e eye of so keen an observer as Balloba."

[Illustration: Harry . . . saw a party of soldiers coming along the]
road.

A few days later, Harry, being out one evening, saw a party of
soldiers coming along the road from the direction of Scindia's
camp. This was unusual for, in order to prevent plundering, the
orders were stringent that none of Scindia's troops should enter
Poona. He hurried back to the house, and acquainted the two leaders
with what he had seen. They were inclined to laugh at his
apprehension but, when a body of horsemen were seen coming down the
street, they issued orders for the doors to be closed and
barricaded. There were some twenty men in the house, and when the
officer who commanded the detachment summoned them to open the
door, and to deliver the two nobles to him, he was met by a decided
refusal, from the chiefs themselves, from an upper window.

The officer then ordered his men to dismount and break open the
door but, when they attempted to do so, they were met by a fire of
musketry from every window. Many fell; and the officer, seeing that
the house could not be taken, except by a force much larger than
that at his command, rode off at full speed, with the survivors, to
Scindia's camp.

No sooner had they gone than the horses were brought out from the
stables, and the two officers, with ten of their troopers, rode off
at full speed. Harry refused to accompany them, as he wished to see
what had really happened, in order to carry the news to Nana. He
therefore rode out to the farmhouse where he had before stayed,
left his horse there, and returned to Poona.

Here he heard that Rao Phurkay had been seized, and that Bajee
Rao's encampment was surrounded by troops, who suffered none to
enter or leave it. The next morning he went over there and found
that, as the supply of water had been cut off, the garrison had
surrendered; all being allowed to depart, with the exception of
Bajee, over whom a strong guard had been placed.

Before they left, Manajee Phurkay gave them all directions to
gather in the neighbourhood of Waee. They did so, and were joined
at once by the two chiefs. Nana promptly sent them a supply of
money, telling them to take up their position at the Salpee Ghaut;
where they were speedily joined by ten thousand men, and openly
declared for Bajee Rao.

In the meantime Balloba, believing that the whole plot was the work
of Bajee Rao, determined to despatch him, as a prisoner, to