cturesqueness of the curious scene. Near
them lay the camels, chewing the cud in silence, and gracefully moving
their bending necks as they brought up the balls of food into their
mouths. The horses, picketed here and there, cropped their evening
meal; while the elephants stood silently at a distance, occasionally
moving their long trunks, or flapping their ears. The cries of the
birds and the screams of the monkeys, as they composed themselves for
the night, came forth from the neighbouring forest; while, at a
distance, the devout Mussulmans were engaged in the muggreet, or evening
prayer, as they knelt on their little mats, and bowed their heads to
kiss the ground. Richly-dressed officers moved about amid the tents,
and scantily-clothed warriors reclined in groups in all directions. The
most actively engaged persons were the cooks, who were preparing the
evening meal for their masters; the attendants standing ready to convey
it to them as soon as it should be prepared. The setting sun, casting
his lurid beams across the landscape, lighted up the figures of men and
animals, and the tents and trees, with a golden hue.

Reginald had brought Faithful; who, indeed, would not have consented to
have been left behind, and who now kept so strict a watch in his tent,
that neither robber nor assassin would have ventured to enter it.

The only person of any consequence in the rajah's household who had not
come was Khan Cochut. He had no fancy for encountering the dangers of
war; and though the rajah had commanded his attendance, he excused
himself on the plea of severe illness.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Again the troops moved on, and constant scenes of violence and cruelty
were practised. The country became wilder as they advanced towards the
mountains. There was no lack of inhabitants, and they were everywhere
summoned from their homes to labour in the rajah's service. The rajah
during part of the day rode on an elephant; but he generally mounted his
horse after midday, and desired the two Englishmen to ride by his side.
They had thus many opportunities of conversing with him. Captain
Burnett endeavoured to draw from him his plan of the campaign. It was a
very simple one. He intended to march on till he reached the territory
of the rebels; and his purpose then was to burn the villages, and to cut
off the heads of any of the rebels he could catch.

"It will frighte