tion.

"It is one of two things," Doctor Rae said: "Either Trichinopoli has
surrendered and they are evacuating Fort Saint David, or they have
news that the nawab is marching to attack us here. I should think it
to be the latter, for Fort Saint David is a great deal stronger than
this place, though the French did strengthen it during their stay
here. If, then, the authorities have determined to abandon one of the
two towns, and to concentrate all their force for the defence of the
other, I should have thought they would have held on to Saint David's.

"There is a boat being lowered from one of the ships, so we shall soon
have news."

A signal from the ship announced that the governor was about to land,
and the principal persons at the factory assembled on the beach to
receive him. Doctor Rae and the two young writers stood, a short
distance from the party. As the boat was beached, Mr. Saunders sprang
out and, surrounded by those assembled to meet him, walked at once
towards the factory. An officer got out from the boat and
superintended the debarkation of the baggage, which a number of
coolies at once placed on their heads and carried away.

The officer was following them, when his eye fell upon Doctor Rae.

"Ah! Doctor," he said, "how are you? When did you get out again from
England?"

"Only three or four days since, Captain Clive. I did not recognize
you, at first. I am glad to see you again."

"Yes, I have cast my slough," Captain Clive said, laughing, "and have,
thank God, exchanged my pen for a sword, for good."

"You were able to fight, though, as a civilian," Doctor Rae said,
laughing.

"Yes, we had some tough fighting behind the ramparts of Saint David's,
and in the trenches before Pondicherry; but we shall have sharper
work, still before us, or I am mistaken."

"What! Are they going to attack us here?" Doctor Rae exclaimed.

"Oh no, just the other way," Captain Clive said. "We are going to
carry the war into their quarters. It is a secret yet, and must not go
farther."

And he included the two writers in his look.

"These are two fresh comers, Captain Clive. They came out in the same
ship with me. This is Mr. Marryat, this Mr. Peters. They are both
brave young gentlemen, and had an opportunity of proving it on the way
out, for we were twice engaged; the first time with privateers; the
second, a very sharp affair, with pirates. That ship lying off there
is a pirate we captured."

"Aha!" Captai