“We might threaten a Station-master, and make him send a wire on tick,” said my friend, “but that’d mean inquiries for you and for me, and I’ve got my hands full these days.  Did you say you were travelling back along this line within any days?”

“Within ten,” I said.

“Can’t you make it eight?” said he.  “Mine is rather urgent business.”

“I can send your telegrams within ten days if that will serve you,” I said.

“I couldn’t trust the wire to fetch him, now I think of it.  It’s this way.  He leaves Delhi on the 23rd for Bombay.  That means he’ll be running through Ajmir about the night of the 23rd.”

“But I’m going into the Indian Desert,” I explained.

“Well and good,” said he.  “You’ll be changing at Marwar Junction to get into Jodhpore territory,—­you must do that,—­and he’ll be coming through Marwar Junction in the early morning of the 24th by the Bombay Mail.  Can you be at Marwar Junction on that time?  ’T won’t be inconveniencing you, because I know that there’s precious few pickings to be got out of these Central India States—­even though you pretend to be correspondent of the ‘Backwoodsman.’”

“Have you ever tried that trick?” I asked.

“Again and again, but the Residents find you out, and then you get escorted to the Border before you’ve time to get your knife into them.  But about my friend here.  I must give him a word o’ mouth to tell him what’s come to me, or else he won’t know where to go.  I would take it more than kind of you if you was to come out of Central India in time to catch him at Marwar Junction, and say to him, ’He has gone South for the week.’  He’ll know what that means.  He’s a big man with a red beard, and a great swell he is.  You’ll find him sleeping like a gentleman with all his luggage round him in a Second-class apartment.  But don’t you be afraid.  Slip down the window and say, ‘He has gone South for the week,’ and he’ll tumble.  It’s only cutting your time of stay in those parts by two days.  I ask you as a stranger—­going to the West,” he said, with emphasis.

“Where have you come from?” said I.

“From the East,” said he, “and I am hoping that you will give him the message on the Square—­for the sake of my Mother as well as your own.”

Englishmen are not usually softened by appeals to the memory of their mothers; but for certain reasons, which will be fully apparent, I saw fit to agree.

“It’s more than a little matter,” said he, “and that’s why I asked you to do it—­and now I know that I can depend on you doing it.  A Second-class carriage at Marwar Junction, and a red-haired man asleep in it.  You’ll be sure to remember.  I get out at the next station, and I must hold on there till he comes or sends me what I want.”

“I’ll give the message if I catch him,” I said, “and for the sake of your Mother as well as mine I’ll give you a word of advice.  Don’t try to run the Central India States just now as the correspondent of the ‘Backwoodsman.’  There’s a real one knocking about here, and it might lead to trouble.”