gistrates,
collectors, and the like--have been trampling down and insulting these
people, till they have been crushed in the dust, till they could bear no
more, and they have risen. Now do you ask me what I mean?"

Brace glanced at me as I was thinking of the handsome, patient syce at
the barracks, and the treatment I had often seen him meet with; and
then, as if reading my thoughts, he turned away with a look of despair.

"There is no hiding the fact, Brace," continued the doctor. "I only
hope I am exaggerating the troubles. But if I am right, I say, God help
the wives and daughters of those who have them here, and may He spread
his hands over the unfortunate children!"

His words seemed to cut through me with an agonising pain, as I mentally
repeated his words--wives and daughters; and then I felt giddy, and as
if I should fall from the howdah. "Wives and daughters!" I said aloud,
and then, with a horrible feeling of despair, I pictured trouble at
Nussoor, where my father's regiment was stationed, and thought of my
mother and sister face to face with the horrors of a revolt.

"Hold up, Vincent," said Brace, in a sharp whisper. "What's the matter?
Feel the sun too much? Take some water, lad. I want your help. You
must not break down."

"No, no," I said quickly; "I'm better now."

"That's right! We must get back and learn the full extent of the
mischief. Yon poor fellow was excited, and he may have exaggerated the
affair. He is as bad as can be, and perhaps he imagines that the rest
were the same. Cheer up, lad! Lacey is too clever and experienced an
officer to have been cut up like that. I dare say we shall find him
looking out for us anxiously. Perhaps we shall meet an escort sent to
meet us."

Just then the rajah's elephant came abreast, and its master reached out
his hand with refreshments, which Brace declined, but the next moment
took eagerly.

"Thank you," he said quickly. "Eat, drink, Vincent," he half whispered;
"we shall want all our strength."

"And you?" I said.

"Oh, I shall do the same," he said bitterly; and then he held out his
hand, and whispered softly, "We have been very poor friends lately, my
lad, but shake hands now, for perhaps we are very near the end of life's
journey."

"Brace," I gasped as I snatched at his hand and gripped it hard.

"I hope not, for your sake, boy," he said in a low voice; "for you have
your young life before you. I hope not for my own. I ma