s. Only the
Bengali was left in the boat. All salaamed low to the subahdar.

"This, huzur, is my friend," said Hubbo, presenting his brother. "This is
the mistri, and this his assistant."

"Good!" said the subahdar. "Go down into the hold, mistri: look to the
holes; if they are not large enough make them larger, and as quickly as
you can."

Desmond with Karim dived down into the hold. It was filled with earth,
except where a gangway shored up with balks of timber had been left to
give access to the holes that had been drilled and temporarily stopped.
After a few words from the subahdar, Hubbo and his brother followed
Desmond below.

Half an hour later, Hubbo climbed up through the hatchway and approached
the subahdar, who was pacing the deck, giving many an anxious glance down
the river.

"The mistri has bored another hole, huzur. He said the more holes the
better. Perhaps your Excellency will deign to see whether you regard it
as sufficient."

"Nay, I should defile my clothes," said the subahdar, not relishing the
thought of descending into the malodorous depths.

"As your Excellency pleases," said Hubbo, salaaming.

Then the gravity of his charge appeared to overcome the subahdar's
scruples. Gathering his robes close about him, he stepped to the hatchway
and lowered himself into the hold.

"We must hasten," he said. "The ships of the Firangi may appear at any
moment, and I must be on the lookout.

"Meantime," he added to Hubbo, "you keep watch."

For a man of his build he was fairly active. Dropping on to the loose
earth, he scrambled over it towards the oil lamp by whose light the
mistri and his assistant were working.

"This, huzur," said Hossain, pointing to a circular cut in the planking
of the vessel, "is the new hole. It is not yet driven through, but if
your Excellency thinks it sufficient--"

The subahdar craned forward to examine it. "Khubber dar {look out}!" said
Desmond in a low voice.

Hossain had only waited for this signal. He threw himself on the stooping
subahdar and bore him to the floor, at the same time stuffing a gag
between his teeth. In a couple of minutes he was lying bound and
helpless. His ornate garment was but little sullied. It had been stripped
from him by the mistri, who hastily donned it over his own scanty
raiment, together with the subahdar's turban.

"How will that do, Hossain?" asked Desmond with a smile.

The serang held up the oil lamp to inspect him. Wit