of this. Oude, I know, will rise as one man; the Princes of Delhi
I have sounded; they will be the leaders, though the old King will
be the nominal head; but I shall pull the strings, and as Peishwa,
shall be an independent sovereign, and next in dignity to the Emperor.
Only nothing must be done until all is ready; not a movement must
be made until I feel sure that every native regiment from Calcutta
to the North is ready to rise."

And so, until the day had fully broken, the Rajah of Bithoor thought
over his plans--the man who had a few hours before so sumptuously
entertained the military and civilians of Cawnpore, and the man
who was universally regarded as the firm friend of the British and
one of the best fellows going.

The days and weeks passed on, messengers came and went, the storm
was slowing brewing; and yet to all men it seemed that India was
never more contented nor the outlook more tranquil and assured.



CHAPTER II.


A young man in a suit of brown karkee, with a white puggaree wound
round his pith helmet, was just mounting in front of his bungalow
at Deennugghur, some forty miles from Cawnpore, when two others
came up.

"Which way are you going to ride, Bathurst?"