one side, and
crouching against the dark hangings of the wall, I could see him in the
faint light which dimly illuminated the hall, and then I discovered
that my surmise was correct--Neranya was quietly at work. Curious to
learn more, and knowing that only mischief could have been inspiring
him, I sank into a thick robe on the floor and watched him.

To my great astonishment Neranya was tearing off with his teeth the bag
which served as his outer garment. He did it cautiously, casting sharp
glances frequently at the rajah, who, sleeping soundly on his cot
below, breathed heavily. After starting a strip with his teeth,
Neranya, by the same means, would attach it to the railing of his cage
and then wriggle away, much after the manner of a caterpillar's
crawling, and this would cause the strip to be torn out the full length
of his garment. He repeated this operation with incredible patience and
skill until his entire garment had been torn into strips. Two or three
of these he tied end to end with his teeth, lips, and tongue,
tightening the knots by placing one end of the strip under his body and
drawing the other taut with his teeth. In this way he made a line
several feet long, one end of which he made fast to the rail with his
mouth. It then began to dawn upon me that he was going to make an
insane attempt--impossible of achievement without hands, feet, arms, or
legs--to escape from his cage! For what purpose? The rajah was asleep
in the hall--ah! I caught my breath. Oh, the desperate, insane thirst
for revenge which could have unhinged so clear and firm a mind! Even
though he should accomplish the impossible feat of climbing over the
railing of his cage that he might fall to the floor below (for how
could he slide down the rope?), he would be in all probability killed
or stunned; and even if he should escape these dangers it would be
impossible for him to clamber upon the cot without rousing the rajah,
and impossible even though the rajah were dead! Amazed at the man's
daring, and convinced that his sufferings and brooding had destroyed
his reason, nevertheless I watched him with breathless interest.

With other strips tied together he made a short swing across one side
of his cage. He caught the long line in his teeth at a point not far
from the rail; then, wriggling with great effort to an upright
position, his back braced against the rail, he put his chin over the
swing and worked toward one end. He tightened the gr