1 THE WUZEERUT OF HEERA SING. 113
2 in two hours go over to Sucliet Sing if they were not in the
3 meantime sent to destroy him.
4 While these things were passing- at Lahore, the unfortunate
5 brothers, Kashmeera Sing and Peshora Sing, were wandering
6 fihout the Manjh, seeking rest and protection. At length
7 they joined the camp of one Bii or Baba Beer Sing, a chela or
8 disciple of the Gooroo Oona Saheb. This religious man had
9 for years roved about the Manjh, levying alms and con-
10 tributions to such an extent that he was now very rich. He
11 had, however, for some time past been considered as a disaf-
12 fected and dangerous character, and was accused of instilling
13 revolutionary principles into the minds of the Seik people and
14 soldiery. To strengthen the suspicion against him, he had
15 managed to collect and was able to maintain a force of twelve
16 hundred infantry, two or three hundred horse, and two guns, —
17 a strange following for a man professedly and professionally
18 holy ! To crown all, he had of late afforded an asylum to cer-
19 tain Chiefs and Sirdars who had fallen into disgrace at court,
20 and who with their retainers swelled the Baba's force to about
21 three thousand men and three guns. Whether Baba Beer Sing-
22 had any treasonable object in view, or intended to interfere
23 in state affairs, cannot now be said. It is certain, however, that
24 Heera Sing and the Pundit saw enough in his conduct and
25 position to incUice them to plan the extermination of him
26 and his whole camp. Had they openly avowed this design
27 to the army it would have cost them their lives, for the
28 soldiers held the Baba in high respect and reverence. They
29 flocked to him daily with their alms and offerings, and he in
30 return treated them liberally, keeping a free table, which was sup-
31 plied with food for fifteen hundred every clay, Heera Sing and
32 his adviser well knew then that they must proceed with the
33 utmost caution in carrying out their design. Nothing but the
34 most subtle contrivance, the most delicate management, could give
35 them a chance of success. As part of the plan, Heera Sing
36 Q