rbet for our
refreshment. After the cooling draught, and when we were all comfortably
settled, the stranger, whose name had not yet been spoken, turned to me
and said:

"'Now perhaps you will give me the news from Sengali.'

"'It is grievous,' I returned, 'and it is owing to trouble there that I
am now here.'

"'Indeed. And what may the trouble be? As I told you this afternoon, I
have friends in the village, and am consequently interested.'

"'Aye, aye, tell him the story you have just told me,' called out the
munshi.

"Courteously the stranger awaited my response, in his eyes an anxious
look of inquiry. As I proceeded with my recital his excitement grew
apace, and he leaned forward in his eagerness to miss not a word. At the
finish he started to his feet, and, catching hold of my arm, exclaimed:

"'What! You tell me they will burn down their very home?'

"I nodded assent.

"'Then must we start in all haste for Sengali,' he continued, excitedly.
'To-night, now, or it may be too late.'

"I was moved by this display of fervid sympathy on the part of a
stranger for my humble friends in their sorry plight. But I could not
avail myself of his proffered assistance.

"'Pardon me,' I replied, 'but I have first to find Sheikh Ahmed, who has
been the cause--the innocent cause--of all this grievous anxiety, and
whose presence is needed to put an end to the false charge of murder.'

"'Don't you know that I am Sheikh Ahmed?' cried the stranger.

"'Yes, yes, he is no other,' laughed our host, the munshi. 'I avoided
giving the wounded traveller's name a while ago, Chunda Das, as a
fitting curb to your eagerness, and now, thanks to the Sheikh paying me
a visit, you have met somewhat quicker than I expected.'

"For full a minute I was speechless. Was it possible that I had so soon
found my man, or, to put it more correctly, that the man had found me?
The gods be praised for working on behalf of the helpless and
oppressed!

"But my meditations were rudely interrupted. The Sheikh had again
gripped me by the shoulder, and was speaking rapidly:

"'Rouse yourself, friend; rouse yourself. This is no time for
wonderment.'

"'So you are indeed alive and well, Sheikh Ahmed?' I asked, in
blundering fashion.

"'You can see for yourself,' he replied, impatiently. 'But I little
thought I should have been the means of doing to these kind people who
nursed and nourished me so grievous an injury. But, Allah be praised!
there is y