nd if he did not warn them, they would be marching, he was
sure, right into the jaws of death. Still the night was young as yet,
and some opportunity might occur.

The light from the torches flickered and danced in the night air, and
cast strange shadows about the place. From where he lay he could see
the forms of his guards, huge and distorted, against the woven reed and
bamboo walls, their every movement being magnified and strange. In his
own part, from time to time he could see the bright green growth that
had forced itself through the palm-thatch, and trace every bamboo
rafter, save where, in places, all was in profound darkness.

How dreamy and strange it all seemed! There was the distant roaring of
the tigers, growing more and more faint; the soft sighing of the night
wind, and the rustle of the dry grass as some creature, on its nocturnal
hunt for food, brushed through. Time was going by fast, but still the
night was not nearly past, and the opportunity might come.

Surely, he thought, the leader was asleep now; he had moved uneasily two
or three times, and was now lying motionless upon his back. One of the
other men, too--the watchers--had let his chin sink upon his breast, and
the other two looked heavy and dull.

His heart rose high with hope, for surely the chance of escape was going
to be his.

The torches were growing dim, and if not soon replenished with fresh
dammar, they would both be out; but no one stirred to touch them.

Ali waited, with every nerve drawn tight to its utmost strain, and he
was ready for the rush, but he hung back, for fear too great
precipitancy should spoil his chance; and he watched and watched, lying
there till, to his great joy, one of the torches went completely out,
and the other was failing.

Would either of the Malays move?

No, they were asleep; and the second torch gave out but a dim glimmer,
as Ali rose, softly as a cat, and going on all fours, began to make what
he felt was his final trial to get free.

He crept on nearer and nearer, but no one stirred. On he went, till he
was close to his guards--so near that he could have stretched out a hand
and touched them--but still no one moved. Their leader seemed now to be
the most soundly asleep of the party, and so intensely excited did the
fugitive become that it was all he could do to master himself and keep
from rising up and rushing to the open door, through which the cool
night wind now began to fan his c