everywhere closely, and may find them. I will hide them here safely. The
orders are, I hear, that the captives taken are to be carried to Delhi;
but if they should be found I will myself journey to Meerut to bring you
the news. You will give me your names, and I will find you; then you may
get help and rescue them on the way."

Ned translated the old man's opinion and kind offer to his brother and
sister, and said that he was very unwilling to leave the girls--a
sentiment in which Dick heartily joined.

Kate, however, at once expressed her warm approval of the plan.

"It will be weeks, dears, before Rose can walk again, and I shall have an
anxious time with her. It would add greatly to my anxiety if I knew that
you were near, and might at any time be captured and killed. If dear papa
has escaped he will be in a terrible state of anxiety about us, and you
could relieve him if you can join him at Meerut, and tell him how kindly
we are treated here. Altogether, boys, it would be so much better for you
to go; for if the Sepoys do come, you could not defend us against more
than two or three, and they are sure to come in a stronger party than
that."

In spite of their disinclination to leave the girls without such
protection as they could give them, the boys saw that the course advised
was the best to be pursued, and told their Hindoo friend that they agreed
to follow his counsel, thanking him in the warmest terms for his kindness.

He advised them to leave their Mohammedan dresses behind, and to dress in
the simple costume of Hindoo peons, with which he could supply them. They
would then attract far less attention, and could even by day pass across