r
presence there would excite comment. It will be best, I think, to
go into the city. In the quarters of the Parsee merchants there are
assuredly some who would give you shelter. Domajee--who was the
contractor for the supply of the mission--would, I should think, be
best to go to. There is little danger, for none will suspect your
presence there. His servants are all Hindoos."

"That is the best place, Yossouf. I have been down several times to
Domajee, and he is certainly devoted to the English. We can but try
him."

The first dawn of morning was breaking, when Will and his faithful
friend arrived at the door of the Parsee trader, in the Hindoo
quarter of Cabul. The doors were fastened and barred, for it was
impossible to say whether the attack upon the mission--which had
been heard going on, all night--might not be followed by a fanatic
outbreak against the Hindoo and Parsee traders, in the Hindoo
quarter. Therefore, there was little sleep that night.

Yossouf knocked gently at the door.

"Who is there?" a voice at once inquired, from within.

"I come on urgent business with Domajee," Yossouf replied. "Open
quickly, there are but two of us here."

There was a slight pause, and then the door was opened; and closed,
immediately the two visitors had entered. A light was burning in
the large anteroom, as they entered it; and several Hindoos--who
had been lying, wrapped up in cloths, on the floor--rose to their
feet to inspect the newcomers. A moment later the trader, himself,
came down the stairs from an apartment above.

"What is it?" he asked.

He did not pause for an answer. The light from the lamp he carried
fell upon Will's face, now white as a sheet from loss of blood.
With the one word, "Follow," the Parsee turned on his heel, and led
the way upstairs.

"Has the mission been captured?" he asked, as they entered an empty
room.

"Yes," Will replied, "and I believe that I am the only survivor."

The fatigue of climbing the stairs completed the work caused by
prolonged excitement and loss of blood and, as he spoke, he
tottered; and would have fallen had not Yossouf seized him and,
with the assistance of the Parsee, laid him on a couch. In a few
words, Yossouf informed the trader of what had happened; and
satisfied him that no suspicion could arise, of the presence of one
of the British in his house. As the residency had been burnt down,
and the bodies of those who had fallen within it consumed, no one