ou have heard nothing from the natives as to any coming trouble?"

"Nothing at all, Doctor, and I am convinced that nothing is known among
them, or at any rate by the great bulk of them. Only one person has ever
said a word to me that could indicate a knowledge of coming trouble, and
that was this juggler we saw tonight. I thought nothing of his words at
the time. That picture he showed me of the attack by Sepoys first gave
me an idea that his words might mean something. Since then we have heard
much more of this discontent, and I am convinced now that the words had
a meaning. They were simple enough. It was merely his assurance, two or
three times repeated, that he would be ready to repay the service I had
rendered him with his life. It might have been a mere phrase, and so I
thought at the time. But I think now he had before him the possibility
of some event occurring in which he might be able to repay the service I
had rendered him."

"There may have been something in it and there may not," the Doctor
said; "but, at any rate, Bathurst, he ought to be a potent ally. There
doesn't seem any limit to his powers, and he might, for aught one knows,
be able to convey you away as he did his daughter."

The Doctor spoke lightly, and then added, "But seriously, the man might
be of service. These jugglers go among people of all classes. They are
like the troubadours of the Middle Ages, welcomed everywhere; and they
no doubt have every opportunity of learning what is going on, and it may
be that he will be able to give you timely warning should there be any
trouble at hand."

"That is possible enough," Bathurst agreed. "Well, Doctor, I shall be on
horseback at six, so it is time for me to turn in," and taking his hat,
walked across to his own bungalow.

The Doctor sat for some time smoking before he turned into bed. He had
as he had said, heard rumors, when Bathurst first came out, that he had
shown the white feather, but he had paid little attention to it at the
time. They had been together at the first station to which Bathurst was
appointed when he came out, and he had come to like him greatly; but
his evident disinclination to join in any society, his absorption in his
work, and a certain air of gravity unnatural in a young man of twenty,
had puzzled him. He had at the time come to the conclusion that he
must have had some unfortunate love affair, or have got into some very
serious trouble at home. In time that impressio