r assurances Wargrave
felt a little nervous when they came in sight of the strange nurse and
its charges. The tiny girl was seated on the ground tightly clasping one
huge foreleg; while the boy was beating the other with his little fists,
crying:

"_Mujk-ko uth! Pir! Pir!_ (Lift me up! Again! Again!)"

When he saw his mother he ran to her and said:

"Mummie, bad, naughty Badshah won't lift me up."

He suddenly caught sight of the stranger and paused shyly.

"Brian darling, this is a new friend," said his mother, bending down to
him. "Won't you shake hands with him?"

The child conquered his shyness with an effort and walked over to Frank,
holding out his little hand.

"How do you do?" he said politely.

The subaltern gravely shook the proffered hand. The little girl
scrambled to her fat little legs and finger in mouth, surveyed him
solemnly. Then satisfied with her inspection she toddled forward to him
and said:

"Tiss me."

Frank laughed joyously.

"With all my heart, you darling," he cried.

This delightful welcome in the dreaded place of exile was inexpressibly
cheering. He swung the dainty mite up in his arms and kissed her. She
put her arms around his neck and hugged him.

"Me like 'oo," she said.

"You little flirt, Eileen," exclaimed her mother laughing. "Now it's
Badshah's turn."

She walked to the elephant, a splendid specimen of its race, though it
had only one tusk, the right. She held out her hand to it. The long
trunk shot out, brushed her fingers and then her cheek with a light
touch that was almost a caress. She stroked the trunk affectionately.

"Now, Badshah, this is a new Sahib."

Frank, with the baby girl seated on his shoulder, stepped forward and
extended his hand. The animal smelt it and then laid its trunk for a
moment on his free shoulder.

"Badshah accepts you, Mr. Wargrave," said Mrs. Dermot seriously. "And
there are few whom he takes to readily."

Eileen, with one arm around Frank's neck, stretched out the other to the
elephant.

"Me love Badshah," she said.

The snake-like trunk lingered caressingly on her golden head. The baby
caught and kissed it.

"Now then, chickies, time for bed," said their mother. "Say goodnight to
Badshah."

The little boy ran to the great animal and hugged its leg tightly, while
the snaky trunk touched the child's face affectionately.

"Come along, Brian. Let him go now"; and at his mother's bidding the boy
released his clasp and ran