ure, from the time they had started.

"You were wonderfully lucky, in getting back safely," the general
said, when he had finished. "At least, luck is not the proper word,
for your safety was due to your quick wittedness and courage; and your
escape with your companion from the guard house, the manner in which
you got through the fort in the pass, and your defence of that hut,
until the Rajah's troop arrived to your rescue, were all of them
admirably managed."

He then proceeded to inquire further into the object for which Dick
had come out to India.

"I heartily wish you success in your search," he said, "and sincerely
hope we may obtain news of your father. I do not know what your
intentions may be, afterwards, but should you wish to enter the army,
I will at once nominate you to a commission, in one of our native
cavalry regiments."

"I am deeply obliged to your Excellency," Dick replied, "but as, if we
learn nothing of my father during the war, I am quite resolved to
spend, if necessary, some years in Mysore in the search for him, I
must therefore be free to devote my time to that."

"At any rate," the general said, "if at any time you should feel free
to accept my offer, it will be open to you. In the meantime, I will
appoint you one of the interpreters to the army, during the
expedition, and will attach you to my own staff. It will give you a
recognised position, and it is only right that, as you are doing good
service, you should receive pay. You shall be put in orders this
evening. You can, of course, continue to camp and live with the
Rajah."

The change made very little difference in Dick's duties, and he
continued at his former work, in the quartermasters' department, until
the army was ready for its advance to Bangalore. To the general
surprise, as the army moved forward, nothing was seen of Tippoo's
cavalry, by which they had expected to be continually harassed. The
sultan had, as soon as he perceived that Bangalore was threatened,
hurried the whole army to that city, where he had sent his harem when
he started from Seringapatam to attack Travancore; and instead of
sending off a few hundred horsemen, to escort them to the capital,
while with his army he opposed the advance of the British, he took his
whole force with him, in order to remove his harem with all the pomp
and ceremony with which their passage through the country was
generally accompanied. Consequently, it was not until after taking,
wi