"
"Now let us be going," the Rajah said. "You can tell me the whole
story, as we go along."
Two of the sowars were ordered to give up their horses to Dick and
Surajah, and to mount behind comrades. Then they started down the
valley, Dick riding between his uncle and the captain, while Surajah
took his place with the two other officers of the troop. They rode so
rapidly that Dick's story was scarcely concluded by the time they
reached the village where the troops were quartered.
"Well, you have done marvelously well, Dick," his uncle said. "Surajah
deserves the highest praise, too. Now I will write a note to the
British officer with the Nabob, giving the news of Tippoo's movements,
and will send it off by two of the troopers, at once. Where Colonel
Maxwell's force is, I have no idea. It marched to join General
Meadows, on the day we came up here.
"In the meantime you can have a wash, while breakfast is being cooked.
I have no doubt that you are ready for it."
"I am indeed, Uncle. We had nothing, yesterday, but a few cakes made
of flour and water; and have had nothing at all, since."
"All right, lad. I will be ready almost as soon as breakfast is."
After the meal was over, the Rajah lit his hookah, and said:
"You must go through the story again, this evening, Dick.
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