Told by the Death's Head

g Hugo resumed

his hearing, if I mention what may seem trifling details. They are absolutely necessary to rend

have been so many praiseworthy

orhood of Benares, projects a bamboo pole as thick as a man's waist; and from it depends, by an iron chain, a large iron cage. A man is confined in this cage. His food is conveyed to hi

ater, and grin at the man in the cage. If he should break the iron bars which confine him in his airy pr

man?" querie

al highness, Shah Alum, the heir

confined in

h, that he deliver to them Mir Cossim and Sommer: whom they wanted to cage, and hang beside Shah Alum, to keep him from getting lonely! But the nabob of Andh allowed Sommer to escape; and he fled across the Jumna, where he organized another army. He was again defeated by the English, and fled to Joodpoor, where he placed himself under the protection of Prince Radspoota. Here he organized troops after the manner of those in Europe, and vanquished the rajahs of

e chair, "seems to have be

attas made a sudden attack that night on the residence of the Khan, and would have assassinated him, had not Sommer hastened with the loyal Mahrattas to the rescue, and vanquished the mutineers. And they were fine fellows-devilish fine fellows, too-those mutinous Mah

episode from the ears of our troops," o

got together a force of natives, and Europeans, sufficient to conquer a neighboring province, the chief city of which is

ed Sommer king of the conquered province of Sardhana. Thus, the son

favor. I believed it necessary, in order to familiarize you with the marvelous changes, which

I trod, I believe the honorable gentlemen would say: "Arise, and go your way in peace. You are not to blame for wh

s the grand-duchy of Treves; and the revenue of

ction. He forced a passage through the forests of Mevas, into which, until then, none of the foreign conquerors had been able to penetrate; which had formed an impassable barrier

to their gods, and in a very short time succeeded in dislodging them from their rocky retreat. Ultimately, he undertook to subdue the royal

quests. There was a beautiful young girl, named Zeib Alnissa (the Hindoo for "ornament of her sex"), the daughter of

ld espouse the beautiful Zeib Alnissa

ror, "can't you love a wo

have a profligate son whom I have been forced to disown. If I should die, my wife, according to the Brahminical custom, would be burned alive with my body. If she becomes a

oreign missionaries to convert the lovely young princess to the Christian

nd treachery which encompass every East Indian sovereign. The successful commander-in-chief had many enemies and rivals. The English company h

er-in-chief succumbed to the poison secretly administered to him. He died in the arms of the fa

nded the throne, thus preventing, as her husban

confirmed my appointment as commander of the fort. He actually had the effrontery to try to bribe me to betray the Begum into his power;

"When that time comes I

ed then, that my w

e reins of government. She increased her army, and

orse, or elephant, she inspec

he emperor gave her credit for great prudence and wisdom. Indeed, so great was the influe

mro Begum, he marched with his troops on the capital, and began to bombard the palace. Sumro Begum, however, heard the thunder of the cannonad

Khan had captured the fortress of Ghokal Gur. This valuable stronghold had to be recaptured; and troops were not lacking, but le

had been laid to rest, Kuli Khan, with his Mongolian cavalry, surprised the imperial camp, and began to slaughter the stupefied troops. The enemy in the fortress could see by the light of the burning tents the horrible butchery going on outside the walls,

with his entire army, had not Sumro Begum hastened to the rescue

y-guard-hardly one hundred men-entered her palanquin, and hastened,

ss was taking part in the massacre of the h

w my e

mounted a horse, and at the head of h

I placed my battery in such a position tha

dge, took the commander prisoner, and, with him in chains at her side, entered the fort, of which she took possession in the name of the emperor. She left all but ten of her men to guard the fort, and

nessed the annihil

called her his "dear daughter." He did not hesitate to declare, in the presence of his commanding officers, that

ess. The greater portion belongs to my commander of artillery. This is he"-she drew me forward and presented me

wer to

be the brave

me with a ring from his own finger. At the same time he appointed me co-regent of Sar

lly happened?" in

too-as you may read in the

s enough for one day to have heard how the son of an Anderna