if I picked up something."

"Too much this time, Pete," said Archie sadly.

"Too much, sir?"

"Yes. It's all bad."

"But you said I was to bring everything, sir."

"Yes, yes; that's quite right. But it is so disheartening. They must
have taken her up somewhere; for aught we know, poor girl! she may be a
prisoner somewhere in one of the places near that elephant-shed."

"Near what elephant-shed, sir?" said Peter rather vacantly.

"Why, where we were prisoners."

"Oh no, sir. Didn't I get out that night and go and look everywhere?"

"No. There might have been scores of other buildings up there. You
couldn't have seen much."

"No, sir, I didn't. It was so dark, and there was that tiger."

"Here, I've got leave to be up to-morrow, and I must see what I can do."

"Don't think you could have done any more than I did, sir, that night."

"I know that, Pete; but I want to be trying now all the same. Here, I
know; I'll get the Major's permission to go up and join Sergeant Ripsy
and make a better search up there."

"Spite of the tigers, sir?"

"In spite of ten tigers, Pete, for I shall have men with me, and
rifles."

"Think old Tipsy will like it, sir?"

"I think Sergeant Ripsy is a stern old British soldier who would do his
duty, Pete."

"Well, yes, sir. He's a hard nut, but he's all that you say. I'd
rather be under anybody else, but you talk about ten tigers: I'd go
under ten Sergeant Tipsys if it was to bring Miss Minnie back."

"I know you would, Pete. And poor Sir Charles was knocked over by the
fever?"

"Sunstroke, sir."

"Well, sunstroke. He's _hors de combat_, and we want to take his
place."

The next day Archie signalised his permission to be about by asking for
an interview with his commanding officer, who congratulated him warmly,
and then replied to his request with an imperative:

"No! Quite out of the question, sir. I have weakened my force too much
as it is, and I cannot spare another man."

"Horribly disappointing," said Archie to himself as he came away--"but
he did call me _man_!"

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

A DESPATCH.

Archie Maine had been round visiting posts in the faint hope of picking
up some fresh news from the men, after the hurried mess dinner, glad to
get out into the comparatively cool, soft night air; for the Major had
sat in his place, hardly speaking a word to any one present, and for the
most part with lowered brows, deep in thought.

The night