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teroom； where some yellow…girt individuals were al… ready engaged in the suggestive work of tying up pal… ace plate in bundles； amongst other things； alas！ the great gold love…bowl from whichoh！ so long agoI had drawn Heru's marriage billet。 These individuals told me in tremulous accents they had got a boat on a secret waterway behind the palace whence flight to the main river and so； far away inland； to another smaller but more peaceful city of their race would be quite practical； and joyfully hearing this news； I handed over to them the princess while I went to look for Hath。
And the search was not long。 Dashing into the banquet…hall； still littered with the remains of a feast； and looking down its deserted vistas； there at the farther end； on his throne； clad in the sombre garments he affected； chin on hand； sedate in royal melancholy； listening unmoved to the sack of his town outside； sat the prince himself。 Strange； gloomy man； the great dead intelligence of his race shining in his face as weird and out of place as a lonely sea beacon fading to nothing before the glow of sunrise； never had he appeared so mysterious as at that moment。 Even in the heat of excitement I stared at him in amazement； wishing in a hasty thought the confusion of the past few weeks had given me opportun… ity to penetrate the recesses of his mind； and therefrom retell you things better worth listening to than all the incident of my adventures。 But now there was no time to think； scarce time to act。
〃Hath！〃 I cried； rushing over to him； 〃wake up； your majesty。 The Thither men are outside； killing and burning！〃
〃I know it。〃
〃And the palace is on fire。 You can smell the reek even here。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Then what are you going to do？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃My word； that is a fine proposition for a prince！ If you care nothing for town or palace perhaps you will bestir yourself for Princess Heru。〃
A faint glimmer of interest rose upon the alabaster calm of his face at that name； but it faded instantly； and he said quietly；
〃The slaves will save her。 She will live。 I looked into the book of her fate yesterday。 She will escape； and forget； and sit at another marriage feast； and be a mother； and give the people yet one more prince to keep the faint glimmer of our ancestry alive。 I am content。〃
〃But； d… it； man； I am not！ I take a deal more in… terest in the young lady than you seem to； and have scoured half this precious planet of yours on her account； and will be hanged if I sit idly twiddling my thumbs while her pretty skin is in danger。〃 But Hath was lost in contempla… tion of his shoe…strings。
〃Come； sir；〃 I said； shaking his majesty by the shoulder； 〃don't be down on your luck。 There has been some rivalry between us； but never mind about that just now。 The prin… cess wants you。 I am going to save both her and you； you must come with her。〃
〃No。〃
〃But you SHALL come。〃
〃No！〃
By this time the palace was blazing like a bonfire and the uproar outside was terrible。 What was I to do？ As I hesitated the arras at the further end of the hall was swept aside； a disordered mob of slaves bearing bundles and drag… ging Heru with them rushing down to the door near us。 As Heru was carried swiftly by she stretched her milk…white arms towards the prince and turned her face； lovely as a convolvulus flower even in its pallor； upon him。
It was a heart…moving appeal from a woman with the heart of a child； and Hath rose to his feet while for a mo… ment there shone a look of responsible manhood in his eyes。 But it faded quickly； he bowed slowly as though he had received an address of condolence on the condition of his empire； and the next moment the frightened slaves； stumbling under their burdens； had swept poor Heru through the doorway。
I glanced savagely round at the curling smoke overhead； the red tendrils of fire climbing up a distant wall； and there on a table by us was a half…finished flask of the lovely tinted wine of forgetfulness。 If Hath would not come sober perhaps he might come drunk。
〃Here；〃 I cried； 〃drink to tomorrow； your majesty； a sov… ereign toast in all ages； and better luck next time with these hairy gentlemen battering at your majesty's doors；〃 and splashing out a goblet full of the stuff I handed it to him。
He took it and looked rather lovingly into the limpid pool； then deliberately poured it on the step in front of him； and throwing the cup away said pleasantly；
〃Not tonight； good comrade； tonight I drink a deeper draught of oblivion than that；and here come my cup… bearers。〃
Even while he spoke the palace gates had given way； there was a horrible medley of shrieks and cries； a quick sound of running feet； then again the arras lifted and in poured a horde of Ar…hap's men…at…arms。 The moment they caught sight of us about a dozen of them； armed with bows； drew the thick hide strings to their ears and down the hall came a ravening flight of shafts。 One went through my cap； two stuck quivering in the throne； and one； winged with owl feather； caught black Hath full in the bosom。
He had stood out boldly at the first coming of that onset； arms crossed on breast； chin up； and looking more of a gentleman than I had ever seen him look before； and now； stricken； he smiled gravely； then without flinching； and still eyeing his enemies with gentle calm； his knees un… locked； his frame trembled； then down he went headlong； his red blood running forth in rivulets amongst the wine of oblivion he had just poured out。
There was no time for sentiment。 I shrugged my shoulders； and turning on my heels； with the woodmen close after me； sprang through the near doorway。 Where was Heru？ I flew down the corridor by which it seemed she had re… treated； and then； hesitating a moment where it divided in two； took the left one。 This to my chagrin presently began to trend upwards； whereas I knew Heru was making for the river down below。
But it was impossible to go back； and whenever I stopped in those deserted passages I could hear the wolflike patter of men's feet upon my trail。 On again into the stony laby… rinths of the old palace； ever upwards； in spite of my desire to go down； until at last； the pursuers off the track for a moment； I came to a north window in the palace wall； and； hot and breathless； stayed to look out。
All was peace here； the sky a lovely lavender； a promise of coming morning in it； and a gold…spangled curtain of stars out yonder on the horizon。 Not a soul moved。 Below appeared a sheer drop of a hundred feet into a moat wind… ing through thickets of heavy…scented convolvulus flowers to the waterways beyond。 And as I looked a skiff with half a dozen rowers came swiftly out of the darkness of the wall and passed like a shadow amongst the thickets。 In the prow was all Hath's wedding plate； and in the stern； a faint vision of unconscious loveliness； lay Heru！
Before I could lift a finger or call out； even if I had had a mind to do so； the shadow had gone round a bend； and a shout within the palace told me I was sighted again。
On once more； hotly pursued； until the last corridor ended in two doors leading into a half…lit gallery with open win… dows at the further end。 There