ith noble
disdain, and bestowed a reassuring smile upon his guests.

"Sahib," said the old man, "the wise lingers not where his presence is
an inconvenience. The youth who has just left us appeared to desire
our departure."

"His desires are of no moment, Sirdar Sahib, even were he so unmannerly
as to express them."

"But it is the part of a churl to bring danger upon a host, sahib, and
I have many enemies. Is it possible that there are those without who
demand that I should be yielded up to them?"

"Since you ask, it is so, but you need have no fear that I shall
comply," said Gerrard, more puzzled than ever.

"Nay, sahib, but I myself will depart with the child, so that neither
your honour nor your safety will be menaced."

"You will do nothing of the kind, Sirdar Sahib. What! shall I suffer a
guest to step from my very carpet into the hands of his foes? You
would cover me with disgrace from the mountains to the sea."

"I will not bring trouble upon you, sahib. Suffer us to go."

"Certainly not. I will rather use violence to keep you. A word to
these men of mine----"

The veins on the old man's forehead swelled, and his eyes flamed. "By
the Guru! if the slaves of Lena Singh and the English dare to lay a
finger on me----!" he cried. "Foolish young man, will you keep me from
my own troops? I am the Rajah Partab Singh."

Gerrald stepped back with a bow. "Maharaj-ji, you are free to depart.
I had not thought that the man whom I welcomed to my tent designed to
pick a quarrel with me. Depart freely, and your son with you, but bear
me witness that I did not fail in hospitality."

"Nor shall you find Partab Singh deficient in hospitality, O son of
noble parents!" cried the old man, softening suddenly. "Know this, my
friend. I designed to put you to a test, to prove your courtesy, your
courage, your good faith, that I might see whether the English were
indeed to be trusted. Well has Antni Sahib done in sending one like
you, since he could not come himself!"

[1] Commandant.

CHAPTER IV.

"A-HUNTING WE WILL GO."

"Here are ten rupees for you, Somwar Mal. You did me good service
to-day," said Gerrard to his Munshi, who salaamed to the very ground.

"May the Protector of the Poor continue to be as a spreading tree,
under whose branches this slave and all his house may find shelter!" he
said devoutly. Gerrard thought he had departed, but looking up
presently, saw him still standing hu