"He's right," said Claude. "We'd better get back."

"Is there any--" Ted stopped short with a little gasp. He stood staring with wide-open eyes, and his companions followed his gaze.

"Is that the famous Taj Mahal?" he asked in a tone of awe; and Claude nodded.

Our lieutenant of Irregular Horse having become accustomed to the wonders of the East was not easily moved to admiration thereby. But now he was spell-bound by the beauty, the exquisite perfection of that lovely dream-palace, perhaps the most awe-inspiring work of men's hands.

In the ardour of argument he had not noticed the wonder, and now he could not take his eyes from that central dome, white and ethereal against the deep blue of the Indian sky, with its cluster of smaller pearly domes, the whole great and grand and yet unreal, as if the vision must shortly fade away. Men have attempted to depict the Taj Mahal in prose and poetry and painting, and have all admitted the feat impossible. "Go to India," Lord Roberts has said; "the Taj alone is worth the journey."

This vast tomb, known as the Taj Mahal, was built by the Emperor Shah Jehan in memory of his wife, and finished about the year 1640, when the Moslems were the great architects of the world. Forbidden by their religion to make images of men by painting or sculpture, they devoted their genius to architecture; and the mosques and tombs of Hindustan, and the Alhambra and other Moorish buildings in Spain, bear witness to their surpassing power.

Ramzan Khan looked downcast as they turned away.

"Ah!" said he sadly, "in those days were the true believers the leaders of mankind. We are unworthy children of our great fathers."

CHAPTER XXVI

Lucknow Relieved

Pushing forward with all speed past Mainpuri and Bewar, Colonel Boldre arrived in the British camp on November 13th, shortly after Sir Colin Campbell had assumed command of the Relief Force. The column was encamped within and around the grounds of the Alambagh, a big mansion enclosed by a high wall, three or four miles south of Lucknow. Here they met many of their Delhi friends, who had come down with Colonel Hope Grant, and one of the first to greet them was Alec Paterson. There was plenty to say on both sides.

Ted found that Alec, who still limped a little in walking, had been appointed an extra aide-de-camp by the brigadier, who had noticed the lad's great energy and thoroughness at Delhi. Alec told his chum how glad he was that his name had been cleared, and wanted to know all about the trial at once; but Ted was too anxious to look round the camp and find out the notables, so, observing that the story would keep, he asked Alec to act as guide. Paterson, by the way, did not mention the little fact that he had greatly distinguished himself under Greathed at Agra on the way down, and had been recommended for promotion. Ted found that out from another source.

"We advance to-morrow," the aide-de-camp informed his chums, and broke off abruptly to call their attention to a big, square-shouldered man in blue tunic, white cords, and jack-boots. "Here, do you see that man with the reddish hair and beard? He's a plucky chap. He's a clerk, not a soldier, but he's done a feat that any man might be proud of."

"What's he done?" asked Claude.

"Well, he don't look much like a mild Hindu or any other sort of Asiatic, does he? But he volunteered to disguise himself and break through the rebel lines with a note from Outram and plans of the enemy's weak points and advice for Sir Colin. And he did it. Fancy a man of his build and hair and features disguised as a native of Oudh! He must have a nerve. But he got through, and the general now has the plans; and if we succeed, Kavanagh will deserve a share of the credit. He's in the Volunteer Cavalry now."

"I want to see Sir Colin," said Ted. "Is he likely to be about?"

"I'll point him out if we see him. And who do you think is going to conduct the force to-morrow?"

"Who? How should I know?"

"Why, Lieutenant Roberts, the Artillery D.A.Q.M.G. at Delhi. That young man will be a major-general before any of us commands a battalion. He's a wonderful fellow, but so modest that nobody is jealous."

"Fine-looking lot those Highlanders!" Alec observed as they passed a group of men wearing the kilt and bonnet and white gaiters.

"They're the 93rd, I suppose," said Ted. "Hoot, mon, what for do ye no don the kilt yourself, Sandy?"

"I should like to," Alec replied. "The 93rd's a grand regiment, and I'm proud of being a countryman of theirs."

"Hear, hear!" said Ted. "They look fit."

The three friends entered the Alambagh enclosure.

"Who are those two?" asked Claude, nodding towards a couple of distinguished-looking officers who were walking about slowly, in earnest conversation.

"Ssh!--not so loud. Why, the older man is Sir Colin himself, and the taller one with glasses is General Mansfield, his chief of staff."

"Oh!"

The boys looked with keen interest upon the commander-in-chief. They saw a spare man, with a slight stoop, but a soldier to the backbone--an elderly man with furrowed brows, bearing the marks of long and arduous service; but there was no sign of weakness about the firm mouth, or the eyes so clear and alert.

"Yes, that's the commander-in-chief," said Paterson again. "Now, Ted, I've shown you round, and it's your turn to enlighten me now. I only know the bare facts that you have been cleared, and that Tynan is a howling cad."

So Ted had once more to tell what had befallen Tynan and himself at Lahore, and when he had finished the narrative, Alec asked:

"And what became of Pir Baksh?"

"He was condemned to death and shot the day before I left Lahore.

Colonel Woodburn and Munro were almost as pleased as I was when the truth came out, for I really think that they believed that I had been unjust to poor Tynan. But Ethel Woodburn had stuck up for me through thick and thin."

"Miss Woodburn is the nicest, jolliest girl in India," said Alec with conviction, "and your brother's a jolly lucky fellow."

"He is so. Yes, she's all that and more, and she kept my spirits up when I was feeling jolly well down in the mouth. Wasn't she glad when I was cleared! It was almost worth while having gone through it all. I don't suppose I'll ever see Tynan again. Poor beggar, I'm sorry for him, for I don't think he ever meant to do it."

"What became of those Rajputs he'd bribed?"

"They were dismissed from the service. Dwarika Rai begged my pardon before he went. He said that he hadn't understood that his evidence might disgrace me until it was too late for him to draw back, and I believed him."

"It was a funny business altogether," was Claude's opinion, given in a tone of unusual thoughtfulness. "The man must have been mad."

"He was a born cad," said Paterson, "and deserved the same fate as Pir Baksh."

"I don't agree with you," said Ted. "I think there's some good in him."

"Precious little. But I haven't time to argue; I must make a strategical retirement. See you to-morrow."

After Alec's departure Claude and Ted found their way to the roof of the Alambagh, where were one or two officers whom they did not know. Over the expanse of wooded plain they caught glimpses of the mosques and minarets and gilded spires of Lucknow, rearing their heads above the abundant foliage of the parks and great gardens. The city seemed to stretch as far as the eye could reach, and they both experienced a curious thrill as they gazed thereat.

"And that's where Sir Henry Lawrence died, and where Outram and Havelock are now," observed Ted, almost in a whisper.

"Eighty-seven days they held out before Havelock got through," Claude reflected aloud. "It was a grand defence. I wonder whereabouts the Residency is?"

"Over there, due north," said a voice beside them.

"Thank you!" Claude replied; and they looked at the speaker, a clean-shaven man with hair inclined to wave, attired in a dress that seemed singularly out of place there, even among so great a variety of uniforms. He wore a blue frock-coat, and his white trousers were unstrapped; there was a white cover to his cap, and hunting-spurs adorned his shoes.

"Where are you youngsters from?" he asked.

"Delhi," Ted replied. "We've just arrived with some Irregular Horse."

"Delhi! And you two had the luck to take part in the siege?"