e, everyone did. I had nothing to give, except a
little cross of gold filigree work, that hung round my neck when I was
carried off. It had been hidden by my dress. The men had not noticed
it, and they had not taken it away when I was brought here. It was
such a poor little gift, but it was all I had."

"I noticed it, Annie," Dick said; "there was a little flat plate
behind it, with the letters 'A. M.' and I thought, then, that it must
be some little ornament taken from one of the Englishwomen Hyder's
troops killed. It is fortunate you kept it, for it may be useful,
someday, in proving that you are Annie Mansfield."

"Now I must be going," she said. "I was slapped and pinched, last
time, for being so long, but I have several things to get today, so
that if I hurry I can be back again as soon as they expect me. You
have not settled when you are going, yet?"

"No; but we rather think of going the day after tomorrow. It will be
better to do so before Tippoo comes back, for we might be ordered away
so quickly as to have no time to make arrangements. Besides, there
will be ten times as many people about, in the Palace, and more guards
at the entrances when he returns. So, altogether, it will be better to
go before he does so. If we settle it so, I will come along past your
door, tomorrow evening; and if I say, 'Tomorrow morning,' get here as
soon as you can in the morning, and directly you have stained your
skin and put on your disguise, we will start. My servant, who is going
with us, will act as your guide, and will take you to the place where
the horses are, and where we shall join you, almost as soon as you get
there."

At the appointed time, next evening, Dick told Annie that they should
start in the morning. He and Surajah then went down and said goodbye
to Pertaub, and Dick gave him a letter to his aunt, to give to her
should he ever go to Tripataly with his daughter.

"It may be," he said, "that neither Surajah nor I may be there, but I
shall speak to her about you, and of course tell her how much you have
done for us; so you may be sure of the heartiest welcome from her."

"And you will also find a hearty friend in my father, Rajbullub,"
Surajah said. "He is principal officer in the Rajah's household, and
will treat you as a brother, and your daughter as if she were my
sister."

Then they returned to the Palace, where they had a final talk over the
route that it would be best to pursue. The nearest point to