"Master's bath and coffee ready," said a voice; and I looked up to see by the light of a lamp that my man Dost was gazing down at me, with the curtains held aside, and a curiously troubled fixed look in his face. "Time to get up already?" I said. "Yes, sahib," he said hurriedly. "All the other gentlemen call and get up." "All right," I said; and springing out, I stepped into my tiled bath-room, and had myself refreshed with some chatties of cold water poured over my head, after which, feeling elastic as steel, I towelled, and began to dress. "Why, hallo, Dost," I said, as I saw that the man was trembling, "what's the matter? Not ill?" "No, no, sahib; quite well, quite well!" he cried hastily. "But you are not," I cried. "You are all of a shiver. Let me give you something." He shook his head violently, and kept on reiterating that he was quite well. "Come, out with it, Dost," I said. "You are not deceiving me. What is the matter?" He looked round quickly, and I could see that the poor fellow evidently was in great alarm about something. "Master always good to Dost," he said. "Of course I am, when you are good and attentive to me. Is my rifle ready?" "Yes, sahib. Dost afraid for his lord." I laughed at him, though I felt touched, as I grasped what he seemed to mean. "You coward!" I said. "Do you think the first tiger I see will get into my howdah and maul me?" He nodded his head, and looked more nervous than before. "And that I shall be a job for Dr Danby, and you will have to nurse me?" He bowed his head again. "Then you would like me to stop, and not go to the tiger-hunt?" "No, no, sahib," he cried excitedly, and I smiled again at him, as I thought that it was very doubtful whether Ny Deen and his other men were in such anxiety about Barton. Dost hung about me with the greatest of solicitude as, fully equipped at last, I made my way to where the buggies and their attendants were in waiting. It was very dark, and it was only by the light of the lanterns that I made out who was there, and saw Brace, the doctor, and a quiet gentlemanly lieutenant of ours named Haynes. Just then the major came bustling up, his genial nature having urged him to leave his comfortable bed, and come to see us off. "All here?" he cried. "You'll have a glorious day. Needn't have taken rifles; the rajah would have everything for you, and better pieces than your own, I dare say. Wish I was going with you." "Why not come?" said Brace. "No, no! Don't tempt me; I've quite work enough. Some one ought to stay." "I will stop with pleasure," cried Brace. "No, no, my dear boy; we settled that you should go. I'll have my turn another time." "But really--" began Brace. "Be quiet, man!" cried the major. "You are going. Keep an eye on Vincent here, and don't let a tiger get him. He can't be spared."