He ran down the steps and rode away, arriving at the fort a little late, to find that Dick was already discussing with Colonel Graham the business on which they had come. A series of small thefts, irritating rather than serious, had occurred on the club premises of late, and the minds of the members were exercised over the question of their prevention in future. As Fitz rode up Dick and Colonel Graham were descending to the courtyard after making the round of the walls, and the former signed to him to wait where he was. “I never remember such a succession of petty robberies before,” said Colonel Graham. “The natives must be in a very unsettled state.” “I’m not sorry these things have happened,” returned Dick. “In fact, I’m glad of it.” Colonel Graham glanced at him. “What have you got in your head?” he asked. “Simply this. I suppose you believe, as I do, that the thief gets in by climbing over the wall, while the watchman is busy guarding the gateway and never thinks that there is any other means of entering?” “That’s my idea. In a climate like this mud-brick is bound to go pretty soon if it isn’t looked after, and for years the rain has washed it down into these rubbish-heaps, till they are as good as so many flights of steps. What with the grass and bushes growing all about, it’s as easy as possible to get in. I could do it myself.” “Then you agree that it would be as well to make it harder? I propose that we call a club meeting and invite subscriptions for the purpose of putting the walls into proper repair. Otherwise we shall soon have the place down on our heads.” “But that sort of thing will take a long time to organise.” “It needn’t, since it’s only to keep the natives from thinking there’s anything up. So far as I can see, there’s no particular reason why you and I shouldn’t head the subscription list with a thousand rupees each--so that the most pressing work may be begun at once--or why that two thousand rupees shouldn’t last out better than such a sum ever did before.” “Good! Are we to take the young fellows into our confidence?”