I had recommended the Government to present him with
a telescope in return for his neutrality! There will be no Zemaun to
present it to if I can but lay hands upon him.

We expect the convoy tomorrow morning, and need anticipate no attack
until it comes up, for these fellows fight for plunder, not for glory,
though, to do them justice, they have plenty of pluck when they get
started. I have devised an excellent plan, and it has Elliott's hearty
support. By Jove! if we can only manage it, it will be as pretty a ruse
as ever I heard of.

Our intention is to give out that we are going down the valley to meet
the convoy and to block the mouth of a pass from which we profess to
expect an attack. Very good. We shall make a night-march to-night and
reach their camp. Once there I shall conceal my two hundred men in the
waggons and travel up with the convoy again.

Our friends the enemy, having heard that we intended to go south, and
seeing the caravan going north without us, will naturally swoop down
upon it under the impression that we are twenty miles away. We shall
teach them such a lesson that they would as soon think of stopping a
thunderbolt as of interfering again with one of Her Britannic Majesty's
provision trains. I am all on thorns to be off.

Elliott has rigged up two of his guns so ingeniously that they look more
like costermongers' barrows than anything else. To see artillery ready
for action in the convoy might arouse suspicion. The artillerymen will
be in the waggons next the guns, all ready to unlimber and open fire.
Infantry in front and rear. Have told our confidential and discreet
Sepoy servants the plan which we do not intend to adopt. N.B.--If you
wish a thing to be noised over a whole province always whisper it under
a vow of secrecy to your confidential native servant.

8.45 P.M.--Just starting for the convoy. May luck go with us!

October 5.--Seven o'clock in the evening. _Io triumphe!_ Crown us with
laurel--Elliott and myself! Who can compare with us as vermin killers?

I have only just got back, tired and weary, stained with blood and
dust, but I have sat down before either washing or changing to have the
satisfaction of seeing our deeds set forth in black and white--if only
in my private log for no eye but my own. I shall describe it all fully
as a preparation for an official account, which must be drawn up when
Elliott gets back. Billy Dawson used to say that there were three
degrees of comp