and I can get in again. An hour
or two would do it."

And Archie had at last given way, to find that the hour or two had not
done it, for the night had passed; it would soon be broad day, with the
elephants being driven to water and a sentry resuming his post; and a
chill was beginning to paralyse him, while hope grew more and more dull
for the searcher for the way to freedom.

There was a faint tint of red now right away over the top of the distant
trees, and what seemed to be a mountain appeared above the jungle; but
it brought no return of the hope, to Archie, as it grew redder and
redder, it looked blood-like--a forecast, as it were, of the horror and
despair that were soon to come upon him in the shape of a dreadful
truth. For Peter had not come back; and even if he were to come now, it
would only be to be seen and made a closer prisoner; the secret of his
way out would be known, and they would be more carefully imprisoned. He
must be seen now, for there was the distant trumpeting of the advancing
elephants, and it was quite light enough for the sentry to make his way
along the forest path to take his place beneath the tree, and perhaps
come to peer in first to see if his prisoners were safe.

Archie thought that perhaps the elephants might come by first, and then
contradicted himself as he felt convinced that it would be the sentry;
and as he peered forth from the hole, with the cold chill of despair
increasing, there, far down the path, came the squat figure, with the
light playing upon the end of his spear.

"It's all over," thought the prisoner; and then he almost fell from the
hole, and turned to stare wildly up at the mats which sloped down to the
eaves of the building, and saw a leg thrust through hastily, then
another, and the next moment Peter Pegg's toes were kicking at the wall
as he struggled, hanging by one hand, to rearrange the attap mat of the
roof, and then, panting and breathless, he lowered himself down and
dropped at Archie's feet.

"Oh, I say!" he groaned. "That was close! Sentry's coming down the
path."

"Yes, I saw him. Did he see you?"

"No. I was creeping along like an old tom-cat to get round to the back,
and, my word, ain't I scratched! Talk about thorns!"

"Oh Pete, how you frightened me!" said Archie faintly.

"Frightened you, sir? Well, didn't he frighten me?"

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

MUST CHANCE IT.

The sound of a step outside made Peter Pegg throw himself qu