" said the doctor. "Am I doing
right?"

"You have dressed his wounds, and we are going to get help for him,"
replied Brace.

"I hope so," muttered the doctor. And then we toiled on and on, under
the blazing sun, with our pieces growing so hot that they scorched our
shoulders, but he man made a complaint, and two and two we tramped on,
keeping a sharp look-out for the danger that might spring up at any
moment.

"We must chance an ambuscade," said Brace, quietly. "If we are
attacked, and there is cover to be had, follow me to it at once. We
four, with these rifles, ought to keep a pretty good party at bay. By
the way, always hold your left hand barrels in reserve. We may want
them to stop a rush."

My recollection of that march is as that of some feverish dream; the sun
came down with terrible power, and that which had been beautiful in the
morning, from the howdah of an elephant, was now gloomy, painful, and
apparently endless. Twice over we found that we had strayed from the
track, and I had to turn and go watchfully back till we could see the
great circular impressions of the elephants' feet, and at last we
reached the spot from whence we had started in the morning. There was
the litter left by the rajah's men when they had struck the
shelter-tent, and followed us; there were the elephants' footprints, and
the marks of the stakes. But there was no sign of that which I had
fondly hoped, in my parched and footsore state, might be in waiting--a
couple of vehicles, ready to take us back. All was silent save the cry
of a hawk soaring round and round in the blue sky, and once there came
the sharp shriek of a jay.

We had now reached the road along whose dusty side we steadily trudged
on, till we came in sight of Rajgunge, far away below us, and now bathed
in the warm, ruddy glow of the setting sun.

We involuntarily halted, and, after a sharp look round for danger, stood
gazing at the beautiful city, so calm and peaceful, with the golden
riband-like river curving round in the evening glow, that it was
impossible to think that anything could be wrong.

In fear of such a catastrophe, we looked forward to seeing the smoke
rising from a conflagration. But no; there was the faint haze caused by
the dust trampled up by many thousand feet, and softening the outline of
some of the dazzling white buildings. That was all.

"Can it be possible?" said the doctor at last, after he had gazed
through the little field