This,
however, would be of no consequence, after a time. Many of the native
princes had Europeans in their service. Runaway sailors, deserters
from the English, French, and Dutch armed forces in their possessions
on the seacoast, adventurers influenced either by a love of a life of
excitement, or whom a desire to escape the consequences of folly or
crime committed at home had driven to a roving life--such men might be
found in many of the native courts.
Once settled, then, in the service of the rajah, Charlie intended to
make but little farther pretence, or secrecy, as to his nationality.
Outwardly, he would still conform to the language and appearance of
the character he had chosen; but he would allow it to be supposed that
he was an Englishman, a deserter from the Company's service, and that
his comrades were Sepoys in a similar position. His employment, then,
at the court of the rajah, would have an effect the exact reverse of
that which it would have done, had he appeared in his proper
character.
Deserters were, of all men, the most opposed to their countrymen, to
whom they had proved traitors. In battle they could be relied upon to
fight desperately, for they fought with ropes round their necks.
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