ikely to be our guests for some
considerable time to come, there will be no need for explanation."

"You mean to keep us prisoners, then, do you? Very well, Mr.
Prendergast, be assured of this, when I _do_ get loose I'll make you
feel the weight of my arm."

"I think it's very probable there will be a fight if ever we do meet,"
he answered, coolly taking a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it.
"And it's my impression you'd be a man worth fighting, Mr. Hatteras."

"If you think my father will let me remain here very long you're much
mistaken," said Beckenham. "And as for the ransom you expect him to pay,
I don't somehow fancy you'll get a halfpenny."

At the mention of the word "ransom" I noticed that a new and queer
expression came into our captor's face. He did not reply, however,
except to utter his usual irritating laugh. Having done so he went to
the door and called something in Arabic. In answer a gigantic negro made
his appearance, bearing in his hands a tray on which were set two basins
of food and two large mugs of water. These were placed before us, and
Prendergast bade us, if we were hungry, fall to.

"You must not imagine that we wish to starve you," he said. "Food will
be served to you twice a day. And if you want it, you can even be
supplied with spirits and tobacco. Now, before I go, one word of advice.
Don't indulge in any idea of escape. Communication with the outside
world is absolutely impossible, and you will find that those collars and
chains will stand a good strain before they will give way. If you behave
yourselves you will be well looked after; but if you attempt any larks
you will be confined in different rooms, and there will be a radical
change in our behaviour."

So saying he left the room, taking the precaution to lock the door
carefully behind him.

When we were once more alone, a long silence fell upon us. It would be
idle for me to say that the generous behaviour of the young Marquis with
regard to my share in this wretched business had set my mind at rest.
But if it had not done that it had at least served to intensify another
resolution. Come what might, I told myself, I would find a way of
escape, and he should be returned to his father safe and sound, if it
cost me my life to do it. But how _were_, we to escape? We could not
move from our places on account of the chains that secured us to the
walls, and, though I put all my whole strength into it, I found I could
not disl