Part 13 (2/2)

He now had the possibility of fire, so that evening the little cup in the hills held quite coe, and using the swords and their scabbards as supports, had ainst a warm rock out of the strip of shawl In this he had strewn juniper branches to make a soft bed, and the children could just creep into it Then they had the marmot, roasted in its skin, for supper, and all the three were too hungry to ask themselves if marmot flesh was as toothsome as rabbit or as bitter as squirrel! And Tumbu ate the bones with an air as if he would say, ”It is not bad, but to-morrow I must catch two marmots”

After that there was peace and quiet in the ca it blaze up every now and again by putting on a fresh juniper branch For he knew that since the others had not arrived by daylight, theyuntil the cold of night once ht seen froht passed More than once Roy fell asleep, for despite his care the smoke of the juniper branches could not quite be avoided, and that, every one knows, is terribly sleepifying He woke every time, however, before the fire was quite out, and hastened to send up a flare of flame As he did so the last time it was answered by a _hulloo_ from the rocks above, and shortly afterward Meroo, the scullion's, blubbering voice could be heard as he uttered thanks to Heaven

”And the others?” asked Roy anxiously, as out of the darkness Meroo appeared and cast hi joy

”They come, they coht of it warmed the cockles of ry in the wilderness Nay! go not,” for Roy was starting up ”True! the woers frost-bitten, but--nay, put more flame to the fire, boy! It is the fire they need!”

He was half beside hiht As the fresh juniper branches blazed up Head-nurse ca to help her, but she pushed him aside

”The Heir-to-E to form the words ”The Heir-to-Empire, the Admired-of-the-World----”

Roy pointed to the little tent ”There! Safe! Well! Asleep!” he cried; and the poor wo long strings of titles

Before a led into the circle of light, and after a word of question and reply, sank down also

Then there was a long pause, but no sign caure At last Roy spoke

”Faithful?” he asked in a lohisper ”What of him?”

There was no answer at first; only Foster-father covered his face with his hands At last he spoke gently

”He was faithful to death He was going first, as ever, cheering us all with his sayings of Firdoos Gita Makani I saw hi to tell us words of wisdoiven way beneath his feet and he was gone We waited on the bank of the awful chas of the stream below Firdoos Gita Makani, his master, had called him Peace be with them both!”

CHAPTER XV

DEAREST-LADY

For thole days the little party was too weary even to attempt a ood as his word, brought in s, they were easily caught

The death of Old Faithful weighed upon the spirits of all, and for the first twelve hours or so the Heir-to-Empire was inconsolable for the loss of his beloved cat; for Foster-father had found it impossible to carry Down farther, and she had re piteously It was a terrible grief, and the child had almost wept hiht, Mistress Doas seen walking sedately across the flowers, her bushy tail carried very high, not one hair of her silky white coat awry She took no notice of anybody, but passed to the fire, sat down beside it with stiff dignity, curled her tail round her paws, yawned and then began to purr gently It was as if nothing had happened And she certainly was not hungry, for she turned up her dainty nose at Tumbu's marmot bones

”Cats,” said Head-nurse, who had just awakened fro sleep ofnine lives, they could afford to lose one; but they never do They always fall on their feet It is the way of the world; the lad she has returned; and I wish there were a chance of others turning up also,” she added with a sigh

The Heir-to-Eravely ”But Faithful can't come back, you know He went to help Grand-dad to help us”

”Hark to the innocent,” cried Foster-mother, half in smiles, half in tears, ”but it is true If ever poor mortals atched over by saints in Paradise, ere; and for et to Kabul, my duty shall be paid to the tomb of Firdoos Gita Makani--on whom be peace”

”Amen!” added her husband devoutly; ”but for the ood man we should not be here now”

It was on the third day that leaving Meroo in charge for a few hours Foster-father and Roy set off to explore They were fortunate in finding so distance for even footsore wo of fresh milk