Index: src/java/org/apache/lucene/search/IndexSearcher.java
===================================================================
--- src/java/org/apache/lucene/search/IndexSearcher.java	(revision 818635)
+++ src/java/org/apache/lucene/search/IndexSearcher.java	(working copy)
@@ -50,8 +50,11 @@
 public class IndexSearcher extends Searcher {
   IndexReader reader;
   private boolean closeReader;
-  private IndexReader[] subReaders;
-  private int[] docStarts;
+  
+  // NOTE: these members might change in incompatible ways
+  // in the next release
+  protected IndexReader[] subReaders;
+  protected int[] docStarts;
 
   /** Creates a searcher searching the index in the named directory.
    * @throws CorruptIndexException if the index is corrupt
@@ -106,6 +109,18 @@
   public IndexSearcher(IndexReader r) {
     this(r, false);
   }
+
+  /** Expert: directly specify the reader, subReaders and
+   *  their docID starts.
+   * 
+   * <p><b>NOTE:</b> This API is experimental and
+   * might change in incompatible ways in the next
+   * release.</font></p> */
+  public IndexSearcher(IndexReader reader, IndexReader[] subReaders, int[] docStarts) {
+    this.reader = reader;
+    this.subReaders = subReaders;
+    this.docStarts = docStarts;
+  }
   
   private IndexSearcher(IndexReader r, boolean closeReader) {
     reader = r;