“Then it was that I, by the mercy of God, was enabled to escape.  I was at the end of the veranda, farthest from the barracks.  Just as I was about to move off after the rest, one of the guards came in front of me, and whispered me to hide behind the last of the thick pillars till he came for me.  I recognized the man:  ’twas an old peon of mine.  Thank God for a faithful servant!  More dead than alive I did what he said.  For hours I lay there, fearing I know not what, not daring to stir lest some eye should see me, and suffering agonies from my untended wounds.  At last the man came to me.

“‘Sahib,’ he said, ’you were good to me.  I shall save you.  Come, quickly.’

“I got up and stumbled after him.  He led me by dark ways out of the fort, past the new godown, across the burying ground, down to Chandpal ghat.  There I found Mr. Toley awaiting me with a boat, and ’tis thanks to my old peon and him I now find myself safe.”

“And do you know what became of Bulger?” asked Desmond.

“He is with the rest, sorely battered, poor man.”

“What will happen to the prisoners?  How many are there?”

“There are nigh a hundred and fifty.  The Nawab has promised they shall suffer no harm, and after a night in barracks I suppose he will let ’em go.  We shall drop down the river till we reach the other vessels at Surman’s, and then, by heaven!  I shall see what I can do to bring Mr. Drake to a sense of his duty, and persuade him to come back and take off the Europeans.

“Sure this action of Sirajuddaula’s will not go unavenged.  We have already sent letters to Madras, and within two months, I hope, succor will reach us from thence, and we shall chastise this insolent young Nawab.”

“Do you think he will keep his word?—­I mean, to do the prisoners no harm.”

“I think so.  He has done no harm to Mr. Watts, whom he brought with him from Cossimbazar; and our people will be more valuable to him alive than dead.  Yes; by this time tomorrow I trust Mr. Holwell and the others will be safe on board the ships, and I do not envy Mr. Drake his bitter experience when the men he has deserted confront him.”

While Mr. Merriman was telling his story, the Hormuzzeer was slowly drifting down the river.  At Surman’s garden, about five miles south of Calcutta, it joined the other vessels belonging to British owners, and dropped anchor.  Several gentlemen came on board, eager to learn what had been the last scene in the tragic drama.  Mr. Merriman told them all he knew, and every one drew a long breath of relief when they learned that though prisoners, Mr. Holwell and the gallant few who had stuck to their posts had been assured of good treatment.  During the day the vessel dropped still lower down the river to Budge Budge, running the gauntlet of a brisk but ineffective fire from Tanna Fort, now in the hands of the Nawab’s troops.

When the Hormuzzeer lay at anchor at Budge Budge, Mr. Merriman explained to Desmond the plans he had formed for him.  The vessel now had her full cargo, and would sail immediately for Penang.  Mr. Merriman proposed that Desmond should make the voyage.  In his weak state the climate of Fulta, where the Europeans intended to stay until help reached them from Madras, might prove fatal to him; while the sea air would complete his cure.