, and
try to escape.

His anxiety grew momentarily greater, even though he knew the
hunting-party would not set off until another day had elapsed, while,
try hard as he would, he could devise no scheme that seemed likely to
succeed.

Through his half-closed eyes he scanned every part of the closely-woven
walls, to see if he could make out a weak place in his prison, but not
one appeared; then turning, as if restlessly, he gazed up at the
palm-thatched roof to see if there was any opening there; but even if
there had been, he saw the hopelessness of trying, and at last he lay
still with a dull feeling of despair creeping over him.

Night fell at last, and he saw his captors light a couple of
dammar-torches, with whose light they were able to see distinctly his
every act; and then he noticed that three of the men took up the task of
watching him, while the others slept.

The hours rolled on, and, perfectly sleepless himself, Ali lay upon a
couple of mats that had been brought him, listening to the heavy
breathing of the men in the next room, and to the weird noises in the
jungle, where the animals that had lain hidden all day were now prowling
about, close to the ruined buildings, as if attracted by the presence of
human beings in their midst.

Never had night seemed so long, or day so slow in coming; but at last as
Ali lay watching he suddenly became aware that the dammar-torches, lit
by each watching party in turn, were beginning to pale, and that it was
once more day.

That day passed away in the most weary and monotonous manner. Sleepless
as had been the young chief's night, he still felt no desire to close
his eyes, but lay watching and thinking. Still no hopeful idea entered
his head. The men were watched, he found, by their leader, who seemed
to sleep so lightly that he was upon his feet the moment any of his
followers moved.

Ali tried him again twice in the course of that day, but found him
incorruptible; do what he would, the highest promises having no more
effect than the lowest.

"No," he said once, grimly; "if I let you escape, all you gave me would
not save my life."

"Who would dare to hurt you?" exclaimed Ali.

The man smiled sourly, and made no reply, but walked away.

That day glided by, and still no chance of escape. Food was brought,
and Ali ate mechanically, feeling that he might need his strength when
he did make the effort to get away; but still there seemed no chance.
Walls, flo