But leave us now, Tim, and I will talk the matter over with
Mr. Peters. I should be glad enough to have you with me, if we could
arrange it."
The moonshee was taken into their counsels, and was asked his opinion
as to the disguise which Charlie could adopt, with least risk of
detection. The moonshee replied that he might pass as a Bheel. These
hill tribes speak a dialect quite distinct from that of the people
around them, and the moonshee said that, if properly attired, Charlie
would be able to pass anywhere for one of these people; provided,
always, that he did not meet with another of the same race.
"You might assert," he said, "that your father had taken service with
some rajah on the plain, and that you had there learned to speak the
language. In this way, you would avoid having to answer any difficult
questions regarding your native place; but as to that, you can get up
something of the geography before you leave."
"There are several Bheels among our Sepoys," Charlie said. "I can pick
out three or four of them, who would be just the men for me to take. I
believe they are generally very faithful, and attached to their
officers."
When Tim again entered the room, he inquired anxiously if his master
hit upon any disguise which would suit him.
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