dragon-boat, towing behind it a second
boat that had been overturned.

The news was passed inward, and this brought the Major to the
landing-place, where the Rajah was waiting.

"Ah!" cried the old officer, "you have brought news?"

The young Rajah bent his head.

"Yes," he said hoarsely. "Is this your boat?"

"Yes, yes--the Resident's--Sir Charles's. Been overturned?"

"We found it amongst the trees far down the river. One of my men caught
sight of this hanging in a bush;" and he held up a large, thin,
gauzy-looking white scarf, torn almost in two.

"Ah!" gasped the Major, as he caught at the flimsy wrapper, now
partially dry. "And--and--you were going to say something else, sir?"

"Yes," said the young Rajah, with something like a groan. "But tell me,
do you know whose was this?"

He brought forward from behind him an officer's forage-cap, about which
a torn puggaree clung like a wisp.

"Great heavens!" panted the Major. "Oh, my poor, dear boy!--Where did
you find this, sir?"

"Part of the boat's bows were crushed in as if by a blow. This cap was
held down by one of the splinters."

Just then voices came floating down the river, indicating that some of
the party were returning from their search to the upper landing-place;
and soon after the Resident's naga had reached the stage, and the
principal occupants sprang out to hear about the missing sentry, and to
give no news. The last discovery was whispered to them in broken tones,
and as what seemed to be the terrible fate of the small boat's occupants
was told by the Major to Sir Charles, he literally reeled away from
where he had been standing, and staggered onwards with extended hands,
as if making for the bungalow. But before he had gone many steps he
stopped short, to whisper hoarsely, "Who is that?"

"I, Sir Charles," said Captain Down.

"Thank you. Take my hand, please. I am giddy, and half-blind.
Something seems to have gone wrong. I cannot think. Please help me,
and lead me home.--No; stop," he added. "That poor woman! Some one
must tell her. She must know; and I can't--I can't be the bearer. Oh,
it is too horrible! My fault, too.--Ah! Who is that? You, Down? I
thought you had gone. Don't let me fall. This giddiness again. Yes, I
remember now. The Doctor! He was called away to go to the Rajah's
help. Has he returned? Has he--"

His lips parted to say more, but his words were inaudible, and at a
signal from the Capt