ll-built
fellows came on alone, making for the gates. The officers scanned them
with their glasses, and noted that their thickly-quilted cotton robes
were of the whitest, and of line texture, while each wore about his
waist a fine cashmere shawl stuck full of knives and supporting a curved
tulwar in a handsome scabbard. "I say," cried Bracy, "what dandies!
These must be chiefs."

Whatever they were, they made straight for the gates, and the two
Colonels walked down to meet them.

"Keep a sharp lookout up there, Captain Roberts. You command the
approach. Are these men quite alone?"

"Quite, sir, as far as I can see."

"Can you make out any strong body stealthily approaching, Mr Bracy?"

"No, sir; they seem to be quite alone."

"Be on the alert for a rush, and fire at once if you see anything.--You
will have the gates opened, I presume?" continued Colonel Graves.

"Oh yes; it is an embassage, and they will expect to enter the place.
Send for the two interpreters."

A couple of lithe-looking, dark-eyed hill-men came forward at once, the
gates were thrown open, and the party of six stepped in, looking smiling
and proud, ready to salute the two officers, who stood forward a little
in advance of half a company of men with fixed bayonets.

Salutes were exchanged, and in a brief colloquy the eldest of the party,
a smiling fellow with an enormous black beard, announced through one of
the interpreters that he was the chief of the Red Dwats, come with his
men to meet the English Captain and tell him that he and his people wore
the most staunch friends the famous white Queen had, from there to the
sources of the great river, the Indus.

Colonel Wrayford replied that he was glad to hear it, and if the chief
and his people were faithful to Her Majesty's sway they would always be
protected.

The chief said that he was and always would be faithful, and that he
hoped the great white Queen would remember that and send them plenty of
the guns which loaded at the bottoms instead of the tops, and boxes of
powder and bullets to load them with. Then he would be able to fight
for Her Majesty against the other chiefs who hated her, because they
were all dogs and sons of Shaitan.

"Roberts, old fellow," whispered Bracy, high up on the wall, "I could
swear I saw one of those fellows leading the attack made upon us from
the cedar grove."

"Shouldn't be a bit surprised, dear boy. Perhaps he has repented and
has come to say he