in, and
pass out to his station by the far door while Salaman hung back. "My
lord has offended his highness, who is angry. That is why the search is
made."

I did not answer--I could not; and the man bowed and went out, while I
stepped quickly to the window of the bedroom, at which Dost appeared
directly after--a dark shadowy figure, and leaped down.

"We must go at once, sahib," he whispered. "It is so dark up here that
the guard in the court can see nothing. I shall go up on to the roof,
and lower the rope. The sahib will make it quite fast round beneath his
arms, and then tug once, and step on to the window-sill. He will then
trust to me, and I shall draw him up."

"But can you, Dost?" I said nervously.

"The sahib may believe me. I am very strong."

As he spoke, he placed his hands on my waist, and lifted me up with the
greatest ease, setting me down again lightly.

"Now, sahib; ready?"

I could just dimly see him step to the window, and I felt that he must
have seized a rope, up which he passed with the activity of a monkey,
and I saw plainly enough now why he had not been discovered. The next
minute, after a faint grating noise, I felt the rope swinging backward
and forward. I caught it, and secured it firmly about my waist, climbed
on to the window-sill, jerked the rope, and felt it tighten slowly, then
more and more, till it lifted me from where I stood, and I felt myself
gliding slowly upward, my heart beating violently the while, for I was
utterly helpless, and as I was not exerting myself, I suffered the more
mentally, wondering whether the rope would hold--whether Dost would have
strength enough to haul me right up--whether the guards pacing the court
would hear us, and look up and see us by the light of their lanthorns,
and give the alarm--whether Salaman would enter the room and miss me.

These thoughts rushed like lightning through my brain as I felt the
jerk, jerk of the rope, and gazed skyward. I suppose I must have been
about half-way to the roof when I heard a faint click and shivered.

My scabbard had struck against the wall, and I looked wildly down at the
guards, but to my great surprise they had not heard it, and were
continuing their walk.

Dost paused for a few moments as he heard the sound, and I did not stir,
but hung close to the wall, with my heart beating painfully, before I
dared to seize the scabbard with one hand and hold on.

Then the jerking motion was begun aga