"We are going to Kistnagherry," he said. "Here is the sultan's order." The officer glanced at the seal, placed it to his forehead, and then stood aside. "Will you return tonight, my lord? I ask that I may give orders to the sentries." "No; there is no chance of our being able to be back before morning." He touched his horse, and then trotted on again. Not a word was spoken, until they had gone a few hundred yards, and then Dick checked his horse, and, as Annie came alongside, held out his hand and said: "Thank God, Annie, that we have got you safely back onto English territory." Chapter 17: Back At Tripataly. Annie's lips moved, as Dick announced that they had crossed the Mysore boundary, but no sound came from them. He saw her eyes close, and she reeled in the saddle. "Hold her, Surajah," Dick exclaimed, "or she will fall." Leaning over, Surajah caught her by the shoulder; and Dick, leaping to the ground, stopped her horse, and, lifting her from the saddle, seated her upon a bank and supported her. "Some water, Surajah!" he exclaimed. Surajah poured a little water from the skin into the hollow of Dick's hand, and the latter sprinkled the girl's face with it. "I have not fainted," she murmured, opening her eyes, "but I turned giddy. I shall be better, directly." "Drink a little wine," Dick said. Surajah poured some into a cup, but with an effort she sat up, and pushed it from her. "There is nothing the matter," she said. "Only, only" and she burst suddenly into a passion of sobbing. The spirit that she had shown, so long as there was danger, had deserted her now that the peril had passed, and she was safe. Dick looked at her, helplessly. A girl in tears was a creature wholly beyond his experience, and he had no idea what he ought to do in such an emergency. He therefore adopted what was, doubtless, the best course, had he but known it, of letting her alone. After a time, the violence of her crying abated, and only short sobs broke from her, as she sat with her face hidden in her hands. "That is right, Annie," he said, putting his hand on her shoulder. "It is quite natural for you to cry, after the excitement and fatigue you have gone through. You have been very brave, and have not said a word of complaint today about your fatigue, although you must be desperately tired. Now, try and pull yourself together. It is getting dark already, and we ought to be moving on to Ryacotta, which cannot be much more than a mile away. You shall ride in front of me, when we get there." "I would rather not," she said, getting up with a painful effort. "I am awfully foolish, and I am so sorry that I broke down, but I felt so delighted that I could not help it. You said we could camp, safely, when we once got across the frontier. Would you mind doing so? For I don't think I could go much farther."