But why?"

"Because see what an opportunity is offered for those two chiefs to take
revenge upon us for what they must consider an insult to their dignity."

"My dear sir, you are giving reins to your imagination. They are well
on the way now to their homes."

"Perhaps so," said the Resident in a low, nervous tone; "but suppose
they have made a halt and are only waiting till their scouts have
announced to them that we are quite unprepared?"

"You are assuming, my dear Dallas, that those two princes are working
hand and glove."

"Well, you are quite of my way of thinking over that."

"Humph! No," said the Major. "I am beginning to think that our
lavender-gloved young friend means well by us."

"Lavender-gloved young friend!" said the Resident. "Who knows but those
soft kid gloves may not be worn to cover the tiger's claws?"

"Ah! who knows, my dear Dallas? But it is enough for us to know that if
we can produce such an effect with blank cartridge and a sham charge, we
have it in our power to protect the station and defend the honour of
those we love, by using ball-cartridge and sending our bayonets home."

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

THE DOCTOR'S CALL.

In spite of the Resident's doubts and expressed opinion that the two
Rajahs would display resentment, the neighbourhood settled down calmly
enough. The village people nearest, notwithstanding their being chased
helter-skelter, mixed up with the Rajah's followers, very soon showed
that they had thoroughly enjoyed the fun of seeing Suleiman's haughty,
tyrannical gang scared away and running as if for their lives.

The people of the more distant campongs came in just as usual, bringing
their fruit and poultry to market as before; and though the
half-military-looking armed men did not make their appearance, the
Resident was bound to confess that this was not a bad sign, as they had
rarely approached the cantonments to mingle with the soldiers off duty.

A few days elapsed, and then a present was sent in, consisting of
supplies, by Rajah Hamet; and the very next day two of Suleiman's chiefs
brought in a letter, written in English, but dotted with French
allusions which suggested its source.

It was an invitation for the Major and his officers to a tiger-hunt.
This was considered, and then the Major replied in the most friendly
way, begging to be excused on the ground that it was impossible to
accept the invitation then, but asking for it to be repeated later o