He alone had gone into the wilderness and faced death to ransom their lawful king.

Why these bonds?
The king had shirked his duty; he had betrayed his trust; but in order that the people should be no longer without a head, this man should become their prisoner king; he should be forced to sign laws for their betterment.

Without the royal signature the treasury could not be touched, and now the soldiers should be paid in full.
From the soldiers about came wild huzzahs.
Ahmed and Lal Singh, packed away in the heart of the crowd, exchanged gloomy looks.

Once the army was Umballa's, they readily understood what would follow: Umballa would acclaim himself, and the troops would back him.
"We have a thousand guns and ten thousand rounds of ammunition," murmured Lal Singh.
"Perhaps we had best prevail upon Ramabai to strike at once.

But wait.
The Colonel Sahib understands.