a low exclamation of triumph Canaris pulled from the Nubian's waist
a narrow belt on which hung a ponderous iron key. All rose to their
feet. Guy dropped the unconscious guard under the shadow of the wall.
The supreme moment had come. The great courtyard, white in the light of
the moon, was empty. The heavy doors leading to the palace were shut.
Behind the high prison walls all seemed quiet. The city was asleep.

The first stage of the journey was accomplished in safety. The terrible
passage through the town was before them now. With a hand that trembled
slightly Canaris inserted the key in the lock. It turned with a harsh
rattle, and at a touch of the hand the brazen gate swung outward.

The Greek made a hasty survey and then stepped noiselessly outside. They
were in a narrow side street which ran past the Emir's palace. The side
toward the prison was in deep shadow. On the other side was a long stone
building, with two or three narrow grated windows.

"That is an Arab storehouse opposite," said Canaris. "We are safe for
the present. Now follow me closely. Walk boldly and fearlessly and keep
a few feet apart."

He started off at a rapid gait, his white burnous tossing on his
shoulders, and with fast-beating hearts Guy and Melton came close
behind. In five minutes they turned into another narrow passage running
at right angles, and, continuing along this for forty or fifty yards,
made still another turn.

The two streets they had just traversed had been lined for the most part
with big warehouses and slave-markets. It was, in fact, the business
part of the town, alive with people during the day, deserted at night.
But now a crisis was at hand. Canaris halted his little party in the
shadow of a building and pointed straight up the street.

"Yonder lies the main avenue," he said. "We must cross it to reach our
destination. Keep yourselves well under control, don't show any fear,
and if any people are about don't look at them. If they address you make
no reply."

Guy marveled at the Greek's coolness under such terrible circumstances.
Every moment was a torture to him as long as they remained in the midst
of these bloodthirsty fiends.

In five minutes they reached the main street. From the slight ridge on
which they stood they could see stretching afar on either hand the
moonlit roadway, spectered with the dark shadows of the houses. They had
been traveling on three sides of a square. Fifty yards down the street
t