ers in government employ."

"Truly," I said, turning to Omar, "the Naya who gave an order for your
assassination is seated on the edge of a volcano."

"Yes," cried the white-bearded old councillor. "The country hath
struggled and groaned long and in vain under the Naya's tyrannical sway;
the uprising will be swift and revengeful."

"When will it occur?" I asked, with eagerness.

"To-night," answered Goliba in a quiet tone.

"To-night?" we all three cried, amazed that the preparations were already
complete.

"Yes," he said, in a low tone. "As the bell on the palace-gate chimeth
the midnight hour a great mine will be fired that will proclaim with the
earth's sudden upheaval the rising of the people of Mo against their
ruler. Then the people, ready armed with these weapons, will strike such
a blow as will sweep away all oppression and tyranny from our land, and
leave it free as it hath ever been, free to prosper and retain its
position as the only unconquered nation on the face of earth."

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE FIRST BLOW.

LEAVING the store of arms we returned to Goliba's house; not by the high
road, but by little winding lanes with tunnel-like passages under the
overhanging eaves of houses; through a small open square or two, past a
few richly-painted and carved doors of tombs, and so on once more to the
residence of the old sage, with its spacious courts and beautiful
gardens. We passed some handsome blue-tiled public fountains, and some
fine buildings several storeys in height, open in the centre with a
patio, and surrounded by galleries of carved wood, which seemed to answer
to our corn exchanges. One, near Goliba's house, was especially
remarkable for its architectural beauty, not only with regard to its
interior, but also its magnificent gateway. There were others also of far
less pretensions, which answered more to the caravanseri of Samory's
country, where the weary animals who had borne their burdens from some
far away corner of the mystic land were resting during their sojourn in
the city.

When, in the cool dusk of evening we had eaten in the marble court, with
its fountains and flowering plants, Omar being waited upon personally by
our host, Liola came, and, lounging gracefully against one of the marble
columns, gossipped with us. Afterwards, a professional story-teller was
introduced to amuse us during the anxious time that must elapse before
the fateful hour when the signal for the great upr