'  Inshalla !  there  is  no  fear.'

'  Fear  ! '  cried  the  Sultaun  bitterly ;  '  fear  I  no,  there  is  no
fear ;  there  is  joy  that  at  last  we  shall  have  them  in  our  power.
In  a  few  months  the  King  of  the  Afghans  will  rise  in  our  favour,
and,  leagued  with  the  Rajah  of  Nipaul,  and  the  rulers  of  Joudh-
poor  and  Jynuggur,  who  shall  be  able  to  withstand  them  ?  The
French  will  rise  with  ten  thousand  men ;  our  valiant  troops  are  a
lakh  and  more.  Pressed  on  all  sides,  our  enemies  will  fall ;  and
then  for  revenge  and  plunder  1 '    As  he  spoke  his  eyes  flashed


TIPPOO  SULTAUN.  317

fire,  his  action  was  high  and  restless,  and  even  that  sedate
counsellor  the  Dewan  caught  a  portion  of  his  excitement.
'  Upon  them  then,'  he  cried,  '  in  the  name  of  Alia !  Syud
Sahib  is  below  the  passes  with  all  the  cavalry.  Bangalore  hath  a
gallant  commander,  and  the  garrison  is  staunch  and  true ;  there
is  plenty  of  powder  and  ball ;  to  the  north  are  all  the  Droogs,*
for  the  Mahrattas  and.  Nizam  to  break  their  force  against.  In-
shalla  then  !  unfurl  the  standard  of  the  faith  in  Durbar  this
night,  and  cry  Alia  Yar  !  He  who  is  faithful  to  his  creed  and  his
Sultaun  will  follow  thee  to  the  death.'

'  Asylum  of  the  World ! '  said  an  attendant,  entering ;  '  these
letters  have  just  arrived,  and  are  said  to  contain  news  from  the
army ;  there  hath  been  fighting.'  And  he  laid  them  at  Tippoo's
feet.
