" Nonsense, there can be only two to four thousand in a fort. Now, are they there at present or are they gone out ? " " Where could they go out ? " " To the fair. When did you leave the place ? " " Yesterday, sahib." " Oh then, they must have gone but to-day." Santi was musing within herself : "In vain have I donned my nose-print if I can't plot your ruin. I only want to see when jackals would be eating your head. 1 ' To the Major she said, " I dono't know all that. I am a Vaishnavi and go about singing from door to door. I donot care to keep these informations. Now I am quite tired of talking, give me my pice and let me go. And; if you care to reward me well, I will get you the informations day after tomorrow if you mind it." The Major threw a rupee at her and said : " Not day after tomorrow, Bidt" " Off you wretch, say Vaishnavi and not Bibi" " Not day after tomorrow, I want the information this evening." " Yes, you go to sleep Vith that pleasant thought with wine and a gun in your head and oil in your nostrils ! To think that I shall be going these twenty miles of the way and come back again to give him the news ! chucho beta " What's a chucko beta" " A hero — a great general:" " Great general I well, I may be one like Give. But
