be a regular hunt of the gardens, after
the fashion of beating up a tiger.

"Come, quick!" he whispered. "The rajah must be there."

He snatched my hand, and led me on toward the far end of the garden, but
only to stop short, for, to my horror, I saw a door open, a blaze of
light flash out, and a body of men bearing torches troop down some steps
and spread across that end where they were quickly marshalled by some
one in authority, and began to advance toward us.

Our position was hopeless, for now the two lines of men advancing from
either end were making the place as light as day, and gradually
narrowing the ground in which we could be free. It was only a matter of
minutes before we should be caught between them.

Dost pressed my hand hard as he looked wildly about him.

"No trees, sahib, no trees to climb," he whispered. "I did try so hard
to save you, but I have failed. Good-bye, sahib. I was thy faithful
servant. Good-bye!"

"Why do you say that?" I said huskily.

"Why?" He uttered a little laugh, and passed his hands about his neck.
"They will make short work of me."

"No," I said; "you are my servant, and no one shall harm you. I will
appeal to the rajah myself."

I drew my sword, and thrust my injured arm through poor Dost's, meaning
to defend him; but before I could even think of what I should do next,
there was a sharp rustle, a rush, and half a dozen of the original
searchers, with their lanthorns, urged by their position to make a
capture before the two lines of men came up and shut us in, pounced upon
us, drawn there by our voices, and then in the midst of a scuffle, I saw
two men go down while I was pinioned from behind. Then my captors
shouted for lanthorns, there was the heavy beat of feet, and in a blaze
of light, I saw Ny Deen advance, and stand before me smiling in his
triumph, but making me shrink with anger and mortification, for there
was a good deal of contempt in his look, as he signed to me to approach,
and to the man who held me to remove my sword.

CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT.

As soon as I could drag my eyes from Ny Deen's mocking gaze, I looked
round sharply for Dost, and a chill ran through me as I failed to see
him. For the moment I hesitated to speak, in the hope that he might
have escaped, and inquiries might only lead to his pursuit; but it was
such a forlorn hope that I gave it up at once, and turned to speak to
the rajah.

"Where is my servant?" I said. "Salama