and where the mutiny had not yet broken
out.

They set out, with two footmen for guides,
and passed a party of two or three hundred
villagers holding, for protection of their
villages, a night- watch in a hollow among
trees. At two in the morning they were
left by their guides; at dawn they passed a
large empty encampment; at eight in the
morning they entered a Pathan village,
called Kaieem Gunj. The tehseeldar or
government official was a frail old man, with a
kind heart, who took them to the walled
grounds of the chief native proprietor in the
place, the Nawab Ahmed Yar Khan, by whom
a messenger was sent to a kinsman, Nawab
Doollah, living eight miles off, at Shumshabad,
upon the Ganges. He was to have a boat
ready for them in the afternoon. But, the
imperilled travellers had only touched their
breakfasts, when a whispered message to
their host caused him to send them off immediately
to Shumshabad, with an escort of five
horsemen, under his relation, Mooltan Khan.
Before taking leave, the Nawab asked for a
certificate of good treatment, which is almost
invariably a prelude to treachery. It had to
be given. They set out, Mooltan Khan
leading the way, across fields and avoiding
all the villages. After four miles' riding,
there was a halt, to allow the camel on
which Mr. Gibson and Wuzeer Singh were
mounted, as well as the elder Mr. Donald on
his horse, to overtake the party. When they
did come up, Mr. Donald whispered to Mr.
Edwards, " I have heard something that will
make your blood curdle. Wuzeer Singh
informs me that he overheard the Nawab's
people and our escort, before leaving Kaieem
Gunj, say that we were all to be killed as
soon as we embarked on board the boat."
This was the truth; and, with a knowledge
of it, the travellers arrived at the Nawab
Doollah's, where they were received with
great civility by the Nawab's head man, a
Hindoo, who was sitting transacting business
in an open verandah, surrounded by a crowd
of people.

Nawab Doollah received and sent messages,
promised the boat, but (very bad sign) would
not see his guests. Refreshment was
provided in his European bungalow.

"I pity you, from my heart," said Mooltan
Khan.

"Why so?"

"Because there is no boat provided; and,
as the roads are, you cannot expect to reach
Futtehghur alive."

"Armed men are collecting round us,
then cried the younger Mr. Donald, from the
window.

Horses were ordered out for prompt
return to Kaieem Gunj; and Mr. Edwards
offered his second horse, ridden until that time
by his Afghan servant, to Mr. Gibson, who
remained by his camel. The crowd opened to
let them pass, and they passed only to find a
body of cavalry drawn across the road, in waiting
for them. " We cannot advance a yard.
Back to the house!" cried Mooltan Khan.
As our countrymen turned back, the mob
opened fire on them with savage shouts and
yells. Mr. Edwards, putting his horse right
at the crowd, beat through, presenting his
revolver, careful not to discharge it, unless
in the last extremity. Dread of it opened a
way for him, and he passed close to Mr.
Gibson, who had been dragged from his
camel, and with a look of agony tried vainly
to defend himself against the swarm of men
who beat him down with swords and sticks.
Mooltan Khan and his men galloped off,
leaving the white men to their fate. This
was the sixth hairbreadth escape. The
escort looked threatening enough when it
was overtaken by three of the four victims,
safely brought by their own struggle out of
danger. Mr. Gibson had been killed and cut
to pieces. The elder Mr. Donald broke
through the mob, hatless, his horse wounded,
but he sound. The younger Mr. Donald
had escaped pursuit by leaping a ravine,
across which none dared follow. Mr.
Edwards's second horse had broken loose and
fled. That was the end of the battle; but a
new danger fronted them, and to meet this
frankly Mr. Edwards rode up to Mooltan
Khan, and, putting a hand on his shoulder,
said:

"Have you a family and little children?"

He was answered by a nod.

"And are they not dependent upon you
for bread '?"

"Yes."

"Well, so have I," said the Englishman;
"and I am sure you are not the man to take
my life, and destroy their support."

The Indian looked for a moment at the
man who thus appealed to him, and then
said:

"I will save you, if I can; follow me."

Hairbreadth escape the seventh. There
was an added peril from the discontent
of one of the sowars, who rode off to excite
another rising of the villagers.

Returned to Kaieem Gunj and to the
Nawab's house, that magnate agreed to
afford shelter again until nightfall. Then
the guests must quit his house, and he could
find nobody who would act as their guide to
Futtehghur; news having come to the effect
that the commander-in-chief before Delhi
had poisoned himself, and that the English
were destroyed. The horse of the elder Mr.
Donald was disabled by his wound, and
nothing could be bought for this gentleman,
but a miserable pony, unable to bear his
weight. The intercession of the kind old
tehseeldar secured, however, through the
Nawab, two trustworthy guides. Mr.
Edwards's second horse, when they were about
to start, had been recovered, and was available
for Mr. Donald's use. They started with
Indian complexions, and in Indian costume;