o suppress the first sign of any insurrection. But in
the fight thou shalt assuredly win, for the opinion of the people is in
thy favour. May Zomara's jaws close upon thine enemies, and may they be
devoured like sacrifices."

"The people are assembling, thou hast said," Omar observed. "Are they in
great numbers?"

"It is impossible to tell. The news of thine opposition to the Naya
spread like wildfire through the land, and secret agents soon ascertained
that the balance of opinion was in thy favour. For eight days past I have
been at work secretly in thy cause, and from my own observations in the
city I know that among the palace officials we have many adherents, and
even here and there the soldiers will turn against their own comrades. In
our own house arms and ammunition are stored, and we have been fortunate
enough in obtaining from the arsenal through the governor, who is on our
side, ten of those wonderful guns of the English that fire bullets like
streams of water."

"Maxims, I suppose," I interrupted.

"I know not their name," she replied. "I heard my father say that they
are most deadly, and with them we might hold an army at bay."

"Truly thy father hath neglected nothing on my behalf," Omar said with
sincerity. "Dost thou return unto him?"

"I go at once."

"Then tell him we are anxious to accompany him, and will be ready at
sundown."

"Thy words will I convey to him, O Master. Liola shall make great fetish
for thine ascent to the Emerald Throne."

Then, wishing us adieu, the slim handsome girl with the deep blue
expressive eyes slipped out of the door, and noiselessly crept away down
the long stone corridor.

"Of a truth, O Master, there can be no fairer daughter on earth than
Liola," Kona observed, addressing Omar when the pretty messenger had
gone.

"Yea, she is beautiful. Her face is like the lily, and her eyes as
mysterious as the depths of the sea. I have never encountered one so
fair," Omar answered.

"Nor I," I said. "Her beauty is incomparable."

"I had no idea old Goliba had a daughter," Omar exclaimed. "He is indeed
fortunate to have one so amazingly lovely."

"She is one of your partisans," I observed smiling.

And he laughed, while Kona, grinning with glee, declared chaffingly that
the Prince had fallen in love with her.

The subject, however, was not further pursued, but now and then Omar
would express a hope that she had returned in safety to her father, or
wonder why she h