had a severe lesson in fighting lately,
and it seems to me that the only course open for you is to approach the
town gates, or one of them, without letting your approach be seen, and
then make a bold dash right into the little quarter defended by the
Europeans."

"You forget that we are not infantry, sir," said Brace. "We cannot
fight our way through streets where every window and roof would be
manned by mutineers. We should be all shot down, or in hopeless
confusion before we were half-way there."

Brooke smiled.

"I know the place, sir," he said. "It is a walled and fortified city
with gates, and the European quarter, where we have been besieged, is
surrounded by open gardens, and there are wide roads from the north-west
gate. You will find no enemy in the plain; they will have marched in by
the north-east gate, the nearest to here. I can take you round unseen
to the north-west, where, by a sudden dash of the lancers, the gate
could be surprised, and they could charge right down the open road,
followed by you and your guns right up to the Residency entrenchments,
and obtain admittance with the guns before the scoundrels had recovered
from their surprise. Of course they would come on again by hundreds or
thousands; but your well-served guns can hold them at bay till the
colonel comes up with his men."

Brace remained thoughtful for a few minutes.

"This is quite opposed to the colonel's ideas," he said at last; "but it
certainly sounds feasible, if we can pass the gate, and the road is open
for the horse to charge."

"I guarantee that," said Mr Brooke; "and if the manoeuvre is executed
with spirit, it cannot fail."

"Then it cannot fail," said Brace, with a smile. "What do you say,
sir?" he continued, appealing to the lancer captain.

"I say it is the wisest thing to do, always supposing the enemy is not
outside. Then we ought to try to harass him only, and keep him
engaged."

"But the rajah is clever enough to find out our weakness, and we shall
be driven back further and further, till we can do comparatively little,
I am afraid, but encourage our friends by the sound of our guns. The
surprise is the plan--if it can be carried out. We will try."

Very little more was said as we advanced, keeping a bright look-out
forward for cavalry, who would gallop back and announce our approach.
Of people on foot we had no fear, for we could reach Nussoor long before
them; and at last the broad track in the