benefit to him after he had entered the army. Coming out as they had done
in the cold season, none of the four exhibited any of that pallor and
lassitude which, at any rate during the summer heats, are the rule
throughout the Anglo-Indian community.

As Ned finished his sentence the sound of the tread of two horses was
heard along the road.

"Captains Dunlop and Manners," Dick exclaimed; "a shilling to a penny!
Will either of you bet, girls?"

Neither his sister nor cousin replied to this offer; and the boys gave a
sly nod of intelligence to each other, as two horsemen rode up to the
veranda and dismounted; throwing their reins to the _syces_, who, whatever
the pace at which their masters ride, run just behind, in readiness to
take the horses, should they dismount.

"Good-morning, Miss Warrener; good-morning, Miss Hertford: we have brought
you some interesting news."

"Indeed!" said the girls, as they shook hands with the newcomers, who were
two as good specimens of tall, well-made, sunburnt Anglo-Saxons as one
would wish to see. "What is it?"

"We have just got the news that a family of wild boars have come down, and
are doing a lot of damage near Meanwerrie, four miles off. I suppose they
have been disturbed somewhere further away, as we have not heard of any
pig here for months; so to-morrow morning there is going to be grand pig-
sticking; of course you will come out and see the fun?"