watching in their sheepskin or goatskin cloaks.

As for the professor, in two days he had forgotten that he was a
prisoner, and Lawrence was the best of friends with the evil-looking
guards, who followed them with loaded guns to some old ruinous patch of
wall, fortification, or hall. Here the professor was in his element,
drawing, planning, and measuring, longing the while to set a dozen
strong-armed men to work digging up the stones embedded in the earth--a
task which he was sure would be rewarded by the discovery of many
objects of antiquity.

Parties of the brigands went out now and then, but it was evident that
their object was merely to forage, large quantities of barley being
brought in, and some of the old buildings being utilised for stores.

These seemed to be well supplied, and the community was preparing for
the coming winter, so Yussuf told Lawrence--for the days when no food
would be obtainable perhaps for months.

Everyone seemed to lead a careless nonchalant life, the prisoners they
had taken would, no doubt it was considered, bring in sufficient to make
this a prosperous year's work, and till the ransoms were paid there was
little more to do.

The days glided by, and the watch over the prisoners grew less rigid.
There was apparently only one way out of the stronghold, and that was
always carefully guarded; and as it was evident to the captors that the
professor and his companions were bent upon studying the place, the
guards used to sit down upon some heap of old stones, with their guns
across their knees, and smoke and sleep, while drawings were made, and
inscriptions copied.

Yussuf became quite a favourite, for he was a cook, and often showed the
brigands' wives how to make some savoury dish; but for the most part he
was busy helping the professor, carrying his paper, cleaning stones, or
performing some such office.

And so the days glided by, with the professor perfectly contented, the
old lawyer apparently little troubled so long as his snuff held out, and
Lawrence growing sturdier, and enjoying the feeling of health more and
more.

The only discontented people were the Chumleys, the gentleman
complaining bitterly about the absence of news, and the lady because her
husband would chatter so incessantly.

"I say, Yussuf," said Lawrence one night as he sat talking to the guide,
"they won't cut off our heads, will they?"

Yussuf shook his head.

"I have only one dread," he replied; "and