look at it
before."

"No; the Colonel told me to keep it locked up and not to go showing it
about so as to tempt some _budmash_ to steal it."

"Well, we haven't got any _budmashes_ in England," said Glyn merrily, as
he began to inspect the emeralds again and took out his handkerchief to
rub off a finger-mark or two and make the gems send off scintillations
of sunlight which formed jack-o'-lanterns on the ceiling. "But we have
plenty of blackguards who would like to get a chance to carry it off."

"What, among our schoolfellows?" cried Singh hastily.

"Bah! No! There, put it away. But I should like to know what that
writing means."

"It's out of the Koran," said the boy as he took the jewelled belt back
reverently and held it up to the light in turn. "It's very, very old,
and means greatness to my family. It is a holy relic, and the
Maharajahs of Dour have worn that in turn for hundreds of years."

"Well, you put it away," said Glyn; "and I wouldn't show it to anybody
again, nor yet talk about it. I wonder the dad let you have it."

"Why?" said Singh proudly. "It is mine."

"Yes, of course; but it is not suited for a boy like you."

"A boy like me!" cried Singh half--angrily. "Why, I am as old as you."

"Well, I know that; but my father doesn't give me emeralds and diamonds
to take with me to school. He could, though, if he liked, for he's got
all those beautiful Indian jewels the Maharajah gave him."

"Yes," said Singh, "and that diamond--hilted tulwar."

"Yes, that's a grand sword," cried Glyn, with his eyes sparkling. "I
should like to have that."

Singh laughed mockingly.

"Why, you are as bad as I am," he cried.

"That I am not! Why, if I had it, do you think I should buckle it on to
go and see a country wild-beast show?"

"Well, no, I don't suppose you would," said Singh quietly, as he gravely
replaced the emeralds in their receptacle and curled the belt around
them before shutting down the velvet-lined and quilted cover with a loud
snap. "But some day, when we have both grown older, and we are back in
India--I mean when I am at home in state and you are one of my
officers--you will have to get the Colonel to let you wear it then."

"Ah," said Glyn, slowly and thoughtfully, "some day; but that's a long
time off. I suppose I shall be a soldier like the dad is, and in your
army."

"Why, of course," cried Singh. "You will be my greatest general, just
the same as your father was whe