kly," he said. "Can I depend upon you, absolutely?
And have you had no communication of any kind from my enemies?"

"You can depend upon me, my lord. Everyone knows that you have
saved the state, a score of times; and will, I doubt not, do the
same again."

"I have the will," the minister said, gravely, "but whether I have
the power is another thing. I sent off a messenger to the general,
Purseram Bhow, bidding him gather as many troops as possible and
march hither; and I shall send letters to the Rajah of Nagpore, and
Scindia. Holkar, being in Poona, I have already seen and, as he has
always supported me against Rugoba, he is as anxious as I am as to
the succession.

"I shall now send you with a duplicate letter to Purseram Bhow for,
since the terrible accident to Mahdoo Rao, whom I loved dearly for
his amiable character, it is probable that the adherents of Bajee
Rao have been active; and that my every movement is watched, and
attempts may be made to stop any messengers that I may send out.
Take Sufder's troop with you. If you are stopped, fight your way
through, whatever their force. It is a matter of supreme importance
that this letter should reach the general."

"It shall reach him, my lord," Harry said, as he took it; "in five
minutes I shall be on my way."

Going to his room he changed his attire, mounted his horse, and
rode to Sufder's camp. The men were all ready, as Nana had sent an
order to Sufder to prepare instantly for a journey.

"So it is you, Puntojee!" the captain said, as he rode up; "the
orderly did not tell me whom I was to escort, nor our destination.
In which direction do we ride?"

"I am bearer of a letter to Purseram Bhow."

"Then I know the direction;" and, giving orders to his men, he rode
off at once by the side of Harry.

"This is a terrible business, Puntojee."

"I am greatly grieved, indeed, for no one could have been kinder to
me than Mahdoo Rao."

"Yes, yes," Sufder said; "that is all very well, but the serious
side of the matter is that, just as everything seemed settled, we
may be entering upon another civil war, more terrible than the
last. Of course, I am sorry for the young Peishwa; but I doubt
whether he was in any way fit to rule over the Mahrattas. Kindness
of heart goes for nothing with a people like ours; split up into
many factions, led by many chiefs, and ever ready for war. It needs
a strong, as well as an able man to hold in check all the parties
in the stat