ged
for about three months and were on the point of giving up, when they
were relieved through the heroic march of General Havelock. Sir Colin
Campbell followed, and soon the city was once more in the complete
possession of the British. Oude was speedily reduced to submission,
many of the rebel leaders were either shot or hanged, and gradually the
mutiny, which had cost the lives of thousands, was brought to an end.

The tale, however, is not all of war. In its pages are given many true
to life pictures of life in India, in the barracks of the soldiers and
elsewhere. A most important part is played by Rujub, the juggler, who is
a warm friend to the hero of the narrative. Rujub is no common conjuror,
but one of the higher men of mystery, who perform partly as a religious
duty and who accept no pay for such performances. The acts of these
persons are but little understood, even at this late day, and it is
possible that many of their arts will sooner or later be utterly lost to
the world at large. That they can do some wonderful things in juggling,
mind reading, and in second sight, is testified to by thousands of
people who have witnessed their performances in India; how they do these
things has never yet been explained.

Strange as it may seem, the hero of the tale is a natural born coward,
who cannot stand the noise of gunfire. He realizes his shortcomings, and
they are frequently brought home to him through the taunts of his fellow
soldiers. A doctor proves that the dread of noise is hereditary, but
this only adds to the young soldier's misery. To make himself brave he
rushes to the front in a most desperate fight, and engages in scout work
which means almost certain death. In the end he masters his fear, and
gives a practical lesson of what stern and unbending will power can
accomplish.

In many respects "Rujub, the Juggler," will be found one of the
strongest of Mr. Henty's works, and this is saying much when one
considers all of the many stories this well known author has already
penned for the entertainment of young and old. As a picture of life in
the English Army in India it is unexcelled.

CHAPTER I.

It would be difficult to find a fairer scene. Throughout the gardens
lanterns of many shapes and devices threw their light down upon the
paths, which were marked out by lines of little lamps suspended on wires
a foot above the ground. In a treble row they encircled a large tank or
pond and studded a l