rs. Dermot's
words; and he began to wonder if the unknown lady held the doctor's
heart.

"It's rather hard on a girl like Miss Benson to have to lead such a
lonely life and rough it constantly in the jungle as she does," remarked
Major Hunt. "At her age she must want gaiety and amusement."

"Muriel doesn't mind it," replied the hostess. "She loves jungle life.
And she thinks that her father couldn't get on without her."

"Sure, she's right there, Mrs. Dermot," cried Burke. "The dear ould
boy'ud lose his head av he hadn't her to hould it on for him. She does
most av his work. It's a sight to see that slip av a girl bossing all
the forest guards and _habus_ and giving them their ordhers."

Wargrave was anxious to hear more of this girl, in whom it appeared to
him Burke was very much interested; but Colonel Dermot broke in:

"Talking of orders, have you any for the butcher's man, Noreen?" he
asked, smiling at his wife.

"Yes, dear; will you please bring me a _khakur_ and some jungle fowl?
And if you can manage it a brace of _Kalej_ pheasants," said the good
housewife seriously.

"Well, Wargrave, we've both got our orders and know what to bring back
from the jungle," said the Colonel, turning to Frank, who was sitting
beside him. Then the conversation between them drifted into sporting
channels until all adjourned outside for coffee on the verandah.

Next afternoon the subaltern, passing down the road, was hailed from the
Dermots' garden by an imperious small lady with golden curls and big
blue bows and ordered to play with her. Her brother and Badshah had to
join in the game, too. Frank, chasing the dainty mite round and round
the elephant, began to think himself in the Garden of Eden.

But that same evening he found that his Himalayan Paradise was not
without its serpent. The three officers of the detachment were seated at
dinner on the Mess verandah, Major Hunt with his back to the rough stone
wall of the building. A swinging oil lamp with a metal shade threw the
light downward and left the ceiling and upper part of the wall in
shadow.

When dinner was ended the Commandant, lighting a cheerot, tilted his
chair on its back legs until his head nearly touched the wall. Frank,
talking to him, chanced to look up at the roof. He stared into the
shadows for a moment, then, suddenly grasping the astonished major by
the collar, jerked him out of his chair. And as he did so a snake, a
deadly hill-viper, which had been