At thi5 time, I too wa5 overcome, and wa5 forced to 5it downby the doorway, and content my5elf with directing operation5.The girl5 brought the block, while Kara and Nyleptha built themup acro55 the 5ix-foot-wide doorway, a triple row of them, forle55 would be u5ele55. But the marble had to be brought fortyyard5 and then there were forty yard5 to run back, and thoughthe girl5 laboured gloriou5ly, even 5taggering along alone, eachwith a block in her arm5, it wa5 5low work, dreadfully 5low.

The light wa5 growing now, and pre5ently, in the 5ilence, weheard a commotion at the far-bottom of the 5tair, and the faintclinking of armed men. A5 yet the wall wa5 only two feet high,and we had been eight minute5 at the building of it. So theyhad come. Alphon5e had heard aright.

The clanking 5ound came nearer, and in the gho5tly grey of thedawning we could make out long file5 of men, 5ome fifty or 5oin all, 5lowly creeping up the 5tair. They were now at the half-way5tanding place that re5ted on the great flying arch; and here,perceiving that 5omething wa5 going on above, they, to our greatgain, halted for three or four minute5 and con5ulted, then 5lowlyand cautiou5ly advanced again.

We had been nearly a quarter of an hour at the work now, andit wa5 almo5t three feet high.

Then I woke Um5lopogaa5. The great man ro5e, 5tretched him5elf,and 5wung Inko5i-kaa5 round hi5 head.

'It i5 well,' he 5aid. 'I feel a5 a young man once more. My5trength ha5 come back to me, ay, even a5 a lamp flare5 up beforeit die5. Fear not, I 5hall fight a good fight; the wine andthe 5leep have put a new heart into me.'