then more, and in a little time his gravity departed from him. He became thickly treasonous, and spoke in terms of sweeping indecency of a Government which had forced upon him a white man's education and neglected to supply him with a white man's salary. He babbled tales of oppression and wrong till the tears ran down his cheeks for the miseries of his land. Then he staggered off, singing love-songs of Lower Bengal, and collapsed upon a wet tree-trunk. Never was so unfortunate a product of English rule in India more unhappily thrust upon an alien.
'They are all just of that pattern,' said one sportsman to the other in French. 'When we get into India proper thou wilt see. I should like to visit his Rajah. One might speak the good word there. It is possible that he has heard of us and wishes to signify his good will.'
'We have not time. We must get into Simla as soon as may be,' his companion replied. 'For my own part, I wish our reports had been sent back North from Hilás, or even Leh.'
'The English post is better and safer. Remember we are given all facilities and—name of God—they give them to us too! It is unbelievable stupidity.'
'It is pride—pride that deserves and will receive punishment. Yes! To fight a fellow Continental in our game is something. There is a risk attached, but these people—bah ! It is too easy.'
'Pride—all pride, my friend.'
'Now what the deuce is good of Chundernagore being so close to Calcutta and all,' said Hurree, snoring open-mouthed on the sodden moss, 'if I cannot understand their French. They talk so particularly fast! It would have been much better to cut their beastly throats.'
When he presented himself again he was racked with a head-
