ters the situation. It will not be necessary for the
Council to assist Nana, but they can give him fair words and, even
if Balloba should win the day, he will have no ground for accusing
us of having aided Nana.

"It is impossible to overlook the value of your communication, Mr.
Lindsay; and I can promise you that you will not find the
Government of Bombay ungrateful, for it will relieve them of the
anxiety which the progress of events here has caused them."

On leaving the Residency, Harry returned to the farm where he had left
his horse and, early next morning, put on his disguise again, painted
lines round his eyes, touched some of the hairs of his eyebrows with
white paint, mixed some white horsehair with the tuft on the top of his
head, and dropped a little juice of a plant resembling belladonna--used
at times, by ladies in the east, to dilate the pupils of their eyes and
make them dark and brilliant--in his eyes.

Soyera had told him of this herb, when he related to her how Balloba
had detected him by the lightness of his eyes. He was greatly surprised
at the alteration it effected in his appearance, and felt assured that
even Balloba himself would not again recognize him.

He bought a dozen sacks of grain from the farmer and, placing these
in the bullock cart, started for Scindia's camp. He had, during the
night, buried the gold; for he thought that, until he knew his
ground, and could feel certain of entering Bajee Rao's camp
unquestioned, it would be better that there should be nothing in
the cart, were he searched, to betray him. He carried in his hand
the long staff universally used by bullock drivers and, passing
through Poona, arrived an hour later at the camp, which was pitched
some three miles from the city.

As large numbers of carts, with forage and provisions, arrived
daily in the camp for the use of the troops, no attention whatever
was paid to him and, on enquiring for the encampment of Bajee
Rao--one of whose officers had, he said, purchased the grain, for
his horses and those of his officers and escort--he soon found the
spot, which was on somewhat rising ground in the centre of the
camp. It was much larger than he had expected to find it as, beyond
being prevented from leaving, Bajee had full liberty, and was even
permitted to have some of his friends round him, and two or three
dozen troopers of his household regiment.

In charge of these was a young officer, who was well known to Harry
d