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Ahrab adjusted their robes, and brought one end over their heads, so that it could, if necessary, be pulled over the face at a moment's notice. The ranee then motioned to them to sit down upon two cushions near her; and saying to Ahrab, "It is very hot, and they are only boys," removed the veil from her face. "You make very pretty girls, only you are too white," she said.
"May Heaven bless you, lady!" Ned said earnestly; "and your kind action may not go unrewarded even here. Soon, very soon, an English army will be at Cawnpore to punish the rebels, and then it will be well with those who have succored British fugitives." "Do you say an English army will come soon?" Ahrab said doubtfully. "Men say the English Raj is gone forever." "It is not true," Ned said.
"These Mohammedans doubt us, and so insist on your highness showing your devotion to the cause by taking up your residence in Cawnpore, and sending in all your retainers to join in the attack on the English." The ranee looked sad. "They say there are hundreds of women and little children there," she said, "and that the English who are defending them are few." "It is so," Ahrab said.
"I think I have resolved that, Ahrab," the ranee said. "You have heard, young sahibs; retire now, and hide. When the sun has set we will be here again." With deep assurance of gratitude from Ned, the lads again took refuge in the shrubs, delighted with the result of their interview. "I do hope that the old one will bring us something to eat, Ned. I am as hungry as a hunter!
The boys retired, hastily ate some food, then wrapped themselves in the long folds of cotton which form the principal garment of native women of the lower class, and went forward to the pavilion. The ranee laughed outright. "How clumsy you are!" she said. "Ahrab, do arrange them a little more like women."
"How brave you English boys are," she said. "No wonder your men have conquered India. Now, Ahrab, tell these young sahibs what we propose." "We dare not leave you here," Ahrab said. "You would have to be fed, and we must trust many people. We go to Cawnpore to-morrow, and you must go with us. My son has a garden here; we can trust him, and he will bring a bullock-cart with him to-morrow morning.
In a minute the servant returned, and begged the major to follow him, which he did, accompanied by his sons. They were shown into a grand reception room, where the ranee, thickly veiled, was sitting on a couch, surrounded by her attendants, Ahrab standing beside her. The ranee gave a little cry of pleasure on recognizing the boys, and Ahrab instantly signed to the other attendants to retire.
When Ned and Dick Warrener, having carried out the instructions given by the ranee, arrived next morning at her house at Cawnpore, Ahrab at once led them to a small apartment. "I have much news to tell you. The fighting is over here.
"Your highness," Ahrab interrupted, "I had better send all the others in, for they might surprise us. Let these young sahibs hide themselves again; then we will go in, and I will call in your attendants. Later, when it is dusk, you will plead heat, and come out here with me again, and then I can bring some robes to disguise the sahibs; that is, if your highness has resolved to aid them."
The ranee laughed lightly behind her veil. "They are mere boys, Ahrab." "Yes, your highness, but it would be just as dangerous for you to shelter boys as men. And what will you do, as you have to go to Cawnpore to- morrow?" "Oh, you can manage somehow, Ahrab you are so clever," the ranee said coaxingly; "and I could not give them up to be killed: I should never feel happy afterward."
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