ectly contented, for this man moves
very slowly, and we shall have ample warning of any danger before it
comes."

Murray sighed, and it was in rather a half-hearted manner that he handed
his guns and cases to Hamet, who bore them off, and directly after they
heard him talking to some one, whose voice told at once, from its
peculiar, highly-pitched intonation, that it was Tim Driscol, who the
next minute appeared at the door.

"Beg pardon, sor," he said, "but masther says if it's at all convaynient
would you--"

"What's the matter?" cried Murray, eagerly, catching the man by the arm.

"Oh, jist nawthing as ye may say, sor. A little out of ordher for want
of fresh air, and the masther says if ye wouldn't mind takking me with
ye to-day, I might be a bit useful."

Murray turned away with an impatient gesture, and exchanged glances with
Mr Braine.

"I'm very sorry, sor," said Tim, quite crest-fallen, for he had been
longing intensely to go on the trip. "The masther thought it would do
me good, or I wouldn't have asked."

"Oh yes, you can come, my man," said Murray. "Take hold of that bag of
cartridges, and go on after Hamet."

"Thank ye, sor," cried the man eagerly; and taking up the bag, and
giving the two boys a delighted look, he hurried off.

"Sure, if I stay near him, and he looks at me," said Tim to himself, "he
may alter that bit of him that he calls his mind."

As soon as Tim was out of hearing, Murray said excitedly: "There, you
will be another man short. I had better give up the expedition."

"Nonsense! go, and I would try and make a discovery of metal if I could,
even if it is only tin again. If you could hit upon gold, even if it is
only some poor deposit in a stream, it would be worth everything to us
now, from making him more friendly to us. Spend a little time over that
as well as over the birds."

"Then you would go?"

"Certainly, and at once."

"Ready, boys?" cried Murray, quickly now, for he felt that if he thought
much more about the trouble at the doctor's home, he would not be able
to go.

"Yes; all ready," cried Frank, presenting himself first. "Let's be off.
You are not waiting for us."

"Go on, then. The elephants are standing in front of the rajah's."

The boys needed no second request, but hurried off to find three of the
huge, clumsy-looking animals, with their attendants and a party of
spearmen, standing bowing their heads and waving their curled-up trunks
to and fro