hey went
noiselessly up to the window; the guard, as before, responding to
Meinik's hiss. Without a word, one after another entered the
chamber. The trooper had been sitting at the table, evidently
anxiously expecting their arrival.

Stanley went up to the bed.

"Are you better, Harry?" he asked, in a whisper.

"Better, but still weak."

Everything had been arranged beforehand. The litter was laid down
on the ground, with the poles as far apart as possible. Then
Stanley made a sign, to the trooper, to take one end of the rug on
which Harry was lying; while he took the other. The Burmans ranged
themselves on each side; and the blanket was lifted up, with the
occupant and the pillow composed of his clothes, and laid quietly
on to the blanket of the litter. Then two Burmans went outside,
while the other four men lifted the poles and carried one end to
the window.

The Burmans outside held the ends well above their heads, Stanley
and the trooper raising their hands similarly. The other Burmans
then crawled, under it, out of the window. As the litter was moved
forward through the window, they took the places of Stanley and the
trooper at the poles, and silently moved on towards the palisade.
Stanley and Meinik followed, joined by the two Burmese guards.

Not the slightest sound was made, as the eight men crossed the
short distance to the palisade and passed through the opening where
the others, spear in hand, were awaiting them; ready to rush in and
take part in the fray, should an alarm be given. Stanley breathed a
great sigh of relief, as they passed out. A few paces further they
halted, and the cross pieces were lashed to the poles.

"Thank God that you are out, Harry!" Stanley said, as soon as they
did this. "Has it hurt you much?"

"Nothing to speak of," Harry replied. "You managed it marvellously.
Am I really outside the place altogether?"

"Yes, fairly out. You will be more comfortable when we have lashed
these cross pieces. You will not be lying, then, at the bottom of a
bag; as you are now."

When the work was completed, they proceeded at a rapid pace; for
Harry's weight, reduced by fever as he had been, was a trifle to
his bearers. The others followed close behind and, in a quarter of
an hour, they were well beyond the town. Stanley spoke to Harry
once or twice, but received no answer; so he had no doubt that his
cousin had dozed quietly off to sleep. The gentle motion of the
litter would be likely t