convenience. Some of the grass had been cut down by the wild boar's tusks, and some of it had been trampled under-foot. Mr. Des

him; old Gobur ente

d flung themselves upon the ground to rest, waiting until some of the men in the nearest village sh

d Gobur paused to point out a porcupine's burrow, or to drag his young companion aside, as a hissing snake wound its green length across the path; whilst the impudent monkeys chattered and screamed as they swung themselves high over Oliver's head, rejoicing in the sudden departure of their more formidable neighbours the great pig family. Bright and beautiful birds peeped at him out of their nests, unscared

n his hands and kne

ss with his teeth. One half he had trampled under-foot, and the other half he had heaved alof

poked in his head. Forthwith the rat, with his twelve-inch length of tail switching from side to side, made a grab at his hair; and

e boy refused to cry out, although the bloo

is unexpected disaster. There was no

as left in pawn with the rat. His knees were bruis

s. When they got free of the grass at last, it was some small consolation to Oliver to find they had penetrated farther into the t

ance attracted Mr. D

hat boy?"

the search and got scratched b

led Mr. Desborough to offer him a bath and breakfast if he wo

job for him on the spot. He had taken to the b

e water in it from the nearest well. The major tore his own handkerc

his sister Bona had come out to join an uncle, a deputy-judge, who was to have sent to meet them. They had travel

s what we call a dak-gharri, our Eastern equi

w longer with cutting," answered the boy dryly. "There has been a muddle and a mistake. The gentleman who took care of us on our journey could come no farther, and some

ave done all I can in this melancholy business to help poor Desborough, I will

of the veranda; for India is a very land of flowers. He had brought in his baskets full, as usual, to adorn the rooms, and was sitting cross-legged in his snowy turban, weaving them with his dexterous fingers into wreaths and bouquets of surpassing lo

is better!" she cried. "He has slept; he wi

ound him yet. These people must all have breakfast. There! go to that young lady. In mamma's absence I must leave her to you.-I dare

Bona St. Faine was lifted out of her dandy, she too whispered something about the s

m a stranger; so he engaged her forthwith to do

etween them, and would have led her to the house; but she hung back, intent upon the coolies, who w

ster. "It is dreadful to let her see that

it. Kathleen was peeping thro

father shot it. It will never frighten y

uch in that burning sunshine it almost blistered her fingers; but she did not heed that. "Did papa s

ghtforward turn of mind, who naturally answered yes or no to every inquiry-"I will tell you" or "I wil

speak?" she ask

d creaked the gate, so that s

panting, Oliv

ably chagrined. "How just like a boy! He always is so stupi

under the shadow of the garden trees considering it. They called to the gardener to bring them some fern lea

s prevailing colour was a tawny fawn, with a

s not a buff dog; it was a gray dog, with a great scratch on its shoulder. I sho

her seeing any more of the fierce booraba. Her own favourite syce, who drove her out

beebee [the li

r; and the sahib will be

en the old man explained-"The colour of a wolf tells its age: they all turn gray as they grow

een's hand in hers, led her resolutely away, threatening the servants with

!" she said, glancing at

obur, who was forcing open the wolf's mouth and examining its teeth. He sprang

hide. The wolves as well as the jackals follow the tiger to feast on what he l

ho were chattering round him so fast, had live

h had stolen a baby from its m

the old man's assertion, others were asking questions none of them could answer. Had any one heard the child cry? No, not even the coolies in

sked Gobur, almost breathlessly. "Wherever a drop has fallen you

by half-a-dozen others, gesticulating and ta

bending over the cot of his other little boy, try

. "Two wolves inde

ack ants which he had found along the vera

tively, "is it from the

rhododendron bushes, where the crushed flowers and b

und the fatal spot to whi

ountain on the lawn, and wa

the major, as he passed him, "or yo

s that marked the trail of the wolf. He traced its course from the rhododendron to the win

to the gardener,

Gobur righ

if he were behind that bush. For a wolf, they both asserted, bites with a snap, and clashes it

nda, and ran into the hall. Kathleen wa

"your brother is not killed. We ma