y passed had no time to determine who they were, and
no one followed them. A few frightened night-wanderers ran at sight of
them, hiding down side streets, but when they brought up at last outside
Jaimihr's palace-gate they had so far escaped recognition. And that
meant that no one would carry word to Jaimihr or his men.

It was death-dark outside the bronze-hinged double gate; only a dim lamp
hung above from chains, to show how dark it was, and the moon--cut off
by trees and houses on a bluff of rising ground--lent nothing to the
gloom.

"Open! The jaimihr-sahib comes!" shouted Alwa and one of his horsemen
legged up close beside the gate.

Some one moved inside, for his footsteps could be heard; whoever he was
appeared to listen cautiously.

"Open for the Jaimihr-sahib!" repeated Alwa.

Evidently that was not the usual command, or otherwise the gates would
have swung open on the instant. Instead, one gate moved inward by a
fraction of a foot, and a pureed head peered cautiously between the gap.
That, though, was sufficient. With a laugh, the man up closest drove
his sword-hilt straight between the Hindoo's eyes, driving his horse's
shoulder up against the gate; three others spurred and shoved beside
him. Not thirty seconds later Alwa and his nine were striking hoof
sparks on the stone of Jaimihr's courtyard, and the gates--that could
have easily withstood a hundred-man assault with battering-rams--had
clanged behind them, bolted tight against their owner.

"Where is the bear cage?" demanded Alwa. "It is a bear I need, not
blood!"

The dozen left inside to guard the palace had recovered quickly enough
from their panic. They were lining up in the middle of the courtyard,
ready to defend their honor, even if the palace should be lost. It was
barely probable that Jaimihr's temper would permit them the privilege
of dying quickly should he come and find his palace looted; a Rangar's
sword seemed better, and they made ready to die hard.

"Where's Ali Partab?"

There was no answer. The little crowd drew in, and one by one took up
the fighting attitude that each man liked the best.

"I say I did not come for blood! I came for Ali Partab! If I get him,
unharmed, I ride away again; but otherwise--"

"What otherwise?" asked the captain of the guard.

"This palace burns!"

There was a momentary consultation--no argument, but a quickly reached
agreement.

"He is here, unharmed," declared the captain gruffly.

"Br