inel at his post caught sight, at some
distance, of a large animal lying on the ground, which after some little
scrutiny he discovered to be a tiger. "The horrid brute is feeding on
the dead," he exclaimed. "If it was not against orders to fire, I'd
quickly teach it better manners." Just then a man, who, from his
nautical appearance, might have been called a "horse-marine," rode up on
a small country pony. He had a long sabre by his side, a haversack on
his back, and a brace of pistols in his belt; and while huge boots
encased his legs, he wore a seaman's broad-brimmed hat and loose
jacket,--making him look altogether not a little peculiar.

"What's that you say, mate?" he asked.

The sentry pointed to the animal he had seen. "Though I mayn't fire, do
you put a bullet though that brute's head."

"That's more than I'll do," answered the seaman, who was no other than
our friend Dick Thuddichum. "That animal has more sense than many a
human being; and it's my belief that my honoured master, whom she's
followed faithfully for many a day, and whose life she has saved more
than once, is not far off. Just you hold my horse, while I go ahead and
have a look round. If I'm right, I'll shout to some one to come and
help me."

Saying this, Dick tumbled off his steed, and hastily stalked over the
ground, carefully avoiding the corpses with which it was strewed. He
was right Faithful, in spite of his strange costume, uttered a cry of
welcome, and sprang forward to meet him. There, as he expected, lay his
beloved master. "O Master Reginald! O my lord, do speak to me, and
tell me if you are alive!" exclaimed Dick, as he threw himself on the
ground by Reginald's side. "Yes, yes; he's still got life in him!" he
cried out; and shouting to the sentinel to send help, he lifted his
master in his arms and bore him towards the tents. Reginald was
speedily carried into one of the nearest, set aside as an hospital,
where his wound was examined by a surgeon,--Dick standing anxiously by
to hear his opinion.

"It's pretty severe, but is not likely to prove fatal," said the
surgeon. "He has fainted from loss of blood, but a stimulant will soon
restore him."

"Thank Heaven!" exclaimed Dick. "I should have wellnigh died, and so,
to my mind, would Faithful, and another person I know of, if he'd been
killed. But do your best to bring him about, sir, and I will bless you
all the days of my life."

Reginald, as the doctor had hop