and send for General Wragge. I must
report this by cable to the Indian Government. There is justice yet to
be done!"

"I was taking some private star observations here," whispered Hobbs,
bending down at Hardwicke's warning signal. "Storm bound, I waited for
the return of my wagon at dawn. I was aroused from sleep by the sounds
of a struggle below.

"Some one had dragged this young woman screaming and wailing into the
tower below. She soon fainted. I heard the followers tell the leader of
the gang that the coachman had just cut the traces and decamped with the
horses. He then bade them gather all the gang waiting in hiding so as to
carry her down to some boat below, and then closing the door, he stood
on guard outside. They were, however, baffled. Some of the scoundrels
had taken the alarm and fled, seeing the lights of the other party
moving up from the pier. Then the desperate leader tried to lead a party
to steal a horse from the nearest farmhouse. They were busied in their
quarreling. I dropped my ladder down, and while they wrangled, cried
softly to the imprisoned woman to mount the ladder. She knew my voice
at once, as I had been a visitor at her uncle's house. With my help, she
got up into the barrack room, and, you bet, I quickly pulled up my
rope ladder. In ten minutes more, the door was opened. The trick was
discovered. They tried a pyramid of men to reach the nine feet. But I
waited till they were all good and blown with their exertions and then,
shot a couple of them! You'll find those fellows lingering somewhere in
the bushes. I had stowed the girl safely away in the middle of the pier,
over the doorway, between two pillars. She was game enough. I let them
just shoot away a bit. I kept my powder and lead to kill. I've even now
four cartridges left.

"But when you came on the ground, the whole coward gang skedaddled at
once, and the brave chap you killed got his dose for good, for he stood
his ground like a man! The girl didn't bother me. She fainted in good
shape when the close fighting began. I was a dead winner from position.
I could have stood them off for hours!"

"You are a hero!" warmly cried Harry Hardwicke.

"Let's all get out of this!" replied Alaric, modestly.

The American offered Hardwicke his cocktail bottle. "Let's get her down.
I hear carriage wheels now. Would you just tell me your real name,
now, the name you use when you are not doing your 'character' song and
dance." The young offic