ious all day long."

He laughed. "I'm with you there. It's a jolly world, isn't it? And it's
a shame to spoil it. As a matter of fact, I tried to get Peggy for a
companion, but her mother wouldn't hear of it. I am too headlong and
Peggy is too precious."

Olga laughed. "The Rajah was talking about a man-eating tiger at
Khantali only the other day."

"Oh, yes, there is one too. But I'm afraid we are not very likely to
come across him."

"Afraid! Do you want to then?"

Noel's eyes shone with enthusiasm. "I'm just aching to get a shot at one
of these creatures. I've never so much as seen one in the wild yet. If
the Rajah gets up an expedition I hope he'll take me along."

"He asked me if I would go," said Olga.

"Did he though? Very affable of him! I hope you said No!"

She laughed at his tone. "Well, yes, I did. But it was only because I
didn't think I should like it."

"Not like a tiger-hunt!" ejaculated Noel.

She coloured a little. "Do you really like seeing things die?"

"Oh, that!" said Noel. "You're squeamish, are you? No, I'm never taken
that way myself. That is in great part why I came here. I
hoped--everyone thought--there was going to be some sort of shindy.
But--I suppose it's the result of your clever little uncle's tactics--it
seems to have fizzled out. Very satisfactory for him no doubt, but
rather rough luck on us."

"Was there really any danger?" Olga asked.

"Oh, rather! The city was simply swarming with _budmashes_, and it was
said that the priests had begun to preach a _jehad_ against the British
_raj_. Then there was a bomb found on the parade-ground one night, close
under the fort. It would have blown a good many of us sky-high if it had
exploded, and damaged the fort as well. Badgers was quite indignant. You
see the fort has just been painted and generally smartened up in
anticipation of General Bassett coming this way. He is expected on a
tour of inspection in a few weeks, and we naturally want to look our
best when the officer commanding the district is around. Hence the
righteous wrath of Badgers!"

"I never heard of all this," said Olga, from whose ears the seething
unrest of the State had been studiously kept by Nick.

"No?" said Noel. "Well, there's no chance now of any fun here. I'm
pinning all my hopes on the possibility of a shine on the Frontier."

Olga looked at his brown, alert face with its restless Irish eyes, and
understood. "You never think of the horrid part, do y