However, there was no choice in the matter, and
Surajah cheered him by saying:
"You must not mind, Dick. Has not everything turned out for the best?
And you may be sure that this will turn out so, also."
It was, indeed, but two days later that Dick congratulated himself
upon the change, for Surajah was sent by Tippoo with an order for the
execution of four English prisoners. Dick knew nothing of the matter
until Surajah, on his return, told him that he had been obliged to
stop and see the orders carried out, by poison being forced down the
unfortunate officers' throats.
"It was horrible," he said, with tears in his eyes.
"Horrible!" Dick repeated. "Thank God I have been put to other work,
for I feel that I could not have done it. And yet, to have refused to
carry out the tyrant's orders would have meant death to us both, while
it would not have saved the lives of these poor fellows. Anyhow, I
would not have done it. As soon as I had received the order I would
have come to you, and we would have mounted and ridden off together,
and taken our chance."
"Let us talk of something else," Surajah said. "Are the beasts all in
good health?"
"As well as they can be, when they are fed so badly, and so miserably
cooped up.
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