ually vigilant; Buxsoo kept the morning
watch; while Reginald, who was the most fatigued of the party, slept
till daylight.

Faithful's disappearance caused considerable anxiety. In vain they
searched about in all directions--no trace of the tigress could be
found; and at length, as it was important to take advantage of the cool
morning air, they started, hoping that her sagacity would enable her
quickly to follow them. Often and often Reginald looked back, hoping to
see his pet. They overtook numerous country-people,--some on foot,
others on asses or on horseback,--nearly all the men being armed. They
regarded the two Englishmen with suspicious eyes; but Buxsoo mingled
among them, inquiring what news was stirring. All had something to
tell, and he thus picked up a good deal of information. People were
generally full of the expected arrival of the English troops, wondering
what they were coming for. Their suspicions were generally aroused; and
some even declared that the rajah had sold his country to the English.
Buxsoo did not think it worth while to contradict this, as it would have
excited their enmity against him, and they might believe that he was in
favour of the transaction. This, however, was not the information he
was anxious to obtain.

Two more days passed by. Reginald began to despair of recovering
Faithful; and he had, as yet, received no tidings from Burnett. They
were resting during the heat of the day in the shade of a banyan-tree,
at a little distance from which was a well. They had not been seated
long, when several natives, with a couple of laden camels, drew near to
the well to quench their thirst. Buxsoo, begging his companions to
remain quiet, went forward to meet the strangers. After the usual
salutations, he inquired the price of ghee, corn, and lentils; and they,
believing him to be a trader like themselves, willingly imparted the
information he requested. His first questions led to others, and they
soon got into familiar conversation. He asked if they had heard
anything of the late rebellion, or of the audacious way in which the
ranee had been carried off. They knew very little about the matter; but
rumours had reached them that there had been disturbances in the
country. At length one of the party informed him that, on the previous
day, he had gone to a village at some distance from the high road to
sell his goods, and that on his return he passed near a deserted temple
on t