people, and if he thinks that his people are about
to get the upper hand, it is too much to expect him to stand fast by an
alien race."

Just then one of our men uttered a deep sigh, and as I looked in the
direction from which the sound had come, I could not help thinking how
dependent we were upon our posts at a time like that, with our poor
weary fellows lying about fast asleep, and the thought had hardly
occurred to me, when I sprang up, for there was a challenge from our
sentry out in the direction of the rajah's town.

Brace was on the _qui vive_ at once, and we stood there listening and
trying to pierce the gloom when a dimly seen white figure stole up; and
I was thinking how easily a daring party of natives might rush in
amongst us, and, in a few minutes of surprise, cut us up, when the
figure spoke, and I recognised Dost's voice.

"What news?" cried Brace, eagerly.

"I got right in among the people," said Dost, quietly. "They hardly
noticed that I was a stranger, most of them taking me for one of the
rajah's followers."

"And what have you learned?" said Brace, eagerly--"that they march
to-morrow!"

"No, sahib, they stay here to drill till the maharajah is satisfied, and
then they go to join the other chief."

"Yes, yes," said Brace. "But you are sure they stand fast here for the
present?"

"As sure as man can be, sahib," replied Dost. "The rajah says that he
will stay; but if he learns that you are here he will either attack you,
or go at once."

Brace remained very thoughtful as soon as Dost was dismissed, and quite
a little council of war was held, to which Haynes was summoned, and
after much talking, we could only come to the conclusion that an attack
would be full of the risk of failure. Such an attempt would be
unsatisfactory, Brace said, unless we could thoroughly scotch the
rajah's power by carrying off all the horses and guns, and to do this
seemed impossible in the face of such strong odds and the careful watch
kept by the enemy.

"Can any one suggest a ruse by which we could capture them?"

"What about a night attack with lights and plenty of shouting?" said the
doctor.

"We have no lights," replied Brace; "and if we had, we should scare the
horses as well as the enemy, and send them galloping over the plains."

"Better keep to my own profession," said the doctor grimly.

"Haynes, can you suggest anything?" said Brace.

"No; I leave that to you. But what you ask me to do I'll