1 ASSASSINATION OF SHERE SING AND DEHAN SING. 73
2 •
3 sucli confidence, had no other effect on Shere Sing, a brave and
4 intrepid man and a good soldier, than to excite his indignation
5 against his treacherous Minister. — " Here," said he, drawing his
6 sword, and offering it to the Scindawalla Sirdars, Lena Sing
7 and Ajeet Sing, — " here, if you have orders to slay me, and
8 are willing to commit such an act, here is my own sword ! But,
9 remember one thing, — not many days will pass before you will
10 be treated in the same manner by the men who now make you
11 their tools." At these words the Scindawallas appeared affect-
12 ed and astonished, and asked the Maharajh if he really believed
13 they could act in such a manner ; — they said that they
14 had come, not to destroy, but to save him. They assured him of
15 their devotion to him, and proposed that as the just punishment
16 of the Minister's evil and treacherous intentions they should
17 put him to death immediately. This alone, they assured the
18 Maharajh, would ensure his safety, for that if the Minister were
19 allowed to live any longer, he would certainly find means
20 to execute his murderous designs on his master. Shere Sing
21 with seeming reluctance agreed to their proposal, and they
22 took care to obtain a writing* under his signature, exonerating
23 them from all the guilt of an act which was represented as
24 necessary for the safety of the state.
25 Having made these arrangements the Scindawallas explained
26 to Shere Sing that they would now retire for awhile to a place
27 called Rajah Sansee, near Umritsir, there to prepare themselves
28 and a party of their chosen soldiers for the enterprise which
29 they had in hand, and that thence they would return to him
30 shortly, under the pretence of performing their hazaree, or a
31 strict inspection of their troops, which the Maharajh was to
32 order. At this review they were all to appear in the best order
33 they could assume, fully armed and accoutred, with matches
34 lit, and to go through the matchlock exercise before the Maha-
35 rajh, who was then to call on Dehan Sing to come forward
36 and examine the troops. Then at a signal agreed upon,
37 L