One hundred yards or so after starting the disguised fakir and his bear
entered a locality teeming with troops, quartered there in order to be
close at hand to the batteries, to assist to repel sorties, or to join in
attacks. Fortunately the night was very dark, and the exceedingly awkward
and unnatural walk of the bear passed unseen. Over and over again they
were challenged and shouted to, but the hoarse "Hoo-Hac," which is the cry
of the fakirs, and the ring of the iron-bound staff with its clanking
rings on the ground, were a sufficient pass.

Ned guessed, from the fact of their having been met with so close to the
fort, that the fakir and his bear would be well known to the mutineers;
and this proved to be the case.

Several of the men addressed him, but he waved his arm, shook his head
angrily, and strode on; and as fakirs frequently pretend to be absorbed in
thought, and unwilling to converse, the soldiers fell back. Beyond this,
the streets were deserted. The most populous native quarter lay far away,
and few of the inhabitants, save of the lowest classes, cared to be about
the streets after nightfall.

The instant that they were in a quiet quarter Dick rose on to his feet.

"My goodness," he whispered to Ned, "that all-fours' work is enough to
break one's back, Ned."

They now struck sharply to the left, presently crossed the wide street
leading from the Cawnpore Bridge, and kept on through quiet lanes until
they came to the canal. This would be the guide they wanted, and they
followed it along, taking nearly the route which General Havelock
afterward followed in his advance, until they came to a bridge across the