Here and there pausing to listen to the soldiers, he picked up scraps of news; and learned that there was a general expectation that the army would march, in a day or two, towards Poona--it being rumoured that Scindia and his minister, Balloba, had been outwitted by Nana Furnuwees; and that Balloba had made no secret of his anger, but vowed vengeance against the man who had overthrown plans which, it had been surely believed, would have resulted in Scindia's obtaining supreme control over the Deccan.
Returning to his little tent, he wrote a letter to Nana, telling him what he had gathered, and giving approximately the strength of Scindia's force; adding that, from what he heard, the whole were animated with the desire to avenge what they considered an insult to their prince.

This note he gave to Wasil, who at once started on foot to join Sufder; who would forward it, by four troopers, to Poona.
The next morning he returned and, after purchasing provisions from the countrymen, and lighting a fire for cooking them, he assisted Harry at his stall.

The latter was standing up, exhibiting a garment to a soldier, who was haggling with him over the price, when a party of officers rode by.

At their head was one whose dress showed him to be a person of importance; and whom Harry at once recognized as Balloba, having often noticed him during the negotiations at Poona.

As his eye fell upon Harry he checked his horse for a moment, and beckoned to him to come to him.
"Come here, weynsh," he said, using the term generally applied to the commercial caste.
[Illustration: Harry went up to him, and salaamed.] Harry went up to him, and salaamed.
"How comes it," the minister asked, "that so fine a young fellow as you are is content to be peddling goods through the country, when so well fitted by nature for better things?
You should be a soldier, and a good one.