"I can think on no plan, my lord. So strict is the search that when
the elephants went down today to the fountains for water every
howdah was examined to see that no one was hidden within it."

"It will be necessary also, Nessus, if you do hit upon some plan
for getting me out, to arrange a hiding place in the city."

"That will be easy enough," Nessus replied. "My friends have many
relations in the Arab quarter, and once free, you might be concealed
there for any time. And now I will wait no longer, for last night
visits were made in all the barracks and stables by the agents of
the law, to see that every man was asleep in his place. Therefore
I will return without delay. In two days I will be here again; but
should anything occur which it is needful to tell you I will be
here tomorrow night."

Malchus watched for the light on the following evening with but
faint hope of seeing it, but at about the same hour as before he
saw it suddenly appear again. Wondering what had brought Nessus
before his time, he paddled to the stairs.

"Well, Nessus, what is your news?"

"We have hit upon a plan of escape, my lord. As I told you my friend
and I are in the stable with the elephants, our duties being to
carry in the forage for the great beasts, and to keep the stables
in order. We have taken one of the Indian mahouts into our
confidence, and he has promised his aid; the elephant of which he
is in charge is a docile beast, and his driver has taught him many