our, with the women to load for us as we fire."

"I am ready, man," said Mr Braine, sadly; "and we shall have the
satisfaction of acting as Englishmen in a time of peril, but we can do
no more than keep them at bay for a time. Even if we did that, they
could starve us out."

The doctor let his hands drop helplessly to his side.

"Yes; that's it," he said. "It is madness. It would only mean so much
bloodshed and nothing done."

"He would send every man he had to his death to gain his ends."

"If I had only known--if I had only known!" groaned the doctor; "he
would never have recovered from that last illness, I swear."

"Then you swear falsely," said Mr Braine, holding out his hand. "My
old friend, John Barnes, never did a treacherous act, and never could."

"Hah!" ejaculated the doctor, wringing the Resident's hand. "Now you
disarm me: but a man would do desperate things to save his wife and
child."

"Even to giving his life, as I would mine."

They stood by the door in silence, then gazing out into the garden,
where a spearman stood at the gate, and the rest of the guard sat about
mechanically chewing their betel-nut and sirih-leaf, apparently heedless
of the prisoners' presence, but ready to start into action on the
instant.

Mr Greig joined them, and the day wore on in sorrow and despair, for
their position seemed to be absolutely hopeless, and it was nothing to
them that the sun shone down from the pure blue sky on the gorgeous
vegetation, whose leaves seemed to shed silver beams of light down
amongst the dark shade beneath. Plan after plan was suggested and
referred to the ladies, who also made proposals. But the result was
always the same. They acknowledged that the rajah, with his Eastern
cunning, had checkmated them, and that nothing could be done but wait.

As the day wore on, the doctor's servants went about their work as
usual, and Tim Driscol brought in the mid-day meal, and stood looking on
in despair to find it untouched.

"Oh, Miss Amy, dear," he whispered, "my heart's bruk intirely to see
your pretty eyes all swelled up and red like that. What'll I do,
darlin'? Say the word, and if it's to slay and kill him, I'll go."

"Don't--don't talk to me, Tim," she whispered, with the tears flowing
fast.

"Not talk to ye--me who carried ye when ye were only half the size ye
are! I'll go to the masther, thin."

With the freedom of an old servant, he went out to where the doctor was
seate