nd finally I restored the tent-cloth wall exactly as I had found it.
Thereafter I stuffed a few billets of wood into the empty casing of the
harp, and when my servant returned I bade him carry forth the package,
and secure it across my saddle-bow, just as I had been wont to travel
heretofore. Even though it was yet dark, we rode forth on our way.

"'Next day I noticed that my servant kept watching me in a furtive
manner, and I congratulated myself on the precaution I had taken, and
inwardly resolved to be more than ever on my guard not to be caught
unawares. But, alas! I was still weak, and exhausted nature overcame
vigilance, so that one night I slept soundly. I remember nothing of what
took place. But when I came to myself some woodcutters were bathing my
head. They said I had been beaten and wounded, and had bled profusely. I
tried to stand up, but was seized with a great faintness, and would have
fallen had not my succourers steadied me. With tender care I was carried
to Punderpur, happily not far distant, where I was yet once again kindly
bidden to the home of strangers.

"'A munshi named Khyraz was the name of my new benefactor. He was most
wishful that I should hunt down my faithless servant, who, I need not
say, after leaving me for dead, had disappeared with my horse and the
package which was supposed to contain the precious harp. However, as I
had still the instrument in safe keeping, and as I did not want the
story of its being in my possession to get noised abroad, for this would
have robbed me of the pleasure of surprising our King of Kings with the
production of the coveted prize, I let the rascal go, for the time being
at all events. But his day will come, the son of a pig who betrayed the
master whose salt he had eaten for years. May the tombs of his
ancestors be defiled!

"'Of course the news that had brought me to Punderpur was false. So far
from Akbar being in the vicinity, I now learned that he had gone on a
journey to Gwalior, and would not be back to Fathpur-Sikri for several
months. Therefore, I took the opportunity of paying a business visit to
Benares, resting content in my mind that the harp could be in no safer
place than in its snug hiding at the home of Baji Lal, where no robbers
would ever dream of prying.

"'However, I was just on the eve of retracing my steps to this village
when Chunda Das came to Punderpur in quest of me. We met at the house of
Munshi Khyraz, and there I learned of t