May God keep you and guard
you."

Then gently he led her to the door, and they passed out together. A
quarter of an hour later he rejoined the Doctor, having brought with him
a few short lengths of bamboo.

"I will put these across the hole when I get out," he said, "lay some
sods over them, and cover them up with leaves, in case anyone should
enter the bushes tomorrow. It is not likely, but it is as well to take
the precaution. One of you had better stay on guard until I come back.
It would not do to trust any of the natives; those that remain are all
utterly disheartened and broken down, and might take the opportunity
of purchasing their lives by going out and informing the enemy of the
opening into the gallery. They must already know of its existence from
the men who have deserted. But, fortunately, I don't think any of them
are aware of its exact direction; if they had been, we should have had
them countermining before this."

Having carefully closed up the opening, Bathurst went to the edge of the
bushes and listened. He could hear voices between him and the house,
but all was quiet near at hand, and he began to move noiselessly along
through the garden. He had no great fear of meeting with anyone here.
The natives had formed a cordon round the wall, and behind that there
would be no one on watch, and as the batteries were silent, all were
doubtless asleep there. In ten minutes he stood before the charred
stumps that marked the site of his bungalow. As he did so, a figure
advanced to meet him.

"It is you, sahib. I was expecting you. I knew that you would come this
evening."

"I don't know how you knew it but I am heartily glad to see you."

"You want to see Por Sing? Come along with me and I will take you to
him; but there is no time to lose;" and without another word he walked
rapidly away, followed by Bathurst.

When they got into the open the latter could see that his companion was
dressed in an altogether different garb to that in which he had before
seen him, being attired as a person of some rank and importance. He
stopped presently for Bathurst to come up with him.

"I have done what I could to prepare the way for you," he said. "Openly
I could for certain reasons do nothing, but I have said enough to make
him feel uncomfortable about the future, and to render him anxious to
find a way of escape for himself if your people should ever again get
the mastery."

"How are things going, Rujub? We have