ou will keep
your promise, as indeed it is to your interest to do so; in which
case you will never hear of myself, or my eleven companions."

"Do not fear," Scindia said, "tomorrow my messenger shall certainly
start for Ahmednuggur."

Harry, bowing deeply, turned, passed through the curtain, and made
his way out of the tent. Abdool, who was squatting near the
entrance, at once rose and followed him.

"Is all well, sahib?"

"I think so. I have so frightened Scindia that I have little doubt
he will carry out the promise he has given me. I will tell you
about it, when we get back."

They passed through the sleeping camp, and mounted their horses in
the grove, and rode to the Residency. Colonel Palmer was still up,
engaged in writing a report for the Government. It was a dark
night, and the sentry on duty, knowing Harry's voice, let him pass
without question, not even observing the change in his attire.

"What! Back again, Mr. Lindsay?" the colonel exclaimed, in
surprise, when Harry entered. "I thought that it would be a month
before you returned--that is, if you ever returned at all, and of
this I had but little hope. As I expected, you have, of course,
found it impossible to carry out your design."

"On the contrary, sir, I have been, I hope, perfectly successful. I
have seen Nana Furnuwees, and ascertained that he is ready to pay a
large sum to obtain his freedom, and his former position as the
Peishwa's minister. I have seen Scindia. Tomorrow a troop of horse
will start, to fetch Nana to his camp; and Ghatgay will be arrested
as soon as possible, after he arrives."

"How in the name of fortune have you managed all these things?" the
colonel asked.

"I will tell you, sir, now that I am back here. I shall tomorrow
reassume my uniform, and there is no danger of my being recognized,
or of trouble arising from what I have done."

He then related the various steps he had taken, and his
conversations with Nana and Scindia.

"Upon my word, Mr. Lindsay, I do not know whether to admire most
your daring, in bearding Scindia in the heart of his camp; or the
intelligence with which you have carried out what seemed, to me, an
absolutely impossible undertaking.

"Light your cheroot. I need not trouble about this report that I
was engaged on, when you entered, but will put it by until the day
after tomorrow, when we shall see whether Nana is brought to
Scindia's camp.

"You speak Hindustani as well as Mahratti, do yo