k like a
native; and two years and a half ago, she came out here with me.

"I accompanied the army, with my uncle's troop, and searched every
hill fort they took, for you. Since they went back, I have been up in
Mysore with my friend Surajah, and, thank God, at last we have found
you!"

"Thank God, indeed, my boy. I do thank Him, not only that you have
found me, but that your mother, whom I had never hoped to see again,
is alive and well; and also, that He has given me so good a son."

"And now, Father, about your escape. In the first place, have you
given your parole not to try to get away?"

Captain Holland was himself now.

"No lad, no. At the fort, where I was for six years, there was no
possibility of escape; and as I was a long time, before I began to
speak the language, even if I had got away I could never have made my
way through the country. Then the governor--it was the same we have
here--took me with him to Kistnagherry. I was the only white captive
who went there with him. At Kistnagherry there were five or six
others, but when Tippoo heard that an English army was coming up the
ghauts, an order came that they were to be killed. But the governor is
a kind-hearted old fellow, and as I had become almost a chum of his,
he chose to consider that the order did not apply to me, but only to
those he had found at Kistnagherry--for I fancy my existence had been
forgotten altogether.

"I had great hopes that the British would take the place. I think that
is the only time I have hoped, since I was made prisoner; but the old
man is a good soldier, and beat them off.

"When peace was made, Kistnagherry was, as you know, given up, and the
governor was ordered to evacuate the place, and to come here. He
brought me with him, making me dye my face before I started, so that
in my native dress it would not be noticed, in any town we passed
through, that I was a white. For had this been done, the news might
have come to Tippoo's ears, and there would have been an end of me.

"Except that I am locked up at night, I am not treated as a prisoner;
but the governor, who has a strong sense of duty, has a certain watch
kept over me. He has a real friendship for me, and would do all in his
power to save my life, short of disobedience to an actual order. But
his view is that I have been confided to his care, and that if, at any
moment, the Sultan should write to demand me of him, he would be bound
to produce me."

"Well, Fat