Salaman looked pleased, and obeyed my words, placing the melon in Dost's lap; but the latter did not move or unclose his eyes, but sat there perfectly motionless, with the piece of the fruit in his lap, while I partook of mine, which was delicious in the extreme, and I enjoyed it as I saw how completely the people about me were deceived. Salaman and the bearer stood humbly close at hand till I had finished, and then took plate and tray with the remains of the melon. "Will my lord return to the tent?" asked Salaman. "Oh, I don't know," I said indifferently. "But my lord might be sleeping when the holy man comes back to himself. You see, he is not there now. It is only his body." "How these old impostors of fakirs do deceive the people," I thought, as I glanced at Dost; then aloud-- "Well, suppose I were sleeping?" "The holy man might harm my lord." "Not he," I said, in a voice full of contempt. "Words do no harm whatsoever." Salaman bowed and went his way, and I took up a palm-leaf fan, and began to use it, not as a wafter of cool wind, but as a screen to hide my face when I spoke to Dost, and from behind which I could keep an eye on the tents, and see when any one was coming. As soon as I gave him a signal, Dost began again, but without stirring a muscle; in fact, so rigid did he look that it would have puzzled any one to make out whence the low muffled voice came with such a peculiar whispered hiss, caused by its passing through the thick beard which muffled his lips. "You understand, sahib," he said. "I shall be gone before morning, and if you do not hear anything, be not afraid, for if I get safely to the captain sahib, he will be making plans to come and save you as soon as he can." "Tell me one thing," I said quickly. "What about Major Lacey?" "Ah! at Rajgunge, sahib. I do not know. I was not able to go there again, but he will be well. Those with whom he was placed would not let him come to harm." "And Sergeant Craig?" "His wounds were healing fast, sahib. But now listen. When I come back to you to get you away to your friends, who will be waiting close by, I shall let you know I am there by making a hiss like a snake--so--in a quick way, twice." He gave the imitation, but so softly that it could not have been heard. "Now," he said, "go, and take no more notice of me. If the servants suspect anything, my work must be begun all over again, and it is hard to deceive them." "But have you nothing more to say?" "Nothing, sahib; there is no time, and this is not the place. Be patient, and grow strong. The captain sahib will save you, and all will be well. Go." I hesitated for a few minutes, being reluctant to leave, but satisfied at last that Dost's advice was right, and that I must wait patiently for my release, I covered my face with the great palm fan, and said in a low tone-- "Mind and tell Captain Brace that the rajah may have taken me to his city."