y had still provisions enough for the evening. The furniture was
scanty, consisting of a raised bed place, or divan; two tables,
raised about a foot from the ground; brass basins, and large
earthenware jars of water. Harry, however, was too well accustomed
to it to consider such accommodation insufficient.

"Tomorrow," he said, "I will get a carpet for sitting upon, and you
will have to get copper vessels, for cooking."

Abdool presently went out, and returned with two large bundles of
forage for the horses. Soon afterwards they lay down, feeling stiff
and tired from their unaccustomed exertions.

The next morning Harry went to the Residency. He had again painted
caste marks on his face, which completely changed his appearance.
Telling the guard that he had come from Bombay, and had a message
for Colonel Palmer, he was shown in.

"You bring a message for me?" the colonel said, shortly; for he
was, at the time, writing a despatch.

"Yes, sir," Harry answered, in Mahratti. "I have come to be your
assistant."

"Then you are Mr. Lindsay!" the Resident exclaimed, dropping his
pen and rising to his feet. "I received a despatch, yesterday,
saying that you were coming. Of course, I remember you now, having
seen you on the day I came up here; but your dress is altogether
different, and the expression of your face seems so changed."

"That is the result of my having adopted different caste marks,
larger than they were before, with lines that almost cover my
forehead."

"I did not expect you to come in disguise."

"The Governor thought, Colonel, that I might be of greater service,
in finding out what was passing in the town, and in going
elsewhere, were I to come up as a native. To an officer of the
Residency, all parties would keep their lips sealed."

"I thoroughly agree with you," the Resident said. "Your disguise
differs so much, from your former appearance, that I do not think
any of your acquaintances, of those days, would be likely to
recognize you."

"At present I am supposed to be a trader; but I have with me the
dress of a peasant, or small cultivator, which I used when I went
into Scindia's camp. I have also the dress of a Brahmin--one of the
better class--which I thought, if necessary, would enable me to
enter the house of Nana, or other leaders, without exciting
surprise. I also have my uniform with me.

"I am staying, at present, in the street that faces the market, at
the house of a man named Naroo.