Chapter 13: Officers Of The Palace.
The next morning, just as they had finished their early breakfast,they were sent for by Fazli Ali.
"You had better accompany me on my rounds," he said. "I shall notcommit any special duties to you, until I see whether the sultanintends that you shall remain with me, or whether, as is far morelikely, he assigns other work to you. Were you placed in separatecharges in the Palace, I should have to fill your places if you left.Therefore I propose that, at present, you shall assist me in generalsupervision.
"We will first go to the kitchens. These give me more trouble than anyother part of my duties. In the first place, one has to see that thecontractors do their work properly, that the number of carcases sentin is correct, the flesh of good quality, and that the list of game iscorrect. Then one has to check the amount of rice and other grain sentin from the storehouses, the issue of spices, and other articles ofthat kind. These matters do not require doing every day. The kitchenofficers are responsible for them, but once or twice a week I takecare to be present, to see that all is right. Then I ascertain thateverything is in good and proper order in the kitchen, listen tocomplaints, and decide disputes.
"When we have done there, we will see that the requisitions from theharem are properly complied with, and that the sweetmeats, perfumes,silks, and muslins, as required, are furnished.
"The payment of salaries does not come into my department. That is oneof the functions of the treasurer of the Palace, who also dischargesall accounts, upon my signature that they are correct.
"Then I take a general tour of the Palace, to see that the attendantshave done their duties, and that everything is clean and in order. Asa rule, I have finished everything before the morning meal is served.The details of making up the accounts are, of course, done by clerks.
"After that, my duties depend entirely upon the sultan. If there isany state ceremonial in the Palace, I summon those whose duty it is toattend, and see that everything is properly arranged and in order. Ifnot, I am generally at his Highness's disposal.
"Unless you receive any instructions from me, you will be free tooccupy yourselves as you like. You will, of course, take part in allpublic ceremonials. You will be among the officers who accompany thesultan, when he goes out, and will be liable to be summoned to attendhim at all times. Therefore, although free to go into the town, orride beyond the island, it is well that you should never be longabsent; and that, if you wish to be away for more than two hours at atime, you should first let me know, as I may be able to tell you ifthe sultan is likely to require you. He has fixed your pay at fourhundred rupees a month."
Dick, as he accompanied the chamberlain on his tour through thePalace, was struck with the order and method that prevailed in everydepartment, and the chamberlain told him that Tippoo, himself,inquired closely into details, and that, large as was the dailyexpenditure, no waste of any kind was allowed.
The splendour of some of the apartments was surprising, especially thethrone room. The throne itself was of extraordinary magnificence. Itwas of gold, thickly inlaid with gems. On the apex stood a jewelledpeacock, covered entirely with diamonds, emeralds, and rubies, withpendants of pearls. In front of it stood a golden tiger's head, whichserved as a footstool. On either side were standards of purple silk,having a sun with gold rays in the centre. The spear heads were ofgold, set with jewels.
When the work of inspection was finished, they went back to theirroom, where their attendant soon afterwards, with an air of greatexultation, brought their meal, which consisted of nine dishes each, aproof of the high favour with which Tippoo regarded them. After thismeal was eaten they went down to the stables, and were pleased,indeed, with the mounts provided for them. They were fine animals,with handsome saddles and trappings, and Dick and Surajah at oncemounted, and rode through the town to the other extremity of theisland. As they wore scarves that had been furnished them by FazliAli, showing that they were officers of the Palace, they wereeverywhere greeted with deep salaams.
"I hope," Dick said, as they returned from their ride, "that Tippoowill not be long before he finds us some other duties. There isnothing very interesting in counting carcases, or seeing ricemeasured."
"That is true enough," Surajah agreed. "But we must not be impatient.Fortune has befriended us marvellously, and I have great faith that itwill continue to do so. We must be content to wait."
"Yes, I know that, Surajah, but I think it is all the more difficultto do so, because we have done so much in a short time. It seems as ifone ought to go on at the same rate."
That evening they went down, as they had arranged, with ordinary wrapsround their gay attire, to Pertaub's, taking with them the caskets ofgems. The Hindoo received them warmly.
"I saw you ride through the streets this morning, although you did notnotice me. Truly, you made a good appearance, and were well mounted. Ihave heard from one of our people, who is a servant in the Palace,that you stand in high favour."
"We have brought you down these two caskets of gems," Dick said. "Theywere given us by the ladies of the harem, and many of the stones,Surajah thinks, are very valuable. We don't know what to do with them,and wanted to know whether you could arrange to send them down toTripataly for us."
"I would not undertake to do so, if they are valuable," Pertaub said."The prospects of fresh troubles are stronger every day, and the roadsare so closely watched, especially those through the passes, that itwould be running a terrible risk to trust valuables to anyone."
"In that case, Pertaub, we thought you might bury them in the groundunder your house. But first, look at some of the stones, and tell uswhat you think of them."
The Hindoo opened Surajah's casket, and undid many of the littleparcels.
"Assuredly they are valuable," he said. "Some of them much more sothan others; but if all are like these that I have opened, they mustbe worth at least fifty thousand rupees."
"Now look at this casket, Pertaub."
The Hindoo uttered an exclamation of surprise, as he opened some ofthe packets, and, taking out some of the larger gems, he examined themby the light of his lamp.
"I could not place a value on these," he said at last. "The ladiesmust, indeed, have felt that they owed their lives to you. The gemsare a fortune. Doubtless they are the spoils of a score of districts,and Tippoo must have distributed them lavishly among his wives, orthey could never have made such rich presents. I would bury them,Sahib, for surely they could not be entrusted even to the mostfaithful messengers, in times like these. But though, if you like, Iwill hide them here, I think it would be far safer for you to takethem across the river, and bury them in a wood, marking well thetrees, that you may know the place again; for although methinksTippoo's agents believe that they have squeezed the last rupee fromme, one can never tell--I might again be tortured, and none can saythat they are brave enough to bear the agonies that Tippoo'sexecutioners inflict.
"I will bury them for tonight; but I pray you give me notice the firsttime you cross the river. I will be at the other side of the ford,with the jewels hidden in a sack on an ass. This I will drive forward,when I see you crossing the ford. You will follow me, till I enter awood. I will have the tools, and when you join me, you can go on ashort distance and bury them. I do not wish to see where you hidethem, but will move about, to make sure that none come near you whenso engaged.
"You had best take out a few small stones, which you will find as goodas money, and much more easily concealed, for in every town or largevillage you will find a jeweller, who will give you silver for them."
"I think that will be a very good plan, Pertaub, and will certainlycarry it out."
A month passed, without any change in their work. They rode, withother officers, behind Tippoo's palanquin when he went out, which hedid almost every day, to inspect the progress of the fortifications;and were among the brilliant circle behind his throne, when he gaveorders.
By this time, they had come to know most of the other Court officials
,and were able to inquire cautiously about the prisons. They couldlearn nothing, however, of any English prisoners in Seringapatam, savethose they had seen in the hut in the fort.
Six weeks after their appointment as Palace officers, Dick and Surajahwere sent for by Tippoo.
"I am about to employ you," the sultan said, when they appeared beforehim, "on a mission. You are strangers here, and are unconnected withany of my officers; and I can, therefore, place greater reliance onyour reports, than upon those of men who have other interests than myown to serve. I desire you to go and inspect the hill forts, to seehow the repairs of the fortifications injured by the English areprogressing, and to make sure that the cannon are in good order, andthe supply of ammunition plentiful. You have shown that you are quicksighted and sharp. Look round the defences, and if you see aught thatcan be done to strengthen them, confer with the governors, learn theiropinions on the subject, and if they agree with you, they will beauthorised to take men from the country round to strengthen thefortifications, and I will forward, at once, such guns and stores asmay be required.
"After the inspection of each fort, you will despatch a mountedmessenger to me with your report; and you will state which fort youwill next visit, in order that I may despatch there any order that Imay have to give you.
"Do your duty well, and I shall know how to reward you. In order thatyour authority may be increased, you are both named colonels in thearmy. Fazli will furnish you with a written copy of the orders I havegiven you, and with authority, under my seal, to enter and inspect allfortresses, and to consult with the governors as to everythingconsidered, by them, as necessary for their better defence.
"The last time the English came, they captured Nundidroog, and otherhill fortresses that we had regarded as impregnable, simply becausethe governors were overconfident, and the defences had been neglected.This must not occur again, and if there is failure in the defences, Ishall hold you responsible. Therefore, take care that you do notneglect, not only to see that the repairs are being well carried out,but to recommend additions to the fortifications, wherever it seems toyou that there is even a possibility of an enemy making his way up.
"You will take with you twenty troopers as an escort, but these arenot to enter any of the fortresses with you, for treachery is alwayspossible; and no one, save the garrisons, must be acquainted with thedefences of the hill forts."
Surajah expressed his thanks to the sultan for entrusting them withthe mission, and assured him that their inspection of the forts shouldbe careful and complete, and that they would start in an hour's time.
When they reached their own room, Dick threw up his turban in delight.
"Was there ever such a stroke of good fortune?" he exclaimed. "Thetiger business was as nothing to this. Tippoo has given us themission, of all others, that will enable us to carry out our search.Our work is as good as done.
"That is to say," he added, more gravely, "we are at least pretty sureto find my father out, if he is alive. Besides, we may get informationthat will be of great use, if the war is renewed.
"Now we had better, in the first place, go and see Fazli and get ourinstructions. We will order our horses to be in readiness to start, assoon as we have had our meal--we may not get another chance of eatingtoday.
"I should like to take Ibrahim with us. He is a capital servant, and astrong, active fellow. I believe he is fond of us, and we shall wantsomeone who can cook for us, and buy things, and so on. I will speakto Fazli about it."
The chamberlain looked up, as they entered the room where he wasengaged in dictating to a clerk.
"I congratulate you on your mission," he said. "It will involve agreat deal of hard work, but as you have told me how you longed forsome duty outside the Palace, you will not mind that. Tippoo consultedme before sending for you. I told him you were diligent in theservice, and I felt sure you would do your best in the present matter;and that, as you were accustomed, in the pursuit of game, to ascendmountains and scale precipices, you were far more likely to find theweak spots in the forts than an old officer, who would be likely totake everything for granted.
"There is no doubt that many of the garrisons are very far from beingefficient. They have been stationed in the forts for many years.Discipline, both among officers and men, is sure to have become lax,and there will be much that young men, going freshly into the matter,will see needs amendment. That the walls are often weak, and thecannon so old as to be almost useless, I am well aware; for sometimesnewly-appointed governors have sent in strong protests, and urgentrequests that they might be furnished with new cannon, and that wallsand defences might be renewed. But what with the wars, the removal ofthe capital, and the building and fortification of this place, thesematters have been neglected; and it is only now that the sultan seesthe necessity of putting the fortifications of all these places ingood repair.
"I have had the papers prepared and signed. Your escort has beenordered. Is there anything else you can think of?"
"We should like to take our Palace attendant with us," Surajah said."He is a good man and, starting so suddenly, we should have adifficulty in hiring servants we could rely on."
"I have thought of that," the chamberlain replied, "and have ordered ahorse to be got in readiness for him, together with a spare animal tocarry food and necessaries for your journey. You will need them onyour marches, and may even be glad of them in some of the smallerforts, where the fare will be very rough."
When they returned to their room, they found Ibrahim awaiting them. Hewas evidently delighted at the prospect of accompanying them.
"My lords," he said, "I have the pack horse saddled in the stable,with two great sacks and ropes. Is it your pleasure that I should godown, at once, to the market and buy flour and rice, spices, and otherthings necessary?"
"Certainly, Ibrahim. But it will not be necessary to buy much meat. Itwill not keep, and we ought always to be able to buy a sheep or a fowlfrom villagers. Get some thick, wadded sleeping rugs, some cookingpots, and whatever you think is necessary. Do not waste any time, forwe shall start immediately after our meal."
As soon as the man had left, Dick said to Surajah:
"I will hurry down to the town and see Pertaub. You had best remainhere, in case Tippoo should send for us to give us final instructions.You can say, should he ask, that I have gone down to the town to get asupply of powder and ball for our pistols, writing materials, andother things that we may require; which will be true enough. It ismost lucky that we buried our jewels in the forest, ten days ago, forwe should not have had time to do it, now."
Dick returned in time for the meal, which was brought up by anotherservant.
"Pertaub was delighted to hear of our good fortune," he said, on hisreturn. "He will keep our disguises by him, and if we have occasionfor them, will either bring them himself with the merchandise, or willsend them by a trusty messenger, to any place we may mention, directlyhe hears from us. I do not think there is any chance of our wantingthem, but it is as well to prepare for any contingency that mayoccur."
Half an hour later they started, at the head of an escort of twentytroopers; Ibrahim riding in the rear, leading the pack horse, whichcarried a change of clothes, and thick cloths to keep out the nightdews, as well as the stock of provisions. Ibrahim had also purchasedtwo very large, dark blankets, that could be used for a temporaryshelter. Surajah now felt quite at home, for he was engaged in thesame sort of duty he performed at Tripataly; and more than one pair ofdark eyes glanced admiringly at the two young officers, as they rodedown to the ford.
They had been furnished, by Fazli, with a list of the forts they wereto visit, and the order in which they were to take them; the first onthe list being Savandroog, fifty miles northeast of the city. After aride of twenty miles, they halted at a village. To the surprise of thetroopers, Surajah gave orders that nothing was to be taken by force,as he was prepared to pay for all provisions required.
As soon as the villagers understood this, ample supplies wer
e broughtin. Rice, grain, and fowls were purchased for the soldiers, and foragefor the horses, and after seeing that all were well provided for, thetwo officers went to a room that had been placed at their service, inthe principal house in the village.
Ibrahim justified his assertion that he was a good cook, by turningout an excellent curry. By the time they had finished this it wasgetting dark, and after again visiting the troopers, and seeing thattheir own horses were fed and well groomed, they retired to bed.
An early start was made, and at ten o'clock they approachedSavandroog. It was one of the most formidable of the hill forts ofMysore, and stood upon the summit of an enormous mass of granite,covering a base of eight miles in circuit, and rising in raggedprecipices to the height of 2,500 feet. The summit of the rock wasdivided by a deep chasm into two peaks, each of which was crowned withstrong works, and capable of separate defence. The lower part of thehill was, wherever ascent seemed possible, protected by walls, onebehind the other. The natives had regarded the fort as absolutelyimpregnable, until it was stormed by the troops under Lord Cornwallis.
Dick looked with intense interest at the great rock, with its numerousfortifications. The damages committed by the British guns could not beseen at this distance, and it seemed to him well-nigh impossible thatthe place could have been captured. They rode on, until they neared anentrance in the wall that encircled the fort, at the side at which,alone, access was considered possible.
They were challenged as they approached. Ordering the troopers toremain behind, Dick and Surajah rode forward.
"We are the bearers," Surajah cried out, as they reined in theirhorses within twenty yards of the gate, "of an order from the sultanfor our admittance, and of a letter to Mirzah Mohammed Bukshy, thegovernor."
"I will send up word to him," an officer on the wall replied. "I canadmit no one, until I have received his orders to do so."
"How long will it be before we receive an answer?"
"An hour and a half, at the earliest. I regret that your Excellencieswill be inconvenienced, but my orders are absolute."
"I do not blame you," Surajah replied. "It is necessary that youshould always be vigilant;" and they retired under the shade of atree, a hundred and fifty yards from the gate.
Ibrahim spread out the rugs, and then proceeded to light the fire, andto prepare a pillau of rice and fowl, while Dick and his companionregarded the rock with fixed attention, and conversed together as tothe possibility of ascending at any of the points so steep as to beleft undefended by walls. They concluded, at last, that it would benext to impossible to climb the rock anywhere on the side that facedthem, save by scaling several walls.
They had just finished their luncheon when the gate opened, and anofficer and four soldiers issued out. They at once rose, and went tomeet them.
"I have the governor's order to admit you, on the production of thesultan's pass."
Surajah produced the document. The officer at once recognised theseal, and carried it to his forehead, salaaming deeply.
"Your troopers can enter at the gate, but cannot proceed farther thanthe second wall."
"Can we ride up, or must we walk?" Dick asked.
"You can ride," he replied. "The road is steep, but nowhere so steepthat horses cannot mount it."
After the party had entered the gate, it was at once closed andbolted. The troopers dismounted, and were led to a small barrack;while Surajah and Dick, accompanied by the officer, and four soldierson foot, rode on.
The road was a better one than Dick had expected. It was just wideenough for a cart to proceed up it, and was cut out of the solid rock.It turned and zigzagged continually, and at each angle was a smallfort, whose guns swept the approach. They passed under a score ofgateways, each defended by guns; and after upwards of an hour'sclimbing, at a quick pace, they approached one of the forts on itssummit. The governor met them at the gate.
"You will pardon my not descending to meet you below," he said, "but Iam not so young as I used to be, and the journey up and down fatiguesme much."
Dick and Surajah dismounted, and the former presented the twodocuments. The governor, after reading the pass, bowed, and led theway into the interior of the fort; and they were soon seated on adivan in his quarters, when he read the circular letter.
"I am glad indeed," he said, when he had finished, "that the sultan ispleased to take into consideration the many demands I have made forcannon and ammunition. A large number of the pieces are past service,and they would be as dangerous to those who fired them as to those atwhom they were aimed; while I have scarcely powder enough to furnishthree rounds for each. As to the defences, I have done my best tostrengthen them. Idleness is bad for all men, most of all forsoldiers, and I have kept them well employed at repairing the effectsof the English fire. Still, there is much to do yet before they arefinished, and there are points where fortifications might be addedwith advantage. These I will gladly point out to you. They have beenbeyond our means here, for, as you will perceive, it will needblasting in many places to scarp the rock, and to render inaccessibleseveral points at which active men can now climb up. For this work,powder is required. And I would submit that, for such hard work, itwill be needful to supply extra rations to the troops, for the presentscale scarcely suffices to keep the men efficient, especially as mostof them have their wives and families dependent on them."
"I have no doubt that the sultan will accede to any reasonablerequests, your Excellency. He is anxious that the walls of the fortsshould be placed in the best possible condition for defence. No onedoubts that we shall, ere long, be again at war with England, andalthough the sultan relies much upon large reinforcements that havebeen promised by France, with whom he has entered into an alliance,they have not yet arrived, and he may have to bear the brunt of theattack of the English by himself."
"I have heard of this," the governor said, "and regret that we shallagain have the Feringhees upon us. As for the Mahrattis or the Nizam,I heed them not--they are dust, whom the sultan could sweep from hispath; but these English are terrible soldiers. I have fought againstthem under Hyder, and in the last war they again showed their valour;and the strangest thing is that they make the natives under them fightas bravely as they do themselves.
"As to forts, nothing is safe from them. Were all the troops of theNizam and the Mahrattis combined to besiege us, I should feelperfectly safe; while were there but five hundred Englishmen, I shouldtremble for the safety of the fortress. You have come up the hill, andhave seen for yourselves how strong it is; and yet they took the placewithout the loss of a single man. I was not here, for I was in commandof Kistnagherry at that time, and succeeded in holding it againsttheir assaults. When the war was over, and Kistnagherry was ceded tothem, I was appointed to this fortress, which seems to me to be evenstronger than that was.
"The commander was a brave man, the garrison was strong, there was nosuspicion of treachery; and though, at last, the troops were seizedwith a panic, as they might well be when they saw that they wereunable to arrest the advance of the enemy, the defence up to that timehad been stout. The English brought up guns, where it was thought noguns could be taken. They knocked the defences to pieces; and, afterwinning their way to the top, in one day captured this fort, and thaton the hill yonder. It seems miraculous."
Coffee was brought in, and pipes, for although Tippoo was violentlyopposed to smoking, and no one would venture upon the use of tobaccoin the Palace or fort, old officers like the governor, in distantcommands, did not relinquish tobacco.
"It is necessary here," the governor said, as he filled his pipe. "Thecountry round is terribly unhealthy, and the air is full of fever. Ido not discourage its use among the men, for they would die off likeflies, did they not smoke to keep out the bad air. The climate is,indeed, the best protection to the fort, for an army that sat down forany length of time before it, would speedily melt away."
He opened a box that stood on the divan beside him.
"I have copies here," he said,
taking some papers out, "of thememorials that I have sent in to the sultan, as to the guns. This isthe last. It was sent in two months ago. You see I asked forforty-nine heavy pieces. Of these, thirty are to replace guns that arehoneycombed, or split. The other eleven are for new works. I asked forthirty-two lighter ones, or howitzers, and a hundred wall guns. Ofcourse I could do with less; but to place the fort in a perfect stateof defence, that is the number that I and my artillery officer thinkare requisite.
"Of powder, we have not more than a ton and a half, and if the siegewere to be a long one we might require ten times as much. We have notmore than eight rounds of shot for each gun, and we ought to have atleast fifty for the heavy pieces, and twenty for those defending thepath up the hill."
Dick made a note of the figures, in a pocket book he had bought forthe purpose.
"As for provisions," the governor went on, "we ought to have largestores of rice and grain. The magazines are nearly empty, and as wehave eight hundred men in garrison, and perhaps twice as many womenand children, we should require a large store were we blockaded forany time."
"Are the troops in good condition?" Surajah asked.
The governor shook his head.
"Many of them are past the term of service; but until I getreinforcements to supply their places, I shall not venture todischarge them. Many others are wasted by fever, and, I must say, frominsufficient rations, which not only weakens their bodies, but lowerstheir spirits. As long as there was no fear of attack, this matteredlittle; but if the English are coming again, we shall want well-fedand contented men to oppose them.
"I see, by the stars on your turbans, that you are both colonels aswell as officers of the Palace. You are fortunate in obtaining thatrank so young."
"It was due to the sultan's favour," Surajah said. "The other day, atthe sports, a tiger burst into the sultan's zenana, and we were luckyenough to kill it--that is, my friend did most of the killing. I onlygave the brute the final coup."
"Ah, it was you who performed that deed!" the governor said, warmly."I heard the news, from one of my officers who was on leave, andreturned yesterday. Truly it was a gallant action, and one quicklydone. No wonder that you obtained the sultan's favour, and your rankas colonel.
"I was a sportsman, in my young days. But I think I should have beenmore frightened at the thought of taking a peep into the sultan'szenana, than I should have been of fighting the tiger."
"I did not think anything about it," Dick said, "until it was allover. I heard some women scream, and, being quite close, went to theirassistance, without a thought whether they might be the ladies of thezenana, or servants of the Palace. But indeed, I saw nothing save thetiger, and only vaguely observed that there were women there at all."
"It was well that the sultan took the view he did of the matter," thegovernor said. "I have known men put to death, for deeds that were buttrifles in comparison to looking into the zenana.
"Now, Colonel, I will send for my artillery officer and the horses,and we will ride round the fortifications on the brow of the hill,inspect the two forts closely, and will point out to you the spotswhere it appears to us the defences ought to be strengthened."