y rooms, of which there were many in the palace,
while we lay, or rather fell, down in the guest-chambers, where we had
always slept, and never opened our eyes again until the evening.

I remember that I woke thinking that I was the victim of some wonderful
dream of mingled joy and tragedy. Oliver and Higgs were sleeping like
logs, but my son Roderick, still dressed in his bridal robes, had risen
and sat by my bed staring at me, a puzzled look upon his handsome face.

"So you are here," I said, taking his hand. "I thought I dreamed."

"No, Father," he answered in his odd English, "no dream; all true.
This is a strange world, Father. Look at me! For how many
years--twelve--fourteen, slave of savage peoples for whom I sing, priest
of Fung idol, always near death but never die. Then Sultan Barung
take fancy to me, say I come of white blood and must be his daughter's
husband. Then your brother Higgs made prisoner with me and tell me that
you hunt me all these years. Then Higgs thrown to lions and you save
him. Then yesterday I married to Sultan's daughter, whom I never see
before but twice at fast of idol. Then Harmac's head fly off to heaven,
and all Fung people run away, and I run too, and find you. Then battle,
and many killed, and arrow scratch my neck but not hurt me," and he
pointed to a graze just over his jugular vein, "and now we together. Oh!
Father, very strange world! I think there God somewhere who look after
us!"

"I think so, too, my boy," I answered, "and I hope that He will continue
to do so, for I tell you we are in a worse place than ever you were
among the Fung."

"Oh, don't mind that, Father," he answered gaily, for Roderick is a
cheerful soul. "As Fung say, there no house without door, although
plenty people made blind and can't see it. But we not blind, or we dead
long ago. Find door by and by, but here come man to talk to you."

The man proved to be Japhet, who had been sent by the Child of Kings to
summon us, as she had news to tell. So I woke the others, and after I
had dressed the Professor's flesh wounds, which were stiff and sore,
we joined her where she sat in the gateway tower of the inner wall. She
greeted us rather sadly, asked Oliver how he had slept and Higgs if his
cuts hurt him. Then she turned to my son, and congratulated him upon his
wonderful escape and upon having found a father if he had lost a wife.

"Truly," she added, "you are a fortunate man to be so well loved, O
son of