that here the
predictions often bring about their own fulfilment. If a native is told
by a fakir, or holy man, that he is going to die, he makes no struggle
to live. In several cases I have seen natives, whose deaths have been
predicted, die, without, as far as my science could tell me, any disease
or ailment whatever that should have been fatal to them. They simply
sank--died, I should say, from pure fright. But putting aside this
class, I have seen enough to convince me that some at least among these
fanatics do possess the power of second sight."

"That is very extraordinary, Doctor. Of course I have heard of second
sight among certain old people in Scotland, but I did not believe in
it."

"I should not have believed in it if I had not seen the same thing here
in India. I naturally have been interested in it, and have read pretty
well everything that has been written about second sight among the
Highlanders; and some of the incidents are so well authenticated that I
scarcely see how they can be denied. Of course, there is no accounting
for it, but it is possible that among what we may call primitive people
there are certain intuitions or instincts, call them what you like, that
have been lost by civilized people.

"The power of scent in a dog is something so vastly beyond anything we
can even imagine possible, that though we put it down to instinct, it is
really almost inexplicable. Take the case that dogs have been known to
be taken by railway journeys of many hundred miles and to have found
their way home again on foot. There is clearly the possession of a power
which is to us absolutely unaccountable.

"But here comes your uncle; he will think I have been preaching a sermon
to you if you look so grave."

But Major Hannay was too occupied with his own thoughts to notice
Isobel.

"Has anything gone wrong, Major?" the Doctor asked, as he saw his face.

"I have just learnt," the Major said, "that some more chupaties were
brought last night. It is most annoying. I have questioned several of
the native officers, and they profess to have no idea whence they came
or what is the meaning of them. I wish we could get to the bottom of
this thing; it keeps the troops in a ferment. If I could get hold of one
of these messengers, I would get out of him all he knew, even if I had
to roast him to make him tell."

"My dear uncle," Isobel said reprovingly, "I am sure you don't mean what
you say."

"I don't know," he sai