that was round his
waist) he endeavoured to avoid my touch, by cringing from me, as he
would from the bite of a serpent; but I gave his holiness such a twist
round, that he thought he would never have stopped. Upon this his eye
darted vivid flashes of fire; I saw him clench his fists with rage; he
foamed from the sides of his mouth; and at one time I really thought
that the holy personage was about to forget his holiness, and coming to
the scratch. Having no secreted weapon upon him, he was permitted to
pass, and it was a very necessary precaution to examine such a fellow
strictly, for he was a Goorkah, or bastard Tartar, a race pre-eminently
bloodthirsty and cruel, and of the same sect with those who committed
such wanton cruelties on the poor unfortunate spy of Ettoondah. In
obedience to our instructions, we passed him into camp, and in about an
hour he returned, his sallow face contracted and distorted with all the
rage and malice that can make the human features terrific. He passed on
in sullen silence, in his heart vowing vengeance, as he had no doubt
been unsuccessful in his embassy. His sudden exit, and obvious
displeasure, indicated a renewal of hostilities; at least so said the
all-wise captain, who was the very fountain of information--a complete
reservoir of the pure stream of knowledge, at least as far as his own
opinion went.

Notwithstanding this sage prediction, however, two more days passed
away, when another ambassador came into camp--if not so holy as the
former, certainly more like a statesman. This second messenger remained
a considerable time in deep and secret conversation with our noble
general, who could see as far as most folks, although the service had
deprived him of one eye. At last he left, his eye beaming delight. He
smiled and bowed as he passed, and we, one and all, immediately flew to
the sure channel of information. His opinion was peace; and, for once
during the captain's campaigns, he was right, for, the day following,
the firing from our batteries ceased, and the uncle to the then reigning
rajah, who was regent, was expected in camp. Every eye was on the
look-out for this great personage, and various were the opinions of the
anxious multitude, and they were as ridiculous as they were varied. The
wise captain was not idle, either with his glass or his tongue. To do
honour to the reception of such a personage, the two flank companies of
the 87th regiment, and the two flank companies of