ear, at latest,
their services would be dispensed with.

The men, although rather disappointed, retired, content to make the
best of the circumstances. Desertions were very frequent in the Sepoy
force of the Company, as the men, returning to their native villages
and resuming their former dress and occupation, were in no danger
whatever of discovery. But in Charlie's force not a single desertion
had taken place since it was raised; as the men knew that, by leaving
the colours, they would forfeit their share of the prize money, held
for them in the Madras treasury.

"Have you heard from home lately?" Peters asked.

"Yes," Charlie said. "There was a large batch of letters lying for me,
at Madras. My eldest sister, who has now been married three years, has
just presented me with a second nephew. Katie and my mother are well."

"Your sister is not engaged yet?" Peters asked.

"No. Katie says she's quite heart whole at present. Let me see--how
old is she now? It is just eight years and a half since we left
England, and she was twelve years old then. She is now past twenty.

"She would do nicely for you, Peters, when you go back. It would be
awfully jolly, if you two were to fall in love with each other."

"I feel quite disposed to do so," Peters said, laughing, "from your
descriptions of her. I've heard so much of her, in all the time we've
been together; and she writes such bright merry letters, that I seem
to know her quite well."

For Charlie, during the long evenings by the campfires, had often read
to his friend the lively letters which he received from his sisters.
Peters had no sisters of his own; and he had more than once sent home
presents, from the many articles of jewelry which fell to his share of
the loot of captured fortresses, to his friend's sisters, saying to
Charlie that he had no one in England to send things to, and that it
kept up his tie with the old country; for he had been left an orphan,
as a child.

The day after the deputation from his men had spoken to Charlie, Tim
said:

"I hope, yer honor, that whin the troop's disbanded, you will be going
home for a bit, yourself."

"I intend to do so, Tim. I have been wanting to get away, for the last
two years, but I did not like to ask for leave until everything was
settled here. And what is more, when I once get back, I don't think
they will ever see me in India again. I have sufficient means to live
as a wealthy man in England, and I've seen