ell not to use it, especially
as the dye was gradually wearing off. The party consisted of Mr.
Malet, Sufder, and Harry; with an escort of ten cavalrymen,
belonging to one of the native regiments. The mission clerk had
been transferred to Colonel Palmer, as his knowledge of affairs
would be useful to the newcomer. Soyera was carried in a dhoolie,
and followed close behind the troopers.

That evening they descended the Ghauts into the Concan and encamped
there and, on the following day, rode into Bombay; where Mr. Malet
took them to an hotel, principally used by natives of rank visiting
Bombay.

"You had best stay here, till I send for you," he said, to Harry.
"I shall see some of the Council tonight. No doubt there will be a
formal meeting, tomorrow, to ask my opinion about the probability
of the present state of things continuing at Poona. I shall, of
course, tell them your story; and they will likely request you to
go, at once, to see them; therefore, do not leave the hotel until
you hear from me."

Sufder had not previously visited Bombay, and the next morning
early he went out, with Soyera as his guide, to inspect the
European part of the town. He was much struck with the appearance
of neatness and order in the fort, and the solidity of the
buildings.

"It is a strong place, assuredly," he said to Harry, on his return.
"In the first place, it would be necessary for a force attacking it
to cross over the narrow isthmus, and causeway, uniting the island
with the land; and that would be impossible, in face of a force
provided with artillery guarding it. Then, if they succeeded in
winning that, they would have to make their way through the native
town to get on to the maidan; and this would be defended by the
guns from all the batteries and, in addition to the artillery on
land, it might be swept by guns on board ship. Truly, those who
talked about driving the English into the sea cannot have known
anything of the strength of the position.

"As to carrying it by assault, it could not be done; nor could the
garrison be starved out, since they could always obtain supplies of
all sorts by sea. And yet, except at the causeway, the place has no
natural strength. The Mahrattas acted unwisely, indeed, when they
allowed the English to settle here."

"They could not foresee the future, Sufder. Now, doubtless, they
are sorry; but if in the future the British become masters of
India, the Mahrattas will have no reason to