taken her place on Horse-chestnut's broad wavy back on the wide cushion
of felt which Foster-father used as a saddle-cloth. She had left her
kitten behind her as it was now quite a big tom-cat, and able to take
care of itself.

In a way, both Tumbu and Down had already been of service to their young
master, for the troopers of the Escort had been amused by the golliwog's
gambols, and had admired Down's dignity, so they were more inclined to
treat the whole party in kindly fashion. Indeed, next morning, the
Captain of the Escort, whose anxiety about a rescue had, perhaps, been
lessened by the uneventful night, was much less strict in his orders,
and took Prince Akbar on his own saddle and let him hold the reins.

"He is a brave, bold lad," he said to Foster-father; "were he to live,
he would make a good King." Then he frowned, his mouth hardened and
Foster-father, watching him, augured ill for the safety of the
Heir-to-Empire. For the time, however, all went well, though
Foster-father remarked that they kept off the direct track as much as
possible; no doubt to avoid pursuit. And at Ghuznee, where they halted
the second night, the Captain of the Escort sent nearly all his men into
the city by one gate, taking with them, despite their protestations, Roy
and Meroo and Old Faithful, while he himself, with but one or two
troopers, Foster-father, Foster-mother, Head-nurse and the two children,
entered by another and found lodging in the caravanserai as common
travellers. Evidently, Foster-father surmised, it was thought best for
some reason or another to conceal the fact that the Heir-to-Empire was
being carried off to Kabul; and something happened that evening to make
him certain that this was the case. It was dark ere they arrived, so the
other travellers in the _serai_ took little heed of the small party,
especially as there were women and children in it, and it is not polite
in Eastern countries to take any notice of them. But while Head-nurse
and Foster-mother were busy settling down the children's quilts in the
little dark archway room, which was all the accommodation available, and
Foster-father had gone to purchase them some milk for their supper, the
little Prince and Princess, greatly excited at the novelty of their
surroundings, wandered out into the dark square enclosure, where fires
burned here and there in the open, lit by travellers who were cooking
their evening meal. They stood by these watching what was goi