h from where it was hidden, he went out of the place
into the darkness.

"Do you think he is treacherous?" I whispered, "and will bring back
others?"

"No. The old man is honest enough, Gil. There, lie down on that
charpoy."

"But you?" I said.

"I shall lie down too. Go to sleep after you have had some water. I
will keep watch till daybreak."

Just then the old man came back with the brass vessel full of clear,
cold water, and handed to Brace.

"I hope the old fellow has not poisoned it," he said. "I'll taste it
first, Gil," and he raised the vessel to his lips, took a hearty
draught, and then handed it to me.

"Pure water," he said; and I gladly partook of the refreshing draught,
while Brace felt in his pocket for a coin.

"There," he said, taking out a rupee, "that's as much as his lotah is
worth. I don't know for certain, but I expect he will consider that we
have denied his vessel, and will throw it away when we are gone."

"Then why doesn't he think the rupee is defiled?" I said, as the old
man received the coin with a salaam, and then hid it in the folds of his
turban.

"Can't say," replied Brace, making the bamboo bedstead creak as he threw
himself down. "Here, grandfather," he continued in the old man's native
tongue, "keep watch, and warn us if there is any danger. Your caste
will not let you betray those within your house."

"The sahibs are quite safe here," he replied. "There is no one in the
village but their servant. But I will watch."

"Stop!" said Brace, sharply, as the old man moved toward the door.
"Stay here; don't try to leave."

The old man bowed.

"Where are the budmashes gone?"

"Thy servant cannot tell."

I could just understand enough of the colloquial language to grasp all
this.

"Well," said Brace, "stop and keep watch, so as to give us warning if
they come."

The old man salaamed again, and then stood with his arms folded near the
door, while I lay back on the charpoy with my eyes half-closed, watching
him by the faint light of the candle, and thinking how miserably thin
the old man was, and how his bones showed through the slight cotton
garment he wore. His hollow cheeks and eyes looked dark, and strange
shadows were cast over his features, but from time to time I could see
his deeply sunken eyes flash, and a sensation of dread came over me as I
thought how easy it would be for him, weak old man though he was, to
wait till we were both asleep, and then