ord. So strict is the search that when the
elephants went down today to the fountains for water every howdah was
examined to see that no one was hidden within it."

"It will be necessary also, Nessus, if you do hit upon some plan for
getting me out, to arrange a hiding place in the city."

"That will be easy enough," Nessus replied. "My friends have many
relations in the Arab quarter, and once free, you might be concealed
there for any time. And now I will wait no longer, for last night visits
were made in all the barracks and stables by the agents of the law,
to see that every man was asleep in his place. Therefore I will return
without delay. In two days I will be here again; but should anything
occur which it is needful to tell you I will be here tomorrow night."

Malchus watched for the light on the following evening with but faint
hope of seeing it, but at about the same hour as before he saw it
suddenly appear again. Wondering what had brought Nessus before his
time, he paddled to the stairs.

"Well, Nessus, what is your news?"

"We have hit upon a plan of escape, my lord. As I told you my friend and
I are in the stable with the elephants, our duties being to carry in the
forage for the great beasts, and to keep the stables in order. We have
taken one of the Indian mahouts into our confidence, and he has promised
his aid; the elephant of which he is in charge is a docile beast, and
his driver has taught him many tricks. At his signal he will put up his
trunk and scream and rush here and there as if in the state which is
called must, when they are dangerous of approach. The mahout, who is a
crafty fellow, taught him to act thus, because when in such a state of
temper the elephants cannot be worked with the others, but remain in the
stables, and their drivers have an easy time of it.

"On the promise of a handsome reward the mahout has agreed that tomorrow
morning, before the elephants are taken out, you shall be concealed in
the bottom of the howdah. He will manage that the elephant is the first
in the procession. When we get out into the courtyard he will slyly
prick the beast, and give him the signal to simulate rage; he will then
so direct him that, after charging several times about the court, he
shall make a rush at the gate. You may be sure that the guards there
will step aside quickly enough, for a furious elephant is not a creature
to be hindered.

"When he is once down to the foot of the hill the dr