es: I should like to
hear from your own lips that you believe in me now."

"Believe in you, Prince! You have proved that my suspicions have all
been wrong. I ask your forgiveness, sir; and let me be the first to
hail you as the new Rajah of Suleiman's dominions, combined with your
own."

"You mean this, Sir Charles?" cried the young man, who for the moment
lost his calm, Eastern composure.

"Mean it, sir? I repeat it in the name of Her Majesty the Queen, whose
representative I am.--Yes, what is it, Major?--Quick, some one--the
Doctor! He is fainting."

"No, no," said the Major feebly; "only a little overcome. Water, from
the Doctor's well. Don't fetch him. He has too many brave fellows to
attend to yonder. Ah! thanks, Rajah. You carry a water-bottle, then,
as we do."

"I was never more glad to follow a good old English custom than now."

"Ah!" cried the Major, after a hearty draught. "That's like new life.
I had half-forgotten. Everything's been swimming round me. Now tell
me, some one--you, Sergeant--did not Mr Maine come suddenly upon us, as
if from the dead, to help us at the last?"

"Yes, sir; and young Pegg as well," said the wounded Sergeant, saluting,
as he supported himself upon the rifle and broken bayonet he held.
"But--"

"Ah!" cried the Major excitedly. "Don't say that--"

"No, sir, I hope it's not that," said the Sergeant huskily; "but they
were both amongst the missing as I tried to call the roll."

"Wrong, Sergeant!" cried a husky voice, and all turned and saw a
grim-looking private sitting with his bandaged head resting upon one
hand.

"What do you know, then, Joe Smithers?"

"Only here they come," growled the poor fellow, as he flung up his
disengaged hand and cried, "Hoo--"

He meant to say "Hooray," but his feeble voice was drowned in a fresh
burst of cheers, as from the direction of the Doctor's bungalow Minnie
Heath appeared, nominally led by Archie and Peter Pegg, but partly
supporting them as they tottered on either side.

At that moment a wild cry of joy rang out, and Joe Smithers's wife, who
had dropped a great brass lotah of clear, cold water which she had been
to fetch from the Doctor's well, hurried in to announce that the
commanding officer was down, and had brought the Doctor with his wife to
attend to their brave old friend.

Poor Archie and Peter had to snatch at the nearest hands, as, with a cry
of joy, Minnie sprang to her aunt; while, after an interval