1 RUNJEET SINGH TO NOO NEHAL SINGH. 21
2 men, and in their mutual correspondence made
3 use of a cypher known only to themselves. As
4 may be supposed, the fraternity raised up many
5 enemies. The most prominent among them were
6 the Sirdar Cheyt Singh, Kurruck Singh's nearest
7 friend and confidential adviser, the Misher family
8 in charge of the royal treasury, and many other in-
9 fluential sirdars ; the whole secretly aided by the
10 Jemidar Kooshyal Singh, a nobleman of very hjgh
11 rank, and who had himself formerly filled the post
12 of prime minister under Runjeet, until superseded
13 by Dhyan Singh ; all anxious for the overthrow of
14 the minister's family. The consequences of this
15 powerful combination were that the Kajah Dhyan
16 Singh, although still nominally prime minister,
17 found his authority virtually annulled. Revenge
18 for the loss of power took possession of his
19 thoughts, and he soon found an opportunity of
20 carrying his intentions into eflfect. About this
21 time the son of Kurruck Singh, the Prince Noo
22 Nehal Singh, returned to Lahore from Peshawur.
23 To this young man the Rajah Dhyan Singh now
24 firmly attached himself, in the twofold expecta-
25 tion of ridding himself of his obnoxious rival,
26 Cheyt Singh, and obtaining the full restoration
27 of his power and authority as prime minister.
28 Aware of the ambitious views of Noo Nehal Singh
29 against his father's rule, Dhyan Singh found little
30 difficulty in persuading him of the necessity of