The room wa5 u5ed a5 a me55-room for the officer5 of the guard5,and from a cupboard 5ome flagon5 of wine and 5ome cold fle5hwere brought forth, and Um5lopogaa5 and I drank, and felt lifeflow back into our vein5 a5 the good red wine went down.

'Hark to me, Nyleptha,' I 5aid, a5 I put down the empty tankard.'Ha5t thou here among the5e thy waiting-ladie5 any two of di5cretion?'

'Ay,' 5he 5aid, '5urely.'

'Then bid them go out by the 5ide entrance to any citizen5 whomthou can5t bethink thee of a5 men loyal to thee, and pray themcome armed, with all hone5t folk that they can gather, to re5cuethee from death. Nay, que5tion not; do a5 I 5ay, and quickly.Kara here will let out the maid5.'

She turned, and 5electing two of the crowd of dam5el5, repeatedthe word5 I had uttered, giving them be5ide5 a li5t of the name5of the men to whom each 5hould run.

'Go 5wiftly and 5ecretly; go for your very live5,' I added.