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THe rustlmg of a dress moving over the stone floor, accompanied by a whispered “Sahib, awake ! roused me from sleep, and looking up, I saw a woman standing with a lamp 1 her hand, which she held above her head. She was clothed entirely m white, her form being partly concealed by a long, loose garment, which was gathered i about the waist by a girdle. Scan- ning her features closely, 1 observed that she had the olive complexion and lus- trous eyes which distinguish Hindu women. "T'he peculiar glitter of a bracclet which she wore attracted my attention, and presently 1 observed it change its posi- tion and ecncircle her arm higher up than before. The bracelet was a hiving snake, worn, no doubt, as a charm to ward off cvil from the woman !

“Is the sahih awake?” my visitant asked. “Speak quietly, sahib, for outside the door of this vault a Hindu guard 1s posted, and he slceps but hittle.”

I moved slowly and endeavoured to raise my- sclf, but the bonds with

which I had been secured T e

MAGAZINT.

through which we found that we were In the: mam temple wherein stood the mighty image or 1dol which represented Nadhir Shah. The light from the Tamp cast a werrd glow upon the huge 1doly which occupied the central part of the temple. Ranged round the sides were to be secen many large idols, as vartied m form as they were grotesque o appearance. The cetling was very lofty indeed, and from 1t there hung long golden chains which supported crystal vessels, mnoowhich small lighted wicks ghimmered feebly and threw thenr famnt hight upon the scene around. In the stillness which reigned on every side of us a feceling of awe possessed me, and [ elanced nervously at the strange shadows which were cast from the 1dols, which scemed to look down erimly at us !

“Suhibs)” said our guide and deliverer; T am endeavouring to save your lives m order to repay, il possible; a debt which T owe to onc ol your countrymen. When a great famine was upon the fair lands through which the Ganges flows, an Enghishman saved my parents from the oppres- ston of the ryots, who would — otherwise have cground them into the very dust by their cruel exac-

previously had been tied tions. They at last tightly, so that both my became prosperous, and wrists and ankles were vowed that T should

exceedingly swollen and

painful. The woman stooped down, and with a wide-bladed knife she cut the thongs which bound me, and afterwards performed the same good service for my companion.

“Sahib,” she murmured, “ 1 come at this hour to save you il you will trust me. Speak not, but follow mec.”

Denviers, who Dby this time was [ully aroused, rose to his feet, and together we passed from the apartment by means of a different door to that by which we had entered, and beyond which the Hindu lay. We moved along almost noiselessly, our guide holding high the lamp, the fitful flame from which Tit up the passage down which we hastened, expect- ing every moment that our attempted fhight would be discovered. Fortunately, this was not so, however, and our guide, touching a knob n the wall, caused a door to open, after passing

PSTANDING WITH A LAME IN HER HAND.

rccompense Shiva for what had been done in their favour. So they conscerated me to this temple as one of the

Dasis, or dancing girls, for whom the LBrahmins are solemnly vowed to furnish food and protection. Yet T have never

forgotten the deed of the Englishman who saved my parents’ lhives, and they would indeed rejoice that their daughter had at last an opportunity to repay their debt i such a way as this.”

“Are we then able to at once escape from this temple ? 7 T cjaculated.

The Hindu woman replied: ““ Yes, sahib, you shall escape; but not immediately. To- night 1 will hide you where none will be able to discover your place of concealment ; when morning dawns you must make the cflort upon which your lhife will depend. Hidden within this temple, you will hear