ccountable things which he had been
doing for some weeks past--going through certain hitherto inexplicable
motions, undoubtedly for the purpose of training his muscles for the
immeasurably arduous labor which he was now performing.

A stupendous and seemingly impossible part of his task had been
accomplished. Could he reach the floor in safety? Gradually he worked
himself backward over the rail, in imminent danger of falling; but his
nerve never wavered, and I could see a wonderful light in his eyes.
With something of a lurch, his body fell against the outer side of the
railing, to which he was hanging by his chin, the line still held
firmly in his teeth. Slowly he slipped his chin from the rail, and then
hung suspended by the line in his teeth. By almost imperceptible
degrees, with infinite caution, he descended the line, and, finally,
his unwieldy body rolled upon the floor, safe and unhurt!

What miracle would this superhuman monster next accomplish? I was quick
and strong, and was ready and able to intercept any dangerous act; but
not until danger appeared would I interfere with this extraordinary
scene.

I must confess to astonishment upon having observed that Neranya,
instead of proceeding directly toward the sleeping rajah, took quite
another direction. Then it was only escape, after all, that the wretch
contemplated, and not the murder of the rajah. But how could he escape?
The only possible way to reach the outer air without great risk was by
ascending the stairs to the balcony and leaving by the corridor which
opened upon it, and thus fall into the hands of some British soldiers
quartered thereabout, who might conceive the idea of hiding him; but
surely it was impossible for Neranya to ascend that long flight of
stairs! Nevertheless, he made directly for them, his method of
progression this: He lay upon his back, with the lower end of his body
toward the stairs; then bowed his spine upward, thus drawing his head
and shoulders a little forward; straightened, and then pushed the lower
end of his body forward a space equal to that through which he had
drawn his head; repeating this again and again, each time, while
bending his spine, preventing his head from slipping by pressing it
against the floor. His progress was laborious and slow, but sensible;
and, finally, he arrived at the foot of the stairs.

It was manifest that his insane purpose was to ascend them. The desire
for freedom must have been strong wit