ble, sahib," he said, hardly above his breath. "I could
not get near for the guard."

"Then how did you manage?" I said.

"I came over the roof, sahib, and let myself down by a cord."

"Then we can escape that way," I whispered.

"Is the sahib strong enough to climb the rope?"

A pang of misery shot through me as I involuntarily applied my right
hand to my wounded arm.

"No," I said.

"Then I must pull the sahib up," said Dost, calmly. "We ought to go
soon."

"Pst!" I whispered, and I stepped to the window, leaned out, and seemed
to be studying the sounds outside, for there was the faint rustle of a
curtain, and a light step crossing the next room.

Directly after I heard Salaman's voice.

"Did my lord call?"

"Eh? Call? No," I said, coming from the window, and trying to command
my voice, as I walked toward where he stood in the open doorway. "I
can't hear any firing now."

"No, my lord; the battle must be over, and at any time his highness will
be back."

I made some remark, but what it was I cannot tell now, and went on into
the lighted room, noticing that he glanced suspiciously at my sword, but
I appeared not to notice it, and went to the window of that room, while
Salaman went back.

"He has had strict orders to keep on watching me," I said to myself; and
I had hardly thought this, than, to my horror, I heard the regular tramp
of feet, and the officer and four men marched into the next room, where
I heard them moving about.

I was going to rush into the sleeping-room to warn Dost, when Salaman
appeared.

"My lord will not be angry with his servant," he said. "It is his
highness's commands that you should be watched carefully, and they are
searching the rooms."

"Searching the rooms?" I said aloud.

"Yes, my lord. I am not to blame."

Just then the officer entered bearing a lanthorn, and his four men came
behind.

He bowed to me respectfully, and then made a sign to his followers, who
carefully searched the room--a simple task, for all that was needed was
to look behind the hangings.

My heart felt in my mouth, as people say, for the officer led the way
now to my bed and the bath-room, where poor Dost was certain to be
discovered if he had not succeeded in making his escape.

Salaman followed the guard, and I sat listening for the first cry of
excitement, but none arose, and I breathed freely as the officer came
back, lanthorn in hand, followed by his men, to salaam to me aga