However, we may hope that this war will end in our army marching to Seringapatam, when we shall recover many of the prisoners in Tippoo's hands.
"I do not say all.

We know how many hundreds remained in his power last time, in spite of his promise to deliver them all up; and maybe something of the same sort will occur next time.

Numbers may be sent away, by him, to the hill fortresses dotted all over the country; and we should never be able to obtain news of them.

However, we must hope for the best." The next morning, the troopers arrived with a letter from the English resident at Arcot.

The Rajah glanced through it, and handed it to Dick, with the remark: "You will not get the honour you deserve, Dick." The letter ran: "Dear Rajah: "Your news would be extremely valuable, were it correct; but unfortunately it is not so, and doubtless the reports brought down by your nephew were spread by Tippoo, for the purpose of deceiving us.
Or, possibly, he may have intended to have come that way, but afterwards changed his mind.