Ensign Russell quickly found that, whatever plans he might make for the day, his brother would be sure to demur, unless the programme provided some chance of their meeting or seeing Miss Woodburn. He would plead fatigue or lack of interest, and then propose as an alternative something either much more fatiguing, or--in the boy's eyes--much less interesting. The paltry excuses he made for altering the plans! Poor fellow, he thought that the "kid" would not see through his transparent subterfuges; but that sharp-witted youngster was not so easily befooled, and he voted the proceedings slow, and did not fail to express the opinion that his brother was no better than a milksop. "You say you don't 'feel inclined' to ride to Khasmi to-day," exclaimed Ted in disgust, "because your horse is not quite fit! Bosh! Nimrod never was better in his life, and he's just eating his head off. I was looking at him this morning; he's in the pink of condition, and he simply begged me to take him out. Would he be in any better condition, I wonder, if Ethel Woodburn was likely to be there?" Jim turned red, and sharply asked: "What had Miss Woodburn to do with it?" "That's what I should like to know!" Ted retorted. He then looked up at the ceiling, placed his hands in his pockets, and calmly observed: "You've no chance there, Jim, she's hooked already." "What d'you say?" exclaimed the excited captain. "It's not true. What d'you mean?" he repeated. "You don't say that Miss Woodburn is engaged?" "Oh, never mind Miss Woodburn!" drawled Ted in his most exasperating manner. "What's she got to do with it? The question is whether we ride to Khasmi or not." "Tell me what you mean, you little beggar," Jim went on, half angry, yet laughing in spite of himself. Ted crossed his legs, and, still gazing at the ceiling, drawled: "Why, be calm, Russell Major. You just asked what she had to do with the matter of our ride to Khasmi. Why this sudden interest?" Captain Russell kept his temper and laughed. "Don't try to be too smart, young 'un," he advised. "But it isn't true that she's engaged to be married, is it?" "Well--p'r'aps not exactly that she's engaged," Ted admitted. There was a tone of pompous condescension in his voice as he went on: "But I hear that Sir Arthur Fletcher, the commissioner here, you know, is gone on her, and, of course, as he's a splendid catch, the 'old man' will want her to marry him, and I don't suppose she'll need much pressing, for he's a jolly decent fellow. And besides him, half of our fellows are in love with her, though I don't know why. I don't see much in her myself; she seems a very ordinary sort of girl to me. And she's such a little thing, you know!" "You conceited young booby!" Jim laughed. "I shall have to take the bounce out of you, young man."