ers were massacred and,
disguising himself, got into the fort and contrived my escape."

"All honour be to him!" the zemindar said. "Then you have walked
all night?"

"Yes; we went ten miles to the north first, knowing that we should
be pursued; for we heard the alarm given, just after we started. We
have walked fifty miles and, when I say that I have eaten nothing
since yesterday morning, you may be sure that we are sorely in need
of refreshment."

"It shall be got ready, at once, sahib; and, while it is being
prepared, you can take a bath and a change of garments."

"I need the bath almost as much as I need a feed," Harry laughed.
"I have just been looking into the glass, and I see that I am
well-nigh as dark as when I came to you, nine or ten days ago."

His host led him to a room containing a bath, which was soon filled
by the servants, one of whom brought in a handsome suit of the
zemindar's clothes. It was more than half an hour before he went
down again. As soon as he entered the room, a servant brought in a
meal; consisting of slices of meat on a skewer, and a pillau of
chicken.

The zemindar sat by while he ate his meal, and Harry gave him a
short account of the manner in which he had effected his escape.
The former, in turn, related the events of the siege; adding that
spies had brought in the news, late in the afternoon, that Holkar
would march away in the morning, as he had heard that the English
army was but two days distant.

"Was he going to meet the English, or to retire towards Malwar?"

"That I cannot say, sahib, for the spies could not tell us.
Doubtless he and his army are much dispirited, at their failure to
take the city. But the general opinion of the townspeople was that
he would give battle, be victorious, and would return and continue
the siege."

"I have no fear of his being victorious. He knows, in the battles
of Assaye and Poona, how Scindia was utterly routed; and how, at
Laswaree and Delhi, the Mahrattas were scattered; and I do not
think that he will venture upon giving battle. But if he does, I
have no fear, whatever, of the result. It was more than his whole
army could do to break up Monson's force, although composed
entirely of native infantry, until it was near Agra. This time
there will be British infantry and cavalry, and the Mahrattas will
never stand against their charge."

Harry had already enquired about Abdool, and found that he had also
had a meal, and was now a