her, it must be nearly half-past eight. I will go with you,
and see where you are confined--that is the first step. We will both,
tonight, think over the best way of attempting your escape; and in the
morning, when your guard is removed, if you will come straight here we
will talk it over.

"I am afraid you will have to wait for your pigtail till we get to
Madras."

Captain Holland laughed.

"I can afford to wait for that, now. God bless you, my boy! I have
never looked for such happiness as this again. But, as you say, it is
time for me to be off. I have never been late yet, and if it were
reported to the governor that I was so tonight, he might think that
there was something in the wind."

Dick walked with his father across the fort.

"That is the house, in the corner," the captain said, pointing to one
before which a group of soldiers were standing. "Don't come any
farther."

Dick stood looking after him, and heard a voice say:

"You are late, Jack. I was beginning to wonder what had become of
you."

"I don't think it is past the hour, yet," Captain Holland replied. "I
have been with those traders. They told me, this afternoon, they might
be able to find me some English tobacco in their pack; but they have
been too busy to look for it. I hope they will light on it, tomorrow.
If they do, I will give you half a pipeful. I won't give you more, for
it is strong enough to blow your head off, after this tasteless stuff
you smoke here."

Then Dick hurried off to the house, snatched up the stuff he was
supposed to be looking for, and joined Surajah at the governor's.

It was another hour before the ladies had completed their purchases.
Dick, on entering, had given a little nod to Surajah, to let him know
that it was really his father whom he had discovered, and had then
tried to keep his attention upon his work as a salesman; and Surajah,
as he handed him the goods, had given a furtive squeeze to his hand in
token of his sympathy.

"So it is really your father?" he said, as, carrying their greatly
diminished pack, they walked across to their house.

"It is, indeed. You may imagine his surprise and joy, when I told him
who I was. Now we have got to talk over the best plan of getting him
out."

When the door was shut, and they had seated themselves on two of the
bales, Dick first repeated all that his father had told him, and then,
for a long time, they discussed the best plan of attempting an escape.
Both a