MPORTANT INTELLIGENCE BROUGHT BY HER--
PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENCE.

For several weeks matters went on quietly at Allahapoor. Aided by
Burnett, Reginald was able to carry out many of his projected reforms,
though not without opposition from some of the chief men, and often from
those who were likely to benefit by them. The indefatigable Buxsoo
brought him information of what was going on beneath the seemingly quiet
surface of society. It was far from satisfactory. He reported that
persons were moving from district to district, distributing
"chupatties",--sacred cakes, which answered the purpose of the "fiery
cross" of Scotland. With amazing rapidity these cakes were passed over
the length and breadth of the land. It was supposed that they came
originally from Barrackpore. The watchman of one village gave the
watchman of the next village two cakes, with an injunction to make six
fresh ones, and retaining two, to pass the others on in the same way.
What the object of the cakes was, most of those who received them were
in ignorance; but they fully understood that some matter of importance
was to be carried out, and they were bound to obey the orders they might
receive from the centre of operations. Reginald charged Buxsoo to
ascertain, if possible, the secret object of this distribution of the
chupatties. That they meant mischief of some sort or other, there could
be no doubt.

Burnett, in the meantime, improved the discipline of his horsemen, and
endeavoured to ingratiate himself with them. Reginald also increased
the number of his guards, selecting those men most likely to prove
faithful. Wuzeer Singh had by this time recovered from his wounds, and
had resumed his duties. Reginald offered to promote him; but he begged
to remain in the ranks, assuring his master that he could there render
better service than he could were he made an officer.

Reginald and Burnett, as may be supposed, paid frequent visits to the
cantonments; and they were eagerly looking forward to the arrival of a
chaplain, who would unite them to the ladies to whom they were engaged.
Reginald, of course, kept Colonel Ross fully informed of all the
intelligence he obtained. The colonel, however, was convinced that the
British rule was so firmly established in India that nothing could shake
it; that whatever the meaning of the chupatties might be, they could not
possibly be intended to instigate the people to rebellion. His own
regiment, he d