out, and ordered to set to work.

"Very tempting," said my father; "but is all this safe?"

"On my head be it, sahib," said Dost, respectfully. "There is no poison
in the meat."

The supper, which was partaken of by a dozen officers as well, being
finished, we returned, after going the rounds, to my sleeping-chamber.

"Go to sleep, Gil, boy," said my father. "Our pickets will give plenty
of notice if Ny Deen comes."

But I could not sleep for thinking of Brace, who had not been to the
supper, and I wanted to make my position clear before my mind would be
at rest.

CHAPTER FIFTY ONE.

The strange silence that reigned in the palace, the dying out of the
fierce glare of the fire, and utter exhaustion, at last weighed down my
eyelids, and I dropped into an uneasy sleep, but only to dream about
escaping over the roofs with Dost, being captured, and then watching the
terrible assault and carrying of the rajah's house. From that I
wandered into the meeting with my father, and fancied that I was going
with him to Nussoor, where my mother and sister would not recognise me
because Brace had been there first and told them I was a miserable
renegade who had gone over to the rebels, and slain women and children
with a tulwar whose hilt and sheath were covered with jewels.

Oh dear, what nonsense one does dream when one's brain gets into a
fevered state.

I was calling Ny Deen to witness to my perfect innocence, for he was
somehow there at Nussoor, when my father suddenly said--

"It is of no use, Gil. You may as well get up."

I started awake to see that his grey, worn face was bent down over me,
and found that he was holding my hand.

"You had better rouse up, and have a bath, lad," he said kindly. "Your
sleep is doing you no good."

"Oh, what a horrible muddle of a dream," I exclaimed, as I sprang to my
feet.

"You should have undressed, my lad. You are bathed in perspiration."

Dost came in just then with coffee borne by Salaman, and I turned to him
directly.

"How did you escape?" I cried.

"I was beaten down, sahib, and I managed to crawl away. I was not much
hurt," he added, with a smile.

"I am glad," I cried; and ten minutes later I was out in the court with
my father, listening to the arrangements being made; and soon after I
was audience to a little council of war in the rajah's principal room,
where it was arranged that two strong companies of the other foot
regiment should garrison th