re obliged to draw back. Their enemies were too many. As fast as
they killed, others came to take their place."

"And Lieutenant Haynes, the doctor, and Sergeant Craig?"

"All well when I left them, sahib. I came away many days ago, and
reached here, finding you, after a long, long search. Then I gave you a
letter, telling you to be hopeful, for your friends were near, and went
away again to tell the captain sahib, and ask him what I should do, for
he was waiting to find out whether you were alive, and how we could help
you."

"Yes; and what did he say?" I asked.

"Nothing, sahib."

"Nothing?"

"I could not find him. I had been away so long that he must have
supposed that I was killed, and he had gone."

"But where?"

"How can I tell, sahib? He was gone, and, as I could not find him, I
said I would come back and help you to escape without, but I could not
get near you. There were men watching everywhere at night, and all day
there were evil-minded budmashes of sowars for miles round. Oh, sahib,
they take great care that you shall not escape."

"Yes; I am watched in every direction."

"Yes, sahib, and I was in despair till a few days ago I was in a village
where a tiger sprang on a man, and mauled him, and then let him go, and
hunted him again till he got away at last. And then I said I would be
that man, and come here as soon as the tiger let me go."

"What! you ran that risk on purpose?" I said excitedly.

"Hush! not a word, sahib," said the man laughing. "I meant a sham tiger
to fly at me and claw me. They would not know that it was not a real
one."

"But the wounds--the clawings?"

"I made those, sahib, with a hook fastened in a tree."

"Dost!"

"Oh, it hurt a little, sahib; but there was no other way to come. And
even then, when I was ready to tear and wound, I stopped, for I said to
myself, `If I run there for help and refuge, they will not let me stay,
and I was ready to pull my hair and bewail myself.' But that would not
help me, and I sat down and thought all one day and all the next night,
and no help came, till it was gaining light, when I jumped up and
shouted, for I could see the way."

"To disguise yourself as a fakir?"

"Yes, sahib, for I said that no one would dare to say no to a holy man.
And you see I am here, and can stay, and--"

"Hist!" I said; and in a few moments he was lying beside my couch with
the light coverlid and two of the cushions tossed over him, ef