.

"Now, what do you intend to do with him, Soyera?"

"I intend to bring him up as my own. I shall keep his skin stained,
and no one can suspect that he is not mine."

"Then you do not think of restoring him to his people?"

"Not until he grows up. He has neither father nor mother, and to
whom could I hand him, now? Moreover if, as you say, our people
intend to drive the English from Bombay, his fate would be certain.
When I am by myself with him, I shall talk to him in English, as
soon as he is old enough to understand that he must not speak in
that language to others; then, when he joins his own people, he
will be able to converse with them. In the ten years I have spent
in English service I have come to speak their language well. Though
I cannot teach him the knowledge of the English, I can do much to
fit him to take his place as an Englishman, when the time comes."

"It is a risky business," her brother said, "but I do not say that
it cannot be carried out; at any rate, since you have so decided to
keep him, I can see no better plan."

Two days later, Sufder came in.

"So you got here safely, Soyera?"

"Yes, I had no trouble. But I did not expect you back so soon."

"The matter is all settled, though I think we were wrong to grant
any terms to the English. We had them in our power, and should have
finished the matter, straight off."

Delay and inactivity, the natural consequences of utter
incompetence and of divided councillors, had occurred. Colonel
Egerton, in consequence of sickness, had resigned the command; and
had been succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel Cockburn. On the 9th of
January they were within eighteen miles of Poona, and they had
still three weeks' provisions with them. Two or three skirmishes
had taken place, but without any result; yet Mr. Carnac, without
having suffered any reverse, and now within a day's march of the
capital, proposed that a retreat should be made, at once.

The proposal was combated by Captain Hartley, a gallant young
officer, and Mr. Holmes of the Civil Service. Cockburn, being
called upon for his opinion, said he had no doubt the army could
penetrate to Poona; but that it would be impossible for it to
protect its enormous baggage train. Mr. Carnac, however, persisted
in his opinion, in spite of the prayers of Rugoba and, at eleven
o'clock on the night of the 11th of January, the heavy guns were
thrown into a large pool, a quantity of stores burnt, and the force
bega