Probably, by this time, Holkar will have marched away--either to give battle or, what is more likely, to recruit; and for many miles round Delhi the country will be rejoicing, at having been spared the ruin that would have befallen it, had he taken the city.

So I have no fear that we shall be hindered on the way; for though they may wonder at my appearance--for the dye has now almost worn off, and anyone can see that I am a white--they will be all the more willing to render us any assistance.
"There is no fear of the rajah's horsemen keeping up the pursuit, beyond halfway between Sekerah and the city; for they must know that all the zemindars and people round it are in our favour, and that they might be attacked, when beyond the limits of the rajah's jagheer." When morning broke they could see, in the distance, the minarets of Delhi.
"They must be ten miles away, Abdool, and I will enter the next house we come to.

I fancy, from our position, we must be close to the residence of the zemindar who, at once, brought in a force of fifty men to aid in the defence of the town.

There we are sure of hospitable treatment and, indeed, I sorely need rest and food.

I have eaten nothing since yesterday morning and, counting the distance we made to the north after leaving the fort, we must have walked nearly fifty miles." Half a mile farther they saw a house, and made straight for it.
"Is Shuja Khan within ?" Harry asked an armed retainer standing at the entrance.
The soldier recognized Harry--having seen him when he called upon his master--and replied: "He returned last night, my lord." "Will you tell him that Captain Lindsay, who was treacherously captured by the Rajah of Sekerah, has just escaped, and is on his way to the city; and that he asks for his hospitality ?" "Enter, my lord," the man said, salaaming deeply.