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Leaving the guard outside, Reginald passed under a low archway, when he found himself in a hall, on each side of which he could distinguish, through the dim obscurity, the hideous forms of the presiding divinities of the temple. "I see no priests or worshippers in the place," he whispered to Bikoo.
Bikoo saw that in another instant the tigress would be at liberty; so springing down the steps with a very natural rapidity, fully expecting to be torn to pieces should he not make haste, and shouting, "The tigress! The tigress is at my heels!" he rushed into the presence of his master and Khan Cochut.
Bikoo attempted to drive her back with his stick, but she utterly disregarded the blows aimed at her, only stopping a moment to roar and snarl, her loud cries drowning his voice as he shouted to Khan Cochut to come and shoot her which he might very easily have done. Already the bars were seen to bend, the upper ends coming out of their sockets.
The priests, considering that "discretion was the better part of valour," and seeing the bold bearing of the young stranger, allowed him and Bikoo to mount the steps; when, traversing the hall, they quickly made their way into the open air, glad to escape from the mephitic atmosphere of the vault and the fury of the priests who, as soon as they had recovered from their astonishment, broke forth in loud cries and threats of vengeance.
Loud cries are raised against the English and those who support them. `Down with the foreign rajah! is the cry of every one; while they swear that should you return they will destroy you and all your friends. The armed men broke into the prison, and liberated all the prisoners. Among these were Khan Cochut and the slave Bikoo, who did their utmost to increase the tumult.
He hesitated a minute; but recollecting that Balkishen would by this time have set fire to the slow match, he boldly stepped out from behind the wall which concealed him, closely followed by Bikoo. As he did so, he found himself face to face with a powerful-looking black slave conducting an elephant across the yard.
At length the Brahmin proposed sending Bikoo down, that, while the tigress was tearing him to pieces, they might make their escape.
In your benignity, that I am but a slave, and my master compelled me to act the part I did," answered Bikoo, trembling all over. "You have my promise, wretched slave, that no punishment shall overtake you on account of anything you may confess," said the rajah. "Say on, slave." Bikoo, recovering himself, continued
"Refuge of the World, I am incapable of such treachery," said Bikoo, putting his hand to his heart. "With your highness's leave, I will accompany the slave," said Reginald. "If I assume my European costume I shall not be recognised, and the priests will suppose me a stranger led by curiosity to visit their temple.
Though pieces of stone and huge masses of timber fell around on every side, the gallant major escaped uninjured, as did happily the larger portion of his men; and, as he rode forward to meet Burnett, who came galloping up, he passed Sambro, dragging on Khan Cochut, and the elephant carrying the slave Bikoo.
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