58 HAUNTS AND HOBBIES 



the while the horsemen drawing nearer and nearer. At 

 length the men, the two women, and the horses were 

 got on board, and the boats shoved off, and none too 

 early, for before half the stream was crossed the troop 

 of horsemen had reached the river bank. They shouted 

 to the fugitives to return ; they threatened ; they en- 

 treated ; they endeavoured to persuade. And this they 

 continued till the boats had touched the opposite shore ; 

 then the troopers turned their horses and rode slowly 

 away. 



Ismael Khan, now in safety, proceeded on to Oude, 

 and presented himself before the then Nawab, the 

 celebrated Munsoor Ally Khan, better known by his 

 title of Sufder Jung (breaker of the ranks in battle). 

 Sufder Jung was himself a Persian. He took an interest 

 in Ismael Khan as a fellow-countryman, and bestowed 

 on him some appointment. "To this appointment," 

 my visitor continued, " his son, my father, in due course 

 succeeded. But, alas ! though the salary was good, my 

 father did not save. When he died he left but little, and 

 so, as it was necessary for me to obtain employment, I 

 entered the Government service, and by diligence, the 

 blessing of Providence, and the kindness of my superiors, 

 I have attained to my present position." 



Since the day that followed the dust storm I have 

 generally sat on the terrace that overlooks the river 

 for some little while before taking my evening drive. 

 The cooling effect of the storm has, however, long ago 

 passed away. Indeed, the heat for some days has, if 

 possible, been even more intense than before. The 

 river shows its effects. Many of the pools have dried 



