ou. That is all."

"Wait a minute, Yussuf," said Mr Burne. "Tell him he can keep the
snuff-box and welcome, but he has a canister of best snuff in the
package that was on the brown pony. Ask him to let me have that."

"Yes," said the chief, on hearing the request, "it is of no use to
anyone. He can have it. What a dog of a Christian to take his tobacco
like that! Anything else?"

"Yes," said Mr Preston, on hearing the reply, "tell him to send his men
to watch me as much as he likes, but I want leave to inspect the old
ruins and to make drawings. Tell him I will not attempt to escape."

"No, effendi," said Yussuf, "I will not tell him that, but I will ask
the first;" and he made the request.

"What! is he--one of the idiot giaours who waste their time in seeing
old stones and imitate them upon paper?"

"Yes, a harmless creature enough," said Yussuf.

"So I suppose, or he would have fought. Well, yes, he can go about, but
tell him that if he attempts to leave my men behind they will shoot him.
Not that he can get away, unless he has a djin to help him, or can
fly," he added with a laugh.

He walked to his men, gave them some further instructions, and they saw
the two ambassadors go in and out among the ruins till they passed
between two immense buttresses of rock, and then disappear down the
perilous zigzag path that led to the shelf-like way.

"Yes," said Yussuf, looking at Mr Preston, and interpreting his
thoughts, "that is the only way out, excellency, but I do not despair of
making our escape. It must be a long time before arrangements can be
made for your release, and the winter comes early here in these high
places."

"Winter?" cried Lawrence.

"Yes," said Yussuf. "It is fine and sunny one day, the next the snow
has fallen, and a place like this may be shut off from the plains below
for months. You do not wish to pass the winter here, Lawrence effendi?"

"I don't think I should mind," replied the lad, "everything is so fresh,
and there is so much to see."

"Well, now they are giving me leave to go about," said Mr Preston
thoughtfully, "I think I could spend some months in drawing and writing
an account of this old city, especially if they would let me make some
excavations."

"But his excellency, Mr Burne?" said Yussuf.

"Oh! I've got my snuff--at least I am to have it, and if they will feed
us well I don't suppose I should mind very much. The fact is, Preston,
I've been working so ha