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I took the swivel； and aimed coolly。 Loll Mahommed； his palanquin；
and his men； were now not above two hundred yards from the fort。
Loll was straight before me； gesticulating and shouting to his men。
I firedbang！ ！ ！
I aimed so true； that one hundred and seventeen best Spanish olives
were lodged in a lump in the face of the unhappy Loll Mahommed。
The wretch； uttering a yell the most hideous and unearthly I ever
heard； fell back dead； the frightened bearers flung down the
palanquin and ranthe whole host ran as one man： their screams
might be heard for leagues。 〃Tomasha； tomasha；〃 they cried； 〃it is
enchantment！〃 Away they fled； and the victory a third time was
ours。 Soon as the fight was done； I flew back to my Belinda。 We
had eaten nothing for twenty…four hours； but I forgot hunger in the
thought of once more beholding HER！
The sweet soul turned towards me with a sickly smile as I entered；
and almost fainted in my arms； but alas！ it was not love which
caused in her bosom an emotion so strongit was hunger！ 〃Oh！ my
Goliah；〃 whispered she； 〃for three days I have not tasted food
I could not eat that horrid elephant yesterday； but nowoh！
heaven！ 。 。 。 。〃 She could say no more； but sank almost lifeless
on my shoulder。 I administered to her a trifling dram of rum； which
revived her for a moment； and then rushed down stairs； determined
that if it were a piece of my own leg； she should still have
something to satisfy her hunger。 Luckily I remembered that three or
four elephants were still lying in the field； having been killed by
us in the first action； two days before。 Necessity； thought I； has
no law； my adorable girl must eat elephant； until she can get
something better。
I rushed into the court where the men were； for the most part；
assembled。 〃Men；〃 said I； 〃our larder is empty； we must fill it as
we did the day before yesterday。 Who will follow Gahagan on a
foraging party？〃 I expected that； as on former occasions； every
man would offer to accompany me。
To my astonishment； not a soul moveda murmur arose among the
troops； and at last one of the oldest and bravest came forward。
〃Captain；〃 he said； 〃it is of no use； we cannot feed upon elephants
for ever； we have not a grain of powder left； and must give up the
fort when the attack is made to…morrow。 We may as well be
prisoners now as then； and we won't go elephant…hunting any more。〃
〃Ruffian！〃 I said； 〃he who first talks of surrender； dies！〃 and I
cut him down。 〃Is there any one else who wishes to speak？〃
No one stirred。
〃Cowards！ miserable cowards！〃 shouted I； 〃what； you dare not move
for fear of death； at the hands of those wretches who even now fled
before your armswhat； do I say YOUR arms？before MINE！alone I
did it； and as alone I routed the foe； alone I will victual the
fortress！ Ho！ open the gate！〃
I rushed out； not a single man would follow。 The bodies of the
elephants that we had killed still lay on the ground where they had
fallen； about four hundred yards from the fort。 I descended calmly
the hill； a very steep one； and coming to the spot； took my pick of
the animals； choosing a tolerably small and plump one； of about
thirteen feet high； which the vultures had respected。 I threw this
animal over my shoulders； and made for the fort。
As I marched up the acclivity； whizpiffwhir！ came the balls
over my head； and pitter…patter； pitter…patter！ they fell on the
body of the elephant like drops of rain。 The enemy were behind me；
I knew it； and quickened my pace。 I heard the gallop of their
horse： they came nearer； nearer； I was within a hundred yards of
the fortseventyfifty！ I strained every nerve； I panted with
the superhuman exertionI rancould a man run very fast with such
a tremendous weight on his shoulders？
Up came the enemy； fifty horsemen were shouting and screaming at my
tail。 O heaven！ five yards moreone momentand I am saved！ It
is doneI strain the last strainI make the last stepI fling
forward my precious burden into the gate opened wide to receive me
and it； andI fall！ The gate thunders to； and I am left ON THE
OUTSIDE！ Fifty knives are gleaming before my bloodshot eyesfifty
black hands are at my throat； when a voice exclaims； 〃Stop！kill
him not； it is Gujputi！〃 A film came over my eyesexhausted
nature would bear no more。
CHAPTER IX。
SURPRISE OF FUTTYGHUR。
When I awoke from the trance into which I had fallen； I found
myself in a bath； surrounded by innumerable black faces； and a
Hindoo pothukoor （whence our word apothecary） feeling my pulse and
looking at me with an air of sagacity。
〃Where am I？〃 I exclaimed； looking round and examining the strange
faces； and the strange apartment which met my view。 〃Bekhusm！〃
said the apothecary。 〃Silence！ Gahagan Sahib is in the hands of
those who know his valor； and will save his life。〃
〃Know my valor； slave？ Of course you do；〃 said I； 〃but the fort
the garrisonthe elephantBelinda； my lovemy darling
Macgillicuddythe scoundrelly mutineersthe deal bo 。 。 。 。〃
I could say no more； the painful recollections pressed so heavily
upon my poor shattered mind and frame； that both failed once more。
I fainted again； and I know not how long I lay insensible。
Again； however； I came to my senses： the pothukoor applied
restoratives； and after a slumber of some hours I awoke； much
refreshed。 I had no wound； my repeated swoons had been brought on
（as indeed well they might） by my gigantic efforts in carrying the
elephant up a steep hill a quarter of a mile in length。 Walking；
the task is bad enough： but running； it is the deuce； and I would
recommend any of my readers who may be disposed to try and carry a
dead elephant； never； on any account； to go a pace of more than
five miles an hour。
Scarcely was I awake； when I heard the clash of arms at my door
（plainly indicating that sentinels were posted there）； and a single
old gentleman； richly habited； entered the room。 Did my eyes
deceive me？ I had surely seen him before。 Noyesnoyesit
WAS he： the snowy white beard； the mild eyes； the nose flattened to
a jelly； and level with the rest of the venerable face； proclaimed
him at once to beSaadut Alee Beg Bimbukchee； Holkar's prime
vizier； whose nose； as the reader may recollect； his Highness had
flattened with his kaleawn during my interview with him in the
Pitan's disguise。 I now knew my fate but too wellI was in the
hands of Holkar。
Saadut Alee Beg Bimbukchee slowly advanced towards me； and with a
mild air of benevolence； which distinguished that excellent man （he
was torn to pieces by wild horses the year after； on account of a
difference with Holkar）； he came to my bedside； and taking gently
my hand； said； 〃Life and death； my son； are not ours。 Strength is
deceitful； valor is unavailing； fame is only windthe nightingale
sings of the rose all nightwhere is the rose in the morning？
Booch； booch！ it is withered by a frost。 The rose makes remarks
regarding the nightingale； and where is that delightful song…bird？
Penabekhoda； he is netted； plucked； spitted； and roasted！ Who
knows how misfortune comes？ It has come to Gahagan Gujputi！〃
〃It is well；〃 said I； stoutly； and in the Malay language。 〃Gahagan
Gujputi will bear it like a man。〃
〃No doubtlike a wise man and a brave one； but there is no lane so
long to which there is not a turning； no night so black to which
there comes not a morning。 Icy winter is followed by merry spring…
timegrief is often succeeded by joy。〃
〃Interpret； O riddler！〃 said I； 〃Gahagan Khan is no reader of
puzzlesno prating mollah。 Gujputi loves not words； but swords。〃
〃Listen； then； O Gujputi： you are in Holkar's power。〃
〃I know it。〃
〃You will die by the most horrible tortures to…morrow morning。〃
〃I dare say。〃
〃They will tear your teeth from your jaws； your nails from your
fingers； and your eyes from your head。〃
〃Very possibly。〃
〃They will flay you alive； and then burn you。〃
〃Well； they can't do any more。〃
〃They will seize upon every man and woman in yonder fort；〃it was
not then taken！〃and repeat upon them the same tortures。〃
〃Ha！ Belinda！ Speakhow can all this be avoided？〃
〃Listen。 Gahagan loves the moon…face called Belinda。〃
〃He does； Vizier； to distraction。〃
〃Of what rank is he in the Koompani's army？〃
〃A captain。〃
〃A miserable captainoh shame！ Of what creed is he？〃
〃I am an Irishman； and a Catholic。〃
〃But he has not been very particular about his religious duties？〃
〃Alas； no。〃
〃He has not been to his mosque for these twelve years？〃
〃'Tis too true。〃
〃Hearken now； Gahagan Khan。 His Highness Prince Holkar has sent me
to thee。 You shall have the moon…face for your wifeyour second
wife； that is；the first shall be the incomparable Puttee Rooge；
who loves you to madness；with Put