, for my coming home will be a shock
to her; and she has an even greater one to bear. Surajah and I have
rescued my father, and he will be here in a few minutes."

"I congratulate you," the Rajah said warmly. "That is news,
indeed--news that I, for one, never expected to hear. It is simply
marvellous, Dick. However, I am sure that your mother is not fit to
bear it, at present. I will go up now, and tell Gholla to break your
return gradually to her. I will say nothing about your father to your
aunt. As soon as the news that you are here is broken, you must go to
your mother. Tell her as little as possible. Pretend that you are
hungry, and have a meal sent up, and persuade her to take some
nourishment; then declare, positively, that you won't tell her
anything about your adventures, until she has had a long sleep. Gholla
will prepare a sleeping draught for her.

"In the meantime, I will ride off, directly I have seen my wife, to
meet Surajah and your father, and bring him on here. I sha'n't tell
anyone who he is, in case a chance word should come to your mother's
ears. If she wakes up again this evening, and asks for you, you must
judge for yourself whether to tell her anything, or to wait until
morning. You might, perhaps, if she seems calm, gladden her with the
news that, from what you have heard, you have very strong hopes that a
prisoner in keeping at one of the hill forts is your father. Then,
tomorrow morning, you can tell her the whole truth. Now I will run up
to Gholla. There is no time to be lost."

"I shall be in the dining room, Uncle, when I am wanted."

A few minutes later, Gholla came in hastily.

"Your mother has fainted, Dick. I broke the news to her very gently,
but it was too much for her, in her weak state. When she comes round
again, and is able to talk, I will fetch you. In the meantime, I will
send Annie in to you."

Two minutes later the girl ran in with a flushed face, threw herself
into Dick's arms, and kissed him.

"I can't help it, Dick," she said, "so it is of no use your scolding
me. This is a surprise. Who would have thought of your coming back so
soon? But it is lucky you did. Your mother has been in a sad way, and
she was so sure that you had been in some terrible danger, that I have
been almost as anxious as she has. And now, it seems that I need not
have frightened myself at all."

"I was in great danger, Annie. Just at the time my mother dreamt about
me, Surajah, Ibrahim, and I