m, Dick threw up his turban in delight.

"Was there ever such a stroke of good fortune?" he exclaimed. "The
tiger business was as nothing to this. Tippoo has given us the
mission, of all others, that will enable us to carry out our search.
Our work is as good as done.

"That is to say," he added, more gravely, "we are at least pretty sure
to find my father out, if he is alive. Besides, we may get information
that will be of great use, if the war is renewed.

"Now we had better, in the first place, go and see Fazli and get our
instructions. We will order our horses to be in readiness to start, as
soon as we have had our meal--we may not get another chance of eating
today.

"I should like to take Ibrahim with us. He is a capital servant, and a
strong, active fellow. I believe he is fond of us, and we shall want
someone who can cook for us, and buy things, and so on. I will speak
to Fazli about it."

The chamberlain looked up, as they entered the room where he was
engaged in dictating to a clerk.

"I congratulate you on your mission," he said. "It will involve a
great deal of hard work, but as you have told me how you longed for
some duty outside the Palace, you will not mind that. Tippoo consulted
me before sending for you. I told him you were diligent in the
service, and I felt sure you would do your best in the present matter;
and that, as you were accustomed, in the pursuit of game, to ascend
mountains and scale precipices, you were far more likely to find the
weak spots in the forts than an old officer, who would be likely to
take everything for granted.

"There is no doubt that many of the garrisons are very far from being
efficient. They have been stationed in the forts for many years.
Discipline, both among officers and men, is sure to have become lax,
and there will be much that young men, going freshly into the matter,
will see needs amendment. That the walls are often weak, and the
cannon so old as to be almost useless, I am well aware; for sometimes
newly-appointed governors have sent in strong protests, and urgent
requests that they might be furnished with new cannon, and that walls
and defences might be renewed. But what with the wars, the removal of
the capital, and the building and fortification of this place, these
matters have been neglected; and it is only now that the sultan sees
the necessity of putting the fortifications of all these places in
good repair.

"I have had the papers prepared a