, one bit. I know that Jack is alive, and
I believe firmly, although of this I am not absolutely sure, that he
will, someday, be restored to me."

"You did not tell me this before, Margaret," the Rajah said, "and what
you say goes for much, with me. Here in India there are many who, as
is said, possess this power that you call second sight. Certainly,
some of the Fakirs do. I have heard many tales of warnings they have
given, and these have always come true. I will not try, in future, to
damp your confidence; and will hope, with you, that your husband may
yet be restored to you."

One evening, Dick remarked:

"You said down at Madras, Uncle, that you would, someday, tell me
about the invasion by Hyder Ali. Will you tell me about it, now?"

The Rajah nodded. His sons took their seats at his feet, and Dick
curled himself up on the divan, by his side.

"You must know," the Rajah began, "that the war was really the result
of the intrigues of Sir Thomas Rumbold, the governor of Madras, and
his council. In the first place, they had seriously angered the Nizam.
The latter had taken a French force into his service, which the
English had compelled Basult Jung to dismiss; and Madras sent an
officer to his court, with instructions to remonstrate with him for so
doing. At the same time, they gave him notice that they should no
longer pay to him the tribute they had agreed upon, for the territory
called the Northern Circars. This would have led to war, but the
Bengal government promptly interfered, cancelled altogether the
demands made by the Madras government, and for the time patched up the
quarrel. The Nizam professed to be satisfied, but he saw that trouble
might arise when the English were more prepared to enforce their
demands. He therefore entered into negotiations with Hyder Ali and the
Mahrattis for an alliance, whose object was the entire expulsion of
the British from India.

"The Mahrattis from Poonah were to operate against Bombay; those in
Central India and the north were to make incursions into Bengal; the
Nizam was to invade the Northern Circars; and Hyder was to direct his
force against Madras. Hyder at once began to collect military stores,
and obtained large quantities from the French at Mahe, a town they
still retain, on the Malabar coast.

"The Madras government prepared to attack Mahe, when Hyder informed
them that the settlements of the Dutch, French, and English on the
Malabar coast, being situated wi