off to my left. Then I
felt that I was falling, and made a clutch or two at vacancy. The next
moment my sound arm was caught in a strong grip, and I heard the rajah's
voice say--

"Help him down. Too ill and weak yet for so much exertion."

Then all was blank, and when I came to, the doctor was with me.

"Only beginning a little too soon," he said pleasantly. "It takes long
to grow strong."

He left me after a short time to the care of Salaman, from whom I
learned that the rajah had been very anxious about me, and had given
orders that every care was to be taken, and that I was to be told how
sorry he was that he could not stay.

"I am glad he is gone," I said to myself; and then I turned cold with
the thought which struck me.

"Suppose my note had been found!"

For a few moments I was afraid to try whether it was still where I had
placed it, lest it should have been taken; but in thrusting my hand down
into my pocket, there it was quite safe, and I drew a long deep breath
full of satisfaction. For though I could not make it out, the rajah or
the doctor would probably have guessed its meaning in an instant.

As I lay there I half determined to destroy it at once, but I gave up
the idea, thinking that perhaps, after all, I might yet read it with
ease.

"Did the rajah say when he was coming again?" I said to Salaman, as he
was about to go.

"No, my lord; he--"

"Don't say `my lord' to me," I cried pettishly. "I am only an English
officer."

Salaman smiled.

"I will obey in everything; but you are his highness's greatest friend,
and he said I was to treat you as if you were his brother. How can I
call you less than `my lord'?"

"Well, what did he say?"

"That he would be back soon, and that I was to make you strong enough to
ride away with him upon your horse."

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

That night passed away slowly as I lay listening, expecting at any
moment to have some visitation before morning, and three times over I
heard faint footsteps outside the tent, but they only proved to be those
of my watchful attendants; and once more, sick at heart, I began to
think that my case was hopeless, because I had not grasped the meaning
of the message, which, for aught I knew, might mean that I was to leave
my tent as soon as it was dark, to trust my would-be rescuers.

The next night I determined to put this plan in force; and soon after
dark I left the tent, and began to stroll up and down, as