for two or three hours; that on his way home he
heard voices in the angle of a small compound, which excited his
curiosity. Approaching the spot noiselessly, through a hole in the
prickly pear hedge he, by the light of the moon, saw four persons
conversing together, two of whom he recognized; one was a Jemidar of
Cavalry, the other, Soobadah, Major of one of the native regiments, the
remaining two were strangers, evidently belonging to some irregular
corps. The substance of their conversation was to the effect that, about
six hundred irregular horse, and a company of Goolandowz, (but without
guns or ammunition) were halted a short distance beyond the limits of
the cantonments ready to enter at a given signal; that all the native
corps in garrison were to rise, simultaneously, about eight a.m.; an
attempt was to be made to carry off the artillery guns while the
European gunners were at their breakfasts; the Fort was to be carried by
a sudden rush, and the town plundered; they were then to make off to the
next smallest station, where they were unlikely to meet with any
European force.

For some moments Arthur was undecided as to what course he ought to
pursue. "If," thought he, "I carry this information to the Brigadier, he
will pooh, pooh it as mere moonshine, besides I no longer belong to his
staff, and he would not listen to anything I might suggest; it would
only be time thrown away; but Huntingdon must be warned. Forewarned is
forearmed, and he is not the man to disregard a circumstance of this
kind." He at once wrote a note relating what had been told him, and sent
it by the Portuguese.

"You will deliver this into the hand of Major Huntingdon, and likewise
give him a full account of all you saw and heard, and return as quickly
as possible." The servant was soon on his way to the artillery lines.
The next thing was to start his servants' baggage and personal effects
by a road, directly opposite the one where the irregulars were said to
be halted. While dressing and arming, he resolved as to what step he
should now take. He would ride over to Edith, and, after placing her in
safety within the walls of the Fort, join the other officers of the
garrison under the direction of Major Collingwood and act as he deemed
best in the coming struggle. He was well mounted and thoroughly armed,
and likewise carried a double-barreled tiger-rifle, slung
carbine-fashion to his saddle, and was as formidable a cavalier as one
could