lo! +as if by a miracle, or the direct interposition of the Most High, +as we entered the city gate, we found him present before us. +In the humble garb of Fakeers he and his granddaughter appeared +by the wayside, and he fell at our horse's feet. The just and +Almighty Alla had, by a strange course of circumstances, guided +them to our feet, not as they were in their exile, but with increased +glory and honour; for at Gulburgah the Prince Geesoo +Duráz, with other princes and learned doctors of Islam, had conferred +upon him, in regard to his power over men's minds, his +learning, and piety, the spiritual rank of Wallee; and as such, we +ourselves, as we vowed, present him to you, O friends and +brothers in the faith, and pray you to do him reverence, as we +ourselves do, in the presence of ye all; for the Lord hath brought +to us in honour one whom our ancestor Ibrahim—may peace +be on his memory!—blinded and cast out to exile, where he was +forgotten and might have died, but for the aid of Him in whose +service his life had passed."</p> + +<p>Then many wept. Many who had known the old man in his +prosperity, and thought him dead, pressed forward with tears and +quivering features to grasp his hand once more, and kiss his +feet; while cries of "Deen! Deen! A miracle! a miracle! May +the saint live in peace and honour!" rose from all parts of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +vast hall, and were taken up without with an enthusiasm which +spread among the people even to the far ends of the city; and men +saluted each other with the message of peace and the blessing of +God, and the cry, "The sin of the State has been removed, let +us be thankful."</p> + +<p>When the tumult had subsided, the King, standing on the step +of the throne, cried again with a loud voice, and said: "Know all +men, and brothers in Islam present, that before food or water hath +passed our lips to-day, we freely and entirely revoke the cruel +sentence passed on the illustrious Syud Ahmed Ali, now Syud +Luteef Shah Wallee. We implore, in the name of our ancestor, +forgiveness for the shame and pain he hath endured for forty years, +and pray him to intercede with Alla the Most High, and His holy +messenger, to wipe out this sin, and remove it for ever from us +and our people. We further establish this our illustrious saint in +all the possessions and estates which were granted before; and we +give, in addition to these, the pergunna of Kokutnoor, the scene of +his child's delivery from violence. So let it be, Ameen! Ameen!" +Nor was a soul present who did not cry "Ameen! Ameen!"</p> + +<p>"Zóra! Zóra!" cried the old man, who was trembling with +excitement, and feeling about with his hands, "raise me up and +support me, else I cannot speak. Zóra, the Lord hath won the +victory for us, and there is no longer aught hid from thee, O my +child. Let her come to me, Sir, for I need her aid;" and there was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +a way opened for her, and he felt the soft warm hand steal into his, +whilst her gentle "I am with thee, Abba," assured him. A strange +sight was it to all that gorgeous assembly; the venerable old man +leaning on the shoulder of the slight girl. He, clad in his rich +saint's robe, and his crown with which he had been crowned; +Zóra in her humble dress of soosi, and her plain muslin scarf now +covering her face. But she was calm and dignified, and her +modest self-possession struck those who saw her with wonder and +admiration.</p> + +<p>Then the old man stretched forth his hands and blessed +the King, and the Queen who sat above, and all the people. +"What can I say, my King?" he cried; "what can I say? +My poor speech is dumb, but my heart goeth forth to thee +and thine, and to all present who behold me. As I came hither, +O King, I rested at Gogi, and distributed Fatehas at all thy +ancestors' tombs; but my heart was hot and hard and sore within +me, and I was about to pass King Ibrahim's tomb, when God sent +me a rebuke by the mouth of this poor child: 'Forgive him,' she +cried, 'forgive him; go not away from this place till thou hast +forgiven him;' and I kneeled down by his tomb, struck by +remorse, and bared my head, and cast dust upon it, and cried, 'I +forgive thee, O Royal master, all thou didst to me, and may it be +forgiven to thee in the day of judgment.' And my heart was softened, +and I was accepted at Gulburgah because I preached peace<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +to the people, as, Inshalla, I will do here, and there will be no more +war or trouble. And now, O King, bid me depart home to rest, +for I am old, and the events of this day have overpowered me."</p> + +<p>Then the King ordered the ushers to bring a robe of honour, +and he put it on the old man with his own hands, and hung a +valuable string of pearls round his neck, to serve as prayer beads, +while the people around the hall still cried blessings on them! +and Zóra heard voices in the Queen's balcony crying, "Ameen; +Ameen!" with, as she thought, Maria's blending with them, and +sobbing too. While she led her grandfather back towards their +apartments, Zóra hitherto had been able to repress her emotion, +but finding Maria already there, she fell on her neck and wept +passionately. She felt not only thankful for the honour accorded +to Abba, but for what spoke to her heart more deeply and fondly, +that Abbas Khan, and a noble old officer, whom she supposed +to be his uncle, had been looking at her all the time. Nay, +had she not heard their cries of joy and congratulations rising high +above all others! And, late in the day, Meeah brought his uncle, +and they kissed the old man's feet, and delivered the King's command +that he should attend the great durbar on the morrow at +noon. But Zóra had retired; she dared not look on them.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER III.<br /> + +THE TRIAL.</h2> + + +<p>Somewhat before noon on the following day the tall, burly figure +of a man, who wore a dress of red cotton cloth, advanced slowly +over the short turfy sward which lay beneath some huge adansonia +trees in the fort. They were situated at some little distance +from the gate of the citadel, by themselves, with no buildings near +them, for the spot was considered impure and unholy, being, in +fact, the usual place of execution in Beejapoor. A few persons +were following him, and as he stopped and seated himself in the +shade of one of the trees, some of those who had gathered round +him began to question him as to what was to happen, for the +executioner rarely made his appearance in his official costume +unless some event were to follow.</p> + +<p>"Who is it to-day, Khan Sahib?" asked one of the bystanders, +with an expressive jerk of his head. "Who is to be sent to Paradise +or to Hell? Nothing has happened for a long time past, +but now the King has come again, thy hands will be full of +work."</p> + +<p>"Yes, brothers," returned the grim functionary; "while Queen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +Chand was in authority, there was no business. She is a great +deal too kind and compassionate, and she cheated me out of one +fellow who was bigger than I, and the greatest bully and villain +in Beejapoor, by letting that brisk young fellow, Abbas Khan, kill +him. Now I should like to have slain that devil, because he was +too mean for the young Khan to meddle with, and he was always +mocking me and scoffing at my sword, which, he said, was nothing +in comparison to his 'kussab,' as he called it, which I ought to +have had also, but the Kotwal has taken it. Now look, friends, +can anything be more beautiful than this?" and, rising, he +drew from its scabbard a broad-bladed sword, rather broader at +the point than at the hilt, with a point nearly square, with some, +to him, strange-looking letters upon it, which he believed to be +a charm. The motto, indeed, was—</p> + +<p> +"Inter arma silent leges,"<br /> +</p> + +<p>and the sword had been forged in Germany. "All I know is, +friends, that the blade is a true 'Allemagne;' and though it is as +sharp as any razor, and I got Daood Sahib, the King's armourer, +to retouch the edge to-day, there will not be even a notch in +it when I have done my work, and not a cloud on its fair polish. +Ah, sirs, that 'kussab' of the Abyssinian's is a brutal weapon, to be +used but by main strength; whereas this, my Allemagne, requires +only skill, and when any great person is made over to me, I use +it and no other."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then it is some great person, Khan Sahib, who will go to +judgment to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, friends, I know not," returned the executioner. "Some +one belonging to the Prince Ismail's affair was brought from the +south in a palanquin which was fastened up; and I know pretty +well, when Hyat Khan sends me word to go to the trees and remain +there, what that means. Now, go away, all of ye, for no one must see +this put into its scabbard, lest an evil glance fall on it. My art is +vain, unless the edge be keen and firm. Away with ye all, I would +be left to my prayers and meditations. When ye see the palanquin +come out of the gate yonder, ye can return if ye will, and see what +I do." And when all around him had gone, the man put the blade +of his sword to his forehead and chest reverently, made a salaam +to it, and slowly and carefully replaced it in its richly embroidered +velvet scabbard; and as the muezzins of the neighbouring +mosques sang the midday call to prayer, spread his +waist-belt on the green sward, and performed his devotions, for +the executioner was a devout man, careful in the stated observances +of his faith.</p> + +<p>The citadel was now a busier scene than when Queen Chand +acted as Regent in the absence of the King. There were so many +more dignitaries to be received, so much relating to the army to +be arranged, so many rewards and dresses of honour to be distributed, +that the approaches to the palace were always crowded.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +This did not affect our friends in the least, as they were not only +pleasantly secluded, but at such a distance from the exciting crowds +and turmoil, that they saw none of it, and heard only a little. At +the council of the night before, all the public accounts for the +period of Queen Chand's administration, which had been prepared +beforehand, were read to the King, and duly audited. Many new +patents of nobility as rewards for service, and grants of estates, +were ordered to be drafted, Syud Luteef Shah Wallee's among +the number. And we are glad to record also, that not only Abbas +Khan, now created Khan Bahadoor, and commander of five +thousand, but Runga Naik was received into the lower grade of +nobility, and created lord of twenty villages near his own ancestral +estate of Korikul, and was to receive a dress of honour in full +Court. Assuredly his service had not been in vain, while other +rewards, in proportion to their merits, were allotted to his brave +followers. But all these were minor points; the business assigned +to the morrow was of a much more important nature, for as they +sat in the councils hall, Hyat Khan, the Kotwal, announced to +the King that Osman Beg, the Governor of Juldroog, had arrived +as a prisoner, and asked how he should be disposed of. The +Queen Chand, who was sitting beside her nephew, said, "Son, I +claim thy attention to this case first, for it is of grave importance +to many that the truth should be made manifest to all, and justice +be done. We would have seen to it ourselves when you were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +absent, but we thought thou shouldst decide upon it. It is a +painful case, but justice must be done."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, and without favour, aunt. Yet why not by thee? +Is there any power thou dost not share with me? Is there any +order of thine to which I do not bow? Yet"—for the Queen was +waving her hand in deprecation of his expressions—"yet, if thou +wilt, I will be present with thee, and we will share the task +together. Let the prisoner be well lodged and cared for, Khan +Sahib," he continued to Hyat Khan; "let his arrival be announced +to his father, who may visit him, and let him be present +to-morrow at the afternoon durbar, when we shall be at +leisure."</p> + +<p>And now the time had come. The King as he rose had received +many persons of rank, and transacted his usual business +with the Ministers. He then retired for awhile; but, after the +noonday prayer, had entered the great hall of audience, and, due +proclamation having been made within and without, he took his +seat on the Royal throne, which had now been properly arranged. +This was, in fact, a broad, low, wooden stool, with cushions of +rich velvet, with a back also of wood, both being covered with thin +plates of gold, inlaid, especially the back and canopy, with very +rare and valuable precious stones, arranged in ingenious patterns. +Queen Chand sat by her nephew, on her usual seat or cushion of +velvet, and dressed in her usual simple fashion; but the King,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +though he wore white muslin only, had a precious jewel in his +turban, and a necklace of large diamonds and emeralds, which +flashed brightly whenever he moved. Before him lay a light Court +sword, in a purple velvet sheath. He looked younger, as indeed +he was by three years, than Abbas Khan, who, with other officers +of the private Court, stood rather behind and to one side of the +Royal daïs; but he was of slighter make, while his features, +though delicate, were of darker colour than those of Abbas Khan, +whose complexion was almost ruddy.</p> + +<p>A little lower, on the first broad step or platform of the daïs, +sat the old Syud, Luteef Shah Wallee, in the place of honour +nearest to the King and Queen; and just behind him, indeed +touching him, the slight form of Zóra, dressed in her ordinary +coarse garb, was seen covering her face as well as she could +from the earnest and curious glances of those who, were wondering, +as before, at her presence among so large a company +of men. Behind her was the priest, Francis d'Almeida, who +cheered her every now and then; but his sister, for whom Zóra +was longing, sat above in the Queen's balcony with the other +ladies-in-waiting and servants. The hall itself appeared the +same as on the first day we saw it, except that the dresses of +the courtiers were not of a military character, but of simple white +muslin, crossed by a baldrick of gold lace or tissue, which was +intended to hold a sword; but such weapons were carried in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +the hand, while a knife or dagger with jewelled hilt was stuck +into the muslin girdle.</p> + +<p>When all the presentations had concluded, the King, having +had silence proclaimed, spoke with a firm voice, and said, +"Listen, O ye nobles and Ministers of the State! Sundry accusations +have been made against Osman Beg, son of the brave +Sooltan Beg, and we have caused him to be present here, before +us, before the law officers of the State, and before his equals and +superiors in rank. Let no one, therefore, say that this investigation +was held secretly, or otherwise than in the sight of the Lord +on high, and the day-beams of justice. Let, therefore, Osman Beg +be brought hither, and let him reply to these accusations."</p> + +<p>The old Syud could not see him, we know, but he stood +directly in front of Zóra as he entered, accompanied by a party of +the Kotwal's guards, and proclamation was made by the Mohur +that Osman Beg, Turcoman, stood before the throne. The prisoner +then made a deep obeisance to the King and Queen, which was +not returned by either, but to those assembled he made no +gesture of salute. He looked round defiantly as he crossed his +arms, and then, letting them drop to his sides, again saluted the +King slightly, and said with a firm voice, "I am present, O King, +to hear any accusation."</p> + +<p>At the sound of his well-remembered tones Zóra shuddered, +for the events of the last night she had seen him were too<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +fresh in her memory to be forgotten. But it was not a shudder +of fear, it was rather a repellent action as against a foul reptile, +and her cheeks flushed, and her tiny white teeth were set as if in +resolution.</p> + +<p>Then the chief Kazee spoke from his seat, and said, "This is +a case of treachery, O King, against thee, and thy person, kingdom, +and security. These letters were found on the person of the +Abyssinian slain in the combat of ordeal, and are addressed to +Elias Khan, who died in battle. Osman Beg, in the name of the +King, I ask thee if these are truly thine own; look at them."</p> + +<p>Osman Beg was not allowed to touch them, but they were held +near his face and turned in every possible direction. There were +many of them, the date and purport of each being read aloud by +a scribe present.</p> + +<p>What could he do or say? the writing was sometimes his own, +sometimes that of his confidential scribe. All the seals were his, +and corresponded exactly with that he wore on his finger as a +ring. He appeared to become weary of these documents being +read, and handed about to receive the criticisms of others; and, +with an impatient exclamation, for which he was reproved by the +ushers, and admonished to be more respectful, he said, "Do +not trouble yourself, Kazee Sahib, the letters are all mine; I deny +them not."</p> + +<p>"Then I will read one, only one, for His Majesty to hear," was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +the reply; and, standing up, the Kazee selected one and read it +so that all could hear. It was to Elias Khan, stating that the +Padré at Moodgul, Dom Diego, had agreed to all conditions; +that three thousand Europeans were ready at Goa; and that when +Eyn-ool-Moolk was prepared he should deliver over the fort to +any officers they might send, when he would join them; and, +having overpowered Abbas Khan's detachment, they would march +rapidly upon Beejapoor, put Chand Beebee to death, and take +possession of the treasury and the capital; while another party, +led by himself or Elias Khan, should pursue the King and bring +him to Beejapoor, or execute him in camp, as might be most +expedient.</p> + +<p>The Kazee could read no more, for there arose a shout in the +assembly of "Let the traitor die! Send for the executioner! Away +with him!"</p> + +<p>But Osman Beg turned in defiance to them all. "Dogs!" +he cried, "all this would have been, and more, had Eyn-ool-Moolk +not been slain, as Elias Khan was, by treachery. Ay! +and ye know it, one and all of this assembly. What I have +done, I have done; and what has happened is my fate. Yes, if +ye wish to know what the Padré at Moodgul did, and wanted to +do, get some one to read his letters. He was a brave fellow that, +and would have struck in for us. Very different from the other,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +who, I hear, is in Beejapoor; he was too great a coward to be a +traitor."</p> + +<p>"He confesses before the King, and before God and men, that +he was prepared to do all that is written in these letters by his +own hand; and the law is that the punishment is death," cried +the Kazee.</p> + +<p>"My lord! my King!" cried Abbas Khan, as he saw the King +was about to speak; and had he declared judgment, there would +have been no delay in execution, "I cry for mercy and pardon. +When I was ill and near to death in Juldroog he was kind to me; +he not only gave me protection, but attended me as a brother. +My King, he is my cousin, and we have played together when we +were children; nor was my King absent. For the sake of his +noble father, spare his life!"</p> + +<p>Osman Beg answered not a word. He stood, as he had done +hitherto, with his arms crossed defiantly, looking now to the +Kazee, now to the King, and now to his cousin, apparently defying +all.</p> + +<p>"Of a truth thou deservest death, Osman Beg. Thou wouldst +have, by thine own writing, put my venerable aunt, beloved of all"—and +the people cried "Ameen! Ameen!"—"to a cruel death. +Thou wouldst have slain me and thy cousin, Abbas Khan; and +thou wouldst have prolonged war and misery in our kingdom. +But it pleased Alla, the just and merciful, to frustrate all thy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +plots, and to bring them to naught; and for the sake of thine +aged father, who fought beside Humeed Khan in the last desperate +fight, and, when others fled, refused to fly with them, and still +rallied men round his standard, we, in the name of the Most +High, whose Regent we are over this people, give thee thy life; +for He hath spared His servant through fields of carnage; and we +would not, on the first day of taking our seat on the throne of our +ancestors, stain it with blood. But thou art disgraced; thy rank +and thy estates are confiscated; and thou canst stay here no +longer. If thou, Osman Beg, returnest under any pretence, +remember, the Kazee's just sentence shall at once be carried out. +Hyat Khan, see that he be removed and banished, conducted ten +coss beyond the frontier, and let to go whither he will."</p> + +<p>Osman Beg did not move. He glared around him with defiance +still, and, looking at the King, cried out, "I go, as thou wilt have +it, King Ibrahim; nor will I return to disgrace and dishonour. But, +before I depart, I claim justice at thy hands, justice which thy +meanest subjects may claim from thee. Give me my wife. Take +honour, rank, estates, what thou wilt, but give me my wife whom +I see sitting there with the Dervish of Juldroog. There!" he +shouted, as he pointed his finger at Zóra; "there! she is mine by +the law, and I claim her under the law. Give her to me and I +depart, and leave only my curse behind me."</p> + +<p>Then arose another shout, more fierce, more prolonged than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +the first. "He has forfeited clemency; he has insulted the holy +saint. Let him die!"</p> + +<p>"Is it so, Huzrut?" said the King, addressing himself to the +old Syud, as soon as silence had been proclaimed; "is it so? +Speak, or let the child speak. Fear not, maiden," he continued, +in a soothing voice to Zóra; "thou art in God's presence, and the +King's; speak as thou wouldst do, and wilt do, in the day of +judgment."</p> + +<p>"I have no complaint against him, my lord," replied the Syud. +"For what he did to my child when we were under him at Juldroog, +he will answer to God, who mercifully protected and delivered +my child and me from cruelty and insults. All that is past +now, and we are here in safety; and, for my own part, he is now +forgiven. I say, then, leave him to the Lord's will. Ask her, she +will not be ashamed to say the truth, even in the midst of thousands +of men. Rise, then, Zóra, and the Lord will give thee +strength, my child. Thou art a Syud, and a Syud's honour +trembles not before righteous judges. Men will not so much as +look at thee, child; for a Syud's honour is as precious to them +as it is to me and thyself."</p> + +<p>"Fear not, Zóra-bee," said the King, gently, "we are all thy +grandfather's friends and thine; but Osman Beg hath demanded +thee as his wife, and should have his reply from thyself, for thy +honour's sake. Speak, and fear not."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p>Zóra had trembled with shame and indignation as Osman Beg +made his demand, at once so appalling and disgraceful to her. +Her breast heaved with sobs, her eyes grew hot, and scalding tears +fell from them over her burning cheeks. She felt as though she +would have choked and died. But the girl's undaunted courage +did not fail her even in that dire extremity, and the solemn +adjuration of her grandfather and the gentle words of the King +stimulated her and assured her; and hastily brushing away the +tears which still glistened on her cheeks, and murmuring a silent +prayer, she rose to her feet with a calmness she had little expected, +and a kind of dread silence fell on the assembly at a scene +so novel and so strange. Above, in the Queen's balcony, she +heard a low clapping of hands, which gave her courage; and the +Queen Dowager's encouragement of "Fear not, daughter, no harm +can come to thee," was timidly acknowledged by a grateful look +and reverence.</p> + +<p>As she cast her eyes around, she saw that men's faces were +averted from her, and many heads bowed down; but opposite +to her stood Abbas Khan, his features quivering with excitement, +and his eyes as if striving to catch hers and give her +strength; while near the centre of the hall stood Osman Beg, +glaring on her defiantly, with a horrible expression of anticipated +triumph, which thrilled through her, but from which she did not +blench.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + +<p>Those who saw her remembered for years afterwards the +simple, modest figure, dressed in clothes hardly better than those +of a peasant, and the beautiful but excited face of the maiden. +And those who did not dare to look on her, heard only the tones +of her soft musical voice, which penetrated to every ear, and, +indeed, to every heart of the many who heard it.</p> + +<p>"Before the Lord God, and ye who hear me," she said, slowly, +"I am not his wife; and I have witnesses that I am not. I see the +Moolla of Juldroog, who has known me from my birth, sitting +yonder. Let him speak, if he be allowed." And as the King +assented and signed to him, the old man rose.</p> + +<p>"It is the truth, O King and brethren. I was summoned before +the Nawab one evening to perform a nika between him and Zóra-bee, +which I thought strange. But I found the whole affair a mockery, +and a shameful violation of all law and custom. Zóra was imprisoned +under charge of two women from Moodgul, and I called +for her in vain. Osman Beg dare not produce her. There was +no one to represent her. And to expect me, a humble priest of +God, to perform a mock marriage to cover his violence, was an +insult to me; and I rose and left the assembly, every respectable +person in it accompanying me and guarding me. Next day +messengers were sent in every direction to obtain a Moolla, but +none arrived until Zóra-bee and the old Syud had escaped. +There was no marriage, O King and brethren; and he lies before +God who says there was."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He lies!" cried Osman Beg, furiously; "he lies. She, +standing there shamelessly, had come to me before, and what I +did was to save her shame—the shame of a holy Syud, whom I +respected."</p> + +<p>This pitiless speech affected the assembly deeply. The +Moolla's evidence had carried conviction to every heart; but was +this terrible accusation true? Some even seemed to lose faith in +the girl, but her faculties were now strung to the highest tension, +and her spirit seemed to rise with the increasing danger of her +situation, as she cried,—</p> + +<p>"He says I am shameless, and that I came to him of my own +will. Let his slave Jooma, who stands yonder, say what +happened."</p> + +<p>Jooma, who with other witnesses had been brought from +Juldroog, being now called by the usher, stepped forward and made +a humble prostration; then rose, and joining his hands, said,—</p> + +<p>"Let my master do me no harm, O King, and I will speak the +truth."</p> + +<p>"No one can harm thee," replied the Kazee for the King. +"Speak truly, and without fear."</p> + +<p>"He," and he pointed to Osman Beg, "had often asked me to +bring Zóra-bee to him; but I had played with the child, and +gathered flowers for her, and I always refused; and he threatened +me. One day he ordered two other slaves like me to bring her,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +and when they refused, he drew his sword and slew one, and a +eunuch, who has run away, killed the other; and their bodies +were flung into a hole in the rocks, and are there still. Their +blood was wet on the rocks when he sent for me, and he had his +bloody sword in his hand. 'Go, and bring Zóra,' he said, 'else +thou shalt die!' And I was afraid; God forgive me for being +afraid, and I bowed my head, and said, 'On my head and eyes be +it.' And I took another slave with me, who knew nothing about +it; and we went to watch for the girl, and saw her come to the +bastion she loved, with Ahmed. Then we went down to them, +and I sent Ahmed away on a false message. Zóra was never +afraid of me. When Ahmed was gone, I seized her, and she +screamed; and I tied her up with my waist-band, and we took +her to the palace in a black blanket; and I carried her in my +arms, and laid her down on a bed where the Mámas were. Oh, my +lord King, I did wrong," continued the man, blubbering, as he +cast himself on the ground; "and if Zóra is to die, kill me also, +for it was I that did all the mischief. Not anyone else but me, +because he said he would slay me as he had slain the others. +Their bones are in the hole, and the new Killadar tried to get +them out, but he could not. Ask him."</p> + +<p>"As if a master could not slay an insolent slave whom he had +bought with his own money," cried Osman Beg, scornfully. "And +can such as he be believed against a true Moslem's word? I say<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +he lies, there was no force; and she came when I sent him to call +her."</p> + +<p>It was well for Zóra, then, that Osman Beg's cook, whom we +may remember, had also been brought. She now stepped forward, +and said, simply, "Jooma speaks the truth; Zóra-bee was brought +into the harem tied up in a blanket, and I saw Máma Luteefa and +her servant untying her. I went from the kitchen to look, as every +one was saying the Nawab had had Zóra carried off, and was going +to marry her; and I was ordered to cook pilao for the company. +And, for the matter of that," continued the old woman, as she +looked round confidently, as many cries of "Shahbash! well +done!" fell on her ears, "every one in the palace knew it; every +one in the fort. Why, I could name a score, yea, a hundred, who +knew it too. Why don't they speak out like me? His wife, +indeed! She was as much married to him as I was; and she is +as pure now as when she was born. Does the Nawab think any +one could have come to him without my knowledge? Shookr! he +should be beaten on the mouth with a shoe for all he is a Nawab. +Ask Goolab-bee, the pán woman; she was with Zóra and the two +Mámas of Moodgul all the night Zóra was carried off by Runga +Naik, and kept her safely as her own child."</p> + +<p>"We need hear no more, my friends," said the King. "For my +own part I am satisfied. Yet I ask her once more if she hath +aught to adduce?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Only these papers," she said, timidly, "which my grandfather +told me to preserve. This is the letter he wrote, and sent by +Máma Luteefa to Korikul. It bears his seal, and is in his own +hand; and he says he will come to us and have the marriage +done. The second is the deed he gave to the robber who +had instructions to carry me off from Kukeyra, and who +was killed; and with it is also the letter he wrote to the +Kazee of Kembavee, asking him to come and marry me to +him. Oh, my King and my lord, why should he have selected +me, a poor orphan and a Fakeer, for this persecution, from +which the Lord saved me many times? Even at Kokutnoor +I had not escaped from the robbers but for the heavy rain that the +Lord sent. If I had been guilty and shameless, as he declares I +was, would the Lord have helped me? If I had been married to +him, as he declares, why ask for me again? Why ask the good +Kazee of Kembavee to marry him to me? I am ashamed to speak +so much," she continued, timidly, "but her honour is dearer to a +Syud's child than her life. I had not thought to complain, and I +make no complaint. I have forgiven him freely, as I forgive him +now; and I would have been silent, but when he said I was +shameless, could I be silent? I have no father, no mother, my +lord, but you and the Queen. I am but a poor orphan crying to +you both for justice before the Lord."</p> + +<p>The reading of the several papers produced had, to all appearance,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +silenced Osman Beg, and his head drooped on his chest +despairingly; yet still, beaten back on every point, he made one +more last effort.</p> + +<p>"If I produce the Moolla who married me," he said, scornfully, +"will ye be content? Stand forth, Moolla Aboo Bukr, and speak +for me."</p> + +<p>"I, your slave, will speak the truth, master," he said, removing +the false beard he wore; and then prostrating himself before the +King, cried, "May I be your sacrifice, O King, but I am not even +one of the faithful; I am only a Hindoo, a poor buffoon, who +frequents marriages and festivals, and tries to amuse people. The +night Zóra-bee was to be married, and when thy servant found +the Moolla walked away in a huff, and we sat looking at each +other like owls, I clapped on my beard and wagged it, and said, +'Good people, let me marry them;' and, God pardon me, I tried +to recite——"</p> + +<p>"Enough! enough! this is no time or place for thy buffoonery," +cried the King, who, however grave the occasion, could +hardly keep his countenance. "Away from the presence. Is the +Khan mad, mother, that he tried this last resource?"</p> + +<p>"I know not," said the Queen; "but I long to embrace that +brave child, who shall be as a daughter to me henceforth." The +Queen had been sobbing as she sat, and her face was wet with +tears. "Come to me, Zóra," she said gently to her, "and I will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +acknowledge thee before them;" and the girl, who had sat down +weeping tears which soothed and relieved her, whispered to her +grandfather that the Queen needed her, and rising, passed behind +the throne to the Queen Dowager's seat; and the Royal lady, +placing her hands on the girl's head, rose up, and said to all present, +as Zóra stood beside her, "This child the Lord hath preserved +from danger and ruin, and she is pure, and a holy Syudanee. +She is an orphan, moreover, and her revered grandfather, Syud +Luteef Shah Wallee, is old and infirm. Therefore, we, our lord the +King and myself, adopt her as our daughter, and will marry her +honourably in her own rank. As for that man," and she pointed to +Osman Beg, "my lord the King will deal with him as he deserves." +And then once more the great hall rung with cries of "Justice is +done! May Chand Beebee live a hundred years!" "Hear the +gracious words she speaks!" and the like; till, at a signal from the +King, the usher again enforced silence. But before he could +speak, an aged man, whose figure was still firm and erect, +rose, and advanced to the foot of the throne, where, after prostrating +himself and kissing the King's feet, he took the sword he +had carried in his hand, and laying it in his muslin handkerchief, +offered it to the King. It was Adam Khan, Turcoman, the father +of Osman, who thus spoke in broken accents,—</p> + +<p>"Say no more, my lord and my King. Spare me, the aged servant +of thy house, one who was serving Ibrahim Adil Shah when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +the venerable Syud suffered. Say no more, for my honour's sake, +for I have fought and bled for thee. I speak not for him, my +unworthy son; but I admit his guilt against you, my lord, and my +Queen, and against that poor orphan, whose father served under +me, and died in battle. Yea, my lord, and my Queen, I admit the +guilt freely, and ye have been witness to its proof. So justice has +been done before the Lord, and though I suffer, I rejoice. Now, +therefore, my King, if thou hast given this wretch his life, let us +go. I have no tie to life, nor children, nor wife, nor any one. +Let us go, then, to Mecca, where he may pray for pardon to +the Messenger, who will accept his penitence. The ship from +Choule is about to sail, and we will depart, and our shame and +dishonour may be forgiven. But take this poor memorial of the +service of one who hath been faithful, whom thy Royal mother +knoweth to be faithful. I leave to thee the estates I hold, but, +with permission, all my command with the horses and men I give +to Abbas Khan, nephew of the brave Humeed Khan."</p> + +<p>"Peace, father!" said his son; "humble thyself no more. +One more chance of justice is open to all. Hath this girl any +champion to undertake her defence? Men's tongues are swayed +by a breath of opinion, but sharp steel is the true arbiter. Again, +therefore, I claim her as my wife, let who will be her champion."</p> + +<p>Then a number of fiery young men started up; but among +them all Abbas Khan was the calmest, stateliest, and most remarkable.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +"I owe my life to that poor orphan," he said, "and I should +be unworthy if I refused her aid in her need. Listen, Osman +Beg; though I have partaken of thy hospitality, thou must accept +me in the ordeal if thou persist in claiming her."</p> + +<p>"I accept!" cried Osman Beg, "On foot or horseback, with +armour or without, I claim thee, and thee only. The day is yet +young, the field where the Abyssinian died is open. Come! thou +art welcome; and if thou refuse, thou art a coward and a liar!"</p> + +<p>"Silence!" cried the King, angrily; "an honourable man can +only fight with one of equal honour. Thou, Osman Beg, art one +whose life hath been far-famed for treachery; whose honour hath +yielded before falsehood, and become a thing for honest men to +spit on. Away! go to the holy Kibleh with thine honoured +father; haply the Lord may give thee grace to repent. Champion! +nay, she needeth none; hath not the Lord been her champion +in preserving her from thee? Hyat Khan, remove him; +see that he is guarded and escorted with his father to the ship for +Mecca."</p> + +<p>"It is my destiny," murmured Osman Beg, as he retreated. +"Must I go? But I will not cease to pursue her while I have life; +and my revenge will only sleep, only sleep."</p> + +<p>"And now, sirs, we have detained you long," said the King; +"but we dismiss ye with our thanks, and grateful to the Lord, +also, that He hath manifested His justice in the protection of an +orphan child."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + +<p>Till the Queen rose, Zóra had been sitting beside her, but her +mind was in a strange condition. What she had said, how the +people had clapped their hands and shouted for her; how she had +escaped from the deadly danger, worse than death, which had +threatened her; what the King and Queen Chand had said to her, +of all this she knew very little; but when Meeah, as she loved +to think of him, rose up, and before all the assembled people +declared he was her champion, her heart swelled almost to +bursting, and she could only look at him with wistful eyes, while +her cheeks burned painfully and her breath came in gasps. +Meeah! he was true; he had not forgotten the night watch. +Meeah! he would have risked his life for her honour. Oh that +she could throw herself at his feet and clasp his knees, and +say——Ah! what could she have said, but that she loved him, +that she would die for him, if needs be.</p> + +<p>She was anxious to be alone, to pray and thank God +in her own simple fashion, to send Fatehas to all the saints' +shrines; and pleading her duty to her grandfather, the good +Queen, perceiving the girl was well nigh distraught, bid her go, +and she would send for her presently. And Zóra, leading the old +man forth, regained their apartments quietly. And when he was +seated in his old place, and had drunk some cool sherbet, he drew +her to him, and said, "Child, remember this day; 'tis the end of +my Turreequt, except the last when the angel calls me; but it is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +the beginning of thine in honour and joy. When that youth spoke, +my heart leaped towards him; and, if the Lord will, he may lead +thee to eternal peace."</p> + +<p>Zóra could not reply, her heart was too full; and how could she +mention Meeah? Maria came in soon after, with her brother; and +while the good Padré stayed with his old friend, Zóra and Maria +withdrew to Zóra's apartment, and in a burst of softening tears, the +girl's overcharged spirit was relieved. Never before had Maria +heard the history of Zóra's abduction and escape, and she was +amazed at the girl's endurance and bravery. Then Maria took +her to the Queen Chand, who laid her head on her own bosom, +and comforted her.</p> + +<p>"Thou art my daughter, now," she said, "for thou art +brave and true; and I will be to thee a mother, grateful that +God hath sent me such a child to love, and to be beloved by. +Nay, I will not take thee from thy Abba, for without thee he cannot +live; but I shall see thee daily, and there need be no reserve between +us." Nor was there from thenceforth.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Under the adansonian trees the executioner had sat waiting, +until their broad shadows stretched across the sward and were becoming +longer. At last a messenger came and said—</p> + +<p>"Get up, O Khan, no one comes to thee to-day, and Hyat Khan +bids thee go home."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hai! hai! alas! alas!" said the functionary, with a sigh. +"And thou wert so sharp, my son;" and he once more drew his +weapon from its sheath. "He would never have felt it. Well, so +let the King have mercy; and yet thy time will come again some +day or other, O my son. Well, thou shalt be ready;" and with a +sigh he made a deep salaam to the glittering weapon, and, returning +it to its sheath, covered the sword with his scarf, and walked +slowly towards the city.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER IV.<br /> + +FREEDOM.</h2> + + +<p>And now there was rest and peace; but how different to that in +the old fort, to which Zóra's mind often wandered. How different +grew on her day by day, more and more. Instead of the dreamy, +uneventful life she used to lead, there was now excitement and +active employment. Her constant attendance on her grandfather +never relaxed; and he was perhaps more exacting than before—partly +on account of his increasing infirmity, and partly because of +the strange and new consciousness of increased dignity and importance +which was growing upon him, and which was foreign to his +naturally humble temperament. His devotional exercises, too, in +which he was assisted by some of the priests of the city mosques, +were much prolonged; and he was often weary and peevish, and +on such occasions the presence of old Mamoolla and Ahmed only +provoked him, and Zóra became indispensable. Had he not, also, +been invited to preach in the Jooma Mosque, where six thousand +men of all ranks sat with the King to listen to him on the occasion +of the King's first visit to that noble building, when he went to +return thanks for the close of the war? He knew that he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +moved many hearts; for though he lauded patriotism and bravery +in war, yet he dwelt more strongly and more earnestly on the +blessings of peace, industry, sobriety, and devotion; and these +were themes which flowed from his lips spontaneously and with +fervid eloquence. Many men who listened then, and afterwards, +thought him inspired; and whether he spoke in the rough Dekhani +dialect, or in the softer Persian, he was equally impressive. Hundreds +became his devoted followers, and I fear the burly high +priest's influence decreased in proportion.</p> + +<p>From the high priest issued the hardest doctrines of Islam: +the most difficult metaphysical arguments that learned commentators +had ever supplied. The learning and study they displayed +were wonderful, and immeasurably exceeded that of the old Dervish; +but they were hard to comprehend, and to the uninitiated +utterly unintelligible, whereas those of our old friend were sweet +and consoling, encouraging to good works and love to men, as +well as to love to God. Hence there arose two factions, as it +were, in the city, which on any and every occasion were ready to +divide into opposing portions; and Luteef Shah Wallee was denounced +as an heretical and misleading preacher, not belonging to +any saintly family, who neglected to preach damnation to unbelievers, +but sought to win them by kindness, which was contrary +to the texts and doctrines of the blessed Korán; and thus, when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +he had expected peace, our old friend found strife, which as time +passed grew more bitter.</p> + +<p>But it was pleasant, nevertheless, after such services, to receive +the visits of his friends. And even some of his contemporaries, +Ekhlas Khan, the blind old minister, several of the physicians and +lawyers, some of the local nobility, and men of learning, enrolled +themselves among his disciples, and sat at his feet, enjoying the +words which fell from his lips with true zest. And as to the +common people, there were many likewise, but the majority still +adhered to the old <i>régime</i>; and the precincts of the Chishtee +Palace and cemetery, which were in the centre of the city outside +the walls, were as crowded as usual. The Chishtee priest +had, too, many subordinate ministers, who gathered in his revenues +from vows, oblations, and performances of ceremonials in thousands +of families; and the shrine was richly endowed besides by +estates and charged on many collections of revenue. But our old +friend had none of these, and desired none. All he received he +gave away in charity to the poor at the great mosque, and sent to +other mosques in the city, and to the almshouse, and the public +hospitals, and travellers' rest houses. And he had no ambition to +do more; certainly none to become rich; for the King had enriched +him far beyond his requirements, and collections from the +estates were beginning to come in. What was he to do with +them? He had no wants, for the ordinary allowance at the fort<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +was sufficient for food and clothes, and the expense and maintenance +of a household were unknown both to him and Zóra.</p> + +<p>Zóra, too, had her separate duties, apart from those connected +with her grandfather. Rising early, she frequently joined Queen +Chand for the first morning prayer, and then assisted her by +writing fair copies of the drafts she had made over night; and +when Abba rose, she was informed of it, and was allowed to go to +assist him. Sometimes she sang to the Queen the few things she +knew, or did embroidery for her. And the Queen liked Zóra's +beyond that of all her other maidens, and entrusted her with the +finishing of a precious and costly piece in seed pearls on velvet, +which was to be sent as an offering to Mecca, some of the most +delicate parts of which had been done by herself. Sometimes, +too, she read aloud, while the Queen worked, from such books as +she had studied under her grandfather, and learned from him the +proper rhythm and emphasis. And Zóra's ear was so correct, and +her cadence so musical, that it was like a sweet song, or a chaunt, +or a spirited declamation, as the subject required.</p> + +<p>Every day, too, while the Queen took her noonday rest, Zóra's +time was her own; and Maria came to her, and they sat under a +great fig-tree which flourished in the little garden, and held sweet +communion with each other, or worked. Zóra, though comparatively +little time had passed, was not now the shy, simple child +Maria had loved at Juldroog. She found the girl's character developed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +and strengthened by contact with the world without, and by +the experience, rough and sad as it had been, that she had endured +in the wild persecution of Osman Beg, and the society of those with +whom she had come in contact since she had left the fort. +Over and over again had Maria requested her to tell the story of +her escape from Osman Beg's treachery and violence; and she +could follow it all, from the seat on the well-remembered bastion, +with the grand ravine and cataract before it, to the final +scene of the trial, of which she had been a spectator from the +Queen's balcony, and estimate with wonder and admiration, +and with many a sympathetic tear and sob, the young girl's +fortitude and endurance. She could estimate, too, Zóra's dread +that she might still, by some unknown chance, fall into this ruthless +man's hands; and Maria would soothe and calm her, bidding +her trust in the Lord, and in the powerful friends that had been +given to her. The one was a humble Christian, the other a +Mussulman girl. Yet, in the sympathy and love that united them, +there was nothing wanting. Sometimes, too, they now spoke of +"Meeah," for Maria could not but discern, from his behaviour at +the trial, that the young man loved Zóra fondly, and even passionately; +and Zóra would listen to the few words Maria said on the +subject with a fond and even sad interest, hiding her burning face +in Maria's bosom, with secret hope and yet with trembling dread. +Her one hope in life lay with him, for Abba was declining in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +strength, and he was over-taxing a mind and frame which had been +so long unexercised, and that she knew must bring with it the inevitable +consequence of death. Till that time came she declared +that not even Meeah should separate her from the fondly loved old +man; and Maria could understand, however great the temptation, +that her vow would not be broken.</p> + +<p>But Abbas Khan himself was not free from embarrassment in +regard to taking any formal step towards Zóra. Years ago, when +his uncle was by no means so rich as he was at present, and his +brother, Abbas Khan's father, had been only a Silladar, or owner +of a few horses in the Royal Dekhani cavalry, his little son had +been betrothed to the daughter of a comrade of the same rank as +himself in the army, of Abyssinian descent, but whose estates +rendered his daughter, Sukeena, a desirable connection in +the consideration of many families of Beejapoor, notwithstanding +the report that Sukeena-bee was very forbidding both in +person and features. She was, indeed, both lame and deformed; +and was in addition so ugly, that she was known by a sobriquet +by no means complimentary. Sukeena's mother was descended +from a Nubian family, which had again intermarried with +Abyssinians. But it was not from this cause alone that Sukeena's +appearance was forbidding; her father was a very plain and somewhat +humpbacked man; her grandmother, the daughter of one of +the Abyssinian noblemen, had been only too glad to dispose of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +singularly ugly daughter to a respectable man, and gave with her a +dower of property which, as he said, endowed the Lady Fyzun with +a beauty more precious and more lasting than that of a pretty face. +From this union had resulted one daughter only, the girl who had +been betrothed in her early childhood to Abbas Khan.</p> + +<p>Neither Humeed Khan, Abbas Khan's uncle, nor his wife, the +Lady Fatima, had been parties to this early betrothal. When it +took place they were at a distance; but when the Lady Fatima +returned to Beejapoor, her nephew's father and mother had both +died. For a time, the Queen Chand had adopted the orphan boy, +and he shared in the instruction of the young King; but afterwards +Abbas Khan had returned to his uncle's house, and taken his +place in the Royal service. Considering the connection which +already existed by betrothment, it would have been impossible +for the Lady Fatima to have avoided the Lady Fyzun and her +daughter. Both husbands were absent at the war, with the King. +Sukeena's father, notwithstanding his partial deformity, was, as +is often seen to be the case, a man of immense strength +and ever conspicuous bravery, and he had risen to a rank considerably +higher than it was at the time of the old betrothal. In +point, therefore, of social condition the families were pretty equal, +though the Abyssinian lady claimed precedence in consequence +of her descent from a long line of ministers and generals, who had +attained rank and power in the days of the Bahmuny dynasty at +Gulburgah and Beeder.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> + +<p>From the period of her return to Beejapoor, the Lady Fatima +had been obliged to offer civilities to the Lady Fyzun, which, of +course, included her daughter; and the Lady Fyzun was a woman +not only of excessive pride, but of extremely sharp, disagreeable +temper, and, moreover, very parsimonious. Her husband, poor +man, was especially mild and good-natured, and, if he could +have managed it, would have got away as far as was possible from +his wife at all times. But at a season like the present, when the +whole army had returned from a campaign, and there seemed to +be neither possibility nor probability of the renewal of war, Zyn +Khan, for that was his name, was obliged to remain at home, and +to submit to his wife's conduct and remarks with all the patience +and equanimity he could command. After more than two years of +respite, his trials recommenced the day of the King's triumphal +entry.</p> + +<p>The Lady Fyzun was, as I have already remarked, very +economical. The house-steward and the clerks who kept the +house accounts could never satisfy her as to the expenditure of +the cook, or the daroghas of the kitchen and stables. She was at +perpetual war with them. Too much butter, or meat, or onions +and garlic, or vegetables, were surely used for cooking the +domestic daily food. The horses ate too much grain and fodder; +the slaves and eunuchs wore out their clothes too fast. In short, +these were, and had been, subjects of altercation for years,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +and were by no means worn out. Now the morning of the +King's arrival was a fast day, though not one of a rigid +character, and few, especially on an occasion like this, would +have observed it at all; but Fyzun-bee had no idea of allowing +laxity of religious observances. She kept the Rumzan and Mohorum +with a positively fearful exactitude, and starved herself, her +daughter, and her household to the very verge of endurance. On +the other hand, on joyful anniversaries, when a liberal addition of +savoury food was made to the daily allowance by every, even the +poorest, housewife, Fyzun-bee's feast was of the smallest dimensions +and humblest character. Sweetmeats were not made in the +house of good sugar-candy and fresh butter, but ordered from the +confectioners, who sent, according to order, the coarsest, and but +little of them. In the pilao, the cook was restricted in the use of +ghee, spice, and meat; camel and even buffalo flesh was used +instead of good fat mutton; and the cook, who was really a mistress +of her art, would, had she not been a slave, have no doubt sought +a more liberal mistress in sheer vexation.</p> + +<p>Zyn Khan had ridden with the King's throng of courtiers and +officers in the entrance procession. He had attended the durbar, +and had been thus detained till late in the day; he was, therefore, +not only extremely tired, but hungry to boot; and though he expected +no delicacies at home, yet he felt sure that there would be food at +least, and perhaps the cook might do something special for him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +He had left the durbar in company with his friends Humeed Khan +and Abbas Khan, and at the gate of their mansion had parted +with them. Then, as they separated, Humeed Khan had said to +him, good humouredly, "If the fast is observed to-day in thy +house, come to us, brother; nay, stay now if thou wilt, with a +hearty welcome."</p> + +<p>Now, though only at the gate, the fragrant scent of savoury +food had already reached him, for it was to be a feast for many of +the inferior officers and men of Humeed Khan's household troops, +which would be a warranty that there were better dishes beyond +that; and Zyn Khan's hunger increased, while his mouth fairly +watered. But to eat in a stranger's house just after a long absence +would be a positive affront to his wife, of whom he stood in awe, +and he passed on to the reception that awaited him. Certainly all +the servants were at their posts. There were trays of offerings, +and lighted lamps waved over him; the women servants and +eunuchs chaunted a discordant welcome; but his nose was regaled +by no savoury smell; and, on passing the door of the kitchen court, +he looked in, and beheld the old cook and her two assistant girls +sitting dolefully on the step of the kitchen itself; and as they got up +and waved their arms towards him, cracking their knuckles against +their cheeks, he returned the salute by crying out, "The peace of +God on you, Máma Leila; I trust you have something good for +your hungry master."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> + +<p>"On the contrary, my lord," returned the woman, with a +spiteful accent; "no firewood and no food have been allowed me +to-day, else thou shouldst have eaten well."</p> + +<p>Zyn Khan was really angry. "No firewood and no food have +been given Leila-bee to-day," he cried, regardless of the approach +and salutation of his wife and daughter. "No food! and I have +this day ridden ten coss (twenty miles), and been out in the hot sun +all the time, and attended the King's durbar, without a morsel to +eat. And this is my welcome after two years' absence. Fyzun! +art thou not ashamed, O wife?"</p> + +<p>"I ashamed! I, the descendant of Princes and Ministers, +ashamed of keeping the holy fast, and of the service of Alla, +instead of thy greedy belly. Touba! Touba! As-tagh-fur-oolla! +Shame, and God forbid that I should hear such words from +the father of thy daughter Sukeena! No; there is no food and +no fire in the house to-day for gluttons; let them meditate on the +saints, and feed on spiritual food, like true men of Islam. Be +satisfied, O Khan, that I, thy wife, and thy beloved daughter, are +in the same condition as thyself, fasting for the love of Alla and +the saints. Thou canst bathe and refresh thyself, for hot water is +ready for thee in the bath, and I will see (for the expression of his +face was far from amiable) and get some confection which may +stay thy hunger till night."</p> + +<p>"Till night!" groaned Zyn Khan; "till night! Is this how<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +thy mother teaches thee, Sukeena-bee? I would not be thy husband, +girl." These were the first words he had spoken to her, and +as he uttered them he looked over the ungainly, crooked form, the +sour, ugly features, and the really mean clothing of his daughter. +In his heart he compared her to the simple, lovely girl he had +seen with the old saint who had so mysteriously reappeared. +"Were I Abbas Khan," he thought, "they might cut me in pieces +ere I would consent to mate with one like Sukeena, while a girl +like the saint's granddaughter was within possibility of attainment. +No, it can never be. And what does it matter to Sukeena; her +money will attract some one."</p> + +<p>"What art thou saying, father?" asked his daughter. "Thy +lips move, but no words come forth."</p> + +<p>"I was saying," returned her father, bitterly, "that if thou +hadst met me with a cheerful face, brought me a pleasant breakfast, +and behaved thyself like a loving daughter, I should have +patted thee on the head and become more reconciled to thy ugly +face. Well! ugly it always was, and that is no fault of thine. +Nay, do not cry; but two years have made it sour and forbidding, +and all thy wealth would not reconcile it to constant companionship."</p> + +<p>Then he got up suddenly, put the girl aside, and went into his +bath. I am afraid matters there did not improve the good +man's temper. The water had been hastily heated lukewarm,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +instead of hot; and it had been smoked with the smoke of +cowdung cakes till, as the poor Khan said, it would take all the +perfumes of a perfumer's shop to take the evil smell from him. +He took off his armour, however, and his heavy riding clothes, +put on a light muslin suit, went out, and sat down in his accustomed +place.</p> + +<p>No one was there, but presently his wife appeared, leading a +small procession, at the head of which was his daughter bearing a +silver plate, and several women with others also covered.</p> + +<p>"Spread the cloth," said the Lady Fyzun, "and put down the +dishes. Now, Bismilla! Khan Sahib, eat thy fill, for it is consecrated +to the Lord," she said with a sniff. "It was about to go +forth to the shrine of the Chishtee saint, but I have saved some +for thee."</p> + +<p>"Bismilla!" he said, as a servant removed a cover, and he +expected to find some delicate rice milk or vermicelli, with which +he would have been content, hungry as he was; but instead, he +saw three "julaybees," very old and leathery, and, moreover, much +fly-blown, on the first plate; and on the next, two large coarse +"luddoos," which smelt rancid, and were covered with dust, a few +very dry hard dates, and two oranges of the peculiarly sour description +used by dyers; and on the last, two shrivelled coarse +plantains, bruised and black.</p> + +<p>"Ul-humd-ul-Illa! Praise be to God!" he exclaimed, "that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +my wife and daughter worship the saints, although they need not +send them stale sweetmeats and sour and rotten fruits. Do not +deny these delicacies to holy men, lady wife; but for me they are +much too good, and I must seek plainer food elsewhere," and +having delivered this speech with a kind of grave mock solemnity, +he took up his sword, tucked it under his arm, and walked away.</p> + +<p>"If you are going to Humeed Khan's house to eat," cried his +wife, not a whit abashed, "give my humble respects, and say, that +when it may be quite convenient, I should like the matter of +Sukeena-bee's marriage to be settled."</p> + +<p>"Oh, mother!" cried the girl, when her father had departed, "I +saw Meeah in the procession to-day, and he is as beautiful as +Yoosuf. If I do not marry him I shall die."</p> + +<p>I think it is very possible, if Zyn Khan had had a better +reception at home, he would have made an attempt to carry this +point. As it was, he arrived just as his friend Humeed Khan's +cloth was being spread. Nothing was said but a welcome, and the +hungry man sat down to a dinner of many savoury courses, which +he enjoyed heartily, and felt truly grateful for. And after this, +when the three men were alone, and pleasant fumes of fragrant +tobacco were being inhaled, they discussed the subject of the marriage +in a friendly manner.</p> + +<p>"The last words my wife said to me were, that I should settle +something about the marriage of your nephew and my daughter;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +and as we can talk it over in a friendly manner among ourselves, +perhaps we had better make some arrangement."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Humeed Khan, "you know it is now a very old +matter, with which neither I nor my wife had anything to do; and +we have long thought that, as we were not parties to the agreement, +and refuse to be so, the issue rests with Meeah alone, who, +of course, can claim your daughter if he chooses, and he is now +responsible for his own actions. You had better, therefore, ask him, +Khan Sahib, and I will withdraw while you discuss it."</p> + +<p>"No, no, no!" cried both, "stay with us; and," added Abbas +Khan, gravely, "I have fully considered the matter, and have +come to the conclusion that it would be better for us both that we +continue to be separate."</p> + +<p>"And what is to become of Sukeena, Meeah? Is she never to +have a husband?"</p> + +<p>"She has, or will have, much wealth," replied the young Khan; +"and, as flies to honey, so, when it is known that she is free, a +hundred suitors will send in their proposals, and you can take +your choice. Besides, you are Abyssinians and we are Dekhanies, +and such marriages never prosper. Have not a hundred bloody +feuds arisen out of such affairs?"</p> + +<p>"That is true," said Zyn Khan; "and there is no saying what +feud might not arise even at the very marriage itself. All the hot +bloods of my people declare that as Meeah slew Elias Khan and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +his champion, Yacoot, there is a blood feud between the Dekhanies +and the Abyssinians which may break out at any time."</p> + +<p>"Of course it might," said Humeed Khan; "and of all occasions +that of a marriage is the most probable. My friend, not +only for our own sakes, but for that of the State, we ought to +forbid this matter; and I, for one, shall forbid it, leaving Meeah +to pursue his own course."</p> + +<p>"Well," returned Zyn Khan, "I can guess what that will be. +Sukeena-bee has not grown more beautiful since I left her, and I +love you, Meeah, too well, and her too well—for is she not my only +child?—to join you together to hate each other all your lives! The +old adage, 'Pigeons mate with pigeons, and hawks with hawks,' +suits you exactly. My dame can look about for one of our own +clan, who are poor enough, but they have the breeding she likes +best, and Sukeena will be rich. Now, Humeed Khan, do not be +offended if I speak bluntly. My lady is fond of money, and so is +Sukeena. Suppose you offer something for the marriage expenses, +and I think it will be accepted."</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried Humeed Khan, laughing. "I will send five +thousand rupees gladly."</p> + +<p>"And I," added Abbas Khan, "a pair of gold anklets and a +pearl necklace."</p> + +<p>"Enough, O generous friends!" cried Zyn Khan. "There<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +may be some difficulty, perhaps; but, after all, Inshalla! a man +is master in his own household."</p> + +<p>But when he returned home, Zyn Khan did not find the matter +so easy as he had imagined. His daughter declared she +should die, and would eat no food. Her mother only pointed to +her as she lay, and said, "Let her die, since thou hast not spirit +enough to help her." And it was only when the last temptation +was offered, the money and the jewels, that mother and daughter +seemed to yield before the persistence, not to say obstinacy, of the +master of the house.</p> + +<p>The affair, however, took nearly a month to arrange, until one +day the parties concerned attended at the Kazee's office, in the +great Adalut Palace, and mutual deeds of release having been +interchanged, Zyn Khan took away with him on his elephant five +bags of a thousand rupees each, and the beautiful anklets and +pearls which Abbas Khan had presented. The whole had been +well managed, without either public scandal or offence to either +party. There was nothing in it which was against custom or law, +and Abbas Khan was at last free from a connection which he had +always dreaded. On the other hand, Sukeena-bee put on her gold +anklets and walked about, rejoicing in the music of their tiny bells, +and fastened on the necklace, which was declared free from defect; +while her mother, for a time very busy among her female friends, +at last found out a young man descended from an ancient and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +noble Abyssinian family, and the betrothment of the pair quickly +followed.</p> + +<p>"If I had not fasted that day," said the Lady Fyzun, "we +should not have secured that happy deliverance from low-bred +Dekhanies."</p> + +<p>"If I had not taken the affair out of thy hands, O wife, we +should have gone on as we were, for Abbas Khan could never +have been persuaded."</p> + +<p>"Ul-humd-ul-Illa!" ejaculated the husband.</p> + +<p>"Ul-humd-ul-Illa!" echoed the dame. "Ameen! Ameen!"</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER V.<br /> + +CHANGES IN SOME POSITIONS.</h2> + + +<p>For some weeks there was no change in the positions of the several +characters of our history. The Queen Dowager gradually withdrew +herself from public duties, for she found that her nephew, the +King, had developed strong talent both for political affairs and internal +civil administration. Rewards and dignities had been freely +distributed by him; and the troops, satisfied with his liberally +granted donations, were serving loyally and steadily throughout the +kingdom. There were no rebellions, insurrections, or feuds, nor a +spot on the political horizon, from which there was cause for +anxiety, except Ahmednugger, whose local affairs were by no +means in a settled condition; but with these there was no present +or pressing reason to interfere. With his good aunt, King Ibrahim +continued on most affectionate terms. Always considered +by him as a mother, he resorted to her for advice and counsel in +many affairs, of which she had more experience than himself; and +as she never displayed the least desire for interference of any +kind, the entire harmony between them was never disturbed. +The King's fine taste for architecture had full scope in the decoration<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +of his own mausoleum, and the works attached to it, in +which Francis d'Almeida and the humble painter often assisted +him by suggestions; and with these, and other public undertakings, +occasional hunting parties and short excursions, constant +durbars and current business, his time was occupied fully and +usefully.</p> + +<p>Beejapoor was then at its greatest. Owing to the presence of +the principal portions of the army, and the cessation of war, trade +had increased rapidly, and the general prosperity of the kingdom +was as assuring as it was gratifying. Congratulatory letters +arrived in due course from Golconda, Beeder, Penkonda, and +other kingdoms, accompanied by embassies, which gave rise to +many superb entertainments; and, in the words of a local historian, +"the songs of revelry and thanksgiving, which the people +had not heard for many years, now resounded through the +land, and weeping was heard no more."</p> + +<p>Zóra's usual life had undergone no alteration. The King would +not hear of her grandfather's proposal to change his residence, or +to build a house for himself in one of the Royal gardens at Torweh; +and indeed, to Zóra's great delight, he made no objection to remaining +where he was, under the Royal roof, partaking of the +King's hospitality. An additional court, cells, cloisters, and rooms +behind them had been set in order for him, and in the enclosure +was a small but elegant mosque or chapel for worship, where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +the old man could give his lectures to many scholars, both in +divinity and medicine. He rarely preached in the great Jooma +mosque now; the doing so was too great an effort for him, and, +on every occasion, the exhaustion which followed was but too +evident to all; and Zóra was thankful when, after a more trying +sermon than usual, the old man put his hand upon her head, and +said, with a sigh, "Child! I can do no more abroad. I will +reserve what strength is left to me to teach here."</p> + +<p>From that day he went forth no more, except on festival +anniversaries, when, attended by his faithful Ahmed—for the +Queen now objected to Zóra's appearing in public—he took his +place among the worshippers. Even the great Kureem-oo-deen +Chishtee was softened, and paid "the saint" many visits, with +a display of kindly feeling which was in strong contrast to the +bitterness he had once shown.</p> + +<p>Zóra had, therefore, more leisure, and there were now other +servants to share Ahmed's and Mamoolla's duties. She remained +most of her time with the Queen, as has been previously +explained, who grew more and more attached to her day by +day. Who, indeed, could resist her cheerful, winning disposition, +her genial kindliness, and her entire unselfishness and devotion? +while every little accomplishment she possessed improved by quiet +exercise and study, under one of the Persian secretaries who, in +days past, had been the King's, as well as Abbas Khan's, +instructor.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<p>She saw little of the Queen, Taj-ool-Nissa. At first, she had +been a constant visitor and attendant with Maria, but the Queen +was afraid of Zóra's beauty. She knew that in point of manner +and of cultivation she was by far inferior to Zóra; and she sent +her a kindly message, through Maria, that she must not visit her +except on special occasions, when there were entertainments to +ladies at which the King could not be present, or when the Dowager +Chand Beebee came privately to see her. And the Queen was right. +Though her health had improved vastly under the priest's treatment, +yet she was still a slight, perhaps insignificant-looking girl—pretty, +now that health had given roundness to her form and +lustre to her large dreamy eyes; yet she could not be compared +for a moment with Zóra, who, with rest, peace, and entire freedom +from the anxiety which had hung over her till her innocence was +proved before all, was fast attaining her full development of +beauty; and it was impossible to compare the now handsomely +dressed, well-cared for girl, the beloved companion and attendant +of her Royal mistress, with the poorly, coarsely clad and uncared-for +girl of the Fakeer's house at Juldroog. Runga Naik, too, had +safely transmitted the box of precious articles which had been deposited +with him, and in them Zóra found many ornaments which +had belonged to her grandmother and her mother, with some +garments of cloth of gold, and handsome scarves; but, indeed she +hardly needed them, for the kind Queen provided her liberally<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +with all she required; and her grandfather was constantly asking +her why she did not buy clothes and jewels, for were they not now +rich? But I think the simple, natural tastes of the girl predominated +over all love of display or of finery, and she had enough +of the latter already.</p> + +<p>The Lady Fatima was perhaps more constantly with the Queen +than any other lady of the city. They had been intimate friends +for years, for the Queen's care of Abbas Khan after his parents' +death, and while the Lady Fatima was unavoidably absent, was a +strong bond between them. Thus the good lady had many, +almost daily, opportunities of seeing Zóra, and observing her +disposition in all respects. Her husband and her nephew had +enrolled themselves as disciples of the aged Syud, and thus there +were already strong bonds of mutual attachment growing up +between the families. How well did Fatima Beebee remember +Meeah's words in his sleep after the combat; his sweet smile and +sigh as he uttered "Zóra! Zóra!" in his dream. Now her +husband had seen Zóra. He returned from the durbar of the trial +full of Zóra's bravery—her indomitable spirit, and yet of her +modesty. "Any other girl," he declared, "would have lost heart, +would have sat down and wept, would have flinched from the sore +ordeal to which Zóra had been subjected, and out of which she +had come forth so triumphantly." Yes, she was satisfied that her +nephew had yielded to no unworthy passion, and that his love +was as pure as her utmost hope could desire.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> + +<p>When the trial was over, she told what she had heard to her +husband, for Abbas Khan had not dared to tell his uncle, while +they were in camp, more than of the sad situation of the old Syud, +who had been so kind to him, and had left all else to chance, or, +as he more reverently expressed himself, to the will of God; and +the sudden appearance of the girl by the wayside with her +grandfather, as the King passed them, had aroused all the feelings +which had been his companions from the night Zóra had +watched him till the present. Still, he had said nothing. He +knew how deeply he was involved in the old engagement of childhood, +which could not be dissolved rudely or suddenly; but the +matter should be arranged by the family of Zyn Khan.</p> + +<p>After a decent time had passed, and the newly arranged +marriage of Sukeena Beebee was proclaimed, and when, in fact, +her marriage day was fixed and invitations to it distributed, there +was no occasion to delay; and one day, which had been chosen +by the family astrologer, the Lady Fatima, urged by her husband, +went to the Queen to ascertain whether Zóra loved Abbas Khan, +and to ask advice as to how she was to proceed. She did not +even mention her intention to her nephew; it would be time +enough to speak to him should all be favourable to her design, +for she felt certain that his heart had not changed.</p> + +<p>Long before the good lady's visit, Queen Chand had discovered +as much as she needed to know of the condition of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +Zóra's heart. She had hardly entered the audience hall on +the day of the King's entry, and taken her seat, than she +saw the eyes of Abbas Khan eagerly fixed upon Zóra, and the +attempts of Zóra to conceal her face; and during the events +of the succeeding day the impression was still more vivid, +rising to its fullest height when Abbas Khan accepted the +traitor Osman Beg's challenge. Then, indeed, the Queen had +read Zóra's heart completely, for her wistful, earnest gaze, which +she had no thought to conceal, the flush on her cheek and her +now trembling form, betrayed emotions which it was impossible to +hide; and from that moment the girl found a place in the Royal +heart which filled a long existent yearning. Yet still she never +spoke on the subject to Zóra herself. She knew there was a +serious obstacle, and whether it could be smoothed away or not +seemed very doubtful. But the Queen's mind was more at ease +after she knew that Abbas Khan's marriage was broken off. She +could not, by reason of her rank, take any steps herself in what +she wished; but she was ready at the same time to assist the +union of her two children, as she called them, by any and every +means in her power.</p> + +<p>The Lady Fatima's visit was, therefore, a joyful one to the +Queen as soon as she understood its purport; and being a woman +of practical mind, she did not use any circumlocution. Would +there be any objection on behalf of Zóra's grandfather, or would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +there be any from the girl herself? Had Her Majesty any other +arrangement in view for Zóra, or had the King? These formed the +pith of the good lady's communication. To the latter, Queen +Chand was enabled to give a decided and favourable answer. Not +many days before, the King had said to her laughingly, "It is +time, mother, that Abbas Khan was married and settled. Would +not Zóra-bee suit him exactly? They are both clever, both +handsome, and thou wilt have the most beautiful grandchildren in +Beejapoor. For my own part, though I have held my peace, I have +been of the same mind ever since Osman Beg's trial; but it is +thou as Meeah's mother who should make the first move in the +matter; I can but aid thee by giving it my perfect approval."</p> + +<p>So, then, the first point was gained. The second was to ascertain +whether the parties would be fortunate, and this was decided +by the most celebrated astrologer in Beejapoor, who discovered +that Abbas Khan was Fire, and Zóra was Air, and the result would +be that the utmost degree of love and happiness would reign +between them; that Zóra would submit herself to her husband, +and that her husband would treat her with great kindness and +affection. Such was the decree of the wise man; and then, horoscopes +being cast, the result was that a favourable prognostic of +the planets occurred in the course of a few days, and it behoved +all concerned to make due preparations for the betrothal.</p> + +<p>So far the proceedings of the confederates had been eminently<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +successful, and with the dear old Syud there was no difficulty. He +had gradually become impressed with the necessity of confiding +Zóra to the care of some one whom he could consider worthy of +her. In the Queen he knew she had obtained a kind and powerful +friend and even motherly care and interest, but that she should be +a wife was a higher desire in the old man's mind; but it was +coupled to an almost selfish wish that she should not leave him +alone. What should he do without her gentle, loving ministrations? +How should he find his charms and amulets, or his medicines? +Who could read to him or write for him? Who could lead him +about, even in the precincts of their present home? Who, in +short, could be the companion to him that Zóra was, with her +intellect unfolding more and more as weeks passed? He knew no +young man but Abbas Khan—Meeah, as he always called him—and +his love and respect for him were deep and sincere. But +when Abbas Khan went to him with his uncle, and pleaded hard +for Zóra, the dear old man grieved bitterly; it seemed as though +Zóra were to be taken from him immediately, and he moaned in +bitter grief as he rocked himself to and fro in his seat.</p> + +<p>"Does Zóra know of this?" he asked. "Does she desire of her +own free will to leave me, old and infirm as I am? I will not +believe it; I cannot think that she has a hard heart—she who has +been so compassionate and so devoted all her life." And it was +long ere the young Khan and his uncle could persuade him that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +she was not to leave him, but that the betrothal would be an +assurance to him that Zóra's position would be all that he could +desire after the Lord's message should come to him; and so, +gradually, he consented, and putting his hands on Meeah's head +blessed him and Zóra, who was to be his wife.</p> + +<p>And Zóra? She knew nothing of the pleasant plot against her. +She had not known even of Abbas Khan's freedom from his former +contract, much less of his present intentions; but her love had +never changed. From the scenes at Juldroog up to the present +time it had grown stronger. No one mentioned Meeah to her +except Maria; but why was he ever present in her mind? "Well," +She would say to herself, "let it be as the Lord wills!" and so +waited the issue. Her grandfather and the Queen were too awful +in her estimation to confide in on a subject like this. She dared +not mention it to the Lady Fatima; that, indeed, would be like +asking for Meeah, and would be bold and immodest; and, for +the present, the girl waited quietly and patiently. But her suspense +was not to be for long. The day Abbas Khan and his +uncle came to her grandfather, the Queen, to whom she was +reading, bid her put down the book and come to her; and, wondering, +she rose and knelt by her mistress. The suddenness +of the request had called up blushes to the lovely face, and the +eyes of the girl were cast down. Had she offended in aught?</p> + +<p>"No, child," said the Royal lady; "but I have been thinking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +it is time thou wert married. Hast thou any preference for any +one of the youths thou hast seen or heard of? If thou hast, tell +it to me, thy mother. Lay thy head on my breast, and tell it +to me. Thou canst trust me, Zóra." And she held out her arms.</p> + +<p>The child was too truthful to be a coquette, and she could not +resist the appeal. Lying in the Queen's arms, and sobbing with +excitement, she told all, from the night of the watch to the scene +of the trial, and how she thought Meeah would never leave +her. "And many have asked Abba to give me away" (and +she thought of the Rajah's poor secretary with a smile), "even +the great and rich; but I refused, and Abba did not press me. +O mother, I love Meeah! I do love him! Is it unmaidenly? +Is it wrong? Often I have thought it was, and longed to put on +the green dress and take its vows, but Abba always prevented me. +Now do as thou wilt with me."</p> + +<p>"It is enough, child," returned the Queen, stroking her soft +round cheek and kissing her forehead. "Enough for thee, and +for those who love thee; and may the Lord bless thee, my +darling! I would retire now, and thou wilt go to Abba and +Maria." And Zóra rose and went to them. Entering her own +apartment, she found Maria there; and, falling on her neck, told +her, with many a choking sob, what the Queen had said. Nor +was her suspense continued. The Lady Fatima had followed her +husband, and being announced, at once opened the subject of her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +visit. But Zóra could not reply till she had seen her grandfather; +and as Humeed Khan and his nephew had departed, and +Abba had taken his noonday sleep, there was no one to interrupt +them.</p> + +<p>I do not think I need follow the scene longer. Under their +mutual explanations, and there was no needless reticence, Zóra +confessed her love, and was blessed by her grandfather, whom she +soothed by the assurance that she would not leave him while he +lived. As to the Lady Fatima, she filled Zóra's mouth with sugar-candy, +half smothered her in flowers, rubbed her hands, feet, +and neck with fragrant paste of sandal-wood; and finally +cast over Zóra a rich sheet of brocaded gold tissue, and hung +round her neck a costly necklace, as she whispered, "From +Meeah." No professional women had been employed, and perhaps +they were the only disappointed parties in Beejapoor; but +when the pán leaves and spice were distributed from house to +house to all the mutual friends of both parties, hearty congratulations +followed; and even the female gossips of the city—who, as +elsewhere, were very numerous—were satisfied that it was a good +match.</p> + +<p>There are nearly as many ceremonies to complete a Mussulman +betrothal as there are in a marriage; but I do not think my +readers, even my lady readers, would care to follow them through +perhaps two whole chapters, and will rest content in being assured<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +that Zóra's happiness and state in life have been secured as far as +human foresight could provide, and that there were no more +hearty or more loving wishes for her than those of Sister Maria and +her brother Francis. We, therefore, can leave our old friends the +Syud and Zóra, now familiar with new positions and new hopes, +full of contentment and joyful anticipation to both—more especially +to Zóra, whose mingled feelings of love, gratitude, and faith could +perhaps have been hardly definable.</p> + +<p>Among the various letters of congratulation which reached the +King Ibrahim was one from the Viceroy and Captain General of +Goa, Dom Matthias de Albuquerque, which—with a valuable present +of various kinds of arms, European manufactures, and valuables—was +brought by a special ambassador, the Captain Don +Miguel de Gama, an officer of respectability and consideration, +well acquainted with the Persian language, and therefore most +fitting for an ambassador. The ambassador's suite was not +numerous; but as he rode into the city early one morning in a full +panoply of bright steel armour, and presented his credentials at +the public durbar in the same equipment, he created no little +excitement. The captain, too, was of a noble, commanding +presence, and had fought well against the Moors in many +battles; and this specimen of the local chivalry of Goa was in +every degree a good representative of its renown.</p> + +<p>The letter was in Portuguese, and could have been translated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +by the ambassador himself, but the King decided that our friend +Francis d'Almeida should act as secretary and interpreter; and at +the early durbar of the morning, after the ambassador's arrival, +the worthy captain, in no degree abashed by the splendour around +him, marched up the great hall, his armour clanking as he moved, +and saluting King Ibrahim gracefully, laid his packet of letters at +the King's feet.</p> + +<p>The captain had come direct to the house of the painter, and +had been comfortably lodged. And how much had Francis and his +sister to hear of their friends at Goa, of the proceedings of Dom +Diego, and of the innumerable changes in the local society; but +withal, there was the certainty that they would have to return to +Goa, whether in his company or apart, to answer the charges +which had been preferred against them by Dom Diego in the +inquisition.</p> + +<p>And when the Viceroy's letter was read aloud by the +priest, after congratulations upon peace and prosperity of +Beejapoor since the detection and destruction of the conspiracy +and insurrection of the Prince Ismail, a passage followed +which related to Francis d'Almeida and his sister, which +may be quoted:—"And furthermore, it hath been represented +to us that a certain priest, Francis d'Almeida, and his sister +Doña Maria, were detected in intrigues with the rebels, and +received from them sundry large sums of money for the supply<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +of European troops and cannon, which would have been an act +beyond the bounds of goodwill and peace between us, and for +which they have, very justly, been detained by the Government of +our friend and ally, yet, as subjects of the kingdom of Portugal, +and as Francis d'Almeida and his sister belong to religious orders +of the Church of Christ, they should be permitted to answer the +charges that have been made against them; and we, in the name +of the King, our master, request that they may be sent to us in +company with our envoy."</p> + +<p>When they returned home, Francis learned from his sister that +she had heard all from the Queen's balcony. She was weeping, +but was not cast down. "I knew it would come upon us sooner +or later. The Church never sleeps, and we cannot delay compliance +with this order;" for a fresh citation had been delivered to them +requiring instant obedience. "We must go, brother, even to the +stake, if it be the Lord's will."</p> + +<p>"I fear not, Maria. I have always thought from the first that +it would have been best to go to Goa; and yet the inscrutable ways +of Providence who can follow? Should we have discovered Dom +Diego's letters to Osman Beg or Elias Khan, which on the +political charge will acquit us? As for the rest, conscious as we +are of innocence, I fear nothing. Those, too"—and he pointed to +the translations he had made in company with the Brahmins of the +old college in the fort—"will prove that I have not been lax in my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +work, though we have been here. No, sister, let us go. I am to +attend the night council, and the King's reply to the Viceroy will +be drafted."</p> + +<p>And it was all the good priest could have wished for. The King, +the Queen Dowager, Kureem-oo-deen Chishtee, Ekhlas Khan, +the Kazee, and some others, discussed every point of the Portuguese +letter, in the ambassador's presence (who, divested of his armour, +and dressed in a suit of black Genoa velvet, looked, as he was +truly, a courtly gentleman), and every incident that had occurred +at Beejapoor was detailed. At first the priest of Moodgul had been +under suspicion; but that had passed away owing to the discovery +of the treachery of Dom Diego, and he was left to be dealt with by +the laws of Portugal; but the money he had obtained from Beejapoor +subjects ought to be restored.</p> + +<p>The Queen Dowager and the King's wife, as well as Zóra and +the good Lady Fatima, were sincerely grieved by the necessity +of the absence of their friends, and the old Syud, Meeah +and his uncle, no less so. "I shall see thee no more, O friend," +said the Syud, grasping the priest's hand, "Christian and Moslem +we have lived together in amity, and I am thankful. If God will, +and thou return hither, we may meet again; if not, the blessing +of Allah be with thee and thine."</p> + +<p>And Maria, though her fortitude and her faith supported her +in the trial, yet was sorely pained to leave her friends. Taj-ool-Nissa,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +who had become deeply attached to her, and also Zóra, were +in despair; but Maria had her own sources of comfort which never +failed her, and a few days after, with the tears and blessings of all, +she and her brother, well provided with palanquins and tents, and +under the charge of an officer of the Court, who spoke Portuguese, +though after a rude fashion, departed from the Royal city in +peace.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER VI.<br /> + +PROCEEDINGS AT GOA.</h2> + + +<p>It was now the beginning of October, and the rains had ceased; +all but those occasional slight showers which lend freshness to the +air, maintain the verdure of the later crops of grain, and furnish +those magnificent sunsets which form the glory of the month. +Supplied with comfortable palanquins, and well provided with +horses from the Royal stables, Maria, her brother, and their friend +the envoy, often rode together in the cool morning air; and Maria +enjoyed heartily the healthful exercise to which, in the crowded +city of Beejapoor, she had long been a stranger.</p> + +<p>And thus they sped on from day to day, accompanied by +old Pedro and his wife, who were overjoyed at quitting the +great city of the Moors, and beholding once more their +beautiful and beloved Goa. On the plateau above the Gháts +the scenery had been tame and monotonous; fine undulating +plains covered with luxuriant crops of grain and cotton presented +little for admiration or for interest; but near the +crest, heavy forests and broken peaks of mountains furnished +beautiful combinations of wild scenery, and the view over the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +broad districts of the Concan was inexpressibly lovely. Away +in the west, the sea stretched to the dim horizon, and here and +there the tiny white speck of a sail could be distinctly seen. +Nearer, however, a dense white mist filled all the valleys and +covered the plain, until the sun, just rising, fell upon it, causing it +to glitter like a sea of molten silver, with occasional rugged peaks +rising out of it like islands. Then all seemed to break up; and +while some of the mist clung to the sides of the greater elevations, +the rest gradually rose into the air and disappeared.</p> + +<p>From the last stage the captain envoy left them to give +notice of their arrival. He would fain have taken the King's +letter with him, and the presents by which it was accompanied, +which consisted of vessels inlaid with silver and gold, +cloths of gold and silver, four fine Dekhan horses, and an +elephant; but Francis d'Almeida claimed the privilege of +presenting these himself, especially as they were accompanied +by Dom Diego's letters, and he was doubtful as to +what use or misuse might be made of them. He sent, +however, by the captain a letter to the head of the order +to which he belonged, and Doña Maria another to the Lady +Abbess of the convent of which she was a lay sister; and on their +arrival in the city, Francis consigned his sister to the care of the +Abbess, who received her with warm affection, for she had been +now several years absent, and she felt in a short time at rest and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +at ease among many of her old friends and associates. In like +manner Francis took up his residence in his old quarters; and it +seemed to him that nothing had changed there, and that all was +as peaceful as when he had left it several years before his sister's +arrival.</p> + +<p>But within the religious society of Goa there was not peace. +There were strivings between the orders, which the Archbishop +strove to reconcile; and the present Viceroy, Don Matthias de +Gama, a kind, benevolent man in the main, and an excellent and +brave soldier, found it difficult at times to control all and keep up +his own authority. Since Dom Diego's arrival, contention had +increased. The Archbishop had been appealed to by the Superior +of the Jesuits, to demand the surrender of Francis d'Almeida and +his sister as contumacious heretics. Nothing less than their trial +and execution would, he declared, satisfy the demands of the +Holy Church, and preserve discipline in the distant Churches +over which only a very partial supervision could be exercised. +Dom Diego preached several public sermons in the Church of his +order, in which the apostasy of Francis, and his sorceries and evil +consorting with heathens and Moors, were set forth with violent +eloquence; and these excited his hearers to a powerful degree, so +that even in the Church they cried out, "Death to the wretch! +Death to the apostate!"</p> + +<p>On the other hand, the Archbishop, who well knew Francis<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +d'Almeida's value as a missionary, his power of language in +addressing the heathen, his knowledge of native dialects, and the +practical use of his translations and ministerial offices, defended +him, and there were many others who followed his example. In +process of these disputes, the Viceroy was appealed to, who +declared that the case was one of ecclesiastical interest only; and +though he was bound to assist the Church, yet the parties accused +were beyond his jurisdiction, residing, or perhaps prisoners, in a +powerful kingdom, with which Portugal was at peace; and, moreover, +that in regard to the allegations against the priest and his +sister, the Church itself was by no means unanimous in opinion. +He declined, therefore, to take any steps in regard to them. If +they were contumacious it was no affair of his. The Church could +excommunicate them if it pleased. At last, however, yielding to +pressure, the Viceroy had written, as we know. The Viceroy had +sent a complimentary letter to the King of Beejapoor, despatched +it by a trustworthy soldier, and awaited the issue with +considerable interest as to whether the accused persons would in +reality make submission and appear, or whether, becoming renegades, +as many had done, they would altogether defy the Church +and become Moors. But the arrival of Francis and his sister, +escorted by a Beejapoor officer and a guard of the King's troops, +was proof to all that no contumacy was intended; and he appointed +an early Council, at which the Beejapoor letter should be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +read, and necessary consideration made of the whole of the circumstances.</p> + +<p>A few days afterwards the Beejapoor envoy and Francis +d'Almeida received their summons from the Viceroy to attend his +Council and the Court, and they went together, the envoy being +attended by his escort, which, in their suits of chain mail and +rich apparel, made an imposing appearance in the thronged streets +of the city; and on their arrival at the palace were ushered at +once into the presence of the Viceroy, who, with his staff about +him, was seated on the viceregal throne.</p> + +<p>An artillery salute was fired in honour of the envoy, who +was graciously received; and after some general and kind +inquiries after the health of King Ibrahim, to which he replied +in indifferent Portuguese, the rest of the conversation was +carried on through Francis d'Almeida, who acted as interpreter. +Then the Viceroy, receiving the King's letter, said, +"As this contains matter for political consideration, we will +adjourn, Sir Envoy, to our Council Hall, where it shall be +read before all my councillors of State and dignitaries of the +Church, who are our advisers." Then, rising and taking the +envoy's hand, he led him into the adjoining apartment, which was +the Council Chamber.</p> + +<p>It was a fine room, though to the envoy's idea somewhat bare +of decoration. A large Turkey carpet was laid upon the floor,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +and in the centre was a long table covered with red cloth, with +inkstands and writing paper ready for use. The Viceroy seated +himself at the head of the table, placed the envoy in a chair on +his right hand, and the dignitaries of the Church, military and +naval commanders, all wearing their rich uniforms and decorations, +took their seats with the civil officers, according to precedence +and custom. The whole formed a dignified and, indeed, august +assembly, well befitting the powerful kingdom it represented.</p> + +<p>Then the letter of King Ibrahim was read, and the Viceroy remarked +that it was written in excellent Portuguese, and asked his +envoy to Beejapoor who wrote it, and the captain said—</p> + +<p>"In my presence was it written by the priest Francis d'Almeida. +The King himself dictated the letter in Persian, in my presence, +and the purport was fully known to me; and the priest and I +compared the Portuguese version with the Persian, and they corresponded +exactly. Moreover, your Excellency will observe that the +original Persian is written below, and signed by the King himself. +There can be no doubt of the authenticity of both."</p> + +<p>"But," continued the Viceroy, "in the latter portion of this +document grave charges are made against Dom Diego di Fonseca, +an eminent servant of the Church, who is now the accuser of +Francis d'Almeida and his sister Maria, and at whose instance, +and that of the Holy Father of the Inquisition, their presence was +required in order to answer the charges brought against them, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +we ought not to enter into this subject without his presence. As +it is a political affair entirely, involving the risk of disagreement +between our Government and that of our friend King Ibrahim the +Second, we, the representatives of Portugal, have full authority to +investigate it, leaving the alleged offenders against the Church to +be dealt with by the Holy Inquisition. Let, therefore, Dom Diego +be summoned instantly; and till he arrives we call upon Francis +d'Almeida to give an account of his apparent flight from Moodgul, +and his evasion of the summons of the Inquisition."</p> + +<p>"I was not a free agent, may it please your Excellency and the +members of this Council," said Francis d'Almeida. "I was preparing +to leave Moodgul after the citation was publicly read by +my colleague when I was arrested, by order of the Queen Regent +of Beejapoor, and forwarded by Dilawar Khan, the Governor of +Moodgul, to the fort of Juldroog, where we were confined for +more than a month on charges of having conspired against the +State in assisting the conspiracy of the Prince Ismail and Eyn-ool-Moolk, +and obtaining large sums of money for the purpose of +engaging European soldiers and cannon. Finally, we were sent +to Beejapoor, where we remained under surveillance until the +King should return, as the Queen Regent did not consider she +had authority to try so momentous a question herself. Then +suddenly, and as by special Providence, certain papers fell into +the hands of the Queen's Government, by which it appeared that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +my colleague, and not I, had been in correspondence with the +rebels, partly independently, and partly by means of Osman Beg, +the Killadar or Governor of the fort of Juldroog, who was arrested, +tried on the evidence of papers found in his possession, convicted +of treason, and sentenced to death."</p> + +<p>"And he was beheaded, Francis d'Almeida?" asked the +Viceroy.</p> + +<p>"Not so, my lord; his life was spared on the intercession of +his cousin, Abbas Khan; but he was banished from the kingdom, +and has taken his departure for Mecca with his father."</p> + +<p>Francis d'Almeida's address had continued for some time, for +he described minutely and concisely all that had occurred, with the +particulars of which we are fully acquainted.</p> + +<p>"And where are the papers you allude to?" asked the Superior +of the Inquisition tartly. "Who can vouch for their authenticity if +they are produced?"</p> + +<p>"My lord," returned the Beejapoor envoy, "we are not careless +in regard to papers of importance at Beejapoor. At the +first discovery of them, after the death of Yacoot, the Abyssinian, +I, as knowing somewhat of your language, was asked to read +those in Portuguese; but I could not, and the Padré Sahib was +directed by the Queen to do so, and to translate them into Persian; +then her seal was affixed to each one of them, and she added +her private signature, and all the Ministers signed and sealed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +them. Then the packet was sealed until opened by order of the +King, and sealed again with his seal, which all men know, and +which is appended to his letter."</p> + +<p>"You were all very careful," said the chief Inquisitor, with a +sneer, "but where are these letters?"</p> + +<p>At this moment Dom Diego was ushered in. He wore the +religious dress of his order, but he at once threw back his cowl, +and his eyes and those of Francis d'Almeida met once more. In +the one was a scowl of bitter hate, and the brows were almost +knit together; but those of Francis wore their usual mild expression, +and betrayed no emotion; nay, their look of innocence +seemed to make a favourable impression upon all present.</p> + +<p>After bending his knee to the Archbishop and the Grand +Inquisitor, Dom Diego drew his fine figure to its full height, +looked round the room towards all, and then said to the Viceroy, +"For what purpose am I required here, most illustrious Sir? I +have not been apprised that matters which are under the cognisance +of the Holy Inquisition could be transferred to a Council +like this; and I request that my protest may be entered against +any interference with what has been already arranged."</p> + +<p>"There is no intention, Dom Diego, on our part to interfere +with the proceedings of the Holy Office. This is a political question, +which thou wilt know of when thou hast heard the letter of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +the King of Beejapoor. Let it be read to him," he continued, "as +also the minutes of Francis d'Almeida's statement."</p> + +<p>Dom Diego heard all without reply; but it was easy to see that +his mind was far from tranquil. A nervous tremor appeared to +be irrepressible; his mouth twitched as if by convulsion, and he +twisted his hands together in continuous action, which could be +seen even under his robe.</p> + +<p>"And now, my lords," said the Viceroy, rising, "the most +important part of our sitting is to commence; and I have to beg, +in the name of justice, that your utmost vigilance may be employed +to clear up what has been alleged. The papers alluded to +in the letter are in possession of the envoy from Beejapoor. Let +him produce them."</p> + +<p>"They are here, my lord," returned the envoy, producing two +small bundles tied up in waxed cloth, which was sealed with the +King's seal. "First, I ask you to bear me witness that these seals +are intact; and particularly you, O most illustrious Sir, into whose +hands I commit the packets."</p> + +<p>The Viceroy examined the papers carefully, and said, "I see +no reason to doubt what has been said. The seals are undisturbed; +but judge for yourselves, noble sirs." And when the +packets had passed round, the Viceroy demanded to know whether +they were to be accepted, and a general reply was given that they +were.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> + +<p>"These are the letters which were found on the body of +Yacoot, the Abyssinian. Let them be first examined," said the +Beejapoor envoy; "and my lords will please to remark that all +have the Queen's seal, as those first found were examined by her; +and that there are forty-two documents which, with the exception +of those required by the Council, should be returned to me, and +a receipt given to me for the remainder. And now, noble sirs, +have I your permission to open the first packet?"</p> + +<p>"I again protest," cried Dom Diego, rising suddenly, "against +any examination of those papers here. Let them be given over +to the custody of the Holy Office, which will examine and authenticate +them, and produce such as it considers necessary for the +elucidation of the truth."</p> + +<p>But the pretence was too shallow to escape the detection of +many of the experienced men who heard the protest, and the +majority at once declared that they should be opened, and publicly +read and registered.</p> + +<p>Then the Viceroy took the first packet and handed it to his +own interpreter, a fine-looking Mussulman gentleman, who had +just entered the room, and who spoke not only Arabic and Persian +fluently, but Portuguese, for he had lived for some years in +Portugal, acting as interpreter of documents sent by the Indian +Government. Abdoolla-bin-Ali was a man held by everyone in the +highest esteem and honour, and his presence carried assurance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +with it to all the Council, and very especially to the Beejapoor +envoy and Francis d'Almeida, whose personal explanations would +be needed no longer.</p> + +<p>"On the cover is written," said the Moonshee, "'This packet +contains forty-two documents, eighteen in Portuguese and twenty-four +in Persian, and bears the King's seal.'" Then he broke the +seal carefully and unwound the silken cord with which the parcel +was fastened. There appeared within several other coverings, two +separate packets, one of which was labelled in Persian, "Eighteen +Portuguese papers and letters," and bore the Queen's seal, which +was shown to all.</p> + +<p>"I think, my lords," said the Viceroy, "that to prevent doubt +I had better read these aloud to the Council, and they can +examine each separately afterwards, if they please;" and, this +being assented to, he took up the first, which was addressed to +the most illustrious the Vizier Eyn-ool-Moolk, Bahadoor, and +dated from Moodgul. As the letter was opened, everyone +could see the strong bold characters of the handwriting of +Dom Diego, which were known to all or most present, and a +general murmur ran through the Council, as if of wonder and +astonishment; but no one spoke, and, in breathless silence, the +Viceroy read on.</p> + +<p>It was a long letter, and we may be pardoned for not following +it in detail; but the writer acknowledged the receipt of Eyn-ool-Moolk's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +"letter offering the Padré Dom Diego de Fonseca a +command in the new Royal army. That if he joined it with a force +of one thousand Europeans, his pay would be at the rate of one lakh +of rupees per month, and the same for every thousand more brought +to the Royal standard." It then proceeded to state, that considering +the expense of European troops in the field, the pay would +be insufficient; and that, in case of the force capturing Beejapoor, +there was no mention of prize shares in the treasure and jewels +that would become the property of the army. It would be necessary +also to confer upon the writer the district of Bunkapoor, with +all its forts and dependencies. That as the cowardly and imbecile +Government of Goa would never be induced to take part in the +war, or to send any of its soldiers, the writer must be provided +with funds to go to Portugal to raise as many men as possible, +with whom he pledged himself to return at the expiration of a +year, and disembark them at any port on the coast that might be +chosen.</p> + +<p>In conclusion, the writer professed his high admiration for +and sympathy with, the movement to substitute the virtuous +Prince Ismail for the tyrant who now ruled over Beejapoor, and +ended by praying that the measure might receive the blessing +and guidance of the Almighty; and at the end was written,</p> + +<div class="right"> +"By mine own hand,<br /> +"<span class="smcap">D. Diego di Fonseca</span>."<br /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Are there more like that?" asked the Grand Inquisitor of +Dom Diego, in a whisper; "if so, thou art lost!"</p> + +<p>"Let them read what they will," he answered. "I will satisfy +my lord presently."</p> + +<p>More! yes, there was much more. Every one of the letters +contained sketches of arrangements to be made, estimates of cost, +professions of good faith and sincerity. Several of them contained +receipts for large sums of money, partly in gold, partly in bills; +and by his own admissions Dom Diego had received upwards +of three lakhs of rupees in cash, while assurances of payment +as far as ten lakhs, beside a fourth share of the plunder of Beejapoor, +was promised and accepted.</p> + +<p>Then followed letters to Elias Khan, as the lieutenant-in-chief +of Eyn-ool-Moolk, which were in a more familiar strain; which +spoke of revelries they had enjoyed together; of the pleasures they +would share when they met again; complained that he could not +absent himself without suspicion, but that he was about to rid +himself of his coadjutor, whose sister Maria he would bring with +him, a lovely girl of his own country, who would put to shame +all the dusky beauties of his friend's harem; and wine from Portugal +of the choicest kind, which should enliven them. In another, +the gold sent by the company under Pedro di Diaz, that is, twenty +thousand "hoons," had arrived safely; with many other details, all +written in the same bold hand, and signed with the same very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +remarkable signature. As they were read, minutes were made of +them by the secretary. Every paper was compared as to the seals +of the Queen Regent and the Beejapoor Ministers, and that every +precaution had been used to prevent any chance of their being +tampered with, was a fact which was not without significance in +the assembly.</p> + +<p>And the Persian letters to Elias Khan from Eyn-ool-Moolk, +with one from the Prince Ismail, bestowing an honorary title as +commander of five thousand in the Royal army, with an estate of +twenty villages in the district of Bunkapoor—all confirmed the +tenor of the Portuguese letters of Dom Diego; while, with the +transmission of money through Elias Khan, assurance was given +that as soon as the Europeans appeared in the field, the whole of +the Talooq of Bunkapoor would be made over to him as stipulated. +There were others from Osman Beg to Elias Khan, descriptive of +private revels at Moodgul, in a house in the town hard by the +Padré, where wine of the choicest was stored up, and was plentiful, +and the most beautiful dancing women of the country round +were assembled. And he wrote of the Padré as being a jovial +fellow, who winked at everything, and who had shown him at the +chapel, privately, the beautiful Doña Maria, whom he was to bring +away with him when he came with his troops. "She is more +lovely than anything on the earth's face, and no Houri of Paradise +could be more beautiful;" and much more to the same effect,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +written in the loose, not to say indecent, style prevailing among +those like Osman Beg at Beejapoor. Then the letters seemed +suddenly to come to an abrupt close. After May of that year +none had passed between the parties; and, indeed, by this time, +the whole conspiracy had collapsed in the defeat and deaths of +the principal conspirators. There only remained the exposure +of the guilt of all by the discovery of the letter on the person of +the Abyssinian.</p> + +<p>The second packet contained, for the most part, letters from +Eyn-ool-Moolk to Elias Khan; but they gave particulars of the +agreement with the illustrious and learned Padré D. Diego di +Fonseca; of the moneys transmitted to be paid to him; and in one, +the Padré's receipt, in Persian and Portuguese, of the twenty +thousand hoons, and for other sums, amounting to about two lakhs +of rupees.</p> + +<p>"Hast thou nothing to reply, brother?" said the Inquisitor, in +an earnest whisper to Dom Diego. "Thou art condemned by +thine own hand; would it had been cut off and burnt before those +letters were written."</p> + +<p>Diego did not reply. He rose, and those who were watching +him saw that his lips were white, and his dark complexion had +assumed an ashy hue, and that he spoke as if he were choked by +thirst. Yet he drew himself up bravely, and said with an assumed +air of unconcern and bravado, "I am not on my trial, most illustrious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +Señor, else my reply would be sharp and certain. In these +letters, which purport to be mine, I only see the cunning toils +with which Francis d'Almeida strove to entangle me, and failed; +and when they had nothing to fall back upon they fled. Their +being arrested is a mere mockery. As to the handwriting of the +letters," and he took up one before the Inquisitor, "they are all +like this, forgeries. The fair Maria is an accomplished scribe, +and can copy any style of writing, even that of heathen characters; +and I do not at all marvel at her excellent imitation of +mine. But, my lords, as I said, I am not on my trial; and no +opinion can be given on the subject either till I am, or till that +shameless priest and his sister are pronounced guilty of heresy +and conspiracy by the Holy Inquisition, and perish for their +heresies at the stake."</p> + +<p>"Let that be as the good God wills," said the Viceroy, calmly. +"Meanwhile, these papers are so strong against thee, that we, in +virtue of our authority, declare thee to be a prisoner, and arrest +thee in the name of our gracious King. Thou shalt have honourable +treatment as a gentleman, and thou shalt be lodged in this +palace, till the time when the trial of Francis d'Almeida and his +sister comes on. When may it be, Holy Father?"</p> + +<p>"It is fixed for Friday," answered the Inquisitor, calmly; "that +the guilty may be ready for the <i>auto-da-fé</i> on the Sabbath. But +your Excellency, pardon me, errs in keeping a son of the Church<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +in arrest till then, and I will gladly be security for his appearance +when needed."</p> + +<p>"Impossible," replied Don Matthias de Gama. "Nevertheless +I will take the votes of the Council." And he did so; but +none supported the Grand Inquisitor's proposal except one, +another priest, and Dom Diego was consigned to the care of the +men-at-arms, who conducted him to an upper chamber luxuriously +furnished, and told him that his servants would be sent when they +could be found to attend to his comfort.</p> + +<p>What were the thoughts of this man as he heard the door of +his large airy apartment locked after him and bolted outside. +All his reliance on the comparative insignificance of Francis d'Almeida +had given place to a fearful sense of his power with +those terrible documents in his own handwriting to appeal to. +Forgeries! who would believe that, with all the evidence of his +handwriting in the Holy Office, and the Archbishop's records to +appeal to for comparison? His accusation against Francis and his +sister had depended for success upon his words only, which he +believed would overwhelm those of the modest, unassuming priest; +and in the death of him and of his sister would be future safety. +But the revelation of his own conduct, of the moneys he had +obtained, of his treasonable plots, denounced by the King Ibrahim, +had rendered his malignity abortive. And now the grim trial, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +horrible torture, the death by fire, like that he had witnessed of +hapless victims writhing in agony at the stake——</p> + +<p>Escape! was it possible? He went to one of the windows and +looked through the jalousies, for he could not open one of them. +Impossible! his room was over fifty feet from the ground, and the +wall was smooth, without a projection; and he turned away with a +shudder.</p> + +<p>Presently his servant came. "Have you seen Pedro di Diaz?" +he asked.</p> + +<p>"I have, Señor," was the reply; "and he is now waiting for +me at the quay. He wants to know whether he is to stand out to +sea or remain."</p> + +<p>"Tell him," replied Dom Diego, "that he is to leave the ship's +boat with six of the best of the men in it, and to take the brigantine +to the mouth of the harbour, without exciting suspicion. I will be +with him on Friday night; but if I do not come by Sunday, I +shall be dead."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER VII.<br /> + +THE INQUISITION.</h2> + + +<p>The appointed day arrived. The sudden arrest of Dom Diego, +his confinement to the Viceregal palace, and the refusal of the +Grand Inquisitor's security for him, had created a sensation in +Goa which had only one chance of solution—the trial by the Inquisition. +On the other hand, the well-known character of Francis +d'Almeida, and the devotion of his lovely sister, gave to the case +an interest such as had been rarely felt, and never exceeded, in +the city. All had many personal friends, Dom Diego especially +among the Jesuits, to whose order he belonged; Francis d'Almeida +among those of his own order, the Dominicans, and among the +ordinary clergy of the province, headed by the noble Archbishop; +and in his sweet sister every lady in Goa was interested. Could +so holy and learned a woman be actually tried on charges of sorcery +and conspiracy with Moors and heathens? And yet it was to be; +and many thought that the interference by the Viceroy with the +acts of the Holy Office was at once presumptuous and wicked. +From early morning the principal street of the city and the square<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +of the Inquisition had been thronged with eager inquirers, and the +most conflicting rumours were prevalent; some, that Dom Diego +had confessed his guilt, and would be made over to the Inquisition, +to be formally condemned; others, that Francis d'Almeida and his +sister had made similar confessions, and that all parties had been +originally bound in one confederation, but had split upon the +division of money of which they had become possessed. In short, +the wildest rumours prevailed, particularly as to the sorceries of +d'Almeida and his sister, which they had learned from heathen +priests and exercised upon their coadjutor to drive him away from +the place he had usurped. All these opinions, however, were set +at rest by the appearance of two processions: one, that of +soldiers of the Viceroy having Dom Diego in their charge; the +other of monks and holy nuns, who escorted Francis d'Almeida +and his beautiful sister. Among the soldiers Dom Diego +marched firmly and proudly, his tall, martial figure being +conspicuous from his general bearing, and the haughty manner +with which he regarded the crowds who gazed upon him; +the others, from the apparent simplicity of the brother and +sister, who walked hand in hand, with a calm and submissive +demeanour which deeply affected many. No one dared to +speak, but whispered comments passed among the crowd; and +women, and men too, wept that such servants of God might +be condemned ere the day passed, not only to torture, but to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +the horrible death by fire in the <i>auto-da-fé</i> of the next Sabbath, +which promised to be one of unusual interest.</p> + +<p>So, passing on, both parties entered the portal of the great +gloomy building, Dom Diego being the first. And when a short +colloquy had passed between the officers of the Viceroy's guard +and those of the Inquisition as to the delivery of the prisoner, he +was taken on by the familiars. Before the monks and sisters, +with the two others, had entered the gate, they had recommenced +a hymn which had been sung at intervals during their progress, +the sweetness and solemnity of which had had a profound effect; +and it again arose steadily and sweetly, with a rich and fervent +melody which penetrated every heart, as knees were bent and hats +doffed reverently as the processions passed, while the simple +words caused many a silent prayer to arise to the Throne of +Grace.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +When in trouble and in fear,<br /> +To thee we cry, O Mother dear!<br /> +Behold our sorrows, bitter weeping,<br /> +Yet in all trial humbly keeping<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Trust in thee, Maria!</span><br /> +<br /> +Mother of Jesus, lowly born,<br /> +On earth by human sorrow torn;<br /> +Yet in thy glory resting now,<br /> +Heedful of all thy creatures' woe,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Hear our prayer, Maria!</span><br /> +<br /> +Those who have daily died the death<br /> +Of those who suffer slander's breath;<br /> +Those who in dread judgment's hour<br /> +Their simple hearts to thee outpour,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Pity them, O Maria!</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span><br /> +Support them in their hour of need,<br /> +To cheer them with thy comfort speed,<br /> +Lest without thee they go astray,<br /> +Mother, with thee all bright their way,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Having no fear, Maria!</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>While the chant proceeded, the procession entered the door, +and its sweet melody was heard faintly as it passed up the +broad corridor which led to the great hall of the Inquisition.</p> + +<p>It was a bare, whitewashed room, with narrow windows near the +ceiling, which let in the cool air and a small degree of light; but +when the eye, dazzled by the glare without, had become accustomed +to the dimness within, everything—nay, even the emotions +in every face—were distinctly visible. There was a separate place +for the accuser; another for the prisoners; and a third for any +witnesses that might have to be called. In the centre was a long +narrow table covered with coarse black serge, with inkstands, pens, +and paper at intervals; and the Inquisitors sat in tall, straight-backed, +wooden chairs around, the Grand Inquisitor's position +being in the centre of the right hand side, in a raised chair, so +that he could overlook all. There were no guards near Dom Diego +now; and his cowl being thrown back, his grim, swarthy +features and bold flashing eyes were distinctly visible. The +prisoners were directed to stand in their allotted space; and the +venerable Archbishop, in his robes, with a number of clergy, sat +on one side, but took no part in the inquiry.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> + +<p>After the proceedings had been opened by a prayer and a +solemn chant, the Grand Inquisitor rose from his seat, and +said—</p> + +<p>"Holy fathers, we have heard with unfeigned sorrow, grief, +and amazement the scandal to the Church which has arisen under +the unseemly contentions in the Mission Church at Moodgul, +where, in the midst of Moors and Pagans, the Lord Christ +hath graciously hitherto supported our poor measures for making +known His gospel to those otherwise benighted and damnable +peoples. In process of years many hundreds have been gathered +to the foot of the Cross, and hundreds have died in a steady belief +in the sacraments of the Holy Church, while many live in the +exercise of a devout Christian faith and good works. Within the +last few months, however, grievous troubles have arisen, as is +known to our Father in God the illustrious Archbishop; and on +the direct accusations of Dom Diego di Fonseca, the local vicar, +we summoned Francis d'Almeida and his sister Maria to answer +his charges. This citation was publicly made known to them both +by being read in the Mission Church; but, instead of obeying it, +both departed from Moodgul under the escort of Moorish soldiers, +and went or were conveyed to Beejapoor, where they resided until +a demand from His Excellency the Viceroy was made for +them, and they were sent hither.</p> + +<p>"Thus, holy fathers, ye have to determine in what manner the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +priest Francis d'Almeida is guilty, as also his sister, of the formal +charges which I now read. Then you will hear the justification +of the prisoners; and you will, with prayer to the Almighty, pronounce +judgment upon them. Diego di Fonseca, in the name +of the Holy Trinity, I call upon you to swear that what you are +about to say is true;" and on the formal oath being administered to +him, he stood erect, and with all the energy and musical tone of +his fine voice, he spoke to the following effect.</p> + +<p>I think, however, that I do right in refusing an attempt to +detail all. In the outset of his oration, he referred to his services +in China, in the Spice Islands, in Bengal, among the savage tribes +of Malays and Moors; of perils by land and sea, and of the many +human souls he had rescued from everlasting destruction.</p> + +<p>"I was a humble follower of St. Francis Xavier," he continued, +"and strove to follow his example. Then, worn out and +weary, I came to Goa, and would have returned to Portugal for a +season, but new work at Moodgul was opened to me, and in my +zeal I accepted it.</p> + +<p>"Holy fathers, when I arrived there I found a mockery of a +Church. My coadjutor, more a heathen than a Christian, had +suffered the most ordinary offices of the Church to be utterly +neglected. He was incessantly employed in the study of Pagan +languages, mythology, and Scripture, and of Moorish languages, +and infidel books. To the people he invariably preached in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +tongue they call Canarese. He read the services of the Church +in the same tongue, and he desecrated the holy service by using +it even in the mass. Instead of our own language, his sister taught +it in the schools, and thus perverted the minds of children, who +might have been made wise unto salvation.</p> + +<p>"It was all horrible! horrible! this perpetual study of books, +which contain besides damnable theological dissertations; works +on sorcery, divination, astrology, and all the evil sciences denounced +by the Church, for which so many have suffered; and I +warned him on many occasions, for I was willing to save them +both, to abandon these evil courses and damnable heresies. And at +first Francis d'Almeida strove to justify himself by declaring that +he read Hindoo books to understand best how to controvert their +doctrine; and declared that he was even translating the holy +gospels and services of the Church into the language of the people, +that they might understand what they profess to believe. Was +any heresy ever so complete? Ye, O reverend fathers, know +how the Scriptures are forbidden to be read except under ghostly +direction and counsel, and how corruption and unbelief must needs +arise under such proceedings as those of Francis d'Almeida +towards his ignorant flock. I found remonstrance of no use; he +avoided me with disrespect; and in the congregation a party was +growing up against him which it was impossible for me to +overcome; I therefore complained to the most reverend the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +Archbishop and the Holy Office, and a citation to Francis +d'Almeida was sent.</p> + +<p>"Meanwhile a strange numbness of mind was stealing over +me. I never saw Doña Maria without trembling and confusion. +I could not pray; I could not think. I could not even +eat; and I knew that her satanic influence was exerted after the +heathen manner, to lead me to perdition. But from this I was +mercifully preserved. On the day I delivered the citation, she and +her brother left their house at night and took refuge with the +Moorish Governor, who at once sent them to Juldroog, and thence +they were taken to Beejapoor. I was then free; a great weight +seemed to be removed from me, and I came hither to lay all before +the Church and seek ghostly counsel. Fathers, my short statement +is ended; but of heresy and sorcery of the most devilish +kind I accuse them both, and demand that in consonance with +the laws of the Holy Office they suffer death by fire, and that thus +the Church be purged from their spiritual uncleanness. I could +extend this address to a vast length, but it would needlessly occupy +time. The books in Francis d'Almeida's and his sister's handwriting +will satisfy you of the character of their work, and I have +brought such as I could find; the rest were concealed before their +departure."</p> + +<p>"Have you any witnesses to the truth of the accusation?" +asked the Grand Inquisitor.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I have none," he replied, "but God, and one of the deacons +who accompanied me, who has charge of the books. How was I +to confide to anyone the misery I endured?"</p> + +<p>"Dost thou object to these being produced, Francis d'Almeida?"</p> + +<p>"No," he said, mildly. "If they are in my own or my sister's +writing, they are homilies of the Church, the Vulgate as allowed +to the people even here in Goa, and some extracts from the Scriptures +such as are given to children."</p> + +<p>"Look at these," said the Archbishop. "Are these the same +as thou sentest to us for approval?"</p> + +<p>D'Almeida opened the books one by one, and looked over the +contents. "These are the rough drafts in my own handwriting of +the translations as I made them, and here and there I find a +small portion of my sister's manuscript. These are the drafts +from which she made the fair copies, which in her beautiful +characters and ornamented with initial letters are now at Moodgul, +in the keeping of one Ramana and other deacons of the mission, +and have the illustrious Archbishop's imprimatur on them."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the Prelate and the Grand Inquisitor, "for we had +them checked by the Fra Don Francisco da Pinto, who was the +best scholar then in Goa. He is now in Madagascar; but, if I +remember right, we all signed them."</p> + +<p>"They are here, fathers," cried a venerable old man, with long<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +white hair streaming over his shoulders, who, with several others, +now made their way into the room, and prostrated themselves on +the floor. "Listen to our cry for justice! When our beloved Padré +was threatened, and when the pure Señora Maria was insulted, +and the Governor of Moodgul sent them away as prisoners, the +books were given to us, and we hid them; but when the great +Padré was going to Goa, to accuse our beloved friends, I and +these with me followed him, and we arrived this morning, O +holy fathers, that we may be in time yet to speak the truth +before ye! Day and night we have travelled, and we have had +no fear save of delay."</p> + +<p>"And who are ye?" asked the Grand Inquisitor. "Do ye +know what ye have risked in intruding here unbidden? What +do ye know?"</p> + +<p>"I know everything," replied the old man who first made his +way in, speaking through the interpreter, and prostrating himself +on the floor. "Let me speak! Let me speak for the love of +God! There are a hundred more ready to say the same thing, and +the Syud has sent me in time. Oh, my fathers, let us speak!"</p> + +<p>"I protest against him" cried Dom Diego, with a hard, shrill +voice, very different to his usual tone. "I denounce this as a +conspiracy."</p> + +<p>"We are the best judges of that," returned the Grand Inquisitor. +"You, Diego di Fonseca, have already stated that you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +have no witnesses; and now, by a miracle as it were, one hath +appeared suddenly, to whom credit may be given, a deacon of the +Church. You can hear his statement and reply to it if you will. +Let the Deacon Ramana be sworn and cautioned."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the old man was sworn, and his first act was to +lay open the books he had brought and point to them as Maria's +writing.</p> + +<p>"Can you read these writings?" asked the Archbishop. "They +are, I see, those which were confirmed by us after examination. I +see my initials on every page."</p> + +<p>"Surely, my Prince," replied the deacon. "When the priest is +absent it is my duty to read such prayers and passages of Scripture +as have been marked;" and, opening one of the books at +random, he put on his large spectacles and began to read from +the fifth chapter of the gospel according to Saint Matthew:—</p> + +<p>"'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of +heaven.'</p> + +<p>"'Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.'</p> + +<p>"Shall I go on, my Prince? These words are so holy and +comforting that few of the flock hear them without tears. I trust +they are understood?"</p> + +<p>"They are," replied the Grand Inquisitor; and, turning to +Dom Diego, in a severe tone he continued, "and if this is the +sorcery thou hast charged the prisoners with, thou hadst better be +silent."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And now," continued the old man, "I will speak for our +blessed Padré, and tell what happened on the day that he took +refuge at the Governor's. I have no fear of him," and he pointed +to Dom Diego, "and have no charge to make against him; but +the Lord and the blessed Virgin give me power to speak, and +I am not afraid before them or you."</p> + +<p>Then he related what he knew of the priest's plot. How he +had engaged Beydurs and other lawless ruffians to carry off Maria; +how on that Sunday night many of them had assembled at +Moodgul, and one of them, being a friend of one of the shepherds, +had told him what was to be done, and he went with some +armed men to watch the Padré's church and house; how he heard +Maria scream as she was alone singing vespers, and, looking in, +saw her lying on the steps of the altar, and gave the alarm. We +need not recapitulate all we already know; but the firmness and +boldness of the narrator carried conviction with it to those +who heard him. "And not only did I hear and see it all," he +continued, "but these, my companions, know of it too, and will +confirm it."</p> + +<p>"God of heaven!" cried Dom Diego, casting up his hands, "I +declare this to be a conspiracy against me, instigated by the +prisoners! Can it be believed in Thy holy sight? Surely Thou +wilt blast their tongues ere they utter malignity against Thy +servant!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p> + +<p>But the Court heeded him not; and the letters of Dom Diego +were now laid out for all present to see them, and read, one by +one, in a sonorous voice by the secretary; while the Archbishop +and the secretary of the Holy Office brought forward large packets +of documents from various parts of the Indies, of the handwriting +of which there was no doubt, and which exactly corresponded +with the Moodgul letters. That in relation to Doña Maria and +her seduction caused a profound sensation through the assembly, +and there were cries of "Let her explain! Let her explain!" +from many.</p> + +<p>"Let her swear what she likes," said the priest. "I only say +these are forgeries made by herself to cover her own shame."</p> + +<p>But this assertion, vague as it was, had no effect upon the +tribunal. One by one the members compared all the letters with +former documents. Many of them had maintained correspondence +with the accused, and after an impressive silence, only broken by +occasional whispers and communications among the members +themselves—</p> + +<p>"Do you know any of the associates of Dom Diego?" asked the +Grand Inquisitor of the old deacon. "Speak truly and freely, +but beware of slander or falsehood!" And this being interpreted +to the old man, he broke forth at once.</p> + +<p>"Know them? Yes; I know many. I know Pedro di Diaz, +who used to come from Elias Khan, before Eyn-ool-Moolk, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +money and letters, and I and many other people have seen him +drinking with the Padré there. There was another man called +Bartholomew, who sometimes came with him, and sometimes +with others. All were rude, violent men. Diaz had the name of +'Pirate' among them. All of them kept out of our good Padré's +way; and perhaps he never saw them—he was too innocent; but +among ourselves we wondered at the profligacy that was carried +on; not near the church, but in the bazaar of the town, where the +great Padré used to come. One day one of the bankers in the +city said to me, 'Your great Padré is very rich; I have exchanged +fifty thousand rupees for him for bills on Panjim (Goa), and +other bankers have also made remittances privately for him. +'Where does he get this money?' I said I could not tell, but it +was reported everywhere that the Padré was a soldier in disguise, +who was going to bring up Feringis and guns against Beejapoor. +If that was to be kept secret, he had better not have trusted +Pedro di Diaz, for he used openly to boast of it to many, and it +became public talk. Does the Padré wish to ask me any questions? +I will answer them, my princes, as truly as I have sworn +to do upon the holy books and the holy water."</p> + +<p>But Dom Diego made no reply. He had become ghastly pale, +and his hands trembled.</p> + +<p>"What did I or we care about all this?" continued the old +man, excitedly; "but what we and every Christian man in our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +Church did care for was the insult to our poor, kind, blessed, saint +there, who ministered to our sick, taught our children, and helped +her brother to write those blessed books. Ah, sirs! though we are +but simple shepherds, yet our people have fought in many a frontier +war; we have maintained our faith against Moslem and +Hindoo, and in the cause of right fear no man. And I tell you, +my princes, that had not Padré Francis enjoined peace upon us, +we would have followed up Dom Diego that night, and brought +him here to make him over to you."</p> + +<p>"And why did Francis d'Almeida and his sister leave so suddenly?" +he was asked.</p> + +<p>"The citation to him had been read," replied the old man; +"and after the service he told me he should have to go, and asked +me to get him ponies to ride. In the evening, after the Señora's +cruel insult, I took them temporarily to the palace of the Governor, +Dilawar Khan, for I feared the Padré might return with the +Beydurs and attack the Señora. Then, after a time, came an +express from Beejapoor, and Dilawar Khan told them they must +obey the Queen Chand's orders; and before daylight they were +sent off to Juldroog in closed palanquins, whether they would or +no. But for this they would have gone to you, for twenty-five +well-armed youths of the congregation had volunteered their +escort. Ah, sirs! it was a night of terror and alarm; and it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +only when the Governor sent and put seals on everything, except +these books, that we felt safe."</p> + +<p>"We had not heard of this alleged insult before, daughter," +said the Inquisitor; "and thou must speak to it, however painful, +on pain of torture, to extort the truth, for this is a point which +cannot be overlooked."</p> + +<p>"My lords and illustrious fathers," said Maria, modestly, +"if this truth had not transpired through the deacon I would +have been silent, for I have innocence and my trust in the +blessed Queen of Heaven to rely on; and whatever shame +may appear in the narration belongs to him who caused it, +not to me. We had never been intimate, as servants of the +Church should be. My brother did not like what he heard, +things he would not tell me of. I was pained by Dom Diego's +licentious looks, and even, when in the Church, always sat +near the children of my school. But one Sabbath evening he +found me alone, teaching the children a hymn; and when they +had gone he advanced towards me, and offered me such insult +as no virtuous woman could endure, pressing his vile intentions +with proposals to fly. And I sank down and fainted. I +know not who rescued me, but when I was aroused I was at home +again, and my brother, seizing his sword, rushed out to seek +revenge, and was brought back; and I lay at the foot of my cross,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +praying that his hand should be withheld; and that was granted +mercifully."</p> + +<p>Bravely and calmly had Maria upheld her dignity and composure +up to this period; but now she failed, and burst into +hysterical sobs and tears, upheld by the abbess of her lay order, +who had, with other sisters, accompanied her. But presently, +and while all awaited her recovery, she rose, and holding out her +pleading hands, cried—</p> + +<p>"O fathers of the Church, as her child I come to you; as a +woman who has been wounded in her honour I plead to you! +There is not one spot of shame to my own perception upon +my heart, and she can deliver me if I am true. If not, let the +flame purge me, and may I be accepted! But leave me not to +that vile man's machinations in after years."</p> + +<p>She was not immediately replied to, and the tribunal took up +the examination of Francis d'Almeida with new interest. He +described their happy life at Moodgul, the affection and docility of +the people, the progress he was making in Canarese with learned +scholars of the place, his first essays in translation, and which he +had sent for confirmation; and lastly, the insult to his sister. +"If I could then and there have proceeded to you, holy fathers, +I would have come; but a long journey needs several days' preparation, +and I was without any notice considered a prisoner and +sent to Beejapoor, where my innocence was proved to the satisfaction<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +of its noble Queen by these letters of my coadjutor, which, +she and her nephew, the King, have forwarded by their envoy. +They are before ye, O fathers, and ye will judge whether the +writing is mine or not."</p> + +<p>Just then a messenger, who had been sent for Pedro di Diaz, +returned and reported that his vessel had fallen down the river in +the afternoon of the previous day, bound for Choule and Surat, +and that Bartholomew Pinto, and others, with Diaz, were serving +on board.</p> + +<p>Then the Court was cleared for about an hour, for the day was +fast declining; and, on the prisoners being again admitted, the +Inquisitors rose as one man, while their chief cried with a loud +voice, "Ye, Francis d'Almeida, and Maria de Pereira, we acquit +and expurge ye from all accusation of heresy, sorcery, contempt, +and other crimes with which ye have been charged; and ye go +forth without shame or reproach to continue your labours as ye +have done among the heathen.</p> + +<p>"You, Dom Diego, member of the holy Society of Jesus, are +found guilty, under your own handwriting, of falsehood and profligacy. +You have insulted a virtuous and worthy daughter of the +Church with infamous proposals. You have entered, as appears +by your agreements, into an unholy and corrupt alliance with +Moorish rebels to this kingdom; and you, by these papers, have +acknowledged the receipt of vast sums of money. We condemn<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +you, therefore, unless you make confession previously, to trial by +the rack; and afterwards, on Sunday next, to death by fire, in +order that the holy Church may be purged from your iniquity. +Familiars, lead him forth; till the morrow he will have time to +repent."</p> + +<p>Dom Diego replied nothing. He well knew it was of no avail +to appeal to those stony hearts which, whether just or unjust, +never changed. He only bowed his head, muttered something +that could not be distinguished, and was led into the great corridor +whence the cells opened.</p> + +<p>Can we describe the boundless thankfulness of the two who so +lately were captives in the hands of that ruthless tribunal! As +servants of God in their degrees, the brother and sister received +the public blessings of the Archbishop and Grand Inquisitor; and, +after that, falling into each other's arms, they wept like children +before all. Before this, their feelings had been too highly strung +to fail, but now they were weak with very excitement, and were +considerately led back to their dwellings, to rest and receive those +spiritual comforts in which their souls could now seek repose.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>"And thou wilt come at last, Balthasar," said Dom Diego, as +having arrived at the end of the corridor, he turned into a door +which was open, and revealed a small bed, with a loaf of bread +and a jar of water. "Thou wilt not be long." Balthasar was Dom<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +Diego's cousin, who had been with him when he was formerly an +officer of the Ajuba, and had taken charge of him.</p> + +<p>"I will come," he said, "though I risk my life and brave the +fire. I will come, and bring the rope for thee. If thou art strong +and brave, as thou used to be, yon miserable window will have +little terror for thee."</p> + +<p>But Dom Diego had a surer plan in his mind than that.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you need not bring a rope," he said; "I can manage +without it, and it would betray you."</p> + +<p>As his cousin entered shortly before midnight, and all the building +was still, except for the wailings of wretches who sat alone in +their misery, he closed the door, locking it inside. "Perhaps I +can help you," he said, cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Dom Diego. "No one can move those iron bars. +You dare not leave the door open, but you can submit to be +bound, and I will do it gently. Lie down there. Ha! thou wilt +not," he said, from between his teeth. "Thou, too, a traitor!" +And he then threw him down on the bed, and stuffed a large +portion of his dress into his cousin's mouth. "Dare to stir, and I +will kill thee. See, here is my old weapon!" and he drew a keen +poignard from his breast. "Nay, that would be the surest way," +and he seized the familiar by the throat.</p> + +<p>"Mercy! Mercy! Diego!" gasped Balthasar. "Spare my life!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +Oh, spare my life! Unshriven and unrepented, wouldst thou +murder me?"</p> + +<p>"Be still, then. If thou stir hand or foot, I will slay thee, +Balthasar, as thou liest there; but be still, and I will not +harm thee." Then Diego took off his cousin's robe, swathed +the upper part of his person in the coarse sheet of the bed, +and tearing his shirt into strips, with them and two handkerchiefs +tied his legs together, so that they could not be moved. +"There!" he cried, "that is the way we used to tie up the +captives whom we carried off for ransom. Rest quietly there, my +son, till some one finds thee in the morning; and thou must tell +them they did not make so much of me as they might when I +was here; they may find it hard to take me now. Addios, brother, +I know my way out, and have a vow to attend midnight mass in +the cathedral. How well thy robe fits me; perhaps thou wilt take +mine in exchange. Addios! and pleasant dreams to thee this +night, Balthasar. When thou wakest, tell Francis d'Almeida and +his sister that I go to pursue them. Not till he is dead at my feet, +and she grovels there in a shame worse than death, will I cease to +dog them, hide where they may. Forget not!" and taking up the +small lanthorn, he locked the door behind him, delivering a +solemn benediction as he entered the corridor.</p> + +<p>He knew his way perfectly. In years long before he had been +one of the familiars, and knew every secret dungeon and torture<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +chamber of the great building, every secret sign and password; +and he made his way to the gate without opposition. The men on +guard rallied him on going out so late; but he declared his vow +of midnight mass, and passed on into the open air, unchallenged +and unsuspected by his voice, for he had kept his cowl over his +face, and his height corresponded so exactly with that of his cousin, +that the detection of the imposture was impossible.</p> + +<p>There was no one else in the square before the Ajua but a few +stragglers, and Diego quietly found himself on the quay. One +sailor was lying in the stern of the ship's boat, who was at once +aroused, and slipped over the priest's shoulder a rough sailor's +dress, and for a few moments was absent seeking his associates. +One by one they emerged from their hiding place, gained the boat +unobserved, and lay down in its bottom; and when the last one +came he loosed the painter, took one of the oars, and sculled off +leisurely towards the opposite shore. Near that, the men started +up, took the oars, which were muffled, and rowed with all their +power, and with a strong ebb tide made rapid way down to the +sea, passing the forts without observation. The brigantine was +not at anchor, but cruising to and fro, as if about to enter the +river with the flood; but Dom Diego was soon on board, and +before the fresh land wind the beautiful little vessel heeled over to +the breeze and sped swiftly northwards.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.<br /> + +A DEATH, A MARRIAGE, AND A DEPARTURE.</h2> + + +<p>When morning broke there was much confusion in the great +building. Balthasar, whose duty was to open the doors of the +cells, was not to be found, nor were the keys hung up in their +accustomed place. The door of Dom Diego's cell was, however, +locked and bolted without as usual; but, on listening, a faint +moaning sound was heard, and after some difficulty the massive +door was opened, and Balthasar found as he had been left, though +nearly suffocated. He had contrived to wriggle from the low +pallet, but to free his hands and to release himself from his +cousin's bandages had been impossible; nor could he loose the +gag, for it had been tied securely behind, putting him to great +pain and distress. Even to the suspicious Inquisitors there did +not seem to be the least indication of complicity, and after a +severe and prolonged examination, Balthasar was released. All +that he could say was that he had been suddenly overpowered by +his cousin, whose strength far exceeded his own; that he had been +threatened with death, and even slightly wounded in the breast; +that, on account of the gag, he could not cry out for aid. And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +even had he done so, who could have heard him among the +wailings of other prisoners, and the cries and groans of those +that were to endure the torture on the day following?</p> + +<p>Then, under the information given by the old deacon, the +transactions of the bankers of Panjim were examined by the civil +and ecclesiastical authorities in conjunction. But no assets were +found. They produced letters from Dom Diego remitting large +sums by bills from Moodgul, and a considerable quantity of gold, +and directing the whole, except a small portion to be kept for himself, +to be paid to Pedro di Diaz, whom they knew as a trader to +the East, and the owner of a remarkably fast-sailing brigantine, +which he commanded. Some months before he had gone on a +trading expedition with the Moors, and while some of the remittances +belonged to him direct, others might have been the property +of the Padré Sahib. It could only be conjecture, for it was +no part of their business to inquire into their constituents' affairs; +and for the rest, their books and vouchers were ample evidence. +Finally, about four days before, the Captain Di Diaz had +taken away all his money, partly in bills at sight, on Surat and +Oman, but by far the greater part was in coin of various +kinds, the majority being in gold. There was nothing to be +made out of all this; nothing to afford the least clue to the +course of the vessel Diaz commanded; or, indeed, that Dom +Diego was with him, though it was supposed he might be; and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +was never afterwards seen in Goa, nor did it ever transpire +to the authorities there what had become of him. There was, +however, long afterwards, a report prevalent that he had become +a renegade from the Christian faith, and joined the ranks of the +Mussulman army, and had fallen in some obscure battle.</p> + +<p>It was a pleasant duty for the Archbishop to reward Francis +d'Almeida for all the trials which had arisen out of his association +with the bad man who had so narrowly escaped a horrible fate. +But the more the prelate saw of the zealous missionary the more +he appreciated his singular, and at that period nearly unknown, +powers of translation, and the evident love and veneration in +which he was held by his devoted flock. Could there be a greater +proof of that than in the sturdy old deacon's journey from +Moodgul to Goa unasked, on the mere supposition that the +long threatened proceedings against his priest were to take +place? This more, perhaps, than any other circumstance touched +the prelate most deeply, and he was not slow to confess it.</p> + +<p>In the cathedral a splendid high mass was solemnised for the +delivery of Francis d'Almeida and his sister from the wicked +machinations against them. Sermons were preached, setting forth +their labours for many years, and the translations were exhibited +on the altar steps to the public at large. The Viceroy bestowed +a high order upon the priest at a banquet which was held in +his honour; entertained the Beejapoor envoy very sumptuously;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +and, from the simple communications of Francis d'Almeida, +grew to have a higher respect for the kingdom than had ever been +held by any Portuguese before.</p> + +<p>Many arrangements about duties and trade generally were +proposed; in fact, it appeared as though the present opportunity +would throw open the two kingdoms to each other in a far +more effectual and friendly manner. As to Doña Maria, we +lose sight of her among her old friends, and the crowds of +religious women who visited her. Many, indeed, volunteered to +accompany her in her mission work, and teach in her schools; +but European Portuguese, ignorant of any language but their +own, could be of little use; and finally, before she left, she made +choice of two of the sisters of her own convent, who, having +been born in India, could speak the ordinary language of the +western country with fluency.</p> + +<p>Finally came the grand distinction, so unexpected, that +Francis was completely overpowered by it. The Archbishop, +having consulted privately with his council, considered it very +advisable to extend the mission, and to consolidate its several +points under one head. At present there were but four churches, +two under Moodgul, and two under Raichore; but there was a +good chance of the establishment of one at Beejapoor, and +perhaps another at Ahmednugger, under the auspices of Queen +Chand Beebee. It was advisable, therefore, that Francis d'Almeida<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +should be created bishop, with permission to travel and +preach wherever he thought most advisable.</p> + +<p>At first, as we have said, the worthy priest was overwhelmed, +and requested time for consideration; but it appeared both to him +and to Maria, and to their best friends, that the honour and the +responsibility could not be evaded. And again, if he declined it, +neither of them would be sent to carry out the Archbishop's +plans. Now, there was no one who knew the people or their +language, manners, and customs, at all so well; no one who +could compete with the Mussulmans and Brahmins on their own +grounds of theology. He was, too, used to the courtly manners +and modes of life of the Mussulman who ruled the country, and +was the intimate friend of Queen Chand and her nephew, the +King. What would not Taj-ool-Nissa do for the physician who +had aided her recovery, or for the beloved companion who had +cheered her loneliness? Then, again, there were Meeah and Zóra, +the old Syud, and their new schools at the painter's, and great +numbers of other countrymen who had been absent with the +King's army, and were altogether fallen into neglect. All these +were new ties which a series of strange events had created, but +which, nevertheless, were precious and binding. And these, with +the boundless expanse of country before him, in which he should +be free to act, caused Francis d'Almeida's heart to swell in grateful +anticipation. He, therefore, submitted himself to the Archbishop's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +will, with earnest and sincere feelings of gratitude; and +as soon as the ceremony could be arranged, he was consecrated in +the cathedral at high mass, before all the ecclesiastical, civil, and +military authorities of the city, and his patent made out and delivered +to him. Nor would the Archbishop suffer him, poor as he +knew Francis was, to pay any of the costs of the elevation, which +were considerable; not even that of his robes, which were of their +kind splendid enough.</p> + +<p>The Beejapoor envoy was a delighted spectator of all the pomp +of the Church on the occasion, and the joy with which he greeted +his former humble companion was very genuine. We are bound +to say also, that once they were free from the terrors of the +Inquisition, Maria, like a practical woman as she was, insisted +upon making a complete inspection of her brother's wardrobe, and +found it in a very dilapidated and defective condition. The +patchings and darnings of old Pedro, who nominally united the +office of tailor to that of cook and valet, were by no means of a +distinguished order, and were, to say the least of them, in the last +stage of decay; and in the cold weather of the Dekhan, her +brother, though enjoying wonderfully good health, was often distressed +by the cold. Materials, however, and makers of all kinds +were plentiful at Goa. The ladies of her convent set to with +vigour to make such portions of both their clothing as they +could, and the result was so far beyond the good Padré's ordinary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +ideas of comfort, which were limited, that he could barely be induced +to cast away the old and to adopt the rich new suits with +which he was furnished.</p> + +<p>They were pressed much to remain for the great Church +festival of Christmas. But this was impossible; time was precious; +the Beejapoor envoy and his people were anxious to return, and +the journey back was commenced. What peril they had endured +and escaped, what new honour and love they had gained, was +indeed wonderful to think on, and for which their thanks were due +to Him whom they served; and their hearts were full of gratitude +and hope for the future. And the reception they had at +Beejapoor, when Humeed Khan and his nephew, with a host +of other friends, one of the King's nobles of the court, ushers +and others, were sent out to meet them and conduct them into +the city, was almost overwhelming; and many people ran before +their litters, crying out that the good Padré had come back, +and was welcome. As to the children of the schools, they and +their parents erected a triumphal arch of a humble character +at Pedro the painter's gate; and, dressed in their best, sang +a hymn of welcome very prettily, and were introduced to their +new preceptresses. Pedro had made a great feast for the occasion +too, and all were very happy; but they were grieved to hear that +their dear old friend the Syud was rapidly sinking to his rest, and +that the physicians had no longer hope of his life. Prayers had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +been made for him in every mosque, and supplications sent to all +other shrines around, particularly to Gulburgah. But these were +of no avail; the angel of death, the old man said, was already +nigh, and he should soon receive his last summons. Weary +nature was exhausted; and though the few last months' excitement +had caused the lamp of life to flicker up, and even to shine +brightly for awhile, it was now sinking daily, and must soon be +extinguished.</p> + +<p>They did not delay further than to make a few arrangements. +The King and the Queen had already sent kind messages, begging +them to come as soon as possible; and in the afternoon they went +when the usual palanquins arrived for them. They found Abbas +Khan, his uncle, and a number of Mussulman priests, sitting in +the ante-room of the old Syud's apartments, the latter chanting +passages from the Korán in a low monotonous tone; and while +Maria passed into Zóra's rooms, Abbas Khan rose, and led the +bishop, as we must now call him, into the place where the dear old +man lay. He seemed to be dozing as they entered, but hearing +the sound of a strange voice, he looked up and asked who had +come.</p> + +<p>"I, your old friend, Huzrut," said the bishop, kneeling down. +"I have returned to you safe from my journey and its consequences."</p> + +<p>"Oh, give me light that I may see you once more ere I pass<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +away," he said, eagerly. "Give me light!" and when a corner of +the curtain was lifted, the old man raised himself, stretched out +his hands, and fell upon his friend's neck. He seemed to have +forgotten that he was blind.</p> + +<p>"The darkness and the day are all one to me, my son," he +said, feeling all over Francis' face; "all one now—so they are +always to those who are trembling on the brink of eternity. Yet +I shall see brightly presently, when these scales of death fall from +my eyes. Fear not for me, dear friend; my time is run, my work +on earth is finished, and I go to partake of that I have believed in. +And thou hast escaped that fierce evil priest? Tell me how it was. +First lay me down, for I have no strength."</p> + +<p>"You must not speak," was the reply; "it excites you too +much;" and d'Almeida placed his fingers on the old man's pulse, +which he found now weak and fluttering. "Rest awhile, and I +will tell thee."</p> + +<p>"Is he dying?" asked Abbas Khan.</p> + +<p>"No," returned the bishop; "he will yet live some days; and +I will send him or bring him early some cordial I have brought +with me. Now no one can get at it."</p> + +<p>"Now tell me all, Francis; and how thy dear sister, Maria, +hath fared. Is she well?"</p> + +<p>"She is well," returned the bishop; "but I have said you must +be silent;" and he then related briefly the particulars of the investigation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +of the tribunal. "I could have done nothing," he said; +"he was more powerful than I; but I had truth with me, and out +of his own vile letters he was condemned; nor could he make any +defence. He was sentenced, and would have suffered, but he +escaped."</p> + +<p>"Escaped! Protection of God! he may follow you and +Maria."</p> + +<p>"I do not fear him, Huzrut. The same power that defended +us at Goa will defend us should we meet hereafter. Meanwhile, +he fled in a companion's ship to sea, and is believed to have gone +to Persia, where we have churches. He escaped, too, with all his +wealth."</p> + +<p>"Shookr! shookr! thanks, thanks! and praise to God that our +poor prayers were heard; prayers in which Zóra joined, as for +brother and sister. Hast thou no thanks, no congratulations, +Meeah?"</p> + +<p>"I said them at first, Abba, when he told me on the road. But +see the justice of God! On all that number of vile conspirators +justice hath descended. And on this priest last of all, though he +hath life and wealth, yet shame hath fallen upon him among his +people; while this, our honoured friend, hath been exalted by them +to high rank, and is now a noble of the Church."</p> + +<p>"He is no greater now before me than he used to be, nor +before God. Is he, too, a Wallee?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not a saint, Abba," returned Francis, smiling; "but I have +the overlooking of all the churches from Ahmednugger to Raichore +and Moodgul, and can reside where I please. Before God I cannot +change, but before men I have that dignity in the Church +which it hath pleased my fathers in God to bestow upon me."</p> + +<p>The old man smiled happily, and they saw his lips moving +silently in prayer; but he did not speak, he only held out his +hands once to Francis, as if to bid him farewell, and turning +round seemed to sleep easily and comfortably.</p> + +<p>Zóra and Maria were together once more, and what could +exceed their happiness? Zóra's great brown eyes looked wistfully +at her, like a dog's, as after the first weeping and thankful embrace +they sat down together. But this did not suffice, and as Maria +held out her arms once more, Zóra fell into them, looking up +every now and then with her happy, loving face, though her eyes +were constantly brimming over, as she heard Maria's history, as +Abba had heard her brother's. Only about three months had +passed, yet Zóra's figure and countenance appeared to have expanded +under the influence of the certainty of Meeah's love. At +last her own, her very own. "And he loves me, too; for one day I +was coming from the Queen Mother's apartment alone, and I met +him on the stairs, and he told me so; and though I could not +answer him, I remember all he said, and now I can tell it to you, +Maria. We have never spoken again; and I dare not if I could,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +for it would not be modest in a girl betrothed to do so. Then +Abba began to fail after you left, and yearned for your brother; +and we thought he would pass away from us. But he is still +here, though they tell me he may be called any time; and we +must let him go. Day and night Meeah watches him, and when he +is tired he sends me word by a servant, and I go to him. But he +seldom speaks, only prays; and all he has been saying for several +days has been: 'It is time they returned. Why do they linger +away? Have they escaped?' But we could not make out then, +though we now understand your peril." And then Zóra's tongue +ran on almost without intermission, until a message came from the +Queen Mother that they should go up to them, as she and the +young Queen were both ready to receive them. And they went; +Maria kissing the feet of both the Royal ladies, and making her +obeisance, as she used to do. They, too, had to hear of her trial +and her deliverance; and Zóra said plaintively, "We were sisters +together from the first, though we belonged to different faiths; and +God appointed me my trial, when I did not fear Osman Beg, and +she had her own with the wicked priest we used all to hear so +much of in Juldroog; and she was not afraid of him. And now +God hath brought us together again; and we will never separate."</p> + +<p>Then the Queen had to hear of Francis d'Almeida's new +dignity; and it was very clear to Maria that he, perhaps both of +them, had acquired additional honour in the Royal eyes.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My King will be glad, indeed, to hear this, for Beejapoor +hath never had an ambassador from your nation, or any accredited +person on whom reliance could be placed; and much mischief has +been the consequence. Now things will be different."</p> + +<p>"I know," said Maria, smiling, "that he has been entrusted +with a whole budget of matters to lay before His Majesty; and he +will do this to-night, perhaps, at the durbar."</p> + +<p>"And," added Zóra, with a merry twinkle in her eye, "bid him, +mother, to come in his new robes, for Maria says they are magnificent; +and then he can come and make his obeisance here also to +you and his old patient."</p> + +<p>So, after a while, Maria took her leave, and went home to +carry out this little plot, and to set out her brother's finery; and, +after much persuasion, the simple bishop did as he had been +requested, and went in his grandeur of gold embroidery and purple +satin, and lace, and biretta instead of a mitre, which, with his staff, +was not ready when he left Goa. He was, however, sufficiently +splendid to attract the attention and admiration of all the nobles +of the durbar; and even the Chishtee priest, who had been so +uncivil to him at their first meeting, but who had gradually learned +to respect his character, now welcomed him with sincere congratulations.</p> + +<p>It was a pleasant evening for the Bishop. He felt himself to +be now more on an equality with all the nobles by whom he was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +surrounded, and their respect was unmistakeable. He was the +representative of his nation, too; there was much to be settled +between his Government and the King's; and in all respects, in +outward circumstances, he felt he was a very different person at +the King's Court than the obscure priest and physician that +had come there at first. The schools were flourishing, and +Maria felt the help of her new assistants to be very material. +The Bishop, too, found ample occupation among the Portuguese +artificers and gunners, and the time was fast approaching +when he must seek his new flocks at Ahmednugger and elsewhere. +Would it be safe or prudent to take his sister with him? +What he heard of the condition of Ahmednugger was not satisfactory. +The place was not at peace within itself, and many reports +were abroad. He had a refuge for her already at Beejapoor, +or he might send her to Moodgul, to the old deacon's charge; but +the last message of Dom Diego to his cousin, which had been duly +repeated to him as a warning, though Maria knew not of it, often +weighed heavily upon him. Dom Diego was free; free to join +any lawless bands in the country; and he had wealth, too, to +further any plan he might form. In Beejapoor Maria would be +safe, under the King's protection; but then the dire separation, +distressing alike to both, was hardly to be contemplated. Maria +would not hear of it; whither he would go she would go with +him, and in her opinion the better plan was to wait till Ahmednugger +was once more settled.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p> + +<p>But all these plans were destined to come to a more rapid +end than either thought; and the first link of the chain broken, +was the dear old Syud's death. For several days the new +medicine which Francis had brought with him appeared to give +new energy, and they all hoped he might rally; but he was not +himself deceived. "I have received my warning," he said, "and +do but wait the angel's coming—be that when it may." He made +his will, bequeathing to Zóra all his worldly goods and such of +his estates as the King might permit. He also made provision +for the religious ceremonies at his tomb, the site of which +he had selected when he first came, in the Roza, or garden, +in the precincts of the great mausoleum of the King, and had +appointed a poor disciple, who had followed him in his wanderings +from Gogi, to the charge of it. A small tomb or mausoleum, with +a vault, had been prepared, and was nearly finished; and the old +man on one of his best latter days had been gently taken there +in a palanquin, having a particular desire to see it. To the last he +preserved his faculties entire; and after hearing portions of the +Korán read one night, he repeated the two creeds with a firm voice, +and lay down quietly. But his breath came heavily, and Abbas +Khan saw that the end was near; and Zóra came to him with +Maria, who was sitting with her. The physicians and Francis felt +his pulse, but it was fluttering; and one of the Moollas raising +him up, poured a little sherbet into his mouth, which he swallowed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +and lay down again, saying, "It is enough," and seemed to sleep; +nor could those who watched by him tell when the humble, loving +spirit left its earthly tenement. There was no struggle, or even a +sigh; and again and again during the day he had said he had no +pain, and could see the flowers of Paradise and the river flowing +among them. Finally the chant of the Moollas without ceased, +and those who perform offices for the dead came in and did their +ministering. Crowds followed him to his last resting place. +Nothing that love or respect could suggest was wanting to the end; +and as the Moollas chanted the peace of God to the thousands +who had gathered round, they separated sadly, many weeping, and +with a conviction that a faithful disciple of their faith had gone +to his rest in Paradise.</p> + +<p>For a time, during the forty days of ceremonial and mourning, +Zóra remained with the Queen Dowager, though apart, so as not to +cause inconvenience; and for the first few days Maria had not +left her except at short periods, and to carry on her own duties. +She had now many friends; and the grief at her loss, which at +first lay heavy on her, gradually gave place to brighter thoughts. +Often and humbly did she think on the few months that had +passed, on the hopelessness which must have been her lot if +her grandfather had died at Juldroog or during her wanderings. +Yes, she had been mercifully protected, and was grateful to her +heart's core; and as she wept out her grief on Maria's breast or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +that of the Queen, who had adopted her, there was ever present +the secret hope and trust that she had found a true refuge, +which was not far distant. For as the forty days of ceremonial +were about to conclude, the Lady Fatima, urged by +her nephew and husband, again protested against further delay. +Zóra should have one who had a right to protect her, and in +whose love a new life would open to her, and she put herself +unreservedly into her friends' hands. She had pledged her +faith, and had she needed to do so a hundred times over, or under +any trial, she would have only been more confirmed in it. Enough +that the time was come; and with all the pomp that her Royal +patrons and the wealthy house of her husband could furnish, all +the dressing, feasting, merry-making, processions, and distributions +of charity practised on such occasions, the marriage ceremonies +were at last concluded. Are not the loves of this happy +pair sung by bards and dancing-women to this day? For the +poets of the Court poured forth their amatory lays and epithalamiums +without stint, sure of ample largesse. Many of these +were set to music, and linger still to charm others, though even +the traditions of the nobles of Beejapoor have passed away.</p> + +<p>And still the good Bishop and Maria remained. Maria pleaded +that she had promised Zóra to stay with her till the ceremonies +were completed, and she, with much interest, and not without +amusement, had helped her through all the events of each day.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +But when all was over, when the bright, radiant, happy girl had +been carried away in a grand procession, with fireworks, torches, +and firing of guns, escorted by the whole of her husband's and his +uncle's household troops—the play played out, and the curtain +dropped—then they turned to their work again.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the Queen's letters from Ahmednugger grew more +and more uneasy; and she received a petition, which was signed +by all the principal nobles and officers of the State, asking her to +come to them and assume the administration during the minority +of the young and rightful Sovereign, who as yet was little more +than an infant. This was necessarily a much more serious +subject for contemplation than the heretofore task of assuaging +national disquietude, and uniting the power of the State under +one regency, not her own, which should have the goodwill of the +people. But this was put before her as a solemn and patriotic duty, +which could be effected by no one but herself. At her name, they +wrote in her native city, every well affected person would unite to +support her; the few malcontents would disappear or fly the kingdom, +and peace and prosperity would reign once more. Day by +day, by special messengers, and by every other possible means, the +frequency of these communications, as well as their urgency, +increased. They had commenced before Francis and his sister +had returned from Goa, and were much more frequent and more +urgent now.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> + +<p>She had concealed nothing from her nephew, the King, or +from his long tried and faithful Ministers of State. Every letter, +every despatch she received, was laid before them; but the last +general petition seemed to leave no loophole of escape. So +long as Ahmednugger was disturbed, Beejapoor could not be at +rest. The frontiers were uneasy, and events took place which +no precaution could avert, and which might at any time plunge the +kingdoms into one of those interminable and bloody wars which +had often nearly brought both to the brink of ruin. The last war +was finished, peace everywhere prevailed, and under ordinary circumstances, +there was every prospect of its maintenance; but if +misrule at Ahmednugger continued, there was no surety. Again, +the Moghuls of Delhi were gathering in ominous clouds in Malwa +and Guzerat, without apparent reason; and were they to march +upon the Dekhan, there was no one to resist them on its frontiers; +while at Ahmednugger each party seemed ready to sell their +country to the enemy, so that a temporary local advantage might +be gained.</p> + +<p>It was a perilous time for the whole Dekhan; and the Queen, +with her habitual fortitude, determined to meet it, as she had done +every political and public danger of her life. She would devote +herself to her native State, for her presence was no longer needful +at Beejapoor, and her Regency had closed in thankful peace. +Nay, there was no time to be lost, and it was at once known, by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +preparations ordered, that Queen Chand was about to proceed to +her native place. We need not say that Abbas Khan and Zóra +were to accompany her. They would take no denial, and Abbas +Khan, in public durbar, claimed the command of her escort, as a +point of right and duty. Could he leave his adopted mother, and +idle away his time in inaction at the capital? Even that he had +endured since the King's return had been in the last degree irksome. +We know why the Bishop and his sister desired to go too; +and even had that reason not existed, Maria must have gone, for +the Queen had become alarmed, and she viewed with pain a +revelation the King had made to her that he loved Maria.</p> + +<p>As the time drew near for her departure, the Queen Chand had +received many visits from her nephew the King, and had observed +his listless manner and his evident anxiety in regard to some +subject. He did not, however, complain of being ill, and his +Queen, Taj-ool-Nissa, had, as well as the Queen Dowager, pressed +him to consult the good Bishop on the subject. To both the +Queens, the departure of the elder one, on whose counsel in all +affairs he had so firmly relied, appeared to be the cause; but it +lay deeper than that.</p> + +<p>One evening, just before the march began, the Queen, Taj-ool-Nissa +and Maria were sitting at the great window alone, and +Maria was putting the last finishing touches to a drawing of +flowers for her Royal companion, when she observed the tears<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +well up in her eyes; and, with a sudden impulse, she put the +drawing aside, and cast herself upon Maria's breast, sobbing +piteously. It was in vain that Maria asked her to explain the +cause of her grief, or tried to soothe her with assurances of speedy +return, the Queen only wept the more passionately.</p> + +<p>"He does not love me, Maria," she said, between her sobs, in +broken words. "My lord the King does not love me. To thee, +O sister, he has given his heart, and he will die without thee. I +am but a child, Maria, and have no beauty or talent to charm +him; but thy loveliness and accomplishments fit thee to become +his Queen. Oh, do not hesitate, darling sister; consent to be mine +in reality, and we shall be joined in his love till we die. Maria!" +she cried, looking up through her tears, and brushing them away, +"dost thou hear? He dreams of thee; I hear thy name on his +lips as he sleeps, murmured in love. It is no deception, and I say +it before God; and I know how essential thou art to his happiness. +Kiss me, and say thou wilt consent, and I shall be +happy. A few quiet prayers and some preparation, and thou +art his wife as well as I."</p> + +<p>"It cannot be, it cannot be, my darling!" said Maria, very +sadly, and kissing the gentle, patient face upturned to her. "I am +vowed to God's service; I repeated and confirmed those vows at +Goa, and I go forth, with my brother, to perform them. A little +while and he will forget me, and thou wilt live with thy child to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +come, happy in his love as thou hast been. Nay, urge me not," +she continued, as Taj-ool-Nissa was about to speak again; "by the +love that is between us urge me not again, but let me depart in +peace, and with thy blessing, on my way. Keep this, and all I +have left, in memory of me; and hope, as I do, that we may meet +again in happiness." Then, placing the picture in the Queen's +hands, she kissed her fervently, with a silent prayer, and, rising up, +departed. Yet ere she reached the door, she looked back once +more. The girl was lying with her face among her cushions, +weeping bitterly, while the sun's light, falling upon her rich brocaded +dress, covered her as with a glory of gold.</p> + +<div class="center"><br /><br />END OF BOOK IV.</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> + +<div class="center"><big><b>BOOK V.</b></big><br /></div> + +<h2>CHAPTER I.<br /> + +A SKETCH OF LOCAL HISTORY.</h2> + + +<p>Out of the disruption of the great Bahmuny dynasty of the +Dekhan in A.D. 1489, four independent kingdoms arose. The +first secession was that of Yousaf Adil Khan, who founded the +Adil Shahy dynasty of Beejapoor in that year; the second, that +of Nizam-ool-Moolk Bheiry, in the same year, and Berar had even +preceded them. Golconda followed in 1512, thus completing the +alienation of the four largest and most important provinces of the +Bahmuny kingdom, and leaving only a comparatively insignificant +portion in the hands of the remaining representative of the Bahmunies, +who lived and reigned at Beeder, and whose successor was +afterwards set aside by his Minister, Ameer Bereed, who usurped +the throne, and the great Bahmuny family became extinct.</p> + +<p>Nizam-ool-Moolk Bheiry had been Prime Minister of the Bahmuny +kingdom, and his son, Mullek Ahmud, was Viceroy in the +large western provinces. After the act of dismemberment had +been accomplished, Nizam-ool-Moolk Bheiry died, and his son,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +relying on his local power, and possessing the requisite boldness +and ability, ably maintained his position; and there being no +capital to the province except the hill fort of Joonair, which was +inconvenient, as well from position as construction, he founded a +new city and capital near the village of Bingar, which lay between +Joonair and Dowlutabad.</p> + +<p>Here he built a fine fort and several palaces, laid out +gardens, and named the place Ahmednugger—or the fort of +Ahmud—which appellation it still bears. Ahmednugger is +now one of the large military stations of the Dekhan and of +India, and is deservedly celebrated for its salubrious climate. +It is, in fact, situated near the crest of one of the great trap +waves of the Dekhan, which breaks into the valley of the +Godavery, a few miles distant. The country around is open, +fertile, and free from jungle; and in the times we write of, +the position commanded the passes from Khandeish, and +Guzerat, and Berar, into central Dekhan. It had been most +judiciously chosen, and, while the kingdom endured, it ruled +a fair country which stretched from the sea to the confines of +Berar and Golconda, and was possessed of an ample revenue. Its +people, too, were the sturdy Mahratta peasantry, who made excellent +soldiers; and it maintained considerable bodies of Abyssinians, +as well as Turks, Arabs, Persians, and Central Asians, and their +descendants of mixed blood, who, as at Beejapoor, were called<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +Dekhanies, and held much power in their hands. In this point +therefore the two kingdoms were very similar, though local customs +and parties might not be in all respects precisely so. The Ahmednugger +State also employed the indigenous Mahratta soldiery to a +much greater extent than Beejapoor, especially as cavalry, and +frequently found them of great use in checking the turbulence of +the foreign levies. They were considered a portion of the regular +army, and thus the hereditary native chieftains of the Mahratta +people rose to power, which was afterwards rendered conspicuous +when the Mahratta people, living upon the ruins of the local Mussulman +kingdoms, became a nation in themselves.</p> + +<p>We do not purpose to write the history of the Nizam +Shahy kingdom. The Kings were rough, warlike, and quarrelsome +with their neighbours beyond any others, and were very +rarely at entire peace with any of them. And while in some of +these wars the kingdom had narrowly escaped annihilation, yet +because a balance of power among these kingdoms was necessary +for mutual existence, no one of them could be annexed by another, +and for more than a hundred years they had existed in pretty +much the same condition as that in which they had commenced +in 1489.</p> + +<p>They had of course intermarried, and the families for the most +part were nearly related; but the principal event of this kind was +the marriage of Chand Beebee, daughter of Hussein Nizam Shah,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +of Ahmednugger, in 1564, to Ally Adil Shah, of Beejapoor, in +order to cement the political alliance between the States, on the +occasion of the crusade against the Hindoo powers of northern +India. And though the object of that coalition and campaign was +fully carried out, yet the peace of the two kingdoms was by no +means assured; and we have already had to trace the cause of +wars which ended in the death in action of King Ibrahim Nizam +Shah, the seventh King, in the field of battle near Puraindah. +After this event the affairs of the unfortunate kingdom fell +gradually into greater and greater confusion. There was no +successor of mature age to succeed; and a boy, said to +have been of Royal birth, was sent for from Dowlutabad and +placed on the throne under the auspices of the Dekhany party +and their chieftain. But this was opposed by the foreign faction, +who claimed that the infant son of the late King should succeed. +As usual, both parties betook themselves to arms, and many +lamentable and bloody engagements took place, not only in and +near the Royal city itself, but also in other parts of the Ahmednugger +dominions; the result of which was the general appeal to +the Dowager Queen, Chand Beebee, to come to Ahmednugger, +assume the Regency, and govern the kingdom with her well-tried +ability and sagacity on behalf of the minor Prince; and, as we +know, she had, after many deep considerations, consented to +do so.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was, however, a more pressing, and, to the Queen's +perception, more dangerous crisis at hand. The Emperor +Akhbar, of Dehli, who was gradually annexing all smaller +independent dominions to his own empire, had already shown +a desire for interference in Dekhan affairs. He had despatched +a large army under his son the Prince Moorad to Guzerat +and Malwa, to watch the course of Dekhan events, and to invade +the country should he find pretext or opportunity for doing +so; and of this invasion the Queen was in dread. Domestic +broils and disagreements had before on many occasions been +adjusted, but the presence of so powerful a force as the Great +Moghul's army, in the distracted state of local politics, was an evil +which could not be overrated. Already the leader of the Dekhany +party was known to have addressed letters to the Prince Moorad, +imploring his intervention to uphold the claims of the boy whom +he had placed on the throne; and it was impossible to conceive +that the astute Prince would neglect the very opportunity he had +so long waited for. True, afterwards the Dekhany leader perceived +and bitterly regretted the false step he had taken, more +especially when the boy whom he supported had been discovered +to be spurious. But the mischief done was irreparable, and the +Queen Regent now knew that she should not only have to subdue +local disaffection, but oppose the progress of the Imperial Prince +with all the force and all the energy she could command.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +She had undertaken the duty, however, and cast ease and other +personal considerations unselfishly aside. She had done what she +could for Beejapoor, and was wanted there no longer, except to +make part of her nephew's happiness and share in his prosperity. +And now, if in days of advancing age she was again to be thrown +into those scenes of war which had accompanied her early life, +it was, she said, the will of God and her duty; and she bowed to +both with a submission and fortitude which never deserted her to +the last.</p> + +<p>We trust the foregoing sketch of the period, as far as Ahmednugger +is concerned, will not be out of place. Without it, indeed, +the course of this tale would hardly be intelligible.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER II.<br /> + +A PLEASANT JOURNEY.</h2> + + +<p>The first halt made by the Queen was at Sholapoor, which, formerly +belonging to Ahmednugger, had been given to Beejapoor +as part of her dowry on the occasion of her marriage; and +the Royal lady once more took possession of the small but elegant +suite of apartments which look out on the lake or tank +which washes the eastern side of the fort, and was evidently +intended as part of its defences. Sholapoor, for the most part, +has even now no pretensions to beauty, and the country around +it, and that which had been traversed since the Queen left +Beejapoor, is bare and monotonous; but the immediate vicinity +of the fort, including the lake, with its island covered by a large +Banian tree and a Hindoo temple, is undoubtedly pretty; and the +pleasant sound of the tiny wavelets as they plashed against the +walls and bastions was refreshing to hear, while the wind which +played over the water came through the windows which looked +over the lake very refreshingly. The Queen did not, however, +tarry here, nor did she take the direct road from Sholapoor by the +valley of the Seena to Ahmednugger. It was not only hot, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +the country had been wasted by the previous war, and had not +had time to recover; she, therefore, turned eastward to Nuldroog, +or Shahdroog, as it had been called by her husband, Ali Adil +Shah, and which he had improved by new fortifications and a +noble dam of masonry across the river, a place in which many +of the happiest hours of her life had been spent while the great +works were in progress.</p> + +<p>Nuldroog, for it has reverted to its own old name, occupies a +crest or knoll of basalt, which juts from the main plateau into the +deep valley of the small river Boree. After passing the narrow neck +which connects it with the plateau, the knoll spreads out with a +tolerably level surface, the north, east, and south sides being +for the most part perpendicular; while the neck, through which +a wide and deep ditch has been cut, is fortified by a heavy wall +with curtains and bastions. These walls and bastions continue +all round the crest of the precipice, and the result has been a very +strong fort of an eminently picturesque character, which might +not make much defence against modern artillery, but which at the +time we write of was considered one of the strongholds of the +country, and usually held a large garrison, especially of cavalry. +And it was an important military position, too, serving to check +the forces of Ahmednugger on the one hand and Golconda on +the other.</p> + +<p>King Ali Adil Shah had done much for the place. Besides the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +strengthening of the fortifications, and building near the east end +a huge cavalier upwards of ninety feet high, ascended by a broad +flight of easy steps, he had built a dam of stone and mortar of +great strength and beauty across the river, which held back the +waters, and created a long, narrow, but deep lake, which gave a +plentiful supply of water to the town and both ends of the fort. +Before this the only water procurable had been from the bed of the +river, which flowed in the bottom of the deep ravine below the +fort, and which in the hot weather was very scanty and impure. +The new dam, therefore, gave a new value to the strong fort, and +water became not only plentiful but easy of access. It is a noble +work, stretching from one rocky point of the valley to another +beyond, upwards of a hundred yards in length, and upwards of +ninety feet in height. Over this the river falls in an unbroken +sheet when in flood; at other times, the surplus water is carried +off by a channel formed in the crest of the dam, which falls into +the large deep pool that has been hollowed out at the foot. By an +ingenious contrivance, a pretty Gothic apartment has been left in +the body of the work, over the windows of which the waters in the +highest floods can pass without entering, as they are diverted from +the top down a tunnel, and escape at the base. At the northern +end of the dam is another fort, or <i>tête-du-pont</i>, formed by the +fortification of a considerable knoll, which is in itself a strong +position, and materially assists the other defences.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was a great delight to the Queen to revisit the place. The +Governor's house was cleared out for her, and for several +days the whole fort was made private; and she wandered from +place to place with her companions and attendants every day, +pointing out to Maria and Zóra where she had sat for hours together +with her lord the King, watching the works in progress, +breathing the pure fresh air, and taking their simple meals on the +top of a bastion, or on the high cavalier when it was finished, +where a great canopy used to be pitched. Nor was it possible +for the two girls not to be interested in the place itself. It was, +indeed, very beautiful: the lake shimmering in the sun, with the +black precipices, hung with many-hued creepers, reflected into it; +while, after it had shot through the arch on the dam, the river +brawled down the valley till it was hid from view by the projection +of the hills below. The air here was cool and refreshing, for they +had risen to a considerable height above Sholapoor: and this +was another reason why the Queen had chosen the upper route +instead of the lower. Here and there, from points on the +table land without the fort, where the Queen took her companions, +the dim blue plains of Beejapoor could be seen stretching to the +horizon like a sea, and the fresh cool wind would come to them +freely and soothingly. These, too, were old haunts of her husband +and herself; and it seemed often to Maria and Zóra that, in the +dreamy mood of mind in which she often sat alone, she appeared<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +like one who had a consciousness of seeing these well-remembered +scenes for the last time, and carrying away every possible recollection +of them in her loving heart. Often, indeed, she would +draw one or other, or both of them, to her side, and with her eyes +brimming with tears, would say, "Look, children! here my lord +received such a letter, or told me such a thing, and you must not +forget even a stone of it; but, should I ask you even when my +eyes are dim in death, you must describe it all to me as you see +it now in the bright glowing sunlight."</p> + +<p>I need not follow minutely the daily march in early cool morning, +nor the succession of beautiful mango groves in which the +party rested every day, affording cool shade and refreshing rest. +They were, indeed, seldom in their tents till nightfall, for +around the enclosure was a screen of tent walls, which made +the whole private. The tent pitchers selected the shadiest portions +of these groves, and usually contrived to enclose a number +of large leafy trees, beneath which carpets and soft cushions +were spread; and reading, or the Queen's business, with her +clever secretary, Zóra, who had gained confidence by experience, +went on as usual; and embroidery, too, and Maria's paintings, +except when she retired to her own tents to share her devotions +with her brother; while overhead the birds chirped, or sang, or +cooed, and screamed in their glee and freedom.</p> + +<p>To Zóra in her new happiness this march was a perpetual<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +elysium. Abbas Khan could not always be with her, for he had +his own work to do in the regulation of the camp, the obtaining of +supplies, and the payment for them, and all other current business. +Sometimes, too, and indeed generally of an evening, the +large Royal tent was opened; and the Queen received in durbar +all the officers, zemindars, and chief inhabitants of villages +around. The Queen had quitted the dominions of Beejapoor soon +after leaving Nuldroog, and passed into those of Ahmednugger. +Abbas Khan by no means liked what he heard from all quarters in +regard to the position of Ahmednugger and the parties there, who +seemed to be at constant and bloody feud; and he earnestly strove +with the Queen to induce her to turn back. But she upbraided +him. "Would she have the world think her a coward? and had +she not brought Beejapoor through worse troubles than those?" +So he was silent thenceforth. It was her fate, and whatever was +to be, would be fulfilled.</p> + +<p>The leader of the Dekhany party, Mean Munjoo, who had set +up the spurious prince, was not at Ahmednugger. He had taken +the boy with him, and gone beyond Owsa, towards Golconda, to +urge the necessity of supporting Ahmednugger; and he was +bitterly repentant that he had invited the Prince Moorad. He +wrote to the Queen for forgiveness, and declared he would not +return except with troops from Golconda and Beejapoor, to drive +the Moghuls back. The Queen, too, wrote to her nephew, King<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +Ibrahim, to send a heavy force of cavalry, in which the Moghuls +were said to be weak, and to watch affairs from Nuldroog; and +subsequently as many as twenty-six thousand of the best cavalry +of Beejapoor, with six thousand from Golconda, assembled there, +and occupied the crests of the plateau which stretched northwards.</p> + +<p>With these precautions taken, which had occasioned several +days' delay at Patoda, the Queen now marched on, faster than +before, for it was impossible to overrate the importance of +her presence at Ahmednugger. But it was the same pleasant +journey throughout, the same succession of cool, shady groves +and crisp bracing air. Often would the Queen wile away the +march with her hunting leopards and falcons with her, and enjoy +many a gallop over the undulating downs, where Abbas Khan and +the officers of his small force, and even the good Bishop, would +ride with her and enjoy the sport. Sometimes, too, Maria, when +the march was a quiet one, rode with her brother, to the great +envy of Zóra, who, from an elephant allotted to her, looked after +them as they cantered past her, longing to be with them. If there +were anything remarkable to be seen, the Queen would diverge +from the beaten track, as she did at the temple of Pukrode, and, +looking over the crest, could follow the line of hills to Ahmednugger +itself. There she had stayed an extra day to wander about, +as was her wont, and enjoy the keen air of that elevation, which,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +while it put roses into Maria's cheeks, and made Zóra ruddy, +tinged even the Queen's pale countenance with pink, and restored +the bright beauty of her youth. Again from Patoda they made a +day's excursion to the waterfall of the Incherna and its gloomy +abrupt ravine; and they would sit for hours on the short smooth +sward above, and watch the rainbows playing over the pool, +nearly four hundred feet below them, and those which seemed +to start out suddenly from the column of water, flash for an instant, +and disappear. How glorious it all was! Even the heavy state +cares which weighed upon the Queen seemed to be put aside for +the time; and the noble lady's cheerful, nay, even playful disposition +diffused a joy among her little party which they had never felt +before. To Zóra it was perfect elysium, as she told her husband in +their quiet hours; she often felt her heart too full for speech. "I +had hoped, dear lord, to be happy with thee, and to make thee +happy; but this reality transcends all my expectations, for you +are all too kind and too indulgent to me."</p> + +<p>"No, Zóra; all the love which inspired me as thou watched +over me that first night doth but heighten by time. When I had +it not, I hungered and thirsted for it. Now I have it, it groweth +fresher every day, and more precious to me. Enjoy these happy +days, therefore, to the full, for the time cometh, I fear me, in +which there may be weeping and woe."</p> + +<p>"Why dost thou think so?" she asked.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I read much in the mother's sweet face," he returned. +"When she gazes on these scenes of her old happiness, there is a +wistful, lingering look in her eyes which seems to say, 'I am +looking at ye for the last time.' When she rises to depart, it is +not with a merry remark, as it used to be, but with a sigh and a +silent tear, which I can read, though you may not be able to do +so. But it may be only one of those gloomy forebodings which +torment us sometimes without real foundation, and from which the +Lord, if He finds us faithful, delivers us happily; and so may it +be with our beloved mother. There will be lip service enough to +her when we go; but there are, of all about her, only ourselves +upon whom she can depend. O wife! when I think on all she +hath been to me since a child, I could give my life for her, even +though I were to lose thee, my darling."</p> + +<p>"And I would follow thee, my lord. Life would be death +without thee; for, besides thee and our mother, whom have I in +all the world to protect me against that bad, terrible man, whose +last threatening still often seems to ring in my ears?"</p> + +<p>A few days more, and through a pass in the Manikdown +Hills, they reached the considerable town of Ashtee, and thence +Bhatoree, a pretty village lying at the foot of the mountain, which +is crowned by the noble mausoleum of Sulabut Khan. There +was a comfortable summer palace there, now much decayed, but +still habitable, which was then perfect, and the Queen found<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +it ready for her reception. Groves of mango trees around +afforded ample shelter for her followers and escort; and the +situation was so beautiful that many from Beejapoor, who had +expected to find only a savage wilderness of mountains, were now +charmed with the prospects before them. One more march, and +the Royal city would be gained in safety.</p> + +<p>Here, too, all the officers and functionaries of State, with +their followers and troops, came to pay their respects and offer +their "mezzins" to the Royal lady. And though some had never +seen her, yet there were many who remembered her marriage; and +by none was the glorious campaign of 1564 forgotten, and all—old +or new—were charmed with her grace and dignity, the wisdom +of her counsels, and, as far as she could decide them, her own +intentions; and she assured all that she should leave them no +more until God willed to take her, and exhorted them to be +faithful and true. So as soon as the palace in the citadel could be +prepared for her, the Queen made a triumphal march into the city +and fort.</p> + +<p>Outwardly Ahmednugger presents no imposing appearance like +Beejapoor. There are no lofty palaces towering over the walls, +no tall minarets or domed mosques like those she had left behind +her; but the city had an aspect of comfort and peace, and the +gardens of the Furhat Mahal, the Bihishtee Bagh, or Garden of +Paradise, were inviting and pleasant to view, and though comparatively<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +low, the Royal palace in the fort was full of comfort. +The faithful Mullek Umber, governor of Dowlutabad, had sent +from his new capital, Kirkee, large baskets full of oranges and delicious +grapes, writing that in the course of a few days he would +come himself; and there was no person whom the Queen more +earnestly desired to see, or in whom she reposed higher confidence. +Mullek Umber was, indeed, a remarkable man. From the condition +of an Abyssinian eunuch he had raised himself to the rank of a +viceroy of the kingdom, and governor of one of the largest provinces +of the Ahmednugger dominions. He had—following the +example of the Emperor Akhbar—surveyed and assessed all the +lands in every village of the country, and reduced the whole to a +system which operated most beneficially to the State as well as to +the people. To this day the original settlements exist in many a +village record, and are proof of the skill and patience with which +they were executed, requiring little alteration to suit modern +demands. A humane, devout man, as well as charitable and just, +but not one to be drawn into the intrigues and dissensions of +a Court. Whatever happened there, he preserved a dignified +neutrality; too strong in his local position, and in the devotion of +his numerous troops, to be meddled with by anyone. He had infinite +respect for Queen Chand. He had followed the events of +her career with profound interest, and he could see that except +through her the affairs of the State had little chance of settlement<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +or indeed of salvation from ruin; and he watched with much +anxiety what the result of Queen Chand's first acts would +be, though his counsel, when asked, was given freely and +honourably.</p> + +<p>For the first week or more events at Ahmednugger were +without excitement, and nothing occurred to disturb their even +current. The Queen and her companions made excursions to the +Royal palaces and gardens without the fort; and even to one at +some little distance, in a ravine of the eastern range of hills, built +near a pretty cascade, which is well known to all present inhabitants +of the English cantonment as the "Happy Valley." There +the broad plain of the Godavery lay out before them; and even the +grim rock fort of Dowlutabad, and the tall white minaret of the +Emperor Mahomed Toghluk, were distinctly visible on a clear day. +Maria and her brother were already longing to proceed thither, +and visit the Portuguese who had settled there, many of whom +were vine-dressers and orange cultivators; and the Queen +promised that when Mullek Umber should arrive she would +despatch them with him. Meanwhile, among the gunners and +artificers of the local army the Bishop and Maria had found many +fellow-Christians; and as no feeling of bigotry appeared to exist +against them, they promised themselves much success in their +mission work; while some of the Aurungabad Christians came +over to partake of the sacraments of the Church, and were +heartily welcomed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> + +<p>Thus passed many weeks. The Queen had received answers +to all her despatches. The Dekhany leader had not returned, but +remained with the Golconda troops, who were to take up their +position at Owsa, while those of Beejapoor occupied Nuldroog. +Although some pretenders to support the party of the spurious +new King were known to exist, yet for the most part the succession +in the right direct line, by causing the child Prince Bahadur to +be crowned, and appointing the Queen Chand formally to be +Regent during the boy's minority, as she had been at Beejapoor, +was the desire of the majority. And of this course the sage +Mullek Umber entirely approved. There was no doubt of the +purity of the boy's descent, who, with his mother, had been confined +in the fort of Chawund; and when he arrived he was welcomed +with joy, and on a given day was crowned King in the great +audience hall of the fort, with every demonstration of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>There is no doubt, however, that this bloodless revolution +gave secret umbrage to many, and some severe measures had to +be taken. Ansar Khan, the governor of the fort, was detected in +active correspondence with the Prince Moorad, representing the +Queen as an abandoned woman; the boy she had adopted as the +son of a minion of her own; and that the people, though they dare +not complain, were in the last state of discontent; and Ansar +Khan being arraigned before the chiefs and nobles, was convicted +and suffered death. Secure in her position, the Queen wrote to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +the Prince Moorad, recapitulating the past, quoting the recantation +of the Dekhany leader who had invited him. As a noble and an +honoured guest of the son of the great Emperor, whom it behoved +to protect an infant minor—he would be welcome, most welcome, +and a friendly embassy and escort would be sent to meet him; but +if hostile intentions still filled his mind, and force were resorted to, +she was well supported by her neighbours, and had made every +preparation to repel what she could not avert by conciliation.</p> + +<p>But the cloud afar off only thickened, and became more and +more threatening week by week, and the Queen strained every +nerve to preserve the fort to the utmost, and prepare for what +could not be much longer averted.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER III.<br /> + +THE PROGRESS OF THE SIEGE.</h2> + + +<p>The rainy season had ceased, and operations could now be undertaken +without danger of interruption from the weather. For some +months past the Prince Moorad Mirza had watched the progress +of events at Ahmednugger with the keenest interest; and had the +Dekhany leaders been united in regard to the election of the first +King, it is probable he would not have sought to disturb it, but +would have made his own terms with them. But their withdrawal +from their position, the spirited movement of the Queen Dowager +in the coronation of Bahadur, the infant King, and the rallying +about her of parties who had before been disunited, promised a +very formidable coalition for defence. And when, in addition to +local unity, it became certain that the very formidable cavalry of +Beejapoor and Golconda had taken the field to cover Ahmednugger, +the Prince saw it was time, if he was to strike in at all, to +do so at once, before the eastern and southern forces could +arrive at their purposed destination. He had with him thirty +thousand of the flower of the Moghul cavalry, a large body of +Rajpoot infantry and artillery, and several of the most celebrated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +generals of his father's army led different portions of the troops; +and the prospect of a campaign in a new country, and with the +celebrated cavaliers of the Dekhan, infused the highest spirits +into all classes.</p> + +<p>Two men had joined the Prince, in whom he had now much +confidence. Not long before, as he was hunting, a cavalier, well +appointed, and attended by a small body of spearmen, rode up to +him, and offered his services for the Dekhan campaign. He and +his family had been, he said, in the service of Beejapoor for some +generations; but enemies had prevailed against him, and he had +left a service in which he could not stay with honour. He knew +the whole country of the Dekhan, and most of the leaders of +parties, Dekhanies and foreigners, and could direct the Prince to +means of success to which he would, with his own people only, +remain a stranger.</p> + +<p>This brief colloquy had been followed by a private interview, +in which Osman Beg—for it was the man whom we +have already seen degraded and dismissed from Beejapoor—laid +before the Prince and some of his most esteemed +councillors the condition of the whole of the Dekhan, that +of its armies and parties, and the position of the Queen +Dowager at Ahmednugger, which he did not undervalue. He +told them that they should not despise the power of a woman +like her, whom no danger could appal, nor ordinary resistance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +overcome; and that in the Dekhan there was no commander to +equal her in the field; while the people loved her, and would, +most of them, support her to the last. The great object, therefore, +should be to shut her up in Ahmednugger before she could +withdraw the infant King to the protection of Beejapoor, which +had ample means for defence.</p> + +<p>"And what, sir, may be your motive for offering your services +to me?" asked the Prince, doubtingly.</p> + +<p>"Revenge," returned the other. "Ask me not for what; that +may appear in time even to thee. And, for the rest, accept this +poor sword, or reject it, as seems best to your Highness. To serve +in the army of the King of kings, under his famous son, has long +been a dream of mine, wherever that service might lead me. +And now that it turns upon my enemies, can I refuse? If my +star is not fortunate to gain a place under your Highness, I will +seek my fortune elsewhere. I am a soldier, and know no occupation +other than my sword gives me."</p> + +<p>"Such men are among the necessities of war," said the Prince +to Khan Khanan, his commander-in-chief, when they were alone. +"What think you of him?"</p> + +<p>"I see deceit and treachery in his face," was the reply. "But +what can that signify to us? He has some scheme of private +revenge to carry out, and he will be faithful to that if not to us. +Give him a command, for he has undoubted knowledge of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +country which no one else possesses, and in this he will be of +use."</p> + +<p>So Osman Beg was attached to the division of Khan Jehan, +and accompanied the army in the capacity of guide and director +of the marches towards Ahmednugger.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Dom Diego had not been idle. Acting under the +advice of his banker at Surat, he had written a petition to the +Prince, representing himself as a soldier of fortune, recently arrived +from Europe, who had knowledge of the attack and defence of +fortified places, and the direction of artillery in the field; and, +anxious for employment, offered his services to the Royal army. +While at Surat he had heard from his cousin at Goa of the +appointment of Francis d'Almeida as Bishop of Ahmednugger, +and subsequently, that he and his sister had accompanied Queen +Chand to her destination. What better opportunity could be +afforded for carrying off Maria than the turmoil of a siege and +assault. He had seen much service as a soldier in the East. +Personally he was brave, and in his own land had studied for the +profession of artillery and fortifications. There was no doubt as +to his probable usefulness. European adventurers had often rendered +very essential service to the Royal armies; but the best of +them were at Dehli, and should the applicant be what he described +himself, his presence against one of the most celebrated forts of +the Dekhan, improved, it was said, by the Portuguese, would be +invaluable.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> + +<p>A few days after this, Dom Diego, accompanied by Pedro di +Diaz and a party of his sailors accustomed to the use of large +guns, arrived in the Royal camp, and was heartily welcomed. +The fine martial figure of the new comer made a favourable +impression upon the Prince; and the complete suit of mail in +which he made his entry into camp, seated on a noble Kattiwar +charger, was remarkable and imposing. As before, Pedro di +Diaz was his interpreter, but he found the Prince to possess a +considerable knowledge of Portuguese, which he had learned +at his father's, the Emperor's Court; and Dom Diego, after a +short interview, found himself not only much more at his ease +than he had expected to be, but appointed to a lucrative post, as +inspector and regulator of the artillery.</p> + +<p>As he was leaving the Prince's tent, an officer, apparently of +the Royal army, came up to him and said, "I ought to know that +face. Hast thou forgotten the mission of Moodgul and the plan +of Eyn-ool-Moolk?"</p> + +<p>"No; thou art Osman Beg," was the reply, "and I have not +forgotten. But thou here, my friend? Methought the fair Zóra, +whom thou used to tell me about, would have more charms for thee +than war?"</p> + +<p>"What has brought thee, O friend," returned the other, "has +brought me, strange as it is. There are two women in Ahmednugger +whom we would have. Nay, deny it not; and we may<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +easily take them when there is none to defend them. Your Maria +is there; and what matter if you appear as a soldier to gain her?"</p> + +<p>"Thou hast guessed shrewdly, friend," was the reply; "it is +even so. I find my life dull without her, and such devotion as I +offer to her may be accepted at last. And if not—well, we shall +see. I have no relish for priestly offices, and war and its excitement +suit me much better. Will the Queen fight?"</p> + +<p>"As far as a woman can, she undoubtedly will fight. Men may +feel fear, but she does not even in the face of imminent danger. +If the people with her are only true to her, you will see that the +result will flutter some of these silken love-birds of Dehli. Our +Dekhan ways are rough, but the men of Ahmednugger are +roughest of all; and some of thy countrymen made the fort what +it is."</p> + +<p>"Then it will require one of them to open the casket. Who +knows where to find the key? And if my old knowledge has not +departed from me, I may be able to do what force cannot do, or +these wretched guns which the Prince thinks so much of."</p> + +<p>"And the guns of Ahmednugger foundries have ever been +famous since the days of Chuleby Roomy Khan, the Turk, and +many have been bought from your countrymen. I would advise +caution, Señor; and may Alla send us a good deliverance! +When the time comes, we may be able to help each other; till +then we may meet seldom, or not at all, for my place will be the +advanced division."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And mine with the main body and the Prince, where you will +always find me, Osman Beg, at your service. If you will keep +your own counsel, I can keep mine; and though we care for what +we hope to win, there are many here who would laugh at us if +they knew our desires; and, from what I hear, the Prince sets his +face against any abduction of the enemy's women."</p> + +<p>"I, at least, can demand my wife, after the custom of our law," +said Osman Beg, with a swagger.</p> + +<p>"When she is the wife of another? Ha! ha!" returned the +priest, with a sneering laugh. "You are not particular, perhaps, +though I am. But we need not interfere with each other; and so, +farewell!"</p> + +<p>While the great army was in slow but certain progress towards +the goal of its desire, we must return for a brief while to the personages +in this tale whom we left there. Since the coronation of +the boy King, Bahadur, there had been no violent disturbance of +the public peace; and though some of the leaders of parties still +held aloof, watching the course of events, others had frankly +joined the Queen and declared for her policy. The fort was now +full of men, and one of the best soldiers of the State, Nihung +Khan, who had been confined at Dowlutabad for several years, +was released by Mullek Umber, and sent, with six thousand good +cavalry, to keep the frontier, and, if necessary, to join the +Queen. The Queen herself, with calm fortitude, collected<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +provisions till the fort granaries were quite full. Every piece +of ordnance was thoroughly inspected, and made fit for service. +Shot, powder, entrenching tools, and gabions were prepared; +nor, in consultation with her artillery officers, was +any measure left incomplete for defence. All walls, huts, and +some houses which had encroached upon the esplanade were +levelled, and nothing existed to obstruct the fire of the place. +She was fearful of exciting jealousy in the minds of her troops, +and did not therefore appoint Abbas Khan to the command of the +fort, as she wished to do; but he was her indefatigable assistant +in every department; nor was there a day in which the Royal lady +did not visit works in progress, or go out on visits of inspection to +points where it was suggested trenches might be made, or other +hindrances to the enemy's advance contrived.</p> + +<p>There continued, however, one permanent source of disquietude +and anxiety to her, which was the inactivity of the +Beejapoor and Golconda forces, for as yet they had made no +forward movement; and as the weather was now open, they ought +to have taken up the positions she had suggested. Once, indeed, +when she wrote to Soheil Khan, the Beejapoor officer in command, +that the Moghul cavalry were about to make a movement to turn +the flank of the general defences of the kingdom, twelve thousand +cavalry were despatched from Nuldroog, by way of Bheer, to hold +them in check; but the movement proved futile, the Beejapoor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +force was defeated and routed by six thousand Moghuls, under +Khan Jehan Lody, one of the best generals of the army, and the +Beejapoor troops fled back from the Godavery in confusion, to tell +tales of Moghul prowess, which considerably added to the existing +alarm. In truth, Osman Beg had rendered essential service in +this movement. By a rapid march he had turned the flank of the +forces which covered Dowlutabad; he had prevented the junction +of Nihung Khan's troops with those of Beejapoor; and by the +defeat of the latter, the rear of Ahmednugger, the fertile plain of +the Godavery, and several easy passes up to the very precincts of +the fort, were left in almost perfect tranquillity to the invaders. +Thenceforth the Queen knew she had no one from whom she could +expect aid, but she did not relax her preparations or her vigilance. +She knew her nephew could not leave Beejapoor, for without one +or other of them the capital could not be trusted; and Soheil +Khan, the general who had been sent with the cavalry, though a +brave man, was by no means an enterprising officer, or one on +whom she could depend in an emergency. Oh! that it had been +Humeed Khan, or anyone of the devoted friends who had ever +supported her, then there would have been neither doubt nor hesitation. +Soheil Khan was a calm, reflective man, and it was on this +account, perhaps, that he had been sent. He could perceive +clearly enough that if Beejapoor took any open part in the war, +the Moghuls, when Ahmednugger fell, would infallibly declare war<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +against it, and that, under all considerations, would be the safest +policy.</p> + +<p>At first, our friends the Bishop and his sister had thought that +peace would not be broken. The Queen seemed so firm in her +position, the fort was so strong, and the enemy so distant, that +Francis d'Almeida did not like to defer taking up the charge he was +responsible for to his Church; and, taking advantage of the arrival +of Mullek Umber, they travelled in his suite on his return; but they +found only comparatively very few Christians at Dowlutabad, who +were cultivators of grapes and oranges, and a few at the new city +of Kirkee, which was then being built—who were gunners and +soldiers. Many years before, a lay monk had settled among them +from Goa, and had contrived to keep the little flock together; but +both Francis and Maria saw that it could not readily increase, +and that it would be a waste of time to remain there longer than +would be necessary to establish the foundations of what might +arise hereafter; and when a small chapel in the city of Kirkee was +completed under Mullek Umber's assistance, who, it was believed, +had greater reverence for his old faith than was consistent with +his profession of Islam, they took their departure, and arrived at +Ahmednugger shortly before the irruption of the Moghuls and the +defeat of the Beejapoor forces had closed the valley of the +Godavery to general travellers.</p> + +<p>The Queen was rejoiced at her friends' arrival. If for a brief<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +time she had doubted whether the comparative quiet and security +of Dowlutabad would not prove more attractive to them than the +imminent risk of war which menaced her, their arrival dispelled +all such thoughts, and she estimated at its full worth the devotion +and good faith of the Bishop and his sister. They had not only +returned to their flock, but were prepared to render such assistance +as their peaceful calling enabled them to do very usefully +and practically. As there was no apparent chance of being relieved +by Beejapoor, and an attack by the Moghul army appeared +more and more imminent every day, from the reports of progress +by the enemy, the worthy Bishop set himself to organise +something in the form of a hospital, in which Maria, from former +experience at Goa, was able to render her brother very essential +service. A large magazine was cleared out, and fitted as well as +circumstances would allow for the purpose. Bandages, splints, and +such other necessaries as could be obtained, were stored in it; and +while the result was watched curiously by the garrison, yet it gave +assurance in no small degree that the wounded would be cared for, +and not left to chance, as was too often the case.</p> + +<p>We need not, perhaps, follow the daily routine of lives which had +no change, nor any alleviation of anxiety common to all. The Queen +held her accustomed durbars, and received reports; she visited +the posts as often as was possible, especially at night, to guard +against surprise; and with the danger growing nearer and nearer,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +appeared to display increasing fortitude and resignation, and this +demeanour had incited in her garrison the highest spirit of devotion +and loyalty. Maria and Zóra, her indefatigable assistants, had +their hands full of work of their own; but at times of comparative +leisure they met together, read to or conversed with their Royal +mistress, or often in the still evenings sat with her on the terrace +roof of the palace, looking over the wide country, and watching the +bodies of troops marching to their posts, or exercising in the open +space in the centre of the fort, till the evening watches were set, +and all at last was at rest.</p> + +<p>If Nihung Khan and his Abyssinians could but arrive, the +accession of strength would prove an additional security. But +day after day passed, and he came not. There were no means of +communicating with him, while messenger after messenger was +captured or cut off by the force of Khan Jehan Lody, which +seemed to be as ubiquitous as it was vigilant. But the Queen did +not abandon hope, she knew Nihung Khan to be wary and vigilant, +and should he confine himself to the duty of harassing the besiegers +and cutting off their supplies, important services would be rendered.</p> + +<p>And at last no doubt remained. On December 12, according +to the local history, the leading troops of the Moghuls advanced +within sight of the fortress. All the morning their kettledrums +and trumpets had been heard in the distance, and by a little after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +noon the crowd of officers, of cavalry, with the Prince's royal +canopy in the centre, borne upon a lofty elephant, appeared in the +vicinity of the Hushti Bihisht Gardens, which had been the scene +of many a pleasant day's festival for the Queen and her companions. +It was in vain that Abbas Khan, and spirited young +leaders like himself, pressed her to allow them to make a sally +and endeavour to throw the enemy into confusion; the Queen +positively forbade the attempt. If Nihung Khan did appear, they +might advance to assist him; but any reverse now would make +her situation more desperate, and render the defence of the +fort—in which she, perhaps, placed too much confidence—out of +the question altogether.</p> + +<p>Early next morning they watched the great army form in line—a +magnificent though terrible spectacle—and the Royal Prince, +accompanied by some officers, rode round the fort, out of reach +of shots, pointing out to the leaders of each division the ground it +was to occupy. One officer, who acted more boldly than the rest, +advanced near enough to be within reach of shot, but escaped +unhurt. As they all watched him from the roof of the palace, +Abbas Khan felt sure he was a European; but the Royal army +contained many such adventurers, and the Bishop, though he could +not distinguish the features, felt a conviction that it could be no +other than Dom Diego. He, however, kept his own counsel, and +said nothing to his sister.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> + +<p>During that day and part of the next the investiture of the +fort was completed on three sides—north, west, and south; but +the east side was not closed. Now Nihung Khan, whose advance +had been so eagerly looked for, had made a rapid march to Beejapoor, +and had represented to the King Ibrahim the extreme +danger of the Queen's position. He had succeeded in obtaining +some cavalry, which with his own levy made up about seven +thousand men; and with this he had hoped to arrive before the +fort was invested, but if not, to cut his way through the enemy's +lines. He had also, when within twelve miles of the fort, sent out +spies, who not only reported to him that the east side was as yet +unoccupied, but contrived to inform the Queen that he was at +hand, and would, God willing, be with her next day; and we may +imagine with what intense anxiety he was expected.</p> + +<p>The Queen had arisen before daylight, and was watching with +Zóra from their usual place, when they heard suddenly a great +but distant clamour arise to the eastward of the fort, which continued +for some time. At last a body of horsemen, some few +hundreds only in number, emerged from under cover of some +hedges, and at headlong speed crossed the esplanade. It was +Nihung Khan, who had marched during the night with his whole +body, but found that, instead of an open passage to the fort, he +became engaged with the Khan Khanan's powerful division of the +Royal army. He himself, with his immediate body-guard, had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +cut his way through the enemy to join his Royal mistress, leaving +the main body, which had retreated, to retire upon the Beejapoor +forces. Welcome as a gallant soldier like Nihung Khan was, +even with a comparative handful of men, yet, on the other hand, +there was no longer any doubt that the investiture of the fort was +complete, and that the siege had commenced.</p> + +<p>The enemy's operations were conducted with skill and military +science. No other measures would have been available against +such a place as Ahmednugger. Dom Diego, after several feints, +established his head-quarters and trenches on the south-west side +of the fort, and thence continued his approaches by regular parallels +to the crest of the glacis, or as near as possible to the point, +whence, eventually, the breaching batteries were established; but +the defenders' artillery was infinitely superior to his own, and +the operations had been slow and difficult. Not only did the +artillerists of the fort maintain their ancient reputation, but the +practice of the Arabs in the garrison was very fatal. With their +excellent matchlocks nothing could show itself in the Moghul +trenches without being hit, and the real terror they inspired +was very great. Then the garrison became more and more confident, +and their courage rose in proportion. Day and night the +Queen herself patrolled the fort, watching the terrible game with a +kind of fascination. Nor could her ordinary companions be restrained +from sharing the danger with her; while, at night, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +well-known slight figures, passing from post to post, were greeted +with many a fervent blessing and prayer for their safety. And +who shall tell of the gentle ministrations of Maria and her brother; +the care and skill with which wounds were dressed; the soothing +and thirst-assuaging drinks that were composed and ministered? +Sometimes the worthy Bishop would accompany Meeah in his +rounds, or sit with him at his post, offering a hint here, a suggestion +there, as far as his small military skill enabled him to do; +and when the point of attack was finally established, his directions +as to the flanking fire to be maintained, in case any breach was +made, were eminently useful. "Priests," he said one day, +laughing, "need not be soldiers; yet in my country many +a Bishop has been obliged to fight for the cause of his Church, +and why not I for my little flock?" Thus, in the semi-circular +bastion at the angle, which was large and roomy, and held a +number of guns, he succeeded in placing two of the best pieces +in the fort; and for the defence and the cover of the gunners +he used large gabions filled with earth, which afforded complete +protection. It was in vain that Dom Diego directed his guns +upon this and other large bastions defended in the same +manner. The nearer he approached, the more deadly was the +defenders' fire. His trenches were raked by it, and by no means +could it be silenced. Nor were the Ahmednugger gunners forgetful +of the legend of the employment of bags of the heavy square<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +copper money of the country, and occasionally a shower of it was +sent hurtling through the air with a screaming noise which inspired +more terror, perhaps, than it did actual mischief, except at +very close quarters.</p> + +<p>In truth, Dom Diego's position was not an enviable one. The +Prince had looked to him to discover some easy manner in which +the fort might be at once assaulted and taken by storm. Any +sacrifice of men he would have considered of no consequence; +but the admirable construction of Ahmednugger forbade any +attempt at escalade with hope of success. Its lofty walls, its +deep and extremely broad ditch, the height of the counterscarp +and defences for musketry were unapproachable. The Moghul +artillery, too, was none of the best, and was too light for siege +purposes; very little effect had been produced upon the lower +part of the fort. Here and there a few stones had been broken +and displaced, but the facing only covered and marked the +real strength which was in the earth, solidified by age, of which +the rampart was composed. Day after day guns melted at the +vent or at the muzzle, and became useless, and no progress was +made.</p> + +<p>On the part of the commanders of the Royal army, two anxieties +of a very serious character were ever present. Provisions were +getting very scarce, scarce enough to reduce the ordinary rations +of the men and horses. For although the Beejapoor troops did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +not advance to the capital, they had command of the most fertile +districts, from which grain and forage could be derived; and the +circle grew narrower. This, however, was kept a profound secret, +and the operations were continued as usual.</p> + +<p>The beginning of February had now arrived, and progress in +the siege was as dilatory as ever; and at a council of war the +whole chances of success were discussed calmly. Should the +Beejapoor troops advance, the siege must be raised; and in +regard to the siege itself all seemed to depend upon the success of +mining, which Dom Diego had counselled from the first, but which +the native excavators declared to be impossible on account of the +firm, stony nature of the soil. If mines could be carried under +even one of the central bastions, and a breach made, there would, +it was considered, be no doubt of success.</p> + +<p>Just then the Queen wrote in the most urgent terms she could +to the Beejapoor officers. If they advanced at once, and operated +against the rear of the Moghul lines, nothing could save the enemy +from defeat, and most likely destruction, for their cattle were already +dying of starvation; the fort was still intact, and there had been +but few casualties; in short, that victory was within their grasp if +they would but take it. These letters were intercepted by Osman +Beg, who took them to the Prince, who added a few lines of his +own in a chivalrous spirit, to the effect that he had marched from +Dehli on purpose to cross swords with the cavaliers of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +Dekhan, and was waiting for them, and trusted they would not +delay the opportunity he had so long desired.</p> + +<p>But no result followed on these letters, and the Queen almost +began to despair of the good faith of Beejapoor. Why should +they allow such an opportunity to escape? Again and again did +Abbas Khan and Nihung Khan press her to allow them to depart +secretly and make their way through the hills; but the Royal lady +felt that the danger to the fort must draw to a head, and whether +the Moghuls raised the siege and departed, or whether the crisis +of an assault arrived, their presence was alike indispensable.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER IV.<br /> + +THE ASSAULT.</h2> + + +<p>For several days the fire of the besiegers had much slackened, +and the spirits of the besieged rose in proportion to the highest +pitch. Were the Moghuls in reality preparing to abandon the +attack and retire? It might be so, indeed, for a considerable body +of Beejapoor cavalry had at last moved forwards and taken post in +the Manikdown Hills, from whence their operations against the +Moghul supplies and distant outposts were beginning to be seriously +felt; but they were by no means strong enough to effect any +considerable diversion, and, up to the night of Feb. 20, affairs +continued in the same position. But the inactivity of the enemy +appeared unaccountable to the Queen and her council. Upon +what could they be relying? The allied armies were at Bheer, +and by a sudden and energetic march might be with her in three +days; but it was impossible for the Queen to communicate with +her friends, every egress from the fort being so vigilantly watched +night and day. But the suspense only lasted till the night of the +day we have named, when, as all were watching on the walls, a +loud manly voice was heard from the opposite side of the ditch, +which cried out—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> + +<p>"O ye brave friends and brothers in the faith, no longer make +a vain resistance. Ye have fought well for your honour, and may +save the shedding of more blood. Under the five bastions +whereon ye stand five mines have been silently driven. They are +loaded and ready, and they will be fired to admit the army of the +King of kings. Beware, then, for I have warned ye; and your +fate cannot be averted but by surrender."</p> + +<p>Then, amidst the profoundest silence, the voice ceased. No +figure was seen, for it was a profoundly dark night, and some, +overcome with awe, cried, "It is a warning from the Lord; it is +the voice of an angel; who shall resist it?" and a great fear fell +upon all. But the strange incident only seemed to inspire the +heroic Queen with new courage, and mounting a slight elevation of +the parapet, her clear, sweet voice was heard above all murmurs.</p> + +<p>"Shall we who are unhurt, and have victory in our grasp if we +persevere, give up our swords, and like frightened women betake +ourselves to the feet of the invader and beg for our lives? Shall +we, with arms in our hands, cease to use them to protect all dear +to us. Your women and children, O my sons, will hardly thank +ye for abandoning them to the brutal violence of the Moghul +soldiers. Behold! I am but a woman, and a weak one; but I +leave not this spot with my life; and, come what may, I rely upon +the most just Lord to deliver us and ye all from this tyranny. +Away, bring up the miners; we know the places, so there is no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +doubt. Bring tools, and set to work. I would rather tear up the +earth with my weak fingers, than suffer this danger to exist while +we have the time and the means to avert it."</p> + +<p>Then arose a hoarse cry of "We will not desert thee, O Mother. +We will die if it be God's will, but we will not yield. Fear not +then, but see what we do."</p> + +<p>At first there was some little confusion, but gangs were speedily +organised, and with a hearty good will they set to work, led by +the Queen, who, with a pickaxe in her hand, descended into the +shaft, and, with those dearest to her about her, worked like the +rest; going from shaft to shaft, distributing draughts of cool water +and sherbet to those who suffered thirst. It was impossible to +exceed the enthusiasm which her heroism inspired.</p> + +<p>Nihung Khan, Abbas Khan, and even the pacific Bishop, excited +by the turmoil, ran from place to place and encouraged all. Nor +was the result disappointing. While they were thus employed, +another voice called to them from the bottom of the wall to surrender, +for that at daylight the mines would be sprung. But the +warning passed unheeded; two mines had been laid bare, and +the charges of powder removed after sharp contests under ground; +and the Queen was in the act of distributing rewards for the removal +of the charge of a third, when, with a fearful report and +crash, a fourth mine, as yet undiscovered, was sprung just as +day dawned on the scene, and a few yards of the wall fell.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> + +<p>When the first mine had been struck by the counterminers, +and the persons driven out of it had gained the trenches, the +alarm was at once given in the camp, and the Prince Moorad +hurried to the spot at a moment of extreme peril to the Moghul +army, for the first mines had occupied the better part of a month. +But the skill of the counterminers was so evident from the +rapidity with which they had discovered and disarmed them during +the night, that it seemed hopeless to continue the work, as well +on account of the nature of the ground as because provisions +were on the point of exhaustion. His adviser, Dom Diego, had +not foreseen such a catastrophe as failure. He had visited the +mines the evening before while they were being charged; he had +watched the skill with which the native miners laid the charges +and tamped them; and the result would, he thought, inevitably be +that three at least of the mines must destroy the bastions under +which they were placed, and furnish three practicable breaches +for the stormers, who would be composed of the flower of the +Royal army. But these plans had failed. All that remained was +one small mine under a part of the curtain, which had been intended +to enlarge another of the main mines. It might make +a practicable breach, but it would be a narrow one, and it might +possibly fail altogether.</p> + +<p>The Prince and Dom Diego stood together on one of the +parapets of the temple looking over the fort, the interior of which,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +as the day was breaking, could be seen distinctly, with the thousands +of men like ants hurrying to and fro, carrying earth in +baskets, in cloths, and as best they could, from the countermines. +Parties of them were collecting, and even breaking the surface of +the ground near the small mine we have mentioned. Dom Diego +pointed out the place to the Prince.</p> + +<p>"There is our last resource, for the other mines are not +charged; and they would be useless if they were. Shall I fire it? +We shall at least see what sort of a heap it makes; and I, for one, +am ready to lead any party your Highness may appoint to storm +it."</p> + +<p>"Well said, sir," exclaimed the Prince, "and like a gallant +soldier. When thou art within thou wilt have the treasury and +Royal jewels to help thyself from, and I hear they are both rich."</p> + +<p>"My treasure is of another kind," replied Diego, "and I do +not intend to neglect it. Shall the mine be fired?"</p> + +<p>"Bismilla!" cried the Prince. "Lose no time."</p> + +<p>"I have laid the train," said Pedro di Diaz, who came up at +the instant; "but the chamber is not half charged, not enough +tamped, but it will do something."</p> + +<p>"Then fire it in the devil's name," cried Dom Diego. "I will +watch."</p> + +<p>A few moments more, and two thin columns of smoke issued +from the fort wall, and from that part of the counterscarp which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +was opposite. These places heaved slightly upwards, and earth +and stones arose with a muffled sound, casting into the air the +bodies of a number of men who had been walking on the fort +wall. The effect of these explosions was a clear road into +the ditch from the counterscarps, and an apparently practicable +though steep breach in the rampart of the fort.</p> + +<p>"It is done!" cried Dom Diego, with a wave of his plumed +hat to the Prince. "If your Highness will send for the stormers +I will lead them at once, if they will follow me."</p> + +<p>In the fort, as the smoke and dust of the explosion cleared +away, some of the garrison seemed to have given up hope, and +were girding their loins for flight; but the Queen was equal to the +emergency. While she called to those about her to remember +their oath to her, to rally their men, for the gates were closed, and +there was no egress for flight, she cried, "And whither would ye +fly, O sons and brothers? To the plain yonder, to perish by the +swords of your enemies? Nay, for your honour's sake, desert me +not now; and to the latest day of the Dekhan your deeds shall be +sung by bards and minstrels. See, we women blench not from +the storm; and she who brings my armour and my sword, a holy +Syud's daughter, will die here with me, and her husband, my +children both, rather than yield while we have life." Then, as +Zóra, clad in the old green dress of the Turreequt, approached, +the Queen withdrew for an instant, and putting on her morion and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +a suit of light chain mail, with gauntlets, and waving a naked sword, +came forward among them, crying the old battle cry of her +husband. Over her face, as it was becoming light, she had cast a +transparent veil, but every feature was visible, glowing with a rapt +enthusiasm and confidence.</p> + +<p>"To the breach, my friends, with me!" she cried. "Who +will follow my veil? Behold it will lead you to honour, if to death; +never to infamy. If we die, we shall sip the nectar of Paradise +ere night."</p> + +<p>No one attempted to resist this appeal. With passionate cries +of devotion, with tears and sobs, the leaders and men, with her +beloved Abbas Khan, pressed forward to do their best in her +defence. The rough veteran, Nihung Khan, with tears flowing +down his cheeks, besought her to retire to a place of safety, but +she cried the more that she would remain; and in her own Battle +of the Veil it behoved her to lead, and no other.</p> + +<p>But it was yet some time before the Moghuls advanced to +storm, and the delay enabled the besiegers to make some defence +for the breach available. A double row of gabions was placed +over the crest, and filled with earth; the best marksmen among the +Arabs and the garrison were posted on the wall above its sides; +wall pieces were brought from other parts of the fort; rocket-men +plied their rockets on the crest of the glacis opposite, through +which a road had been sloped from above. Behind the gabions,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +and sheltered by them, dense bodies of spearmen stood in serried +ranks. In short, no precaution that Abbas Khan and his companions +could bethink themselves of was neglected. Even the +Bishop, who the whole night through had been at work, ran +from his post on the large bastion to see that all was in proper +order, and his few directions were practical and useful.</p> + +<p>Every preparation had been made that could be contrived. +Every gun that the fortifications allowed of had been trained on +the breach and the enemy's road thither. The garrison had been +divided into bodies, so as to relieve each other as quickly as +possible without crowding; and though the enemy fired occasionally +from the trenches against the breach and the parapets of +walls, the precautions which had been taken of covering the men +with gabions and sandbags almost entirely prevented casualties. +As to the breach itself, though the enemy fired continually at it, +they produced no effect, as their shot, knocking up a cloud of dust, +only sank into the earth harmlessly. Presently, also, Abbas Khan +and some of the boldest Arabs contrived to let down some gabions +below the crest of the breach, where they established themselves, +thus affording increased matchlock fire of a fatal character, besides +opposing an additional obstacle to the stormers.</p> + +<p>"He is sending us his best soldiers, mother," said Abbas +Khan, settling his turban more firmly on his head, as he prepared +to descend to his post; "but fear not, none will come near thee."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Rather let one blow of thy good sword release me, son," she +said. "'Twould be but kindness, if God will."</p> + +<p>He made no reply; but the tears welled up in his eyes as he +left her and his beloved wife together, and heard their cries of +"Deen! Deen!" as he entered his perilous position.</p> + +<p>Still they waited and no advance was made; and the Queen +was not unmindful of the necessity of furnishing food for the men +who had watched with her all night. Since very early, before +daylight, the cooks had been busy preparing pilaos and boiled +meats, which now began to arrive in huge cauldrons, and was +distributed to the men by companies; and all sat down and ate +their plattersful, or gathered round huge dishes, and ate their fill; +but no one moved from his appointed station; while the Queen +and her attendants, disdaining more delicate viands prepared for +them, partook of the general mess of camels' meat and rice, +plentifully seasoned with pepper and onions, and which was by no +means to be despised by hungry folk. Indeed, for the time, the +area of the fort in the vicinity of the breach was a place of +feasting. Elephants moved to and fro with large water-skins, +and men bearing jars of cool sherbet gave freely to those that +needed it; and, taking example from the Queen's forethought, +every private house in the fort sent its quota of food or of drink.</p> + +<p>So noon came, and the voice of the muezzin chaunted the +call to prayer from different quarters of the fort, as if no deadly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +strife were imminent, and the Moslems spread scarves or waist-bands +where they stood or sat. The Queen had not stirred since +the morning from the place she had taken up near the gabions; +and the only protection she would allow the people to make for +her and Zóra against the sun was a few cloths tied to spears. +Once Maria had come to see her from her own post, the hospital, +but there was no time for much speaking; and, committing them +to the care of God, she returned to her post with her brother, the +masses of rough soldiery making way for her with the most profound +respect. One look with her brother she took from the great +flanking bastion along the side of the fort attacked, and it gave +her an assurance she could hardly have expected.</p> + +<p>The whole side of the fort was uninjured, except near the +breach, where there had been much pelting by the enemy's shot, +but no fracture. The <i>débris</i> of the mine had spread out as far as +the bottom of the ditch, and partly lay on its level floor; but it +seemed, even to her, a perilous place for people to ascend. Some +part of the counterscarp had apparently been dug down or blown +in, and it was evidently the way by which the enemy would +approach. All along the wall, every gun that could be aimed was +directed upon the breach, and the two beautiful bastions which +formed the Queen's post.</p> + +<p>One reason for delay was the indecision in the Moghul camp. +Many experienced veterans declared that it was waste of life only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +to attempt to storm Ahmednugger by such a breach as had been +made. Reproachful epithets were freely banded about, and it +seemed a question whether any attack would be made that day. +But Dom Diego's savage temper would brook no control. "I +will take the place with the five Europeans I have," he cried, +"and cowards can follow at their leisure; as if breaches in fort +walls were to be made like beaten highways for dainty fops to +strut upon." Dom Diego was, in truth, weary of the idleness of +the Moghul officers. There was not a true soldier among them, +and he often thought failure imminent; but Maria was there, +and while it was possible to win her, even a soldier's death would +be better than the hell of tumultuous feeling which raged within +him.</p> + +<p>At last the signal for assault was given from the enemy's camp. +First, the huge imperial kettledrums sounded a march in their +deep booming notes, and a general discharge of all their artillery +in the trenches followed; while, in the bastion of the fort, the Portuguese +and Hindoo native gunners stood or lounged among their +piles of shot and bags of copper coin. Many of them were +known to Maria; their wives were helping her in her own work, +and all saluted her reverently and affectionately as she left them +with a prayer that the Lord would protect them all.</p> + +<p>All through the Moghul trenches the silence was almost +oppressive. The muezzin's call to prayer was proclaimed like<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +that in the fort; and, for a brief space, only a distant hum from +the town and camp could be heard. As Maria stood on the steps +of the great bastion, she could hear flies buzzing about her, the +birds chirruping in the trees near her, and even the lowing and +bleating of the cattle and sheep which were grazing in the broad +ditch on the sheltered side of the fortress. The sun shone through +the thunderous air with a fierce hot glare over all, and the plain +and glacis were quivering in the trembling light. The wind had +fallen, and the stillness and heat were so oppressive that she was +glad to gain the cool shelter of the large vaulted building. +Many fresh guns that had been brought to bear upon the breach +aroused the echoes even of the distant hills; but the shot had little +effect upon the extemporised defences of the breach, or upon the +parapets anywhere; and the Queen and Zóra, looking through a +loophole that commanded the breach, saw, with a thrill of delight, +that Abbas Khan in his perilous post was safe.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, on the crest of one of the trenches beyond, a tall, +powerful figure, dressed in European costume, stood forth, waving +a naked sword, which flashed in the sun; while with the other +hand he removed a plumed morion from his head, and made a +courteous salute to the fort. He wore a bright corselet of steel, +with gauntlets, and a buff coat and boots, richly embroidered. In +his left hand he carried a stout stick, but no shield or other +defence whatever. For an instant there was a shout of "Shabash!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +Shabash Feringi!" and, instantly, a crowd of men scrambled over +the trenches, and, as he pointed to the breach, followed him. And +these, some hundreds in number, Europeans and native volunteers, +formed the forlorn hope. Again, others came on in denser array: +Arabs, Pathans, Afghans, Rajpoots, dressed in yellow tunics; and +other tribes, many singing their war song, others shouting their +national war cries, armed with matchlocks, sword, shield, and +spear, flashing in the afternoon sun, which poured its hot rays on +all. It was now somewhat past four in the afternoon, and the +sultry heat of the day had become almost sickening, when a slight +breeze from the west waved the banners of the advancing host, +and slightly displaced the cloud of dust which had arisen over +them. It was a glorious, awe-inspiring spectacle truly; but the +defenders blenched not from it; every man grasped his weapon +more firmly, and stood at his post prepared for the worst, should it +come. On the far side of the ditch, along the crest of the counterscarp +and covered way, clouds of skirmishers spread themselves, +pouring their shot upon the defences; but the fire had little effect, +and gradually slackened.</p> + +<p>Scrambling down the road prepared for them by the mine, and +without order, large bodies of stormers now poured across the +ditch, the tall figure of the European bounding before them all to +the very foot of the breach, when suddenly one of the large guns +on each of the flanking bastions sent its deadly discharge of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +round shot and copper hail among the crowds beneath with +fearful effect. Hundreds fell, writhing; while from every bastion +rockets, fire-balls, and musketry smote them as they lay or +straggled onwards. There was no chance of retreat, for the +masses in the rear, which came on in a continuous stream, were +not checked, and any of the foremost who faltered, or turned to +fly, were thrown down and trampled into the dust. Again and +again did Dom Diego attempt the breach, but the earth was so +loose that footing could hardly be maintained; and the grim +serried ranks which covered the crest of the breach gave little +hope that could he and those with him reach the bristling ranks +of broad spears beyond, they could force an entrance, while Abbas +Khan and his body of Arabs plied them with shot, few of which +missed their mark.</p> + +<p>But still none of the stormers turned; on the contrary, +thousands of men charged down the counterscarp, to be met with +the same volleys from the great guns, which proved so deadly and +so effective. Once Dom Diego and some hundreds of men, +collected hastily, made a rush up the breach, and interchanged +blows with its defenders; and Abbas Khan, struck with his devoted +bravery, called to him to take quarter, and come to his +post; but the humane effort was rejected with an oath, and he fell +back among the struggling masses to seek volunteers for a task +which was beyond the power of man.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span></p> + +<p>Can we, even in imagination, realise in any degree that +fearful maddening scene—the discharges of the great guns at +intervals carrying destruction to hundreds at every shot, assisted +by the rockets, the musketry, and the fire-balls from the +walls? Even these were little in comparison with the frantic +struggles of the masses as they were urged on by the Prince in +person and his generals—the shouts, the screams, and cries of +wounded and dying men, the fierce thirst which consumed all! +The ditch, from the first almost covered by the dead and dying, +was now rising under the heaps beneath, which every moment +augmented. There was no escape and no progress; the masses +contrived to descend, ignorant of what was before them; and as +it was industriously circulated by the Prince and his advisers that +the breach had been stormed and the fort was being plundered +all rushed on to gain a share of the riches it was supposed to +contain—only to be met by the withering fire which destroyed +them, and the horrible heaps of carnage grew higher and higher +as the evening wore on.</p> + +<p>As to Queen Chand, we read in the old chronicles how—fearless +among the storm of shot, dauntless among the horrid cries +and shrieks which filled the air—she was seen everywhere, distributing +rewards, giving water to the wounded and thirsty, and +encouraging all. Nor was the green figure beside her less active +or less useful. Sometimes they were at the breach, down which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +they looked, with a fascination which could not be repressed, upon +the masses of struggling forms beneath them. But still Zóra saw +her brave lord safe; and he even smiled and waved them back, as +the Queen, mounting the parapet of the gabions, spoke a few +words of encouragement to their defenders. All saw her as she +defended the breach in person; and the flutter of the "standard +of the veil," which she still wore over her bright morion, was +watched by many an one of the enemy's officers, and even by the +Prince himself, with unqualified admiration of her heroism.</p> + +<p>At last night began to fall, and here and there a star peeped +out from the pure ether through the thick, heated vapour from the +combatants which filled the air; and the baffled Moghuls, leaving +their heaps of slain as they were, retired beyond the crest of the +counterscarp into their own lines. They had lost thousands, for +the ditch was a mass of carcasses which no one could reckon; +they had lost arms, standards, officers, and, above all, reputation. +That the hosts of the King of kings should have been repulsed +from a Dekhan fortress commanded by a woman was a result +which none had anticipated, much less the haughty Imperial +Prince who had urged on his devoted troops to destruction. Gradually, +those that remained of the invaders retreated up the slope, +harassed to the last by the rain of copper hail with which they +had been tormented; and the Queen and Zóra, with some of the +bravest of the women and eunuchs, watched the last retreating<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +figures which staggered up the slope beyond; or a man here and +there extricating himself from the horrible masses like one rising +from the dead, followed them alone, or sank down and perished +with the rest. And then, as if seeing each other for the first time +during the fearful day, they cast themselves upon each other's +necks and wept for joy. Then, too, Abbas Khan came up from +his post bearing in his hand a standard he had taken from an +Afghan, who was almost the only man who had reached the little +fort. "He was a brave fellow, mother, and would take no quarter, +and there was little time for thought; but he died like a brave +man under my weapon, and departed to Paradise. O Mother! +what can we render to the Lord for these mercies? for ye are +unharmed, both of ye."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the Queen, with her eyes overflowing, "thousands +and thousands lie yonder dead and dying; but we are safe, and +have lost but few; and the good Padré and Maria tend those who +suffer."</p> + +<p>"If I may, I will go and see Maria," said Zóra, timidly. +What would she not have given to fall into her husband's arms +and weep out her thankfulness, but that was not the time or +place.</p> + +<p>"Go, child," said the Queen. "Go! greet her from me, and +say all is safe and well; but do not let her see that," and she +pointed to the ditch, "it might appal her tender nature." And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +Zóra went, attended by Yasin Khan and some others to fulfil her +tender mission, and gain relief for her overcharged mind.</p> + +<p>"And now," said the Queen to Abbas Khan and those near +him, "let us leave nothing undone. The breach has, indeed, been +saved; but it must be made sure. I, for one, will not leave it till +it is built up against any chance of surprise, or even of attack. +Do not talk to me of sleep or rest. My best sleep would be here +beside the workers. My best rest can only come with security. +Ye will see what endurance this weak body hath when danger is +present. It is an old employment of mine repairing breaches; +but at Beejapoor I worked three days and nights without sleep +and here, with so many men, all should be ready by daylight; and +then when the Moghuls see their labour has been in vain, they +may leave us in peace. See and get Zóra some food and rest," +she whispered to Abbas Khan, "she will need it."</p> + +<p>"Not while thou art here, O Mother," was the reply. "She +is young and strong, and can bear it better than thou. But why +remain? Canst thou not trust Nihung Khan and myself to do all?"</p> + +<p>"No!" she replied, firmly; "it is my work and I will do it. +Nor shall Zóra leave me; she will be better for seeing Maria. But +my turn has not yet come. Hark! there is a cry from the heap +of dead. 'For the love of God! for the love of God! water!' it +cries. Does no one hear? It is some Feringi."</p> + +<p>"It may be the cavalier who led the assault," said Abbas Khan. +"I saw him sink down, but he may have survived."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A gallant fellow," said the Queen. "I, too, watched him. Go, +one of ye, for the Padré Sahib; tell him to come with his bandages +and medicine. Quick! quick!"</p> + +<p>Abbas Khan, and some men with blankets, descended the +breach to the foot, but among the dead on the slope they could +find no one living. They dare not take a torch for fear of drawing +upon them fire from the counterscarp. They listened, and at last +the faint cry of "Aqua! Aqua!" was repeated, but in a fainter +tone.</p> + +<p>"He is here," cried one of the men, "lying under others, and +he is warm. I see his face now; it is the Feringi."</p> + +<p>The Queen was right. Her quick ears had heard a low cry in +a strange accent, which had escaped all others around her. It was +from Dom Diego, who, as we know, had led the forlorn hope. +When the mines had been sprung, he would have advanced at +once under the cover of the smoke and dust which hung over the +wall and ditch, but he found to his vexation that the men were not +ready. The hour was not propitious, and the Court astrologer +could not discover a fitting time till the afternoon. No one would +follow him till the signal was given from the Royal pavilion. And +though Dom Diego cursed the delay, he had no alternative but to +await the general order, which came at length.</p> + +<p>Dom Diego had done his part bravely. He had led three +separate assaults of the breach, but was as yet unwounded. Nor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +was his example lost on the brave men who, as one party was +beaten back, or sank down to make a fresh portion of the horrible +bridge, still formed afresh, and, reinforced by others crowding on +from behind, were led only to perish in their turn. At last, +in one of the desperate rushes up the breach, Dom Diego fell +from a matchlock shot, but for a moment only. He rose to +his feet, and strove to rally those with him, when his leg was +shattered by a round shot, and in the discharge of copper hail +which came with it, his left arm was broken, and he fell insensible +among the heap of dying and dead, and was trampled down with +the rest. Presently, however, his consciousness returned; but it +only revealed to him more certainly the hopelessness of his situation. +Extrication from the mass of dead and dying was +impossible, and he must die—unshriven, and without hope. We +dare not follow his thoughts nor his cries, now defiant, now +despairing, nor the struggles of a Christian soul which, believing +in the hell which seemed opening before him, saw no hope of +repentance or forgiveness. At first it was beyond his power to +move; but several men above him in their death agonies had +loosened the pile he lay under, and with his right arm he had +been able to push aside the dead who most oppressed him, +and thus he gained space to breathe. It was, however, but a prolongation +of his misery, for he felt that his leg was shattered, and +even to crawl, could he be freed, would be impossible. He could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +see the forms of men on the ramparts and in the breach +moving about, and even hear them as they spoke one to another; +but his cries for help and for water had grown fainter and fainter +till the Queen's ear had distinguished them.</p> + +<p>Then Abbas Khan, and the rest who had gone down the +breach, lifted away the dead from above him and raised him up, +placing him in a blanket, and carried him up into the fort. At the +top they laid him down at the foot of the Bishop, who anxiously +looked at the face of the sufferer, who was now insensible.</p> + +<p>"Merciful God!" he cried, lifting up his hands to heaven; +"it is Dom Diego, and he still lives! Bring him to the rest of the +wounded. Quick, quick!" he continued, to Abbas Khan, "or he +may die without help."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER V.<br /> + +DIEGO'S DEATH AND THE BISHOP'S EMBASSY.</h2> + + +<p>They carried the wounded man gently in the blanket as he lay. It +was impossible to attempt a palanquin, as the motion would have +caused him additional agony. But he was now more sensible than +at first. He had drunk greedily from a cup of the Queen's own +cool sherbet, which she had kindly sent him; water had been +plenteously sprinkled on his face and hands by the Bishop; his +pulse had somewhat rallied, and he was even endeavouring to +speak, but was forbidden. "Maria! forgive!" were the only words +he could utter. Thus they took him on, nor was it far to the +place. There were lamps lighted inside, and wounded men lying +on mattresses on the floor; and some, which were the worst cases, +upon small truckle beds; and on one of these they placed the +dying man, supporting him by pillows. There were several +Portuguese soldiers there also, who were tending wounded comrades, +and all gathered round to assist. Then they carefully unfastened +the morion and steel corselet, took off the heavy boots, +and the coat of buff leather soaked in blood; and the Bishop +supplied some soft underlinen from his own stock with which to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +dress the wounds. But this seemed hopeless, for several were +fatal in their nature, and the loss of blood had been enormous. +Maria had been busy at the other end of the wide, long room, and +had not seen the new comer; but her brother sent word to her not +to come till he sent for her, as the sight would be too shocking. +All that she had heard was that the sufferer was a Portuguese +officer, and she knew there were some such men in the Prince's +army.</p> + +<p>D'Almeida's cordial, which had been administered at once, had +revived the sinking man in some degree, and for the first time he +opened his eyes and stared vacantly about him. Some of the men +were bathing his wounds, and this, and the removal of his armour +and heavy clothes, had somewhat restored him. Francis d'Almeida +was bandaging one of the wounds, which was bleeding afresh, and +Dom Diego recognised him, and, with a wan smile, put away his +hand and said faintly,—</p> + +<p>"It is of no use, brother Francis, I bleed within me, and I am +dying. Hear my confession, which I will make to thee truly as long +as I can speak; and then let me die."</p> + +<p>"It is, indeed, needful, my poor brother," said the Bishop, +gently, "for no man living could help thee now, and a brief time +must close all thy earthly sufferings. Take this cordial, and it will +revive thee. Is there aught that should be written?"</p> + +<p>"Something," he said; "that my wealth may be secured to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +Church. But write quickly, or I faint. Can masses be said for +my soul, that I may be forgiven? The writing should be in +Persian, for the banker at Surat to read."</p> + +<p>Who could write Persian there except himself? But the Bishop +had seen Zóra with his sister, and he sent word to her to come to +him, but not to bring Maria. And she came. A sheet had +been spread over the sufferer, and his ghastly wounds were not +apparent.</p> + +<p>Writing materials were at hand, and seating herself by the bed-side, +the girl looked up with a scared face, and asked what she was +to write, while Francis interpreted the words as they dropped +slowly from his patient's mouth.</p> + +<p>"Write," he said, "to Hemchund Premchund, banker of Surat, +'I am dying, my friend, and I will that all my effects in your charge +be made over to the illustrious Archbishop of Goa, or whoever he +may depute to receive them. Pedro di Diaz is dead, and all there +is belongs to me. The ship is to be sold, and the crew paid their +wages. Five thousand rupees are to be remitted to my brother, +Francis d'Almeida, of this place, for the use of his Church. I am +in my full senses, and have this written in Persian that thou mayest +comprehend. Be faithful, and discharge thy trust honestly.'"</p> + +<p>Zóra's rapid pen soon traced these words, and it was put into +Dom Diego's hand by the Bishop. "It is complete," he said; +"sign it."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> + +<p>For an instant the dying man rallied, passed his hands across +his eyes, and then, taking the pen, wrote in his bold hand,</p> + +<div class="right"> +"<span class="smcap">D. Diego di Fonseca, S.J.</span><br /> +"My own writing.<br /> +</div> + +<p>"Written at Ahmednugger by Zóra, the wife of Abbas Khan.</p> + +<p> +"Witness, Francis d'Almeida, Bishop of Ahmednugger, &c.<br /> +Before us, 3rd Rujub, A.H. 1004, 22nd February, 1596."<br /> +</p> + +<p>"That will do, my brave child," said the Bishop, patting Zóra +on the head. "Go back to Maria, and tell her I will send for her +soon." And Zóra rose, ran quickly to Maria, and delivered her +message.</p> + +<p>"Who can he be?" she asked. "Didst thou see his face?"</p> + +<p>"I dared not look," Zóra said; "he was too terrible to look on; +and thou wilt soon be told. But the Padré Sahib seemed to know +him."</p> + +<p>"Blessed Mother of God!" exclaimed Maria, sitting down +hastily; "it cannot be Diego. What could have brought him here?"</p> + +<p>"Diego! Yes, that was the name thy brother called him. But +why dost thou ask?"</p> + +<p>"He was my malignant enemy, sister."</p> + +<p>"And Alla hath delivered thee from him. And thou wilt forgive +him, Maria, even as I forgave mine."</p> + +<p>"Yes," she replied, slowly, "I will indeed forgive him. See, +my brother hath put on his vestment; he is holding up the cross,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +and the men about are kneeling, and the dying man is confessing +his sins. Look!"</p> + +<p>It was as she said. And the ghostly confession was proceeding, +one of the men holding a cup of cordial to the sufferer's +lips as he made motions for it—a broken tale of sin and +crime, which we dare not attempt to record. Yet it came forth +from the dry, parched lips hardly without a break till its close. +Francis d'Almeida had not missed a word; though, from his +extreme weakness, Dom Diego had sometimes spoken in low, +broken whispers, gasping for breath.</p> + +<p>"There is no more to tell," he said, faintly, at its close. "As I +shall answer in the judgment, no more. I have hidden nothing; +but, with the absolution of the Church, I pray thee let thy sister +say, while I can hear and see, 'I forgive thee, Diego,' and I shall +then die happy."</p> + +<p>Then Francis sent for his sister, and whispered, "It is he. +Dost thou forgive him, Maria?"</p> + +<p>"Freely and truly," she said, firmly, "as I may be forgiven."</p> + +<p>Dom Diego could not speak now, but he could hear the words +which fell from the woman he had loved so madly and with so +sinful a purpose. He tried to raise his hands, but they fell back +on the sheet helplessly and his large bright eyes were glazing +fast, and becoming dim. "Maria! Maria! forgive—pardon!" +they heard him say in a whisper scarcely audible. And while<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +the Bishop was holding up the cross before him, and preparing +to recite the <i>Beaticum</i>, she could not resist the impulse, +but took the cold hand of the dying man, and said, "I forgive; +fear not." Then a soft smile of peace and resignation seemed to +pass over his features. "Forgiven," he murmured; and as the +words of "Depart, Christian soul, in the name of God the Father +Almighty who created thee," were spoken, the spirit passed away +with a slight shivering convulsion, and the body lay still in death; +and the Bishop and his sister, their sweet voices mingling, +chanted the Litany for the dead, which seemed to linger amidst +the small domes and grooves of the high roof, echoed, as it were, +by angels.</p> + +<p>Zóra had stood by spellbound. She had never seen a Christian +die; and Maria, who had taught her many hymns, had never +chanted to her the Litany for the dead. "Come away," she +whispered, when silence fell on all; "come away, and weep in my +arms as I have done in thine. Yea, art thou not my sister? and +he knew that he was forgiven, and died happy. Surely it was the +Lord's doing, and his fate brought him to thy feet. Come away." +And Maria, weeping passionately, suffered the girl to lead her to +the chamber she had fitted up, and saw her cast herself at the +foot of her cross and pray fervently.</p> + +<p>Yes, it had been a vast relief to Zóra to go, as her husband and +the Queen told her to do, to Maria, and endeavour to keep out the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +impression which the horrid sights she had seen and the fearful +bridge of human carcasses had caused. All day long the girl had +never left her Royal mistress's side, and the green dress of the +Syud's child had shared the honour of the day with the armour +of the Queen and the "standard of the veil." But she hardly in +truth knew what she had done; and when, after her prayer, Maria +rose calm and at peace, and, taking Zóra to her heart, told her +what the wounded who were brought in said of the slight lad who +gave cups of water to wounded men, helped them into litters, and +still cried his boyish war cry, Zóra hid her blushing face in her +sister's breast, and said, "It was not I, Maria; some other, +perhaps." But Maria said she need not deny it, for that Abbas +Khan would tell her more, and be proud of her to the end of his +life. Then Maria bade her return to the Queen; and she departed, +saying, "If he will let me come to-morrow, and the Mother +does not want me, I will help thee to tend these poor fellows."</p> + +<p>Zóra found the Queen where she had left her, but she was +more at rest. Her attendants had brought her a small carpet and +a pillow, but she had not laid aside her morion and shirt of mail, +and she was sitting close to the breach, where the relays of masons +were working by the now bright starlight; and the broken wall +was rising rapidly course by course. Fortunately the old wall had +not been shaken to its foundation, and on clearing away the +rubbish the firm portion was soon struck. All through the night<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +the work proceeded steadily; and as day broke about twelve feet +in height of the wall had been filled in, and the breach was secure +against all chances of sudden attack and surprise. The trenches +were not even manned by the enemy; and as day dawned messengers +came from the Prince Moorad with a flag of truce, congratulating +the Queen on the heroic defence she had made, and informing +her that she would hereafter be addressed by the Emperor +as Chand Sooltana, the Queen Chand, instead of, as before, the +Beebee, or Lady Chand, and begging her permission for the dead +to be removed without molestation. And this was granted at once +without hesitation. It had, indeed, become necessary to do +so, for a sickening stench had already begun to arise from the +festering mass, which would have become insupportable had the +operation been delayed. But it was a heavy labour. Large gangs +of men came by relays; and it was not till the day after, though +they worked unremittingly, that the ghastly contents of the ditch +were cleared away.</p> + +<p>At last, as day was breaking, and a cold fresh wind arose +refreshingly from the north, the Queen was persuaded to retire +and take rest. What she had gone through, both in body and in +mind, during the last two days and nights of the siege and assault, +was almost superhuman; but the heroic spirit had never quailed, +and she appeared to have no sense of fatigue or want. There was +no exultation in her manner, but to Nihung Khan, to Abbas Khan,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +and the crowd of officers who poured forth their congratulations, +she simply said, "I thank the Lord, on whom I depended, and who, +by the bravery of ye all, has given us the victory. Be ye as humbly +grateful as I am." Zóra helped her to lay aside her armour, +bathed her, and clad her in cool garments, and led her to her +little King, who was awake, and asking for her. Then as the boy +stretched out his arms to her, and she took him, and he stroked +her face, with a child's compassionate fondness, the emotion which +had been so long pent up in her loving heart burst forth with a +violence which terrified those about her. But Zóra laid her down, +and soothed her as she would have done an ailing child, till she +fell into a deep sleep. There was no tumult of shouting, and +cannon, and musketry to arouse her, and peace seemed to have +fallen gently upon all.</p> + +<p>But for a while only, for the Queen was soon in her accustomed +seat in the hall of audience, doing her usual work; and she +again wrote to the Beejapoor commanders, informing them of the +repulse of the attack, the safety of the fort, and the perilous position +of the Moghuls. She urged and entreated her friends to +advance at once, when she should be able to make a sally to +meet them; and she sent these letters by bold, careful messengers, +who, dropping from the fort wall, mingled with the crowds who +were removing the dead from the trench, and gained the Moghul +lines. Here, however, they were intercepted, and taken to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +Prince, who read the letters, adding what he had done on a former +occasion, and inviting the reinforcements to hasten to their destination, +as he was most anxious to meet them. "The sooner the +better." And they did march at last.</p> + +<p>But so slowly. The impetuous Queen, who knew they were +near enough to be with them in three days at most, would fain +have had them arrive even sooner, and would have helped them +to drive the enemy ignominiously from their position. But they +scarcely moved at all; certainly not with the desire of crossing +swords with their enemies, and it still seemed as if they overrated +the power of the Moghul cavalry.</p> + +<p>And perhaps they were right, for the cavalry much outnumbered +the whole of the Beejapoor forces in advance, and there had +been few casualties comparatively out of the thirty thousand horse +with which the Prince had left Guzerat. The effect of the nearer +approach of the southern forces told, however, seriously on the +Moghul camp, which was more straitened than ever for provisions. +Prince Moorad would have welcomed heartily any attack +by the Beejapoor forces; he could have beaten them easily in the +field, and the scope of his action would have been enlarged. He +might have gained possession of the upper valley of the Seena, +now teeming with plenty—nay, he might have pushed on to +Purenda, and established an advanced post there; but it is most +probable that the Beejapoor commander had foreseen this, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +preferred guarding the approaches to a weak point, rather than +obeying the Queen's hasty summons to attack. The Mussulman +historians of the period blame the Beejapoor troops heavily for not +attacking the Moghuls the day after the assault, or during the +assault itself; and their sympathies are entirely with the Queen, +who chafed sorely at their delay. But the probability is that their +officers were better generals than the Queen, and could see where +hidden danger existed clearly enough to avoid it. When she wrote +her despatches, however, the morning after the assault, she was +in the highest degree sanguine; and when she received her officers +at the afternoon durbar there was not a sign of fatigue or care +upon her cheerful countenance.</p> + +<p>Among others was the Bishop, who, with Maria, had come up +to see her before the durbar should commence; and they told her +of the death of Dom Diego, in whose gallant advance she had been +so deeply interested. Of course the Queen remembered the tale, +as she had heard it before her friends went to Goa; but she could +hardly be brought to believe that the man who had been mortally +wounded in the assault was the same person, until the general +outlines of his confession had been related to her. Then, indeed, +she took Maria into her arms and congratulated her on +her escape. Surely God had specially preserved Maria's honour +and her own, and Maria's gratitude had not been lack of +expression.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And now," said the Bishop, "I must acquit myself of my +duty to the dead and to the Church and State I serve. I cannot +go to Surat myself; but the Prince, who has the reputation of +being frank and honourable, may be induced to interest himself +for my Government, with whom he is on friendly terms, and +receive my explanation of these affairs. I would, therefore, solicit +a note to him from your Majesty, and be the bearer of it while the +truce lasts."</p> + +<p>"It is dangerous, Padré Sahib," returned the Queen, musing. +"My own opinion is that he would extort the money, which you +say is very considerable, from the banker, and appropriate it to his +own use; or that his people, who are notoriously corrupt, would +make away with it. But let not this rest on my opinion alone; +let us send for Abbas Khan and Nihung Khan, on whose +ability and discretion you can depend, and hear what they advise." +And they were sent for. Both were hard by, still working at the +breach, and they came directly; and the Bishop related to them +the facts we already know.</p> + +<p>They did not apprehend any personal danger to the Bishop in +his proposed visit to the Prince Moorad, but they were decidedly +unanimous in advising that he should not be told of Dom Diego's +hoard of wealth. The Imperial Government, they said, is, by long +established law and usage, heir to all the property of persons who +die or are killed in their service, particularly if they are foreigners;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +and the issue would be that this treasure would be lost for the purpose +for which it is designed. There would be no hope of saving it.</p> + +<p>"But suppose," said Nihung Khan, whose opinion, being the +elder, carried the most weight, "that you ask the Prince for the +horses, arms, and moneys of the deceased now in camp. That will +only be a fair demand. If granted, it may open your way to a +disclosure of the remainder at another audience. But you will see, +Señor Padré," he continued, laughing, "that that will be refused +on the grounds I have mentioned. And it is better you should +be prepared for the truth, though it may be told in fair words +which will give you no offence."</p> + +<p>"I dare say you are right, Khan," returned the Bishop. "Dom +Diego was buried early, with the rites of the Church, and I am at +liberty. There is no time to be lost; and if I go at all, I +would beg that the flag of truce be prepared, and that a palanquin +be got ready for me."</p> + +<p>Maria was very anxious, and now could not restrain her +feelings. "Go not, Francis," she cried; "go not among those +savage men. Why not wait a few days, and when they are gone +thou canst write to the authorities at Goa, and send the letter +to King Ibrahim, who will forward it, when the necessary +steps can be taken, through the bankers of Goa, to obtain the +effects of brother Diego from Surat without giving any power to the +Moghul Government to interfere."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Thou art the wisest counsellor among us, Maria," said the +Queen, smiling kindly on her, "and I will send thy brother's +despatch to King Ibrahim myself; there will be no doubt he will +do what is needful. Bankers are always true, and I see no difficulty +whatever. Go, Padré Sahib; my mirdhas shall attend thee +with honour, and it may be that the Prince will make political +disclosures to thee which may be of importance. Go, prepare +thyself, and lose no time, for the day is yet ample for thy purpose."</p> + +<p>So the good Bishop set out. No armed men were sent with +him, but only four silver mace-bearers, as a sign that he was a +Royal ambassador. They were stopped at the first picket near the +west end of the trenches, and thence passed on cautiously through +the busy camp to Furhut Mahal, where the Prince had taken up +his residence, to which a bridge of rough pontoons, or boats, +had been thrown across the moat. He had to wait at the head of +the bridge till permission was given to advance, and, attended and +preceded by the mirdhas, he was ushered into the entrance hall, +and thence, following the officer on duty, he ascended the steps +which led to the upper storey where, for the sake of its coolness, the +Prince had taken up his quarters.</p> + +<p>The Prince Moorad, a fair young man of pleasing appearance, +but plainly dressed in white muslin, was seated on a pile of +cushions, accompanied by three elderly officers, who were evidently +of high rank. He partly rose as the Bishop bowed low before him,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +returned the salute, and bidding him be seated, said, "You speak +Persian, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Imperfectly," was the reply; "but I am used to speak it to +my Queen and in the Court at Beejapoor. I can write it also as +I speak it."</p> + +<p>"Good," said the Prince; "then tell me why you have come. +Are you the ambassador of the Sultana?"</p> + +<p>"I have the honour to bear a note from her," and he withdrew +it from the sash of his robe, "which will explain the object of my +intrusion upon your Highness. Will you be pleased to read it?"</p> + +<p>The Prince took the envelope. After having examined the +seal, he carefully opened it and read the contents.</p> + +<p>"This only states that thou art a Bishop of the Christian +Church at Goa; and, as such, thou art welcome. Wilt thou +proceed to tell thy business? Is it secret or political?"</p> + +<p>"Neither, my Prince," was the reply; "but personal only as +regards the effects of one Dom Diego di Fonseca, who was a priest +of the Christian Church, and who died of wounds received in the +assault yesterday."</p> + +<p>"Dead!" cried those present. "Dead! and thou knowest +this of a certainty?"</p> + +<p>"I dressed his wounds during the night, my lords; but it was +hopeless; and I buried him this morning before the sun rose.</p> + +<p>"He was a gallant soldier, if a Nazarene priest," said one of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +the elder officers. "Peace be with his memory, and the peace of +God rest upon him."</p> + +<p>"Ameen!" murmured the others. "With a hundred like him +we had won the fort."</p> + +<p>"And thy business, Señor Padré?" asked the Prince.</p> + +<p>"The effects of the deceased; his horses, arms, pay. These +are for masses, which he willed should be said; and to give peace +to his soul, it is necessary they should be performed."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the Prince, smiling; "the Padrés do that at Agra, +where the Asylum of the World has built them a church. It is +called mass. But what effects had he, Señor Padré?"</p> + +<p>"I know not, your Highness; but, he said, though only a +humble priest, he had attained rank. He had not speech to tell +me what he had, and was too weak to be questioned."</p> + +<p>"It is against the law, your Highness," observed one of the +secretaries present, "to surrender the effects of one who has died in +the State service; but it is competent to you to give any gift in +recognition of his death as a gallant soldier, and that will be more +acceptable to the good Padré than horses, arms, tents, or elephants, +all of which have been appropriated to the Government use."</p> + +<p>"I demand nothing," said the Bishop; "but whatever His +Highness's generosity may dictate I will take thankfully, be it the +smallest sum."</p> + +<p>"Nay! the son of Akbar Padshah knows how to be generous,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +said the man who had just spoken. "Permit your slave to send +for two hundred mohurs, which will be equal to the value of the +Christian's effects;" and, writing a few lines on a slip of paper, the +Prince's seal was affixed to it, and calling an attendant it was sent +to the treasury.</p> + +<p>Most profuse were the Bishop's thanks for, in his estimation, +the princely liberality with which he had been treated; and for an +instant he thought he had better have brought Dom Diego's document; +but the other course, suggested by Maria, was most feasible, +and freed him from all responsibility.</p> + +<p>"And now," said the Prince, "as thou art a discreet and well-spoken +person, and accustomed, no doubt, to the political affairs of +Courts, we have a proposition to send, through thee, to the heroic +Chand Sooltana, whose fame is spread over Hind, to which we +invite her serious consideration." Then he paused for awhile, and +resumed—</p> + +<p>"Although," he continued, "by the fortune of war we have +suffered a repulse from the fort with heavy loss, which has deprived +us of many brave comrades and soldiers, yet the might of +this army is unimpaired; and I am prepared to resume the siege +as soon as the present truce is expired. The Sooltana, we know, is +relying upon succour from Beejapoor; but we have read her +letters, written only this morning, and forwarded them to their +destination. But she will see that it is impossible for the friends<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +she expects to arrive in time to save her. They do not exceed six +thousand horse, without artillery; and we have with us thirty thousand +of the Imperial cavalry. But we are without cause of war with +Beejapoor; and those who watch us we have respected, as they +have respected us. If we attack the fort again, which we have +determined to do if our proposal is refused, the consequences will +be deplorable; for our soldiers, remembering the events of yesterday, +will allow none to escape from it, and all must inevitably +perish, including the Queen herself and the boy King. The consequences, +therefore, rest with her alone; and as a humane and +merciful woman she will not provoke them by a false estimate of +her own power.</p> + +<p>"Listen, therefore, Señor Padré; and you, a man of God and of +peace, will not refuse to exert your powers of persuasion with her, +too. My generals and myself, that is the Khan Khanan and Khan +Jehan Lody—and he introduced them—have this morning, with the +aid of my learned secretary, drawn up the draft of a treaty between +the kingdom of Ahmednugger and the Imperial Government of +Hind, which, if executed, will not only perpetuate the mutual good +will of both States, but cement their attachment to each other as +long as the Sun and Moon shall endure. This is it," he continued, +taking a roll of paper from the secretary's hand; "and I will +briefly explain its purport to you.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We demand no expenses of the war. All the treasures and +jewels of Ahmednugger remain in the young King's possession.</p> + +<p>"Our Royal army will quit its present position, and retire +to its own territories, on guarantee by the Queen of no molestation, +and orders for grain and forage to be paid for on delivery.</p> + +<p>"In return we demand cession of the province of Berar, which +Ahmednugger cannot defend, and which is a scene of disorder and +rapine, and a cause of suffering to the country at large. It is +not an ancient possession of Ahmednugger, whose proper hereditary +dominions are guaranteed, it is a province retaken by +treachery from Duria Imad Shah, who asked for aid against an +usurping Minister, was imprisoned, and foully murdered. No one +can deny this, Señor Padré, for it is as notorious as the Sun at +noonday, and has long cried for justice at the hands of the Asylum +of the World, my father.</p> + +<p>"And now, Señor Padré, you have permission to depart. Take +these in memory of the son of Akbar Padshah, who presents them +to you;" and, taking a small rosary of pearls from his neck, he +hung them round that of the Bishop, while a mirdha in attendance +threw a light Cashmere shawl over his shoulders. "And my good +wishes for your success with the Sultana, to whom I forward by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +you my sincere admiration and respects. The sum on account +of the Christian cavalier you will find in your palanquin."</p> + +<p>Then the Bishop rose, and took leave. "I will do my best to +stay further carnage, O Prince," he said, "but the question must +rest with Her Majesty the Queen and her advisers." Then he +was conducted to his palanquin, and passed out of the camp as +he had come.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER VI.<br /> + +PEACE FOR AWHILE.</h2> + + +<p>It was yet day when Francis d'Almeida again reached the fort; +and, after giving an account to Maria of the result of his embassy, +and the liberal conduct of the Prince Moorad, he looked round his +patients, and sent word to the Queen that he had been entrusted +by the Prince with a political message which he could deliver to +no one but herself; and, if she were at leisure, he would come to +her presence directly, and would prefer seeing her alone at first. +The result of the Bishop's mission had been what the Queen expected, +and she did not hesitate to request his attendance as +quickly as possible.</p> + +<p>"I have only Zóra with me," said the Queen, when the Bishop +was ushered into her presence. "There has been much to dictate, +and I always feel more confidence with her, and more at my ease +than with the men. But what news hast thou brought, Señor +Padré? and how didst thou succeed in regard to the effects of the +cavalier?"</p> + +<p>"They would not give them to me," he replied, "as I was told +they would not; but the Prince gave me a heavy purse of gold<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +instead, which is amply sufficient—nay, a munificent gift; but +methinks," continued the good man, simply, "if I had told him +of the rest, it would have been confiscated. I had better obtain +it through the banker with whom it is in deposit. But that is a +minor matter altogether; I have much more important news to +communicate to your Majesty, which relates to peace."</p> + +<p>"Ha!" cried the Queen, clapping her hands; "so they are +tired of war after the game they have played, and its consequences."</p> + +<p>"No; your Majesty must not be deceived nor deceive yourself," +returned the Bishop. "They are determined to renew the +war, to reopen the siege, and to continue it until the fort is taken, +and every one in it put to the sword. This is what the soldiers +demand, and cry out for almost to mutiny."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the Queen, sadly; "we might perish, all of us, but +never yield; there the Prince is right. But what terms of peace +does the Prince offer?"</p> + +<p>"He gave me this memorandum, which hath his own seal," was +the reply. "Perhaps you had better read it yourself."</p> + +<p>"Let Zóra read it, Señor. I have not patience to think of it. +Remember how unprovoked this war was, and how I strove to +avert it. But read, Zóra, and let us hear the worst."</p> + +<p>Except for an expression of impatience now and again with her +hands, the Royal lady heard the document to the end. "Some of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +it is fair, and some unfair," she said at length. "It is true we +have no hope of aid from Beejapoor. When its troops might have +struck in and made the Prince's position untenable, they kept aloof, +and abandoned me to my fate. Oh, that Abbas Khan had led +them! or why not the King himself? Has he forgotten the many +times this poor life has been imperilled for him and his? But +now," she continued, bitterly, "a new building, a new ornament to +his palace, a new falcon or hunting leopard, has more attraction +for him than his mother who made him what he is. Let it pass, +it is my fate; and we have—thanks be to Thee, just and merciful +Alla!—been able to defend ourselves hitherto, and may defy the +worst, even death."</p> + +<p>"If it were thine own only, noble Queen," said the Bishop, respectfully, +"it might be welcome to thee amid all the factions, +intrigues, and perils thou hast to endure; but, remember, thou +art accountable to God for the lives of all who are entrusted to +thee as His viceregent, and there are thousands here who look to +thee."</p> + +<p>"Death!" she cried, excitedly; "did I not court it in the +assault? Can anyone say that I blenched from it, or hid myself +in my zenana?"</p> + +<p>"No one, lady," returned the Bishop. "On the contrary, +thine enemies do thee ample justice, and were even full of praise +of thy heroism; and they would not have it subjected to the last<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +trial in death. Consider, honoured lady, how many lives may be +saved if terms can be made. But forgive me if I have spoken too +freely on this matter."</p> + +<p>"Nay, but only as a peaceful minister of the Lord," she returned, +gracefully. "As to the cession of Berar, I for one would +not oppose it. Its annexation was the act of a madman. He who +murdered his own father cruelly, to whom massacre was familiar, +and who destroyed the Royal family of Berar, was hardly +accountable for his actions upon earth; and I for one would cheerfully +resign all pretension to Berar, which from the first hath +carried the consequences of its sin-laden possession with it. The +country never belonged to this kingdom, and its retention only +embroils us with other parties, and it also lies too distant to be +defended as it needs with these troubles to meet at home."</p> + +<p>"And were Berar ceded, your Majesty will observe that the +King Bahadur will be guaranteed his throne, and there will be no +interference with any part of his ancient dominions—which is +worthy of especial consideration."</p> + +<p>"It would be if I could trust those that make it; but my soul +tells me that the lion has only tasted blood, and would have more. +Nevertheless, I will lay all before my council in durbar this +evening, and will not delay an answer."</p> + +<p>The evening durbar was numerously attended; all the principal +officers and Ministers were present, and brought forward their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +recommendations for rewards to those who had distinguished +themselves by acts of valour; and these having been granted, the +general assembly was dissolved, and those only remained whom +the Queen specified.</p> + +<p>"First, my lords," said the Queen, "I desire to know from you +all, unreservedly, in what condition you find the fort to be after the +siege, up to the present time. My reasons for the question are +urgent, and I will state them presently."</p> + +<p>Then every department was reviewed. Except at the breach +where the mine had been sprung, the fortifications were uninjured, +as there had been no attack on three sides; but the mine, though +but little of the wall had fallen, had shaken it for a considerable +distance on each side, cracks were opening in it in various places, +and it would require to be taken down and built from the foundation +ere it could bear any fresh cannonade, even from smaller +guns than had been employed; "and," added the engineer (for so +we may call him), "any chance shot might strike a weak part and +bring down masses of the masonry, which would render the fort +defenceless on the side that has been attacked. I and the chief +builders have examined the whole, and that is our decided +opinion."</p> + +<p>Many others followed. The powder and shot were much +expended, and most of the new powder had been used. The old +was not sound, and must be renewed, and shot was needed, but +all the guns were in good condition.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p> + +<p>The already long-continued siege had caused the expenditure +of much provisions. About two weeks' supply remained, which +might be extended for some days more, but there was no possibility +of receiving any from without, as the enemy guarded the +approaches to the fort so closely, and had already intercepted +several large convoys of grain and ghee.</p> + +<p>In fine, the general result of the report was unsatisfactory. If +half the garrison could be dispensed with, provisions might hold +out; but the condition of the wall was a peril which could not be +remedied, and in regard to it there was not one dissentient voice. +Then the Queen produced the draft she had received from Prince +Moorad. "If," she said, "our condition for defence had been +what I hoped it would be, I would have destroyed this paper, and +allowed affairs to go on as they have begun; but as it is, ye, my +lords, should know of it, and bear me witness that I have concealed +nothing from you. Had my unworthy people of Beejapoor +behaved as I expected they would, we should not have been +reduced to these straits; but as they are, they are of no use to us, +and the few that watch the Manikdown Hills are too weak to +advance against thirty thousand Moghuls."</p> + +<p>"It is true," said Nihung Khan, with a sigh; "they are too +weak to effect more than they are doing now, straitening the +supplies of the Moghul army. Yet that cannot be depended upon, +since the King of Khandesh, it is well known, is now sending up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +large convoys from his dominions by the northern passes, which +we cannot prevent, and with them come some heavy guns. All +these will arrive in the course of a few days at furthest, and the +Prince does not exaggerate his resources to prolong the siege. +And how could we repair the wall to meet it?"</p> + +<p>"They are clever men, these Moghul engineers," said the +engineer officer who had before spoken. "We found, this morning, +as we examined the counterscarp, that five other places had +been mined to be blown in. There was not time apparently to +complete or load the mines, else we should have been attacked in +several points at once. They depended upon the effect of the five +mines, which, but for the humane man who proclaimed them, +would have been fired at once, and the side of the fort blown +completely open; and they can do the same again."</p> + +<p>These ominous words fell with terrible effect on the ears of all +that heard them. The question was no longer one of opinion, it +was one of necessity. Was the fort tenable at all?</p> + +<p>"Let your servant," said Abbas Khan, "go to Soheil Khan, who +commands the forces at Shahdroog. If he could be persuaded to +march to our aid, all these proud Moghuls might be chased from +the field."</p> + +<p>"But that would involve a delay of nearly a month, even if he +marched at once," said the Queen.</p> + +<p>"And in the condition of the wall, I could not guarantee it to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +stand under fire for two days," said the engineer. "I have no +thought of life, as I say this; but I think on the helpless women +and children, and the men who must perish before a ruthless +assault which the Prince suggests, and which we, were we in the +place of the Moghuls, should make. Remember that though the +fort is hard of access, yet it is impossible of egress. No one can +escape from it."</p> + +<p>The Queen then laid before all assembled the question of Berar. +For her own part, she desired not to retain it. Ever since the +kingdom had possessed it, misfortune and war had come with it, +as was known to all. It need never have been taken; and cruel +murder had been necessary to its retention.</p> + +<p>Thus the subject was debated for some hours with animation. +The Bishop was called and asked whether he had been directed +to carry any message to the Prince Moorad from the Queen; but +his account of the object of his mission and its results, and his +assurance that the draft of the treaty must have been prepared +beforehand, as the Prince's seal was only affixed in his presence, +assured all that the proposal was spontaneous; and after a further +brief consultation, it was accepted, with some slight modification, +and despatched by the hands of Abbas Khan and Nihung Khan +the next day. And no further objections being made, the treaties +were mutually exchanged the day following, when a great portion +of the Moghul army had already marched.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span></p> + +<p>What a relief their departure was to all! How quiet the fort was +now! No discharge of cannon night and day; no danger from +missiles; no distress for water, which had before become serious, +and for which there was no remedy. The people of the city, who +for the most part had all retired to the villages at some distance, +flocked back, opened their shops and secret stores of grain, and all +was once more as it had been; while the public rejoicings at the +victory of the assault and the departure of their bitter enemies +were splendid, and attended by munificent distributions of charity +in every portion of the kingdom.</p> + +<p>The Queen's first care was for the wall, which was found, as the +engineer officer of the fort had declared, in a perilous condition, and +was taken down with difficulty, and not without risk to life. It was +rebuilt, wherever necessary, from the very foundation. All the +mined galleries of the Moghuls were traced, and inspected by the +Queen in person, who could the more perfectly understand, with +gratitude for the escape, the danger that the fort and all within +it had escaped. In the guarantee of the dominions of the kingdom, +too, she felt an increased assurance for the future; and could +she only avert the misery arising from domestic faction, a terror +always present, she might expect a peaceful minority, and the respect +and sympathy of all surrounding kingdoms. Of the Moghuls she +had no dread then. The man who had originally written to the +Prince Moorad to invite his interference was detained at Beejapoor,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +and evinced no disposition for fresh intrigue. She therefore caused +the young King Bahadur to be crowned again, and his further residence +at the fort of Chawund was no longer necessary, the Queen +herself taking charge of him.</p> + +<p>It was wonderful to see, too, how rapidly and surely the internal +administration was reformed—in fact, re-created. The revenue +survey and assessments that Mullek Umber's great genius had +suggested were carried on as fast as possible, to the satisfaction of +the people, and the revenues were collected without unequal +pressure, and were ample for all expenses of the State, affording, +indeed, a large surplus. Outwardly, therefore, and to all appearance, +the kingdom was at peace.</p> + +<p>Nor was there any change in the circumstances of the persons +whose affairs have supplied the events of this tale. The Bishop +and his sister, as the country became quiet, were able to make +excursions to Aurungabad, always a source of gratification. And +once the Bishop, taking advantage of the return of some cavalry +to Beejapoor, visited his flock there, and was satisfied at its progress. +He found the Queen Taj-ool-Nissa the mother of a fine +boy; and as she put it into his arms, she besought his blessing on +the child, which he gave solemnly. All his old friends welcomed +him; and even the bitter priest had many a kind word for the man +who, as all believed, had fought valiantly on the side of the truth +of Islam in the battle of the "Standard of the Veil," for so the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +defence of the fort against the Moghuls had become known +among the people of the country.</p> + +<p>With the King he had many earnest private conversations in +regard to the future, which to his view was full of apprehension +and danger. "It was not that I would not, but that I dare not +provoke a war with Prince Moorad which would set the whole of the +Dekhan in a flame. One by one the kingdoms of the north—Guzerat, +Malwa, and Khandesh—have fallen. The Queen-Mother does +not see her danger; but the Nizam Shahis and all that belonged +to them have ever been treacherous, and she may yet rue the hour +in which she trusted them. But I know—we all know—her +heroism and self-devotion, and she will die at her post rather than +abandon it. And yet, Padré Sahib, if she could be persuaded to +leave Ahmednugger and come to us she would be received with +all our old affection and loyalty."</p> + +<p>"I will do what I can," was the invariable reply to many such +conversations; "but your Majesty knows her inflexible and +honourable nature, and nothing less than being driven from her +position would induce her to abandon it." I think, however, that +had it not been for what had transpired in regard to his sister, +that the Bishop would have been well content to have settled +finally at Beejapoor, visiting Moodgul and a new mission at +Cheetapoor, among the distillers and saga makers, which his +zealous coadjutor had organised; but there was no mention of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +sister, nor any invitation from the Queen Taj-ool-Nissa, and it was +evident that for some time to come Beejapoor was no place +for her.</p> + +<p>Of Osman Beg the Bishop could hear nothing. His father +had returned from Mecca, and, at first, resided on a small property +which he had retained; but he had died, and his possessions had +lapsed to the State. Osman Beg had, it was supposed, joined +the Moghul army, but where he was serving in its wide empire +no one seemed to know or care.</p> + +<p>There was no change whatever in the situation of Abbas Khan +and Zóra. He continued to hold the command of the fort and the +troops within it, and so long as the Queen lived, or remained +there, he determined to abide with her. He was not ambitious +of employment in civil or political affairs, and he had an instinctive +dislike and mistrust of all the hereditary offices of the Ahmednugger +State; of those constant petty and vexatious intrigues +against each other which seemed to him, though peace from without +appeared more and more confirmed, to be dangerous in their +machinations, and which must, ere long, burst into open contention. +Except this, nothing occurred to disturb the serenity of +their lives. Their little excursions to villages round about, such as +Bhatoree and others, to the Royal gardens, and to the pretty little +country palace, which is known now by the name of "The Happy +Valley," all served to pass the time pleasantly; and the Queen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +Regent had ever work for Zóra to do in the drafts of private correspondence +which she carried on. Zóra, too, was now the mother +of a fine boy, and the pride of her husband and herself in the +thriving, crowing, little fellow cannot, I think, be exaggerated. +They were lovers in the truest sense of the word, cheering and +supporting each other: she, a companion to him, whose bravery +and work had been amply tried; he, to her, the same as she had +watched over first in the fearful night at Juldroog, which had had +so deep an influence over their lives. But the political events of +the time were more and more threatening, and were not to be +averted either by former treaty or by the wisdom or heroic perseverance +of the Queen; and the details of the local historian, +Ferishta, form a melancholy record of the last struggles of the unhappy +and distracted kingdom. Without entering too much into +historical details they may be briefly sketched, so as to render +Queen Chand's position intelligible.</p> + +<p>Retaining Nihung Khan as commander of the forces, as he +lacked administrative ability, she had appointed Mahomed Khan, +an hereditary officer of much experience, to the general direction +of affairs, and for a time all went prosperously. But the +ambition of Mahomed Khan was not proof against the temptation +to increase his power, and he confined Nihung Khan, aspiring +himself to become Regent, and to deprive the Queen of all +authority whatever. This the Royal lady resisted, and wrote<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +urgently to her nephew, King Ibrahim, to send her such a force +as would keep the rebellious Minister in check. To no one better +than Abbas Khan, whose friendship for Nihung Khan was sincere, +could she entrust this delicate negotiation. The King would +hear from him the true state and danger of affairs at +Ahmednugger; nor would he, she knew, be slow to urge, or +lack eloquence in urging, the necessity of interposing to prevent +further pretext for intervention by the Moghuls, which was +the point most especially to be dreaded. We need not describe +particulars of this journey to Beejapoor, nor of the political discussions +there; nor yet of Abbas Khan's happy meeting with his +uncle and aunt, and many old friends; but he was successful in +the object of his mission. Soheil Khan was despatched with a +sufficient force, which arrived at Ahmednugger in safety; but the +Beejapoor troops found that their entry was opposed by the +usurper, but the garrison, being faithful, seized him and made +him over to the Queen. Meanwhile, however, Mahomed Khan had +despatched letters to Khan Khanan, the Moghul general then in +Berar, praying for assistance, as he was holding the country in +trust for the Emperor of Dehli. Had this been discovered at the +time, it is hardly possible that the usurper would have escaped +with his life; but he was spared, Nihung Khan was released and +appointed to the chief authority, and the Queen's power being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +reestablished, the troops from Beejapoor were dismissed with +handsome presents and grateful thanks.</p> + +<p>The Moghuls, however, as Soheil Khan learned on his way +back, had occupied districts much to the south of Berar, and he +wrote to the King of Beejapoor for instructions. The King +ordered him to stand fast on the Godavery river, and sent a large +reinforcement aided by troops from Golconda. These allied troops +advanced against the Moghuls; but after a bloody general engagement, +which lasted for two days, victory remained with the +Moghuls. Now the Queen Chand had sent to the assistance of +the Beejapoor troops a number of her own for defence against +aggression, and it is possible this was considered a cause for the +new war which had commenced so inauspiciously.</p> + +<p>Strange as it may appear, Nihung Khan, regardless of danger +from without, now endeavoured to destroy the power of his benefactress. +Indeed, he had attained so much local power that, +inflated by pride, he sent a force to invest the town of Beer, +which is situated to the south of the river Godavery, and +to which the aggressions of the Moghuls had extended. He +also made an attempt to invade Berar, but both these movements +being unsupported, failed of effect, and he returned to +Ahmednugger.</p> + +<p>These continued disturbances naturally attracted the attention +of the Emperor Akbar. His son, the Prince Moorad, had died<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +during their continuance, not long, indeed, after the victory over +the combined forces of Beejapoor; and the Emperor, now determined +to prosecute the war in person, marched to the south, +captured the important fortress of Asseergurh, and directed his +second son, Prince Daniel Mirza, with Khan Khanan, his chief +general, to undertake operations against the fort and kingdom +of Ahmednugger.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER VII.<br /> + +THE SECOND SIEGE OPENS.</h2> + + +<p>The political events sketched in the last chapter occupied upwards +of two years, and bring down the action of this tale and the +Queen's life to the close of 1598, or commencement of 1599. +Nihung Khan, foiled in his ill-considered attack on Berar, in +which he had been entirely unsupported by the allies of Ahmednugger, +and out-manœuvred besides by the General Khan +Khanan, burned all his heavy baggage on the borders of Berar, +at the head of the pass he was unable to descend, and fled back +to Ahmednugger. Here he vainly tried to make terms with the +Queen and regain his old place. But she refused to admit one to +her councils who, though a man of high renown, was fatally rash +and untrustworthy; and having no other place of refuge, he fled +the country and was seen no more. After their bloody defeat in +the Godavery, the Beejapoor and Golconda troops made no further +attempt to check the advancing enemy; and that defeat had, there +is no doubt, already decided the fate of the Ahmednugger kingdom; +and as the monsoon of 1598 broke up, the Emperor Akbar ordered +the forces under his son Daniel and Khan Khanan to advance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +without delay. With Queen Chand no commander of note remained +in the field. All the troops on which she could have +relied to check the enemy's advance were broken and much +separated, and to bring them together would be a work of labour +for which there was no time, and neither Beejapoor nor Golconda +were in the humour to risk further collisions with the Imperial +army by an advance. What troops it was possible to collect and +organise, Abbas Khan, ever steady and faithful, collected about +the city, and the fort was put in as complete order as possible, +and provisioned liberally for six months.</p> + +<p>To the command of the garrison Humeed Khan was appointed, +originally a Beejapoor eunuch attached to the Queen's palace +for many years. She had brought him with her on the last +occasion; and, as he had been well educated and displayed +soldier-like qualities, he had been employed in the field, and had +on all occasions distinguished himself by valour and sagacity. +In the first siege of the fort he had been selected both by Nihung +Khan and Abbas Khan for command of a large portion of the +garrison; and his valour on the repulse of the attack and in the +general defence was as valuable as it was remarkable. Nor with +these antecedents was it at all strange that he should be selected +for the post he now held, with the approval of all, for he was +popular with the soldiery; and had succeeded in uniting all in a +determination to stand by the young King to the last, and defend +their fortress to the utmost.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span></p> + +<p>But it was seen and observed by all that a tone and manner of +despondency possessed the Queen which was new to her character. +Her only solace seemed to be the boy Bahadur, who, now about five +years old, returned her affection with tenderness and a child's, +loving consideration; and as she often strained him passionately to +her breast, would cry, "Weep not, O grandmother; when I am a +man I will make all bad men thy slaves; and we will be so happy, +and no tears shall come again." Yes, the little fellow seemed to +be a great solace and comfort to her. Not that she put Zóra +aside, or Maria, for they were her daily companions as before; but +she made no new friends, and the old ones she felt had their own +vocations and cares in life, which occupied and interested them +more than those of, as she said, a worn-out old woman.</p> + +<p>Yet it was not so. Never at any period of their lives had +Maria or Zóra loved her more devotedly or fondly; and the +patience and submission with which she endured all her vexatious +troubles, and the heroism and cheerful trust with which +she now prepared to meet new perils, gave her additional interest +in their eyes. To all others she preserved her old calm demeanour. +She held her durbars as usual. Every point of the +administration was reviewed and checked as of old; Zóra had +her appointed private tasks allotted to her, and, with Abbas Khan +and his officers, every question regarding the completeness for +defence and organisation of the defenders was discussed with her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +usual wisdom. But in the quiet hours, when business did not +occupy her, it was plainly visible that anxiety very often cast her +down, almost beyond the power of raising herself again. At such +times, if they asked her why she wept, she could not tell them, +except that it seemed to her she was being drawn away from earth +and all she most loved, and so the Lord was preparing her for +Paradise; and as the present was her true Paradise, it grieved her +to change it, and so she wept. Before her was a mystery; here +there was no mystery, only the homage of loving hearts. They +are wrong, she used to tell them, who prayed for death as a release +from trouble and suffering. Rather let all live on that life +may be purified, and the spirit exalted, till God sees fit to take it, +as He will when He has purified and chastened it. And thus, she +said to all, she was being prepared, and they were to rejoice when +she wept rather than sorrow.</p> + +<p>How thoughtful was she for them all! She was evidently most +anxious for Maria. "Thou art more tender of heart," she would +say, "than we tough Moslems. Thy faith is more tender; and +the scenes thou hast endured with us here are not fit either for +thee or thy brother, and ye must leave me till the peril be past. +If it pass, and we have peaceful lives before us till my boy grows +up, thou and thy brother shall roam where ye will, and preach as +ye will; for who does not love and honour ye?"</p> + +<p>It was a bitter parting; but the Queen sent Maria and her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +brother away. A body of men came from Dowlutabad, sent by +Mullek Umber to escort treasure for the pay of the troops with +the Queen; and the Queen sent the Bishop and his sister with +them to her faithful friend. It was the only opportunity there +might be for many weeks; and if peace ensued, they could at any +time return again in a few days. And Maria had been absent before, +and had returned safely; so Zóra was comforted, but not +the Queen.</p> + +<p>The evening before the small force marched, Maria and the +Queen were alone together, and the Royal lady, taking Maria's head +on her breast, said gently, "Thou hast been a true and loving +daughter to me, child. All the women of my country are feeble +and impetuous; but from the first even unto the last thou +hast been the same. Thou hast borne with a weak old woman's +waywardness; thou hast put sweet loving thoughts into my heart, +and told me truths which well up, and teach me mercy. And oh, +Maria! though I have never mentioned it to thee, how can I thank +thee for thy conduct at Beejapoor; so gentle, yet so firm. Thou +dost not know, thou never canst know, how he pleaded with me +for thee, or what he offered me for thee. And he, too, is loving, +and would have been kind and faithful to thee; and at first I grieved +that it could not be. But thou wast right. The Lord vouchsafed +wisdom to thee, and thou art blessed with that thought, O, my +daughter; for when ye meet, all will have passed away in peace.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +He is the father of children now, and is happy; though he hath +not forgotten her who was a joy to him. I would often fain have +spoken to thee about that eventful passage in thy young life; but +these are my last words to thee, and thou wilt not forget them."</p> + +<p>"Never, never! my more than mother," she returned, sobbing +bitterly. "And may the Lord grant that we meet again in peace." +She would have said more, for her heart was full of gratitude; but +the Queen said gently,—</p> + +<p>"It may not be, daughter. My message is coming nearer to +me; nearer, nearer, day by day, and I am content. Go now, and +leave me, with but one embrace—the last. I shall think of thee in +safety, till the angel summons me. Lo!" and she stretched her +hand on high, while a smile of triumph spread over her features, +and her still lustrous eye glowed brightly, "Lo! he is near me, +even now."</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>We have already said there was no force in the field which +could pretend to check the advance of the powerful army which was +now approaching by safe and easy stages. The siege train was +especially powerful and its equipment complete, and the Emperor +had sent a large body of the famous miners of the northern provinces, +who in their peculiar vocation were unsurpassed in skill and +daring. Khan Khanan, who knew the ground perfectly, had determined +to risk as few of his own troops' lives as possible, and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +had already seen proved how comparatively easy and how certain +it would be to destroy the fort with gunpowder.</p> + +<p>Osman Beg was in his place as general leader and director +of the marches, and he had gained the confidence of the commander-in-chief +with singular adroitness and plausibility. All +these intervening years the mad craving of his heart for Zóra +had never diminished, nay, it had fed on its own imaginings. +What would she not be now in the full possession of her +matured beauty? How different to the poor Fakeer's daughter +of Juldroog, whom he had so madly loved. No one, he believed, +knew that he belonged to the Moghul forces at all. His +name was a common one among the bodies of Turcomans who +served in the Imperial army, and in the first siege he had kept +himself aloof from the camp and the siege operations. Dom Diego +had asked him to command a portion of the storming party, and +even taunted him with cowardice when he refused; but Osman +Beg had laughed at the possibility of taking the fort as the priest +imagined, and he heard of his death without surprise and without +regret. "Mine shall be a sure game," he thought; "one in which +the risk will be small and the reward certain. Then I shall gloat +myself with revenge, and my virtuous cousin shall die at my feet or +be hurled into the air to feed the vultures. Let but our position +become securely taken up before the fort, and I will see what +Moghul gold may not effect within."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span></p> + +<p>The last march was made. The people of the city and its environs, +warned by previous experience, had deserted their homes +for some days, and nothing was left in the streets but starving, +homeless dogs, who howled piteously night and day. There was +nothing on the plain but the grim old fort and its defences, which +the Moghul commander could see were in much more complete +order than they had previously been. The wide esplanade was +cleared of every vestige of cover; trees all around had been cut +down; the defences of the parapets had been newly topped with +clay; loopholes had been narrowed, and embrasures protected by +sandbags and gabions. Even the covered way at the crest of the +counterscarp had been cleared out and fitted for musketeers, and +larger guns than before mounted in many places on the broad +rampart and the bastions. The work had been that of months, +and Abbas Khan was not one who would trust to others to see it +performed. He and the Queen had passed their days on the ramparts, +and during working hours the red umbrella of the Queen +could be seen by the whole garrison, moving from point to point; +while at night she went the accustomed rounds in her turn, with +other officers, generally accompanied by Humeed Khan. So far +as human means and the science of the time could ensure security, +Ahmednugger was safe.</p> + +<p>And the Moghul commander felt that it was so, and that all +the skill of his own engineers would be needed to meet the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> +preparations. After the first reconnaissance, in which he lost many +men from the combined fire of the fort and the garrison of the +covered way, the trenches were carried on by sap as before. But +the defenders of the covered way, led by brave and enterprising +officers, attacked the trenches at night, cut off the workmen, and +vexed the whole operation until it made very slow progress in +comparison with what it had done on the first occasion. These +skirmishes, too, cost the defenders little in comparison with the +terror they inflicted. The hardy Mahratta Mawalees, from the +western ghauts, who afterwards became so famous under Sivagee, +fell on the enemy with their national shouts of "Hur! Hur! +Mahadeo!" sword in hand, and seemed insensible to danger. +Showers of arrows were shot into the trenches, and if pursued +by the Moghuls, the lightly equipped Mahrattas ran back into +their galleries, and crossed into the ditch and fort by the sally ports +which had been opened. As yet no attempt had been made +upon the defences of the fort, and the garrison grew more confident +even than before. The siege did not progress, and the young +Prince Daniel and Khan Khanan grew impatient, for they well +knew if there were the least sign of failure the Beejapoor and +Golconda armies would be again in motion.</p> + +<p>One of the chief leaders of these daring night attacks was a +young Mahratta chief, one of the Sirkay family, who, with his +cousin Peelagee, were hereditary officers of the Nizam Shahy kingdom,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +and had brought their own retainers to the defence of the +fort. Both were famed for personal valour of no ordinary kind, +and the Sirkay Mawalees had established a reputation for boldness +in their peculiar manner of attack, which had gained them +deserved fame. Their post was in the covered way in the south-east +angle of the ditch, which enabled them to make flank attacks +which were most annoying to the enemy; and this being part of the +particular command of Humeed Khan, he had several times +brought them to the Queen's notice, and had them rewarded by +rings and anklets of gold, and other valuable gifts. As if to vex +Abbas Khan, with whom he had had some slight difference, he said +to Sirkay one evening, "Let me come with ye to-night, and witness +what ye let Abbas Khan share in, but not me." So it was +arranged, and taking as few of his followers as possible, Humeed +Khan went to the post at night, and, led by Sirkay, the Mawalees +were soon on the crest of the glacis, crouching like wild animals, to +watch their opportunity. That night, however, the breaches +seemed deserted. The men had been withdrawn, probably expecting +an attack; and Sirkay would have returned, but Humeed said, +laughing, "As we are here, we may as well see for ourselves what is +doing, and whether the general is mining, as I shrewdly suspect +he is."</p> + +<p>So they proceeded warily and cautiously, leaving the men behind; +but, on turning the angle of a trench, a party of men burst<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> +upon them and secured them. Both gave themselves up for lost, for +under such circumstances life was little worth; but, instead of putting +them to death, they were taken roughly to an officer who sat +near a covered way, which some men by the light of torches were +driving on. It had been Osman Beg's turn of duty that night in +the trenches, and he had taken up as secure a position as possible; +and he recognised Humeed Khan in an instant, who at once +saluted him wonderingly.</p> + +<p>"Dost thou know that I could behead thee at once as a spy?" +said Osman Beg.</p> + +<p>"I know it," returned the other; "and there would be one man +in Ahmednugger the less, that is all. Nor would Abbas Khan, +perhaps, be sorry to lose me."</p> + +<p>"Then ye are enemies?"</p> + +<p>"Not so, openly; but he hates me. He it is who hath +vexed ye with sallies; and as I would not be sent on one by him, +I have come myself to-night."</p> + +<p>"And the Queen?"</p> + +<p>"She is much what you remember her, but, methinks, weary of +the war. She would like to get safe to Joonair, and give up the +place. She does not say this openly, but that is in her heart."</p> + +<p>"We shall take it from her, brother."</p> + +<p>"Never," replied Humeed Khan. "She will perish in the +ruins, but she will never yield."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And Abbas Khan?"</p> + +<p>"You know what he is, Meeah, only prouder and haughtier +than he was; and he will never leave the Queen."</p> + +<p>"And his wife, Zóra? Dost thou see her?"</p> + +<p>"I see her, Meeah! She is more beautiful than ever she was; +and he dotes on her like a fool."</p> + +<p>"I owe him revenge for what happened at Juldroog, and for +what happened in the Palace."</p> + +<p>"And thou sayest she is thy wife. What wouldst thou give me +for her?"</p> + +<p>"I have little to give; but hark! ere we part. Give me the +fort by any means thou wilt, and we may both be rich and free. +Canst thou come again?"</p> + +<p>"Not as I have done to-night; but I may be able to send +a message. Now let me escape, and pretend to pursue me;" +and Humeed Khan dashed on at his utmost speed, striking +down one of the men who had held Sirkay apart. Sirkay +shook himself free of the other, narrowly escaping a sword cut, +and they soon rejoined the men they had left behind, who fired +a volley of arrows to check the pursuers, and made their way +into the fort.</p> + +<p>"That was a narrow chance, my friend," said Humeed Khan, +when he had regained his breath; "but the fellow was too busy +asking me questions to see that his men held me fast. But they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> +seemed half asleep, and I watched my opportunity to shake myself +free."</p> + +<p>"I had given up hope, my lord," was Sirkay's reply; "and I +have to thank you for your part in my escape. We must be more +cautious in future."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.<br /> + +THE LAST TRAGEDY.</h2> + + +<p>The eunuch reflected deeply on the strange adventures of the +night. He had known Osman Beg from boyhood, when he was +the companion of Abbas Khan. He knew the story of Abbas Khan's +love for Zóra, and was present at Osman Beg's trial before the +durbar at Beejapoor, when Osman Beg was banished, and it was +strange that he should meet him again under such circumstances. +But he was not surprised that his hate for his cousin continued in +all its bitter virulence. The eunuch had been jealous of Abbas +Khan from the first, and he was now compelled to bear his +authority and submit to his directions; and such jealousy soon +turns to hate. He might make his own terms, perhaps, through +Osman Beg, with the Moghul general about the fort. Its possession +would be an immense assistance to the Emperor's plans, and its +betrayal would be richly rewarded. As to the Queen, he hated her +because she had placed him in a subordinate position under her +minion; and what would it signify what became of her? She +was out of place now. There would be no great difficulty +in communicating with Osman Beg, and he trusted to his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> +good luck to carry on the intercourse that had been so strangely +begun.</p> + +<p>At his morning audience of the Queen the eunuch detailed the +events of the night, which were entirely corroborated by Sirkay. +Both the Queen and Abbas Khan, while they rebuked them for +rashness, none the less praised them for their act of valour; and +the eunuch gave his opinion that what he had seen was either +the head of a new mine, or a shaft into one which had been +begun at a greater distance; and this was what Abbas Khan +dreaded. This was no noisy siege. On the contrary, the silence +was often oppressive; and the hum of thousands which filled the +enemy's camp, the boom of kettledrums, and the music which +played before the Royal pavilion, were for the most part the only +sounds heard from without; while from within there was nothing +to fire at, and the large stone shots from the mortars, which were +dropped at random in the direction of the enemy's camp, were +frequently the only shots fired by the gunners of the fort. It +appeared to the soldiers of the garrison as if the enemy were afraid +to attack the fort as they had done on the first occasion, and their +vaunting and self-confidence were unbounded. Whenever the +Queen went abroad on her usual rounds on the walls, she was met +with assertions that the enemy were afraid; that the Moghuls +would some day abandon their fortress and march back as they +came. But, though she did not undeceive them, she became more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +and more anxious; and, on his part, Abbas Khan well remembered +what Khan Khanan had impressed upon him at his interview with +the Prince Moorad regarding the first treaty, that if the siege were +renewed, it would be by mines under the fort itself, which would +be destroyed with all it held; and that this operation was now in +progress there could be little doubt.</p> + +<p>Alas! there was now no friendly voice to give them warning, +as before, of existing danger, and implore them not to make a +useless sacrifice of their lives. The proceedings were of the +stern character of the eminent soldier who directed them, who +never knew sympathy for an enemy who defied him.</p> + +<p>How often Abbas Khan besought the Queen, even with tears, +to save herself and the King. It might be done; he felt assured +that no enterprise would be more welcome to the Mahratta Mawallees +than to carry her with them in a night sortie, and to +conduct them by bye-paths, and after their own fashion, to Joonair. +Then it mattered little what became of the fort. Those who +remained could make terms, and, in the western fastnesses, the +King would be safe against all attacks from without, and could +rest securely till happier times. "As to all you would leave behind, +we should be in the hands of the Lord," he pleaded; "for as soon +as you and the boy were gone, we might hold out for a time +as a point of honour, and make terms by which every life would +be saved. As to the treasure, let it perish, mother, if I could not,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +as I might, offer a ransom for the fort. I say, let it perish. Is +there not enough for all in Chawund and Joonair to suffice for +many years?"</p> + +<p>Thus, day by day, he pleaded, but still she would not listen. +It seemed to her a dishonourable act to desert those who had +stood by her with such valour and devotion all through her trials. +What care or wish had she for life, except with honour? What +would be said of her, but that the Queen who had fought the +fearful "Battle of the Veil" had absconded secretly from her +people at night to save her own life, leaving all to perish! No! +if death were nigh, let it come to her there; she should be +blessed.</p> + +<p>But there was restlessness in her mind which she could not +overcome. Zóra felt she had no longer power over her. She, too, +had implored her Royal mistress to save herself and the boy she +now loved; and the boy's mother, feeling that with the Queen he +would be safe, had besought Queen Chand not to think of her, +whom no one would molest by herself, and to carry him away to +Joonair, which, against all attacks from without, was impregnable. +But, as we have said, the Queen's mind was restless. She felt +unable to decide on any course, and many arguments on both sides +impelled her first in one direction then, in another, which were +alike impossible to her on further thought; and she had only to +go out among the garrison to hear the old war cries of Beejapoor,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +and her own country, to feel that she was yet a Queen, and, before +God, responsible for all, and no steps were taken either for flight +with the Mawallees, or to obtain terms from the Moghuls.</p> + +<p>During this period Osman Beg had not been idle. He had +contrived to see the eunuch many times at night; and, after the +first chance interview with him, he had gone boldly to Khan +Khanan, and had privately communicated to him that he had an +old Beejapoor friend in the fort, who was, in fact, its commander, +and that, if he were authorised, he could enter into negotiations +with him for its betrayal, or its capture by surprise. Khan +Khanan felt no scruple as to the means of attaining possession of +a place which had already cost him so dear, and the capture of +which by siege would probably extend so long; and the miners +were already complaining of the hardness of the ground in the +mines on which they most relied, which were to be sprung inside +the walls, and not without much risk and difficulty. Humeed +Khan was brought to him once, at night. Khan Khanan was then +assured of the perfect condition of the fort, the high spirits of the +garrison, and the inflexible determination of Abbas Khan to +defend the place to the last extremity. "He is searching for mines +daily," said the eunuch, "and should one be discovered, your +whole work would be checked indefinitely."</p> + +<p>"The difficulty, then, lies with the Queen and Abbas Khan," +said the general.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It does," replied the eunuch; "but it is not insurmountable; +and I know for certain that if they are offered honourable terms +of capitulation, and permission to remove all property from the +fort, except guns and arms, they would agree to them."</p> + +<p>"That would be impossible," said the general; "we have the +game in our own hands, and we are ready to play it out. What is +a month, or even more, to us? To them it is life or death. Were +they to propose terms, indeed, it would be very different; but I +know nothing less than unconditional surrender would satisfy the +Emperor, and I am not prepared to modify that. I suppose," he +added with a sneer, "your valiant Dekhanies would not give up +their arms."</p> + +<p>"They would not," said the eunuch; "and no one dare propose +that to them."</p> + +<p>"Not even the Queen?"</p> + +<p>"Not even she. Her life would be the instant forfeit."</p> + +<p>"Now," continued the general, grimly, "suppose that such a +report were spread as would raise a tumult among your Dekhanies. +We might take advantage of it."</p> + +<p>"You might, my lord."</p> + +<p>"And we should be successful?"</p> + +<p>"That I cannot answer for. It would depend upon yourselves."</p> + +<p>"Not entirely, sir. You who command the Dekhanies might +persuade them to be neutral; to—to—in fact to throw themselves on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> +the Royal clemency. And suppose I assured you personally two +lakhs of rupees for the service, and through you all arrears of pay +to your party, would that suffice?"</p> + +<p>"Take it, friend," said Osman Beg. "My lord will give the +amount in bills on Dehly or Guzerat, unless thou wait the issue +and receive it here in cash. Thou canst not carry away the coin, +and we cannot send it."</p> + +<p>"I am content," said the eunuch, "for the service I shall +render to the Emperor, whose name be honoured, to receive whatever +may be given of his own gracious bounty."</p> + +<p>"And remember," said the general, "that I have nothing to +do with the results if the Dekhanies rise in mutiny. All that rests +with them and you."</p> + +<p>"I take the responsibility, my lord. I wish only for peace."</p> + +<p>"You have forgotten me, Humeed Khan," said Osman Beg +angrily, as they left the tent.</p> + +<p>"Not so, friend," said the eunuch. "What I purpose will +cause much confusion. The gallery of the counterscarp will be +deserted, and thou knowest the way into the sally ports. Who +will distinguish friends from enemies? Thou must do thy part, +and I shall be able to aid thee. Fear not, one who desires a fair +woman must needs do something to get her. More I cannot say; +be ready on my signal, and join me. There will be enough of +screaming women, and who will heed if one among them is carried<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +away in a blanket? Surely thou hast some of thy old dare devils +to help thee. If not, give up the girl."</p> + +<p>"I cannot, and will not; she is my fate," returned Osman Beg, +moodily; and for the time they separated.</p> + +<p>For several days Abbas Khan had been diligent in his search +for mines. Shafts had been sunk, and one was at last discovered +which led directly under the palace. It was not loaded, and no +one was guarding it; but the chamber was ready, and it could +have been charged at any time. Abbas Khan, and some others +with him, explored it; and, covered with dust and dirt as he was, +he went direct to the Queen to tell her of it. "It will be destroyed," +he said; "and even now the masons are at work +building up the gallery with stones. But who can say, Mother, +how many more there may be, or where they are? I have ordered +cross cuttings to be carried on; but the ground is nearly rock, +and the Moghul miners have skilfully followed a soft vein which +they discovered, and have never quitted. Mother! Mother! hear +my last prayer to thee. Arise, and flee the place with the boy. +When night falls, I will be with ye and guide ye forth."</p> + +<p>"And leave ye all behind to perish? I cannot do it!" said the +noble Queen, with a calm, serene expression on her countenance; +"but if all could be saved, I should be grateful. I have +thought over the subject night and day since it was broken between +us, and this is my final determination. I am prepared for death if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> +it should come, but not for flight, and, to my perception, dishonour. +Go, see to the mine; trace others if it be possible, and to-morrow +I will save all if I can. And," she added, with a confident smile, +"I think I shall be successful. There is no dishonour in what the +Lord hath put into my mind, and all our dear ones may be happy. +Where is Zóra? Does she know of the mine?"</p> + +<p>"No," he said, "and I will not tell her, since that danger is +past."</p> + +<p>"Then send her to me, Meeah; I would speak with her;" and +he went out.</p> + +<p>The Queen was alone in her private chamber, musing over what +she purported to do. She would address the Prince Daniel himself, +laying before him her desire to prevent the sacrifice of life, and +offering him possession of the fort and all public property, on the +condition that the garrison should march out with the honours +of war.</p> + +<p>Zóra entered as the Queen had reviewed all this in her mind, +and her mistress could not help being struck with her unusual +beauty and brightness. Her hair had escaped, and hung in +massive waves about her shoulders; her cheeks were glowing, and +her eyes sparkling with excitement.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we have had such fun, mother; the children have been +romping together, and I and some of the girls were as mad as any +of them. I would thou hadst been there. But why art thou so +grave: there is no bad news?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I have a grave task to do, daughter," she replied. "Get thy +writing materials, and I will dictate. Thou canst be trusted; but +I fear the secretaries, and what I tell thee must be secret till all +know it." And Zóra wrote.</p> + +<p>"And now read it all over to me again, child. While it was in +my mind the purport seemed uncertain; but now that it is on paper, +methinks it is clear enough." And when Zóra had read the paper, +which was only a few short paragraphs, the Queen bade her make +a fair copy.</p> + +<p>"What should I do without thee, darling?" she said. "Now go +and play with the children again; but be within call."</p> + +<p>"Is Humeed Khan without?" asked the Queen of an attendant +eunuch. "If so, tell him I wish to speak with him;" and he entered +soon after, and sat down, making his usual salutation.</p> + +<p>"And the mine hath been discovered," said the Queen, "under +the very palace. Hast thou heard of it?"</p> + +<p>"I have," he said. "It was dangerous; but Abbas Khan has +already prevented mischief, and is searching for others."</p> + +<p>"And the garrison; what said they?"</p> + +<p>"There was some excitement at first, but it has subsided. All +they cried was that they would defend the fort to the last, and you +should lead them to victory, as you did when they followed the +Standard of the Veil."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said the Queen, with a sigh, "those were different<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> +times. Many were with me then who have since become traitors, +and done the State irreparable injury. I have, I know, many +faithful about me, but can I trust all?"</p> + +<p>For an instant Humeed Khan thought that the remark was +made for him, and the blood rushed to his dark face, almost causing +it to glow. But the Queen continued—</p> + +<p>"As I was musing upon this, Khan, it occurred to me to write +a draft of a proposal to the Prince, to allow all here to pass free +with their effects, and to give up the fort, which appears no longer +tenable, to him, on behalf of his father. And we would fain have +your opinion, as that of one of the most faithful of our officers, +wise in counsel and brave in action. Read this draft, which no +one but myself knows of, except her who wrote it fairly for +me, and give thy opinion freely. I would save life if I can, +and this appears to me the only course to pursue. Those who +know me, even my enemies, will not charge me with any other +motive."</p> + +<p>Humeed Khan took the paper with a reverential gesture, and +carefully perused it. As he read it he could hardly conceal his +exultation and agitation. What it would have taken me days, +nay weeks, to effect, he thought, she has done with her own +hand, and of her own device. Surely now her time is come. Let +her perish.</p> + +<p>"It will be dangerous, lady," he said, with an affected calmness.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> +"In their present temper the Dekhanies are not safe, and +the last thing they think of is surrender. If they were to mutiny, +who could stay them?"</p> + +<p>But the Queen shook her head. "They know me and have +trusted me, and I know them and trust them now. Believe me, +when they know all, they will be satisfied I have done the best; +but if—"</p> + +<p>"I hear some voices without," he said, hurriedly, interrupting +her. "Perhaps another mine has been discovered; perhaps——, +but your slave will return immediately." And he hastily quitted +the room.</p> + +<p>The Queen could hear no voices then without, and she sat +thinking on what she had heard. There was danger, then, even +from within; and those on whom she most relied might indeed, if +excited, be her worst enemies. "If it be so," she said to herself, +"I need not send this letter; but meet death here, or do as +Meeah wishes me. And yet, no. Not that—not that; better +death than flight!"</p> + +<p>Suddenly a loud tumult of voices arose, and seemed to be +approaching the palace by the plain in front. "It is this he heard," +she said, and waited, with her heart throbbing. "They come +close now."</p> + +<p>It was Humeed Khan who had rushed out, as he left the +Queen, into the great square where soldiers were exercising, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> +casting his turban on the ground, took up handfuls of dust, flinging +it into the air, and crying, "Ye are betrayed! ye are betrayed, +brothers! The Queen Chand is in treaty for the surrender of the +fort! Deen, deen! She is not fit to live. Deen, deen! Follow +me to her presence!" And he fired the rocket which was always +ready for signals at the entrance.</p> + +<p>There was no hesitation. At once, and with infuriated cries of +"Treachery! treachery!" the mass surged into the great hall of +audience with drawn swords, crying, "Where is the Queen? Cut +her to pieces!"</p> + +<p>The Queen had not moved except to rise from her seat, and +she stood with her lips parted and her eyes distended with an +absent fascination. How often in her life had a word from her +quelled the wildest tumult—how often had her excitable people +calmed down; but now? And yet for a moment the foremost +were awed by the presence all had loved and venerated; but only +for a moment. Humeed Khan, with a vile oath, rushed on and +cut furiously at her with his sword, and others followed his example.</p> + +<p>The noble woman fell covered with desperate wounds, but she +still breathed; and Zóra, who had been at first appalled by the +tumult, caught up her child in her arms, gave him to his nurse, +and rushed to her beloved mistress's side. One ruffian would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> +have struck her; but another said, "It is Abbas Khan's wife; let +her be."</p> + +<p>She raised the Queen's head and tried to give her water from +the vessel which always stood at her side, but the Queen put her +hand aside gently, and smiled. "This is death, my child. I +hear—I hear—the angel—call," she gasped. "Lord!—I come;" +and murmuring the Belief her head sank, and with a last sigh +she breathed no more. The noble Queen's spirit was gone for +ever.</p> + +<p>Just then a number of other men rushed into the small apartment +with their faces tied up, and in a moment Zóra found herself +covered by a blanket and borne away among the crowd which was +roaming through the palace, plundering all that could be found. +She screamed, but what voice could be heard in that tumult? for +there were thousands there, and still others swarmed into the great +hall; but rescue was at hand.</p> + +<p>Abbas Khan, when he had left the Queen, went back to the +shaft of the mine; but as the workmen told him there was +nothing more to be done at present but to continue the work that +had been begun, he sat there encouraging the miners, and a +number of his own guards, his faithful Beejapoor men, gathered +about him. He heard the first shouts of the tumult, and all ran +to the wall thinking there might be a sudden assault, but a man +ran up, and cried, "To the palace! to the palace! The Queen is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> +attacked!" and, led by their master, the whole body ran thither +at their utmost speed. It needed but a glance to see what had +taken place.</p> + +<p>"Who did this?" cried Abbas Khan. "What vile traitor did +this foul deed?"</p> + +<p>"Humeed Khan," said a eunuch boy, who was sitting by the +body of the Queen, weeping; "I saw him strike her first. And +they have taken away Zóra-bee, and little Meeah is crying. Bring +her back."</p> + +<p>It hardly needed these words to urge the Khan on. Near the +entrance of the audience hall he saw something covered with black +being carried along, and the mass of his powerful men charging +through the crowd soon came up with it. Osman Beg's covering +had fallen from his face, but he did not see his cousin at first, +nor till he was suddenly pulled back did he think he would be +recognised; but he immediately attacked Abbas Khan with his +sword. Neither spoke a word, but the ruffian had no chance of +life, and lay dead at his cousin's feet almost before he had realised +his presence.</p> + +<p>"My poor darling," said the Khan, as he released Zóra from +her bonds, "this is no place for thee. Go to Meeah. But thou +art safe—blessed be Alla, thou art safe!" Truly it was no place +for her. The floor around was a pool of blood, and the bodies of +some strangers, among whom were several negro slaves, lay there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> +in ghastly death with their master. Zóra cast one shuddering +glance on the horrible group, and, covering her face, hurried back +to her child, trembling and terror-stricken.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Yasin, with another body of the guard, had found +Humeed Khan hiding in an ante-room, and brought him, with his +arms tied together at his back, to the spot where Abbas Khan +stood. "He did it! He did it!" cried a thousand voices. "Let +him die!"</p> + +<p>"Thou art not worthy of a soldier's death," said Abbas Khan, +"but of a felon's. Yet, if thou wilt, say why thou didst this foul +crime? What had she done to thee, who was thy benefactress for +years?"</p> + +<p>"It matters not why I did it," was the sullen reply. "I did it, +and rid the world of one who had vexed it too long;" and he +spoke no more. Then some men, taking him up, put a noose +round his neck, and, throwing the end of the rope over the branch +of a tree, left him to wrestle out his life in the air.</p> + +<p>By this time the rest of the Abyssinians, the Arabs, and other +foreigners, had assembled in the square, and the majority of the +Dekhanies, who were deploring the Queen's murder with passionate +weeping, separated quietly, crying to Abbas Khan to lead them +against the Moghuls, for they were true to their King, of whom he +was now the only protector.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER IX.<br /> + +CONCLUSION.</h2> + + +<p>By the time Abbas Khan could reach the room to which the body +of the murdered Queen had been taken, it had been laid out with +the usual formalities. He could have done nothing there, and it +was necessary for him to satisfy himself that no deep-laid treachery +or disaffection was at work. And of these there appeared no traces. +All the leaders of Dekhany parties came forward and made their +salutations, as usual, and the men crowded round him with professions +of attachment and devotion, which left no cause for doubt +that the dreadful act that had been committed was one of sudden +frenzy, enacted by the eunuch, whom he had long suspected, though +undefinably, of sinister designs. He was a man in whom the +Queen had reposed as great confidence as in himself; and to +breathe idle suspicion to her would have been only to excite suspicion +of himself, and he had not attempted to do so; but since +the flight of Nihung Khan, the eunuch's manner had been +changed, and the former unreserved confidence that had existed +no longer continued at heart, though outwardly the two men were +apparently as cordial as ever.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span></p> + +<p>Satisfied that all was tranquil, and that the fort and garrison +had subsided into their usual calm, Abbas Khan returned to the +palace, and reverently visited the remains of his beloved mistress +and mother, for he had always looked on her in the place of one; +and as such, and his Queen, paid her reverence. Outside, in the +hall of audience, and in the ante-chamber of the room in which +she lay, were Moollas, reading and chanting the stated portions +of the Korán. Incense was burning, and its smoke hung about +the clustered pillars, niches, and fretted ceilings; and within, the +women and eunuchs of the household were wailing, moaning, and +occasionally breaking into passionate cries and adjurations. Zóra +and the young mother of the boy King were sitting at the head of +the Queen, with their faces covered, and heads bowed down, +wailing like the rest; and as Zóra looked up, her husband saw +her face and eyes swollen with weeping, and full of unutterable +woe. She could not speak, and longed to throw herself into his +arms. But that was not the place for such an action, and she +remained kneeling.</p> + +<p>Nor could Abbas Khan say more than the usual salutation to +the dead. "Peace be with thee, and the blessing of the Lord," +and burst into an almost uncontrollable passion of weeping. All +the majesty, all the heroism, all the benevolence, all the political +ability of the noble woman lying there, in the last sleep of death, +surged up to his memory, mingled with tender thoughts of her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> +loving kindness, her bearing with all his waywardness from boyhood; +and now a traitors sword had closed that noble life, without +a warning or a suspicion.</p> + +<p>The Queen's face was not changed, except to wear the expression +of a glorious death. A soft smile, as if of peace in the last +supreme moment, lingered on her lips; and though her poor slight +body was covered with wounds, the face had escaped mutilation, +and had become more beautiful, if possible, in death than in life. +Who could forget it? and long they gazed and watched. Who ever +would forget it? Zóra would fain have had him stay, for she +needed comfort; but with a few soothing words he said, "I must +not sleep to-night, darling; but watch, too, over ye all, as is my +duty. It may be that the enemy may be unquiet, and the people +need all my vigilance." Then he took up his boy and kissed him, +and blessed them both.</p> + +<p>At the earliest dawn he was with the mourners again, and +what remained of the Noble Queen was reverently taken up and +carried to a little private cemetery in an angle of the fort, and +there laid in the earth. Abbas Khan had sent a flag of truce to +the Moghul trenches to say that unshotted guns would be fired for +the Queen; and the salvoes of artillery which mingled with the +chants of the Moollas and the wailings of the people, who +crowded every point from which the last procession could be seen, +were not noticed; while during the day a letter of condolence,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> +in the name of the young King, was sent by the Prince Daniel, +an act of unexpected courtesy.</p> + +<p>We cannot linger on the sadness that fell over all. Under such +circumstances a public calamity has greater effect than at any +other; and sadly were the noble lady's cheering smile and hearty +words of encouragement missed by all to whom they had become +familiar. What was Abbas Khan to do? Who was to undertake +the Regency on behalf of the young King? Zóra entreated her +husband not to do so. Then, too, Ahmednugger was severed, +and she longed for a peaceful existence at Beejapoor. Her life +had been one of continual alarm, danger, treachery, and war, and +still danger most imminent surrounded them; and yet she could +not counsel flight.</p> + +<p>The suspense was not of long duration, and after consultation +with the officers of the fort, it had been determined to send a flag +of truce into the Royal camp—not to write—to ascertain what +terms would be given for the surrender of the fort, and the conveyance +of the young King to Joonair. But the proposal was +never made. Encouraged by the death of the Queen, and convinced +that the garrison had lost heart, Khan Khanan redoubled +his exertions, and though the great mine was disabled, yet those +in the counterscarp and under the ramparts, five in all, were ready, +and were loaded during that day and the next.</p> + +<p>On the day following, masses of the Moghul troops were seen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> +from the cavalier to be marching upon the fort, and taking up new +positions during the morning. It seemed as though new ground was +to be broken to the east and north; or a feint made to cover some +operation outside. A few shots were fired at them, but they were +too distant to have any effect. The movement was, however, a +feint, and a successful one, for under cover of it the enemy had +lodged a heavy mass of infantry as a storming party in the +trenches, and soon after midday, at the hottest period, the mines +in the counterscarp and rampart were fired simultaneously; and +the effect was so sudden and so unlooked for, that the enemy made +his way into the ditch and up the breach, now a wide and easy +one, without much loss and without check, and a scene of +massacre ensued which we have no need to describe.</p> + +<p>Abbas Khan had been sitting on the rampart, watching with +several of his men, when the mine nearest them was sprung, +hurling the guard of one of the smaller bastions into the air, +when he felt himself struck with a large piece of stone, and +remembered no more. Some of his men took him up at once, and +led by the faithful Yasin, carried him to his apartments in the +palace, and laid him down. But he still breathed, and Zóra, who +knelt by him, could see no blood; and through the terror of +assault, and the shouts and shrieks of the combat at the breach, +she continued to bathe his face and hands with water, and to +rouse him to consciousness. But nearer and nearer grew the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span> +tumult, spreading on all sides; and, expecting momentary death, +she knelt with her boy beside his father's body and said the last +prayers of the dying. While she was thus employed a Rajpoot +officer of rank, accompanied by a crowd of men, rushed in pell-mell +with uplifted swords, but their commander restrained them; +and Zóra, seeing his action, fell at his feet, beseeching her husband's +life.</p> + +<p>"My name is Bénee Singh," he said, "and I have led the +assault. To me and my Rajpoots is committed the charge of all +the treasure of the fort and the command of the palace, and we +have orders to spare those we find and to protect the young King. +Direct us to him, and I will leave some men to guard you and +yours. Do not fear, you are safe; and we bear no enmity to +wounded and helpless men. See to him, Hurpul Singh," he continued +to a sub-officer; "let him not be disturbed, or the lady; +and keep people out—perhaps he is dying."</p> + +<p>But Abbas Khan was not dying. He had only been struck +senseless by the blow of the stone; and after a while, to the +infinite joy and thankfulness of his wife, he opened his eyes, +and would have stretched out his arms to her, but one—his left—was +powerless.</p> + +<p>"What has happened, Zóra?" he said. "Why am I here? +And who are these men?"</p> + +<p>"Be still," she said, gently. "Thou art safe, and the child is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> +safe; but the fort is taken by the mines. Dost thou not hear the +tumult without?"</p> + +<p>"And I was not with them to strike a blow in our defence! +O cruel fate!" And he tried to raise his arm again, but it fell +back.</p> + +<p>"Be content, my lord," said the man called Hurpul, "It +was your luck the first time, it is ours now; and we have won. +Even now the gates are wide open, and masses of men are entering. +Presently the Prince and Khan Khanan will come, and a +salute will be fired. But is thy arm broken? Let me see. No," +he continued, "it is sound, but the bruise is a bad one; and thou +art as helpless as a child. Thank God for thy life as thy lady +doth. Get her to make a fomentation of meem leaves and turmeric +and thou wilt be relieved. When the Khan Khanan comes I will +bring him hither."</p> + +<p>Zóra hid herself when the great general came in soon afterwards, +and spoke kindly to her husband. "I have not forgotten +thee, Abbas Khan. From the time the treaty was executed I have +wished thou wert among us, as friends of Beejapoor, rather than +these faithless, fickle murderers; and thou might be so yet. Thou +hast held the command here?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, my lord," returned the Khan, "since Nihung Khan, the +Abyssinian, fled. After his defeat by you I have had to do my +duty."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, I cannot stay, sir, now, but will come to you hereafter. +I have ordered apartments for you and your household in the +palace, close to the city, where you will be removed this evening, +and promise that all your private property shall be sent after +you. The eunuchs will, no doubt, know what it is."</p> + +<p>That evening, in closed palanquins, Abbas Khan and his wife, +the boy King and his mother, were removed to the convenient and +elegant structure we have mentioned, which has been converted +now into an English residence. The cool, pure, untainted air, and +the pleasant shady garden, soon effected Abbas Khan's recovery +from the dangerous and painful contusions he had received, and +all he now desired and besought from the Prince and his general, +who came frequently to converse with him, was permission to depart +with his effects to Beejapoor. Both the Prince and Khan +Khanan had been greatly struck by his ability and intelligence, +and would fain have had him enter the Moghul army, and assume +a high command, but he respectfully declined the honour. His +estates in Beejapoor, with Zóra's, were very considerable. The +Queen had much enriched him, and all the contents of his private +treasury in the fort had been scrupulously made over to him. He +had afforded all the information possible as regarded the State +affairs, and he and Zóra had visited the humble grave of their +beloved mistress to perform some necessary ceremonies there; but +Zóra could never enter the palace; from her mind the visions of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span> +blood and slaughter it brought back would require many years to +efface.</p> + +<p>So, when a suitable opportunity offered, Abbas Khan and his +family, accompanied by all his retainers who had escaped the +siege, set out for Beejapoor, travelling by the route by which they +had come, past Nuldroog and Almella, where they were welcomed +with joy. We may imagine, too, with what hearty rejoicing his +uncle and the Lady Fatima welcomed their long absent ones, and +with what profuse entertainments the little Meeah, now a sturdy +little fellow, was inducted into the general heirship of the house. +But Abbas Khan's most impressive reception was from his King, +who, grateful for his devotion to Queen Chand, received him in a +grand durbar, and raised him to the highest rank of nobility, and +conferred upon him other substantial proofs of his gratitude. +Not long afterwards, Dilawar Khan, Viceroy of Moodgul, whose +health had failed, gave up his viceroyalty and military command, +and, to his wife's infinite delight, Abbas Khan accepted both with +gratitude.</p> + +<p>Before Abbas Khan had been allowed to leave Ahmednugger, +the boy King, Bahadur Nizam Shah, with his mother and other +female relatives, had been taken away as prisoners, and were confined +in the fortress of Gwalior. All the treasures and regalia of +the kingdom were confiscated and removed thither with him. +Thenceforth the greatest portion of the kingdom was annexed to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> +the Moghul empire; but for some years after, the remainder, up to +the frontiers of Golconda and Beejapoor, was ruled over by Mullek +Umber, on behalf of a descendant of the Royal family, who was +crowned under the title of Moortuza Nizam Shah, but the family +finally became extinct about the year 1607.</p> + +<p>The Bishop and Maria were miserable until they heard the real +facts of the capture of Ahmednugger. The Queen's murder had +been repeated with endless exaggeration, and Abbas Khan was +said to have perished with her, or in the last assault; while of +Zóra nothing was known, but it was believed she had been carried +away into captivity. Still they had hope, and Mullek Umber bid +them hope, and despatched a trusty messenger to the city, who +soon found out Abbas Khan and his wife, and brought letters +from them. "We are safe," Zóra wrote to Maria, "and are going +to Beejapoor. You must come too, and live together again." But +the country was hardly safe yet for travelling, and they were detained +till Mullek Umber could send them to Nuldroog by the +way they had come. At Beejapoor they found that Abbas Khan +and Zóra were already established at Moodgul, and after a short +stay at the capital, they proceeded to their destination. The +Bishop had applied to the King for a letter to Goa, in relation to +the wealth of Dom Diego, and it was satisfactory to the worthy +man that the affair had been arranged by the banker, and that +the Church was the richer by several lakhs of rupees.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span></p> + +<p>How thankful and how happy they all were. Nor was it long +before Maria and Zóra revisited the scene of their first meeting. +The old house was cleaned out for them and purified, and their first +excursion from Moodgul was to that well-remembered place. +Even the Lady Keysama was not above meeting the Lady Zóra +Khanum, and they talked over bygone events with interest. As to +Runga Naik and Burma, they were beside themselves with joy; +insisting that the ladies should see the cataract from the palace at +the top of the fort; that Zóra should revisit the fearful scene of her +abduction and escape; and she pointed out, with eyes swimming +in tears, where she had been confined, and how delivered. "Your +slave only regretted that he did not go in and slay that vile ruffian +in his sleep," said Burma Naik; "but the Lord reserved him for +your hand, Meeah, and we rejoice that he died at your feet like a +dog." This, however, was a subject which the Khan rarely alluded +to, and the Beydur saw that it had better be avoided.</p> + +<p>They revisited the place many a time afterwards, but on the first +day, neither too full to be frightful, or too empty to be meagre, the +noble cataract was in its full beauty; and they descended from the +palace by the small path by which Zóra had been carried by +Jooma, the slave, and sat down on the gun in the bastion, as they +had done before. In the distance the giant fall sparkled with rainbows, +and the spray at times was full of golden light, which, from +the evening sun, spread itself over the rugged sides of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span> +ravine, over the feathery foliage which clothed the crags, and +the plashing water which fretted against the rocks at their +feet far below. While the little Meeah, in his father's arms, pulled +handfuls of flowers from the creepers which hung everywhere +around, Zóra and Maria sat hand in hand without speaking; +and perhaps their hearts were too full for aught else than loving +and reverent memories of the past. Nor was the place ever +left unvisited by Zóra in after days, when the little mosque was +repaired, and prayers were said by an old Syud whom she placed +in it; and she came there with her children on the sacred anniversaries +of her grandfather's death. But he is forgotten now; +and of the "Peer," who receives a traditional anniversary worship +to this day, no name has been preserved. We may be sure that +on these anniversaries no more delightful subjects for stories for +the children arose, than their mother's accounts of her early perils +and escapes. Once little Meeah said, looking earnestly in her +face, "Mother, how didst thou escape from all these troubles?" +And Zóra answered, gently, "I trusted in the Lord, my child."</p> + +<p>Reader, who hast followed us in the course of this old world tale, +we need hardly tell you that all are forgotten now; and there are +traces of none except the two Beydurs, whose descendants still +inhabit Korikul and Kukeyra, and are unchanged from what they +used to be in the times of which I have written. For the rest, +Beejapoor is a magnificent ruin, but Ahmednugger flourishes as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> +an English station and cantonment, and the stout old fort is in +perfect preservation. In both, and in the country round, nay, in +all Dekhan, the memory of Chand Beebee, who defended the fort, +and was murdered by her ungrateful people, and her heroic deeds +and devotion in the battle of the "Standard of the Veil," are still +sung and recited as the fittest memorials of</p> + +<div class="center"><big><br />"<span class="smcap">A Noble Queen</span>."</big></div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span></p> + +<h2>NOTE.</h2> + + +<p>There are no records traceable at Moodgul of the worthy +Bishop and his devoted sister, but they are believed to have +remained there some years, and to have eventually returned to +Portugal. But the small Christian Churches so strangely preserved +under the continuous Mussulman Governments of the +Dekhan still survive, and are steadfast to their faith. They are +still as they existed at the period of this tale—Moodgul and +Raichore, with their dependencies, Chittapoor on the Bheema, +and Aurungabad, and they are ministered to by priests under the +jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Goa.</p> + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span></p> +<h2>GLOSSARY.</h2> + +<blockquote> +<p> +Adalut, <i>Court of justice.</i><br /> +Ajaib! <i>Wonderful!</i><br /> +Ajuba! <i>Extraordinary!</i><br /> +Akhbar, <i>News letter.</i><br /> +Alla dilaya te leonga! <i>If God give, I will take!</i><br /> +"Alla hu Akhbar!" <i>"God is victorious!"</i><br /> +Amán! <i>Mercy!</i><br /> +Ameen, ameen!<i> Amen, amen!</i><br /> +Astagh-fur-oolla! <i>God forbid!</i><br /> +Azán, <i>Evening prayer.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Bairagees, <i>Hindoo mendicants.</i><br /> +Beebee, <i>Lady.</i><br /> +Beydur, <i>Tribe of aborigines.</i><br /> +Bhylmees, <i>Tribe of Mussulmans.</i><br /> +Birianees, <i>A kind of Pilao.</i><br /> +Bismilla! <i>In the name of God!</i><br /> +"Burkhat, Durbar Burkhat," <i>"The Durbar is dismissed."</i><br /> +<br /> +Chabootra, <i>Earthen platform used for assemblies.</i><br /> +Chaoree, <i>Village place of assembly.</i><br /> +Chaya Mata, <i>The nymph of the fall.</i><br /> +Chistee, <i>The designation of a tribe of Fakeers.</i><br /> +Chitnees, <i>Correspondence clerk.</i><br /> +Corus, <i>Anniversary.</i><br /> +Cucheri, <i>Office for public business.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Daad! daad! <i>Complaint! complaint!</i><br /> +Dacoits, <i>Gang robbers.</i><br /> +Dall, <i>Split pulse.</i><br /> +Darogah, <i>Superintendent.</i><br /> +Deen-deen! <i>For the faith! for the faith!</i><br /> +Dohai! <i>Cry for justice.</i><br /> +Doputta, <i>Scarf.</i><br /> +Duffadar, <i>Inferior officer.</i><br /> +Duftur, <i>Record Office.</i><br /> +Durbar, <i>Court.</i><br /> +Durora, <i>Gang robbery.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Fatehas, <i>Thank-offerings.</i><br /> +Feringhi, <i>European.</i><br /> +Furashes, <i>Sweepers and tent pitchers.</i><br /> +Futteh Mydan, <i>The Plain of Victory.</i><br /> +Futteh-i-Nubber, <i>Victory to the Prophet.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Geesoo Duráz, <i>"Long Locks"</i>—title of saint at Kulburgab.<br /> +Ghee, <i>Boiled butter.</i><br /> +Gopal swami, <i>Appellation of the god Krishna.</i><br /> +Goruk Imlee, <i>Adansonia.</i><br /> +Gosha, <i>Privacy.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Hai-hai! <i>Alas, alas!</i><br /> +Hakeem, <i>Physician.</i><br /> +Harem, <i>Women's apartments.</i><br /> +Hari Ból, <i>Hindoo war-cry.</i><br /> +Hoons, <i>A gold coin.</i><br /> +Howdahs, <i>Seat on elephant.</i><br /> +Humeenas, <i>Thin bag of leather worn at the waist.</i><br /> +Huzrut, <i>Prince.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Imáms, <i>Religious officers.</i><br /> +Inshalla! <i>Please God.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Jamahs, <i>Loose trousers.</i><br /> +Jemadár, <i>Native officer.</i><br /> +Jerreeds, <i>A game played on horseback with javelins.</i><br /> +Jey mata! <i>Victory to the Mother!</i><br /> +Julaybees, <i>Kind of sweetmeat.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Kabob, <i>Meat roasted.</i><br /> +Karámat, <i>Miracle.</i><br /> +Kazee, <i>Mohamedan law officer.</i><br /> +Khan, <i>Title of respect.</i><br /> +Khanum, <i>Wife of Khan.</i><br /> +Khedive, <i>Head of sect of Mussulmans.</i><br /> +Khoda Hafiz, <i>God protect you!</i><br /> +Kibleh, <i>Point of attraction.</i><br /> +Kicheri, <i>Dish of rice and pulse.</i><br /> +Killadar, <i>Governor of fort.</i><br /> +Kooroo Kshetra, <i>The great battle between the solar and lunar races, described in Mahabarut.</i><br /> +Kotwal, <i>Town magistrate.</i><br /> +Kullunders, <i>Tribe of Fakeers.</i><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span>Kumkhob, <i>Cloth of Gold.</i><br /> +Kurnum, <i>Village accountant.</i><br /> +Kussal, <i>Butcher.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Lakh, <i>A hundred thousand.</i><br /> +Loongee, <i>Man's waist cloth.</i><br /> +Luddoos, <i>Kind of sweetmeat.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Mahabarut, <i>Sacred epic of the Hindoos.</i><br /> +Máma, <i>Confidential female attendant.</i><br /> +Mawallees, <i>A Mahratta tribe.</i><br /> +Masháek, <i>Religious devotee.</i><br /> +Mashalla! <i>Praise to God!</i><br /> +Meeah, <i>Familiar title of eldest son among Mussulmans.</i><br /> +Mirdha, <i>Court usher.</i><br /> +Mohurrum, <i>Mahomedan festival.</i><br /> +Mohurs, <i>Gold coin.</i><br /> +Momins, <i>Weavers.</i><br /> +Monsoon, <i>Rainy season.</i><br /> +Moolla, <i>Religious teacher.</i><br /> +Moonshee, <i>Secretary.</i><br /> +"Moonskir and Nakar," <i>"The Angels of death."</i><br /> +Moorsheed, <i>A disciple.</i><br /> +Muezzin, <i>Caller to prayer.</i><br /> +Mufti, <i>Law officer.</i><br /> +Mundan-ool-Ghyb, <i>Spirit supposed to protect travellers.</i><br /> +Mynas, <i>Starlings.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Nagáras, <i>Large kettledrums.</i><br /> +Naik, <i>Head of Beydur tribe.</i><br /> +Nalkee, <i>Sedan chair.</i><br /> +Nawab, <i>Lord.</i><br /> +"Neem," <i>"Melia ardizarachta."</i><br /> +Nika, <i>Marriage of the second order.</i><br /> +Nobut, <i>Band of music attached to persons of high rank.</i><br /> +Nuzzur, <i>Offering.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Owleas, <i>A saint.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Palkee, <i>Litter.</i><br /> +Pán, <i>Betel leaf.</i><br /> +Patell, <i>Head officer of village.</i><br /> +Peer, <i>Saint.</i><br /> +Peer-i-Dustugeer, <i>Respectful address to a saint.</i><br /> +Peshkar, <i>Minister of Finance.</i><br /> +Pice, <i>Copper coin.</i><br /> +Pilao, <i>Savoury dish of meat and rice.</i><br /> +Pooja, <i>Hindoo worship.</i><br /> +Puleeta, <i>A lamp charm.</i><br /> +Punah, <i>Protection.</i><br /> +Putwari, <i>Village accountant.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Rámáyan, <i>Hindoo epic poem.</i><br /> +Ranee, <i>Hindoo princess.</i><br /> +Roostum, <i>One of the heroes of the Shah Nama.</i><br /> +Rujub-ool-Ghyb, <i>A spirit supposed to watch over travellers.</i><br /> +Rumzan, <i>Mussulman fast.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Salaam aliekoom! <i>Salutation of peace.</i><br /> +Sari, <i>Woman's garment.</i><br /> +Séndhee, <i>Fermented palm juice.</i><br /> +Shabash! <i>Well done!</i><br /> +Shah, <i>King.</i><br /> +Shookr, shookr! <i>Thanks, thanks!</i><br /> +Shoolka, <i>Scones.</i><br /> +Shubgusht, <i>A marriage procession by night.</i><br /> +Shytan, <i>The Devil.</i><br /> +Siah Chuttree, <i>Tribe of Mussulmans</i>—called "black umbrellas."<br /> +Soosi, <i>A kind of cotton cloth.</i><br /> +Synd, <i>A division of Mussulmans.</i><br /> +Syndanee, <i>Female Synd.</i><br /> +Swami, <i>Title of Hindoo religious princes.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Touba! touba! <i>Shame! shame!</i><br /> +Tukeea, <i>Abode of a Fakeer.</i><br /> +Turreequt, <i>Path to salvation.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Ul-humd-ul-illa! <i>Praise be to God!</i><br /> +Unjeel, <i>The New Testament.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Vakeels, <i>Agents.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Wallee, <i>Saint.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Ya, Alla, Kureem! <i>O Lord, most merciful.</i><br /> +Ya Kureem! <i>O merciful!</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Zemindars, <i>Land owners.</i><br /> +Zenana, <i>Women's private apartments.</i><br /> +Zools, <i>Portions of the Korán.</i><br /> +</p> +</blockquote> + + +<div class="center"><br /><br />THE END.<br /><br /> +<i>Spottiswoode & Co., Printers, New-street Square, London.</i> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<div class="transnote"> +<h2>Transcriber's Notes</h2> + +<p>Obvious errors of punctuation and diacritics repaired.</p> + +<p>Hyphen removed: "goodwill" (p. 82), "handwriting" (p. 96), "kettledrums" (pp. 179, 197), +"midday" (p. 27), "noonday" (p. 29), "overcharged" (p. 7), +"sally ports" (p. 252), "sandbags" (p. 194).</p> + +<p>Hyphen added: "to-night" (p. 275).</p> + +<p>"D'Almeida" changed to "d'Almeida".</p> + +<p>P. 80: "Dom Matthias de Abuquerque" changed to "Dom Matthias de Albuquerque".</p> + +<p>P. 220: "Mogul" changed to "Moghul" (the Moghul Government).</p> + +<p>P. 228: "A" added (A kind of cotton cloth).</p> + +</div> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44789 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/44789-h/images/cover.jpg b/44789-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..68e99e5 --- /dev/null +++ b/44789-h/images/cover.jpg |
