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s he used for hunting gazelles。 The cheetahs were taken to the hunt in wheeled cages and at first Sharpe thought they were to be placed inside one of the barred vehicles； but then one of the escorts pushed him past the ponderous carts towards a flight of stone steps that descended to a long narrow trench of stone that lay open to the sky。 A tall fence of iron bars surrounded the pit that was guarded by a pair of soldiers。 One of them used a key to open a padlock the size of a mango； then the escort shoved Sharpe and Lawford through the open gate。
The dungeon guards did not carry muskets； but instead had coiled whips in their belts and bell…mouthed blunderbusses on their shoulders。 One of them pointed mutely down the steps and Sharpe； following Lawford down the stairs； saw that the trench was a stone…flagged； dead…end corridor lined on either side with barred cells。 There were eight cells in the pit； four on each side； and each separated from its neighbours； and from the central trench…like corridor； by iron bars alone； butbars that were as thick as a man's wrist。 The turnkey indicated that they should wait while he unlocked a cell； but the first padlock he attempted to open had bee stiff； or else had rusted； for it would not budge； and then he could not find a key to fit another of the big old locks。 Something stirred in the straw of the cell that lay at the far right…hand end of the corridor。 Sharpe； waiting as the guard sorted through his keys； heard the straw rustle again； then there was a growl as a huge tiger heaved up from its bed to stare at them with blank yellow eyes。
More straw stirred in the first cell on the left； close by where Sharpe and Lawford were standing。 'Look who it isn't！' Hakeswill had e to the bars。 'Sharpie！'
'Be quiet； Sergeant；' Lawford snapped。
'Yes； sir； Mister Lieutenant Lawford； sir； quiet it is； sir。' Hakeswill clung to the bars of his cage； staring wide…eyed at the two newers。 His face twitched。 'Quiet as the grave； sir； but no one talks to me down here。 He won't。' He nodded towards the cell opposite that the guard was now unlocking。 'Likes it quiet； he does；' Hakeswill went on。 'Like a bleeding church。 Says his prayers too。 Always quiet it is here； except when the darkies are having a shout at each other。 Dirty bastards they are。 Smell the sewage； can you？ One giant jakes！' Hakeswill's face twisted in rictus and； in the gloom of the shadowed cells； his eyes seemed to glitter with an unholy delight。 'Been missing pany； I have。'
'Bastard；' Sharpe muttered。
'Quiet！ Both of you；' Lawford insisted and then； with his innate politeness； the Lieutenant nodded thanks to the guard who had finally opened the cell directly opposite Hakeswill's lair。 'e on； Sharpe；' Lawford said； then stepped fastidiously into the filthy straw。 The cell was eight foot deep and ten foot long and a little over the height of a man。 The sewage smell was rank； but no worse than in the courtyard above。 The barred door clashed shut behind them and the key was turned。'Willie；' a tired voice said from the shadows of the cell； 'how very good of you to visit me。' Sharpe； his eyes accustoming themselves to the dimness of the dungeons； saw that Colonel McCandless had been crouching in one corner； half shrouded by straw。 The Colonel now stood to greet them； but he was weak for he tottered as he stood； though he shook off Law…ford's attempt to help him。 'A fever；' he explained。 'It es and it goes。 I've had it for years。 I suspect the only thing that will cure it will be some soft Scottish rain； but that seems an ever more unlikely prospect。 It is good to see you； Willie。'
'You too； sir。 You've met Private Sharpe； I think。'
McCandless gave Sharpe a grim look。 'I have a question for you； young man。'
'It wasn't gunpowder； sir；' Sharpe said； remembering his first confrontation with the Colonel and thus anticipating the question。 'It tasted wrong； sir。 Wasn't salty。'
'Aye； it didn't look like powder；' the Scotsman said。 'It was blowing in the wind like flour； but that wasn't my question； Private。 My question； Private； is what would you have done if it had been gunpowder？'
'I'd have shot you； sir；' Sharpe said； 'begging your pardon； sir。'
'Sharpe！' Lawford remonstrated。
'Quite right； man；' McCandless said。 'The wretched fellow was testing you； wasn't he？ He was giving you a recruitment test； and you couldn't fail it。 I'm glad it wasn't powder； but I don't mind saying you had me worried for a brief while。 Do you mind if I sit； Willie？ I'm not in my usual good health。' He sank back into his straw from where he frowned up at Sharpe。 'Nor are you； Private。 Are you in pain？'
'Bastards cracked a rib； sir； and I'm bleeding a bit。 Do you mind if I sit？' Sharpe gingerly sat against the side bars of the cell and carefully lifted away the coat that had been draped over his back。 'Bit of fresh air will heal it； sir；' he said to Lawford who was insisting on examining the newly openedwounds； though there was nothing he could do to help them mend。
'You won't get fresh air here；' McCandless said。 'You smell the sewage？'
'You can't miss that smell； Uncle；' Lawford said。
'It's the new inner wall；' McCandless explained。 'When they built it they cut the city drains； so now the night soil can't reach the river and the sewage puddles just east of here。 Some of it seeps away through the Water Gate； but not enough。 One learns to pray for a west wind。' He smiled grimly。 'Among other things。'
McCandless wanted news； not only of what had brought Lawford and Sharpe into Seringapatam； but of the siege's progress and he groaned when he heard where the British had placed their works。 'So Harris is ing from the west？'
'Yes； sir。'
'Straight into the Tippoo's loving arms。' The Scotsman sat quietly for a moment； sometimes shivering because of his fever。 He had wrapped himself in straw again； but he was still cold； despite the day's intense damp heat。 'And you couldn't get a message out？ No； I suppose not。 Those things are never easy。' He shook his head。 'Let's hope the Tippoo doesn't finish his mine。'
'It's near finished； sir。' Sharpe delivered yet more bad news。 'I saw it。'
'Aye； it would be。 He's an efficient man； the Tippoo；' McCandless said； 'efficient and clever。 Cleverer than his father； and old Hyder Ali was canny enough。 I never met him； but I think I'd have liked the old rogue。 This son； now； I never met him either until I was captured； and I wish I hadn't。 He's a good soldier but a bad enemy。' McCandless closed his eyes momentarily as a shudder racked his body。
〃What will he do with us？' Lawford asked。
'That I cannot say；' Colonel McCandless replied。 Tt depends； probably； on his dreams。 He's not as good a Muslimas he'd like us to think； for he still believes in some older magic and he sets great store by his dreams。 If his dreams tell him to kill us then doubtless we'll have our heads turned back to front like the unfortunate gentlemen who shared these cells with me until quite recently。 You heard about them？'
'We heard；' Lawford said。
'Murdered to amuse the Tippoo's troops！' McCandless said disapprovingly。 'And there were some good Christian men among them too。 Only that thing over there surviv