he intrenchments of Cawnpore. Rujub entered several shops
where drugs were sold, and finally one of the traders said, "I have a
large black box full of drugs which I bought from a Sepoy for a rupee,
but now that I have got it I do not know what to do with it. Some of the
bottles doubtless contain poisons. I will sell it you for two rupees,
which is the value of the box, which, as you see, is very strong and
bound with iron. The contents I place no price upon."

"I will take it," Rujub said. "I know some of the English medicines, and
may find a use for them."

He paid the money, called in a coolie, and bade him take up the chest
and follow him, and they soon arrived at the juggler's house.

The box, which was a hospital medical chest, was filled with drugs of
all kinds. Bathurst put a stick of caustic into a small vial, and half
filled another, which had a glass stopper, with nitric acid, filled it
up with water, and tried the effect of rubbing a few drops on his arm.

"That is strong enough for anything," he said, with a slight exclamation
at the sharp pain. "And now give me a piece of paper and pen and ink."

Then sitting down he wrote:

"My Dear Miss Hannay: Rujub, the juggler, and I will do what we can to
rescue you. We are powerless to effect anything as long as you remain
where you are. The bearer, Rujub's daughter, will give you the bottles,
one containing lunar caustic, the other nitric acid. The mistress of
the zenana, who wants to get rid of you, as she fears you might obtain
influence over the Nana, has asked the girl to obtain from her father a
philter which will make you odious to him. The large bottle is perfectly
harmless, and you can drink its contents without fear. The caustic is
for applying to your lips; it will be painful, but I am sure you will
not mind that, and the injury will be only of a temporary nature.
I cannot promise as much for the nitric acid; pray apply it very
carefully, merely moistening the glass stopper and applying it with
that. I should use it principally round the lips. It will burn and
blister the skin. The Nana will be told that you have a fever, which is
causing a terrible and disfiguring eruption. I should apply it also to
the neck and hands. Pray be very careful with the stuff; for, besides
the application being exceedingly painful, the scars may possibly remain
permanently. Keep the two small bottles carefully hidden, in order to
renew the application if absolutely neces