"You guessed right this time, Travas, old fellow," said Carlton, giving
his friend another hearty shake of the hand. Then, turning to the first
speaker, whom he addressed as Dorville, said, "So you thought me miles
away, did you? I was sure you had seen the General's order for me to
rejoin. Pray, introduce me to your friends, and we can have a mutual
explanation of how we came to meet thus unexpectedly." This being done,
the whole party dismounted and threw themselves at full length within
such shade as the jungle afforded, and listened to Arthur's account of
the outbreak at Goolampore, and his reasons for throwing up his
appointment on the staff; the unexpected appearance of the tiger and the
death of the same.

"A ticklish thing to do, by Jove, to take the matter in your own hands in
that fashion. But all's well that ends well, and devilish glad will our
fellows be to learn that you will be so soon among us again, especially
as your troop and mine have been ordered out on some special service,
and that accounts for our presence in this neighborhood, and so far from
headquarters; but Travas will give you the particulars;" and lighting a
cheroot, Francis Dorville puffed out numberless circles of pale, blue
smoke, which he appeared to enjoy with infinite satisfaction.

"Then you must know, most redoubtable of tiger-slayers," began Travas
Templeton, who was a cornet in Arthur's troop, and an enthusiastic
sportsman, "that the Brigadier commanding, having secretly got wind that
a party of mutineers had ensconced themselves in a small fortress, among
yonder hills," pointing with his cigar in the direction as he spoke,
"has ordered a flying column, of which two troops of ours form a part,
to attack, and, if possible, to carry the place by assault or _coup de
main_; that we are encamped about eight miles to the South-West of this