gold at the appointed time. Until then we must put the prisoners in
some place of safety. Give orders, Mohammed, that they be taken to
the prison, and carefully guarded."

"And why to the prison, sir?" asked Mohammed, quietly. "Here in the
middle of the court-yard is a space encircled with an iron railing."

"So there is," replied the tschorbadji, "it was prepared as a cage
for my beautiful lion, and he had lived within that railing for four
years, when some miserable wretch, who knew I loved the noble
animal, poisoned it."

"Well, I think the cage your lion occupied is large enough to afford
lodging for one night to the sheik and the ulemas."

"What! confine them here in the open air?"

"Yes, sir, that is what I suggest. "Cannot the iron door be locked?"

"Yes, it can be locked; the key is in the palace."

"In this way we can spare your body-guard a weary watch," said
Mohammed. "I will conduct them to their prison. It seems to me best
that the prisoners be placed where all the world can see them; all
the passers-by can here look upon these men and take warning how the
tschorbadji punishes rebels and rebellions. I alone will keep watch
over these prisoners, and explain to all who pass why they are here;
they will then go down to Praousta, and announce that the block is
prepared upon which the heads of these men will fall early on the
morrow, unless the taxes are paid."