Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/558

534 which brought affairs to a fatal crisis. Captain Skinner, who happened to be in his power, was sent to the Envoy with a proposal to unite with him in seizing Amenoollah Khan, the chief second in influence to himself. Shah Sujah was then to be acknowledged king, with Akbar as his vizier; the English would be allowed to remain till next spring, and then to depart under circumstances that would save their honour. Sir William caught with a fatal facility at this delusive proposition; and his consent having been secured to the outline of the plan, it was suggested that a conference, for the purpose of arranging the details, should take place between him and Akbar Khan. To this he also agreed; and though warned by his friends of the danger of such a step, he declared that it appeared to present the only ray of hope, and that death itself would be preferable to the life he had lately led.

The place selected for the interview was an open space near the cantonment; and thither, about noon on the 23rd of December, Sir William Macnaghten proceeded, accompanied by Captains Laurence, Trevor, and Mackenzie. He had requested that the General would have two regiments and two guns ready for secret service; and the existence of a feeling that the experiment he was about to make was attended with danger, was indicated by his desiring that the garrison might be kept on the alert, and the walls strongly manned; but it does not appear that much regard was paid to his wishes on this point, for no troops were in readiness to carry out the objects of the proposed agreement.

On approaching the place of meeting, the small escort which had accompanied the Envoy halted, and he advanced with the three officers to the selected spot, which was partially screened from view from the cantonments by some small hillocks. Akbar Khan soon afterwards appeared, with some other chiefs, among whom was the brother of Amenoollah Khan, the man proposed to be seized and imprisoned. A carpet was spread, and the conference began. It had not long continued when a number of