nothing would induce me to do so, for such a job should
not be left to one man.

"No, you're right," he said; "I might faint or lose my head or anything.
I wish now that we had arranged to send the spark from the palace,
which perhaps we might have done by joining the telephone wire on to
the others. But, to tell you the truth, I'm afraid of the batteries.
The cells are new but very weak, for time and the climate have affected
them, and I thought it possible the extra difference might make the
difference and that they would fail to work. That's why I fixed this as
the firing point. Hullo, there's the bell. What have they got to say?"

I snatched the receiver, and presently heard the cheerful voice of
Higgs announcing that they had arrived safely in the little anteroom to
Maqueda's private apartments.

"The palace seems very empty," he added; "we only met one sentry, for I
think that everybody else, except Maqueda and a few of her ladies,
have cleared out, being afraid lest rocks should fall on them when the
explosion occurs."

"Did the man say so?" I asked of Higgs.

"Yes, something of that sort; also he wanted to forbid us to come here,
saying that it was against the Prince Joshua's orders that we Gentiles
should approach the private apartments of the Child of Kings. Well, we
soon settled that, and he bolted. Where to? Oh! I don't know; to report,
he said."

"How's Quick?" I asked.

"Much the same as usual. In fact, he is saying his prayers in the
corner, looking like a melancholy brigand with rifles, revolvers, and
knives stuck all over him. I wish he wouldn't say his prayers," added
Higgs, and his voice reached me in an indignant squeak; "it makes me
feel uncomfortable, as though I ought to join him. But not having been
brought up a Dissenter or a Moslem, I can't pray in public as he does.
Hullo! Wait a minute, will you?"

Then followed a longish pause, and after it Higgs's voice again.

"It's all right," it said. "Only one of Maqueda's ladies who had heard
us and come to see who we were. When she learns I expect she will join
us here, as the girl says she's nervous and can't sleep."

Higgs proved right in his anticipations, for in about ten minutes we
were rung up again, this time by Maqueda herself, whereon I handed the
receiver to Oliver and retired to the other end of the room.

Nor, to tell the truth, was I sorry for the interruption, since it
cheered up Oliver and helped to pass the time.

The ne