Chap. Page I. MR. BENJAMIN HALBUT INTERFERES 1 II. A PROTÉGÉ 15 III. FACING A DIFFICULTY 30 IV. A HUNTING EXPEDITION 48 V. THE EAST INDIAMAN ATTACKED 66 VI. A TRAP FOR A TRAP 83 VII. TOUCH AND GO 99 VIII. THE CITY OF PALACES 116 IX. JOHN COMPANY 134 X. A MAHRATTA STRONGHOLD 153 XI. AN OLD MAN'S RUSE 171 XII. THE FIRST ASSAULT 190 XIII. SPECIAL SERVICE 209 XIV. A GLORIOUS VICTORY 228 XV. HOLKAR THE TREACHEROUS 244 XVI. A DANGEROUS FRENCHMAN 262 XVII. OWEN MAKES AN EFFORT 279 XVIII. COLONEL LE POURTON'S LEGACY 295 XIX. THE DECCAN INVINCIBLES 310 XX. AN END TO MYSTERY 328 Illustrations Facing Page SUDDENLY THE MAHRATTA TWISTED IN HIS SADDLE, AIMED AT HIS HEAD, AND FIRED _Frontispiece_ REACHING UP TO HIS FULL HEIGHT HE STRUCK THE MAN ON THE BREAST 104 HE STRETCHED OUT A HUGE PAW AND DRAGGED OWEN UP 200 COLONEL LE POURTON WAS STARING DOWN THE MUZZLE OF THE WEAPON 296 PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF ASSAYE viii [Illustration: PLAN TO ILLUSTRATE THE BATTLE OF ASSAYE, Sept. 23, 1803] CHAPTER I Mr. Benjamin Halbut Interferes