nder a great tree."

"Why, I asked you if it was shady," I cried; and then it occurred to me
that, in spite of my studies at Brandscombe and out here, my Hindustani
was very imperfect, for the man smiled in a deprecatory way which seemed
to mean that he hoped my lord would not be angry with him for not
understanding his words.

"Take me out now," I said.

Salaman clapped his hands softly, and the two men I knew by sight
entered at once, followed by two more whom I had not previously seen.
These four, at a word from my attendant, advanced to stand two at the
head, two at the foot of my couch.

"Tell them to be very careful how they lift me," I said; "and have some
water ready in case I turn faint."

For I had a painful recollection of the horrible sensation of sickness
which attacked me sometimes when the doctor was moving me a little in
dressing my wounded arm; and, eager as I was to go out in the open air,
I could not help shrinking at the thought of being moved, so as the four
men stooped I involuntarily set my teeth and shut my eyes, with a
determination not to show the pain I should be in.

To my astonishment and delight, instead of taking hold of me, the four
men at a word softly rolled over the sides of the rug upon which my
couch was made, until it was pretty close to my side, when they seized
the firm roll, lifted together, and I was borne out through the open
side of the tent, so lightly and with such elasticity of arm and hand,
that instead of being a pain it was a pleasure, and I opened my eyes at
once.

I was very eager to see where I was, and what the country was like all
round. In fact, I had a slight hope that I should be able to recognise
some point or another, even if it were only one of the mountains.

But my hopes sank at once, for as we passed from out of the shadow of
the tent and into the beautiful morning sunshine I could see trees, and
trees only, shutting me in on every side, the tents being pitched partly
under a small banyan, or baobab tree, and standing in an irregular
opening of about a couple of acres in extent, while the dense verdure
rose like a wall all around.

I could not help sighing with disappointment; and, at a sign from
Salaman, the bearers stopped while he held the cup he had taken from a
stand to my lips.

"No, no," I said; "not now. Let them go on."

He signed to the bearers, and they stepped off again all together, and
the next moment almost they stopped in a d