d the annoyance roused
her into making an effort, and she rose to her feet.

"I'm ready," she said shortly; and then in a whisper to her husband,
"Oh, Charley, I'll talk to you for this."

"Silence!" whispered Yussuf sternly. "Are you all ready?"

"Yes."

"Then follow as before, and without a word."

He drew aside the rug, and the darkness was so intense that they could
not see the nearest building as they stepped out; but, to the horror of
all, they had hardly set off when a couple of lanterns shone out. A
party of half a dozen men, whose long gun-barrels glistened in the
light, came round one of the ruined buildings, and one of them, whose
voice sent a shudder through all, was talking loudly.

The voice was that of the chief, and as the fugitives crouched down,
Yussuf heard him bid his men keep a very stringent look-out, for the
prisoners might make an attempt to escape.

Yussuf caught Lawrence's hand and drew him gently on, while, as he had
Mrs Chumley's tightly grasped, she naturally followed, and the others
came after.

"Quick!" whispered Yussuf, "or we shall be too late."

The darkness was terrible, but it was in their favour, so long as they
could find the way to the old temple; and they needed its protection,
for they had not gone many yards among the ruins before there was an
outcry from the prison, then a keen and piercing whistle twice repeated,
and the sounds of hurrying feet.

Fortunately the old temple lay away from the inhabited portion: and as
they hurried on, to the great joy of all they found that the chief and
his men were not upon their track, but were hurrying toward the great
rock gates, thus proving at once, so it seemed, that they were ignorant
of any other way out of the great rock-fortress.

Once or twice Yussuf was puzzled in the darkness, but he caught up the
trail again, and in a few minutes led them to the columned entrance of
the temple, into whose shelter they passed with the noise and turmoil
increasing, and lights flashing in all directions.

"Hadn't we better give up," said Mr Chumley, with his teeth chattering
from cold or dread.

"Give up! What for?" cried Mr Burne.

"They may shoot us," whispered the little man. "I don't mind, but--my
wife."

"Silence!" whispered Yussuf, for the noise seemed to increase, and it
was evident that the people were spreading all over the place in the
search.

As Yussuf spoke he hurried them on, and in a minute or two reached the