They had offered rewards, but nothing was heard of me
till my note saying I was in Sivajee's hands arrived."
"And did you ever see the women who carried you off?"
"No, Mary, I never saw them again. I did, however, after immense
trouble, succeed in finding out where it was that I had been taken
to. I went down at once, but found the village deserted. Then
after much inquiry I found where the people had moved to, and sent
messages to the women to come up to the camp, but they never came;
and I was reduced at last to sending them down two sets of silver
bracelets, necklaces, and bangles, which must have rendered them
the envy of all the women on the Ghauts. They sent back a message
of grateful thanks, and I never heard of them afterwards. No doubt
their relatives, who knew that their connection with the Dacoits
was now known, would not let them come. However, I had done all I
could and I have no doubt the women were perfectly satisfied. So
you see, my dear, that the Indian bear, small as he is, is an animal
which it is as well to leave alone, at any rate when he happens to
be up on the side of a hill while you are at the foot."
THE PATERNOSTERS
"And do you really mean that we are to cross by the steamer,
Mr. Virtue, while you go over in the Seabird? I do not approve of
that at all.
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