[image: images/img_000.jpg caption: “SINJĀJ KĪLIN SAHIB BAHADAR RIDES TO-NIGHT”] The Warden of the Marches By SYDNEY C. GRIER AUTHOR OF “PEACE WITH HONOUR,” “LIKE ANOTHER HELEN,” “IN FURTHEST IND,” Etc. (_Sixth in the Modern East series_) _WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALFRED PEARSE_ BOSTON L. C. PAGE & COMPANY _MDCCCCII_ COPYRIGHT. _Copyright, 1902_ By L. C. Page & Company (Incorporated) Published June, 1902 CONTENTS. I. THE COMING OF QUEEN MAB II. “LIFE IS REAL; LIFE IS EARNEST” III. “IN HIS SIMPLICITY SUBLIME” IV. THE OUTSIDER V. ROSE OF THE WORLD VI. LA BELLE ALLIANCE VII. NONE BUT THE BRAVE VIII. WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION IX. WOUNDED HERO AND MINISTERING ANGEL X. GAINING A LOVER AND KEEPING A FRIEND XI. BEHIND THE CURTAIN XII. HONOUR AND DUTY XIII. ONE NIGHT XIV. TO KEEP THE FLAG FLYING XV. “THE OLD FIRST HEROIC LESSONS” XVI. THE DARKEST HOUR XVII. THE LUCK OF THE BABA SAHIB XVIII. AN ATTEMPT AT DESERTION XIX. AN IMPOTENT CONCLUSION XX. THE FORCES OF NATURE XXI. THE DEAD THAT LIVED XXII. THE FIRE ON THE HILL XXIII. AN ABDICATION XXIV. WHAT ZEYNAB SAW ILLUSTRATIONS. “SINJĀJ KĪLIN SAHIB BAHADAR RIDES TO-NIGHT” “MABEL STEPPED FORWARD, AND MET THE GLANCE OF THE BOLD EYES UNDER THE GREEN TURBAN” “FITZ CAUGHT THE LOOK OF AGONY IN BRENDON’S FACE” “LOOK AFTER MY WIFE WHILE I’M AWAY” “HE RIDES” “STRETCHING OUT HIS HAND FOR THE PISTOL” THE WARDEN OF THE MARCHES. CHAPTER I. THE COMING OF QUEEN MAB. “Then the mail’s in, Georgie?” “Yes, Dick; it came in about half-an-hour after you started. Here are your letters.” Major North threw himself luxuriously into a long cane chair, and held out his hand for the bundle of envelopes and papers which his wife gave him. “Anything from Mab?” he asked. “Just a little scrap. Dick, I am getting dreadfully worried about her--her letters have been so strange for such a long time, and now the writing is so queer. She always seems as if she hadn’t a moment to spare, and yet she really has nothing particular to do now. Do you know, I am beginning to be afraid that the strain of your uncle’s illness, and the shock of his death, have been too much for her. I am sure she oughtn’t to be living all alone in that big house. I asked Cecil Egerton to look after her, and I hoped to hear from her to-day, but there is no letter. Aren’t you getting anxious yourself?” Major North, deep in his correspondence, grunted assent. “What do you think we had better do? Dick!--why, Dick!”