they approached the
town, they halted until the sun rose and the gates of the city were
opened.

They then rode in. The men were left at a khan, Abdool remaining
with them. They had been told, if questioned, to say that their
leader, Musawood Khan, was an officer high in the service of
Scindia.

Harry took two of the troopers with him, and rode to the governor's
house. Dismounting, and leaving the horse in their charge, he told
one of the attendants to inform the governor that he was the bearer
of an order from Scindia, and was at once shown up.

The governor received him with all honour, glanced at the order
that Harry presented to him, placed the seal against his forehead
in token of submission; and then, after a few words as to affairs
at Poona, called an officer and ordered him to accompany Musawood
Khan to Nana Furnuwees' apartment. This was a large room, at an
angle of the fortress, with a balcony outside affording a view of
the country round it; for the governor, knowing how rapidly and
often the position changed, and having no orders save to maintain a
careful watch over the prisoner, had endeavoured to ingratiate
himself with him, by lodging him comfortably and treating him well.

The officer opened the door and, when Harry had entered, locked it
behind him. Nana Furnuwees was seated at the window, enjoying the
fresh morning air. He looked listlessly round, and then rose
suddenly to his feet, as he recognized his visitor.

"What wonder is this," he said, "that you should be here, Mr.
Lindsay, except as a prisoner?"

"I am here as one of Scindia's officers," Harry replied, with a
smile, "although he himself is not aware of it, in hopes of
obtaining your freedom."

"That is too good even to hope for," Nana said, sadly.

"In the first place, sir, are you aware of the state of things in
Poona?"

"I have heard nothing since I came here," Nana said. "They make me
comfortable, as you see but, except for the daily visit from the
governor, I have no visitors; and from him I learn nothing, as he
has strict orders, from Scindia, not to give me any information of
what happens outside these walls; fearing, no doubt, that I might
take advantage of any change, to endeavour to open communication
with one or other of the leaders.

"Before you tell me anything else, please explain how you managed
to enter here."

"That was easy enough, sir. I simply wrote out an order, to the
governor, to permit me to have a pri