ely act
otherwise, and that he went to the utmost limits of the possible, if he
did not absolutely forbid him to undertake anything for the advantage of
the unhappy Edith. Heideck's decision to leave not a stone unturned to
liberate the woman he loved was not thereby shaken for a moment, but he
knew now that he would have to proceed with the greatest circumspection,
and that he could not reckon upon anyone's assistance--an admission
which was not exactly calculated to fill him with joyous hope.

After a short march the detachment reached the spot lying immediately
at the foot of the first hill, a wide space shaded by mighty trees, upon
which the Maharajah had erected his improvised hunting-camp. A great
number of tents had been pitched under the trees. A gay-coloured throng
of men surged amongst them.

It was perfectly clear to Heideck that he could not himself search the
camp for Edith Irwin without exciting the attention of the Indians,
thereby at once compromising the success of his venture. And he had no
one to whom he could entrust the important task, except the faithful
Morar Gopal, who, in spite of all the terrors of war, had also followed
him on this march to Simla, although Heideck had offered him his
discharge, together with the payment of his wages for several months
more.

Accordingly, after the signal had been given to halt and dismount, he
took him aside and communicated to him his instructions, at the same
time handing him a handful of rupees to enable him to give the necessary
bribes.

The Hindu listened with keen attention, and the play of his dark, clever
face showed what a lively personal interest he took in this affair
nearest his master's heart.

"Everything shall be done according to your wishes, sahib," he said, and
soon afterwards was lost to view among the innumerable crowd of the two
Indian Princes' servants and followers.

XX

A FRIEND IN NEED

Whilst the Russians were digging their cooking trenches somewhat
aside from the main camp, and making all necessary arrangements for
bivouacking, Heideck had an opportunity of admiring the magnificence
with which these Indian Princes organised their hunting excursions.

The tents of the two Maharajahs were almost the size of a one-floor
bungalow, and on peering through the open entrance of one of them into
the interior, Heideck saw that it was lavishly hung with red, blue, and
yellow silk, and furnished with most costly carpets.

A