ar as Secundara. There was no occasion for any great haste, for it
was certain that some little time must elapse before Holkar could
march from Muttra; and he accordingly stopped for the night at
Coringunga, having ridden about fifty miles. He speedily secured a
room, and Abdool at once set to, to prepare a meal. While it was
being cooked, there was a sound of a body of horse entering the
village.

"It is unfortunate that we have stopped here, Abdool," he said. "We
are sure to be questioned."

Ten minutes later the door opened, and an officer of Holkar's
irregular horse entered.

"I hear that you have just arrived," he said.

"Yes; I rode in but half an hour ago."

"Where are you going?"

"To Sambol. There seems no chance of fighting, at present; and I
therefore left the army to pay a visit, for a day or two, to some
friends. My man has just prepared a meal. Will you share it with
me?"

"I will, with pleasure," the officer said, "for I have ridden from
Muttra, and may have to wait an hour before my supper is ready for
me. What may be your name?"

"Puntojee. And yours?"

"Wisnas."

The officer unbuckled his sword, and seated himself on the ground,
the room being entirely unfurnished.

"Were you in that affair, when we chased the English dogs from
beyond the mountains to Agra?"

"Yes, I was in it; and never wish to campaign in such weather
again. I was wet through for three weeks; and hardly feel that I
have got dry, yet."

"They are brave fellows, those Sepoys in the English service."

"They are, indeed," Harry agreed. "It seemed that we must destroy
them; and yet they withstood our attacks, weary and exhausted as
they must have been. The worst of it was that, after all our
exertions, there was no booty to be obtained."

"Yes, that was bad. One doesn't feel so disposed to risk one's
life, when there is nothing to be gained. We did not even succeed
in capturing their treasure chest. If we could have brought our
infantry up, we should have destroyed them; but they had to march
at the same rate as the guns; and in such weather they could get
along but slowly, for it often required the bullocks of four guns
to drag one through those quagmires.

"That was where the English had the advantage over us. The road
was, no doubt, bad enough for them; it was infinitely worse for us,
after they had cut it up in passing.

"It was a mistake when Scindia began to form regiments of infantry,
and Holkar and the Pe