away. He would probably be moved to some other place, and our one
hope would be that we might rescue him on the road; which would be
a difficult matter, indeed, if he were sent, as he certainly would
be, under a strong escort. However, your plan is no doubt the best
for, if I were killed or captured, there would be an end of any
chance of his being rescued."

Meinik crawled forward and, in a minute or two, Stanley heard a low
hissing sound, followed by two others. He walked forward a step or
two to meet Meinik, as he came back.

"It is all right, master; you can go on fearlessly."

Meinik returned with him to the window, and posted himself outside,
standing in the shadow; while Stanley stepped in through the open
casement which, indeed, was provided only with a shutter outside.
This would ordinarily have been closed but, owing to the illness of
the prisoner, and the strong desire of the governor that he should
live to be sent to Ava, it had been opened to allow a free passage
of air.

The trooper sprung from his couch, as Stanley made a slight sound
before attempting to enter; but Stanley said, in Hindustani:

"Silence! It is I, Mr. Brooke."

The trooper stared doubtfully at the dark, tattooed, half-naked
figure.

"It is I, Runkoor, but I am disguised. I was like this when I spoke
to you through the window a fortnight since, but you could not then
see my figure.

"Are you awake, Harry?" he asked in English, as he approached the
pallet.

"Yes, I am awake; at least I think so. Is it really you, Stanley?"

"It is I, sure enough, man," Stanley replied, as he pressed the
thin hands of the invalid. "Did not Runkoor tell you that I had
been here before?"

But Harry had broken down, altogether. The surprise and delight was
too much for him, in his weak state.

"Of course," Stanley went on quietly, "I knew that he could not
speak English, but I thought that he might make signs."

"He did make a sign. Each time he gave me fruit, he said 'Sahib
Brooke,' pointed outside, and waved his arms about; but I could not
make head or tail of what he meant. Why he should keep on repeating
my name, each time he gave me the fruit, was a complete puzzle for
me. As to the signs that he made, it seemed to me that he had gone
off his head. I have been too weak to think it over, so I gave up
worrying about it; and it never once struck me that it was you who
sent me the fruit.

"What an awful figure you are!"

"Never mind abou