on either side, and the rest of the horsemen of the
great escort taking their places as the glittering procession wound
among the trees, and then meandered toward the plain which I had so
often sadly watched, longing for strength and liberty.

The rajah was very silent for a time, and it struck me that he was
leaving me to my own thoughts, so that I might be impressed by the
martial spectacle, as I looked back from time to time at the wild
barbaric pageant, with the torches in a long train, lighting up the dark
faces of the rajah's followers, flashing from their arms, and sending
back a ruddy cloud of smoke which formed like a canopy above our heads.
It was impossible to keep down a feeling of proud exultation, and I
could not for the time being think of anything else but the night march
across what spread out like an endless plain, while the stars above us
spangled what looked like a vast dome of purple black.

I was used to the motion of an elephant, and, after my long inaction,
enjoyed the swaying of the howdah as the monster of his kind shuffled
along at a great rate, keeping the footmen at a sharp run, and the
horses at a gentle trot; and, as I listened to the jingle of the
accoutrements, I could not help wishing that I had been mounted on my
Arab, gripping the saddle between my knees, instead of being seated
there.

About this I asked myself what I should have done.

The only answer that would come was: clap my spurs to his sides, and
make him fly over the plain; and in imagination I saw myself tearing
over the wide space, pursued by a cloud of sowars and mounted chiefs.

And then I sighed, for I knew that escape would have been impossible,
and also that I was too weak even then to sit a horse for long.

"Tired, Gil?" said the rajah, as he heard my sigh.

"Yes," I said; "I suppose so. It is an exciting time, after being a
prisoner so long."

"Hardly a prisoner," he said, with a little laugh. "Only a wounded
man."

"Have we very far to go?" I asked.

"We shall be nearly two hours yet, but the people expect us; and after
we have passed through the forest that lies right before us, you will be
able to see the lights of the city. We are rather late."

There was another silence, broken at last by another inquiry from the
rajah as to my being weary.

"Shall I make them walk?" he said, showing his sympathy and
consideration.

"Oh no," I said in protest. "I am not so weary as that."

I forced myself