to the regiment."

It was arranged that the moonshee should remain with Peters, who,
seeing that Charlie owed his appointment, to a post which promised
excitement and adventure, to his skill in the native languages, was
determined that he would again set to, in earnest, and try and master
its intricacies. The moonshee went down to the bazaar, and purchased
the clothes which would be necessary for the disguises; and Charlie
found, in his company, four Sepoys who willingly agreed to accompany
him, in the character of his retainers, upon his expedition. As to
their costume, there was no difficulty. When off duty, the Sepoys in
the Company's service were accustomed to dress in their native attire.
Consequently, it needed only the addition of a tulwar, or short curved
sword; a shield, thrown over one shoulder; a long matchlock; and two
or three pistols and daggers, stuck into a girdle, to complete their
equipment.

Charlie himself was dressed gaily, in the garb of a military officer
in the service of an Indian rajah. He was to ride, and a horse,
saddle, and gay housings were procured. He had, at last, given in to
Tim's entreaties; and that worthy was dressed as a syce, or horse
keeper.

Both Charlie and Tim had had those portions of their skin exposed to
the air darkened, and both would pass muster, at a casual inspection.
Charlie, in thus concealing his nationality, desired only to hide the
fact that he was an officer in the Company's service. He believed that
it would be impossible for him to continue to pass as a Bheel. This,
however, would be of no consequence, after a time. Many of the native
princes had Europeans in their service. Runaway sailors, deserters
from the English, French, and Dutch armed forces in their possessions
on the seacoast, adventurers influenced either by a love of a life of
excitement, or whom a desire to escape the consequences of folly or
crime committed at home had driven to a roving life--such men might be
found in many of the native courts.

Once settled, then, in the service of the rajah, Charlie intended to
make but little farther pretence, or secrecy, as to his nationality.
Outwardly, he would still conform to the language and appearance of
the character he had chosen; but he would allow it to be supposed that
he was an Englishman, a deserter from the Company's service, and that
his comrades were Sepoys in a similar position. His employment, then,
at the court of the rajah, would have