The girls chose to have their wash first and their meal afterward, and
felt refreshed and brighter after they had done so. Then they dressed in
the clothes Saba had provided for them, and could, at any other time, have
laughed at the comicality of their aspect, muffled up in white, with only
their eyes visible. The awkward shoes were the only part of the costume to
which they objected; but the sight of European boots below the native
dress would have betrayed them instantly; however, they determined to
adopt them for walking in at nights, or when crossing the fields, and to
put the native shoes in a bundle, to be worn in public.

The boys presently joined them, Ned in the dress of a young Mussulman
zemindar, Dick as his follower.

"I should not have known you in the least," Rose said; "as far as
appearances go, I think we are all safe now."

When it was quite dark they again started, regained the road, and kept
steadily along it. After two hours' walking they approached a village.
After some consultation it was decided that Dick, whose dress was the
darkest and least noticeable, should steal forward and reconnoiter. If
every one was indoors they would push boldly through; if not, they would
make a circuit round it. In ten minutes he returned.

"Ned, there are two troopers' horses standing before the largest house of
the place. I suppose they belong to some of the men of the cavalry
regiment at Nalgwa. If we could but steal them!"

"Splendid, Dick; why should we not? I can get on one, you on the other;
one of the girls can sit behind each of us, with her arms round our