the plain; the only access being by a zigzag road cut in the face of the
cliff, with a gateway defended by a gun, and loopholed walls at each turn,
and with a very strong wall all round the edge of the rock. The garrison,
they had learned from the persons at the farm, was some three hundred
strong, the ordinary number of retainers being at present increased by
many fighting men, who had within the last few days joined the rajah, on
hearing that he was going to march to Delhi to fight under the emperor
against the Feringhees.

The troop halted in a wood three miles from Nahdoor; as the guide said
that there was no place nearer where they could be concealed without a
certainty of discovery.

Before morning Major Warrener and his second in command put on native
clothes, which the former bad brought with him, in case it should be
necessary to open communication with the girls, and left the wood with one
of the native guides. The disguises were not meant to deceive close
investigation, and no attempt was made to change the color of the skin,
but they were sufficient to enable the wearers to pass without exciting
suspicion by any one who only saw them at a distance.

When morning broke they stood within half a mile of the fortress, which
answered exactly to the description they had received of it. Gradually--
keeping always at a distance, and availing themselves as far as possible
of cover--they made a circuit of the place, and then returned to the
troop, who were anxiously awaiting their report.

"It is a very hard nut to crack," Major Warrener said to his sons. "There
is no possibility of climbing the rock anywhere, or of attacking in any
way except by the regular ascent. There are eight gateways to be forced