108 THE rajah's escape. 



back and was off like the wind. The sentry's 

 matchlock was standing against the wall, but be- 

 fore he was prepared to fire, the Rajah was round 

 the corner and out of sight; though the poor 

 horsekeeper, who was one of his own faithful 

 servants, and had brought the horse to further 

 his master's escape, was cut down on the spot. 

 The plan for the Rajah's escape was cleverly- 

 devised and boldly carried out ; ten horses 

 were posted between Hyderabad and Wun- 

 purty, so that the Sowars who were sent in 

 pursuit had not a chance of capturing him, 

 and the Rajah was thus enabled to make fa- 

 vourable terms with his creditor." 



" Those Arabs are indeed sad extortioners, I 

 have heard," said the Hukeem, " but it is only, 

 I believe, at Hyderabad that they exercise the 

 calling of money-lender, and I was not aware 

 of their doing so even there until I heard it 

 from Colonel Sutherland, who was long in 

 command of the Nizam's Cavalry Division of 

 5000 horse, and consequently well acquainted 

 with the customs of the country. Ah, that was 

 indeed a fine Sirdar," continued the Hukeem, 

 ' ' and his equal I never saw, either with sword 

 or spear ; such a horseman too that the most 



