uring the time of Mahdoo Rao. Seeing him standing in front of a
tent, Harry stopped the cart opposite to him and, leaving it, went
up to him.

"Where shall I unload the cart?" he asked.

"I know nothing about it," the officer said. "Who has ordered it?
The supply will be welcome enough, for we are very short of
forage."

Then, changing his tone, Harry said:

"You do not know me, Nujeef. I am your friend, Puntojee."

"Impossible!" the other said, incredulously.

"It is so. I am not here for amusement, as you may guess; but am on
a private mission to Bajee Rao. Will you inform him that I am here?
I dare not say whom I come from, even to you; but can explain
myself fully to him."

"I will let him know, certainly, Puntojee; but there is little
doubt that Balloba has his spies here, and it will be necessary to
arrange that your meeting shall not be noticed. Do you sit down
here by your cart, as if waiting for orders where to unload it. I
will go across to Bajee's tent, and see him."

Nujeef accordingly went over to the rajah's tent, and returned in a
quarter of an hour.

"Bajee will see you," he said. "First unload your grain in the
lines of our cavalry, place some in front of your bullocks, and
leave them there; then cross to the tent next to Bajee's. It is
occupied by one of his officers, who carries the purse and makes
payments. Should you be watched, it would seem that you are only
going there to receive the price of the grain. Bajee himself will
slip out of the rear of his tent, and enter the next in the same
way. The officer is, at present, absent; so that you can talk
without anyone having an idea that you and Bajee are together."

Harry carried out the arrangement and, after leaving his bullocks,
made his way to the spot indicated. He found the young rajah had
gone there.

"And you are Puntojee!" the latter said. "I saw you but a few
times, but Rao Phurkay has often mentioned your name, to me, as
being one who stood high in the confidence of my cousin Mahdoo.
Nujeef tells me that you have a private communication to make to
me; and indeed, I can well believe that. You would not thus
disguise yourself, unless the business was important."

"It is, Your Highness. Nana Furnuwees has received your message. He
reciprocates your expressions of friendship, and has sent me here
to let you know that the time is approaching when your deliverance
from Balloba can be achieved."

He then delivered the message wit