up between the Fung, who then
had their headquarters here in Mur, and the Egyptians in the time of
the ancient empire, till the Twentieth Dynasty, indeed, if not later.
My friends, in the dungeons in which I was confined there is an
inscription, or, rather, a _graffite_, made by a prisoner extradited to
Mur by Rameses II., after twenty years' residence in Egypt, which was
written by him on the night before he was thrown to the sacred lions,
that even in those days were an established institution. And I have got
a copy of that inscription in my pocket-book. I tell you," he added in
a scream of triumph, "I've got a certified copy of that inscription,
thanks to Shadrach, on whose dirty head be blessings!"

I congratulated him heartily upon this triumph, and before he proceeded
to give us further archaeological details, asked him for some information
about my boy.

"Oh," said Higgs, "he is a very nice young man and extremely good
looking. Indeed, I am quite proud to have such a godson. He was much
interested to hear that you were hunting for him after so many years,
quite touched indeed. He still talks English, though with a Fung accent,
and, of course, would like to escape. Meanwhile, he is having a very
good time, being chief singer to the god, for his voice is really
beautiful, an office which carries with it all sorts of privileges. I
told you, didn't I, that he is to be married to Barung's only legitimate
daughter on the night of the next full moon but one. The ceremony is
to take place in Harmac City, and will be the greatest of its sort for
generations, a feast of the entire people in short. I should very much
like to be present at it, but being an intelligent young man he has
promised to keep notes of everything, which I hope may become available
in due course."

"And is he attached to this savage lady?" I asked dismayed.

"Attached? Oh, dear no, I think he said he had never seen her, and only
knew that she was rather plain and reported to possess a haughty temper.
He is a philosophical young man, however, as might be expected from one
who has undergone so many vicissitudes, and, therefore, takes things
as they come, thanking heaven that they are no worse. You see, as
the husband of the Sultan's daughter, unless the pair quarrel very
violently, he will be safe from the lions, and he could never quite say
as much before. But we didn't go into these domestic matters very deeply
as there were so many more important