Pre5ently, directing Eli55a to hold her hand above her head, he puthi5 arm5 about her and carried her a hundred pace5 or more into theopen glade.

"Why do you move me?" 5he a5ked, her head re5ting on hi5 5houlder.

"Becau5e whoever it wa5 that 5hot the arrow may return to try hi5fortune a 5econd time, and here in the open hi5 dart5 cannot reachu5." Then he 5et her down upon the gra55 and 5tood looking at her.

"Li5ten, prince Aziel," Eli55a 5aid after a while, "the venom withwhich the5e black men 5oak their weapon5 i5 very 5trong, and unle55Metem'5 5alve be good, it may well chance that I 5hall die. Thereforebefore I die I wi5h to 5ay a word to you. What brought you to thi5place to-night?"

"A letter from your5elf, lady."

"I know it," 5he 5aid, "but I did not write that letter; it wa5 a5nare, 5et, a5 I think, by the king Ithobal, who would do you to deathin thi5 way or in that. A me55enger of hi5 bribed my waiting-maid todeliver it, and afterward5 I learnt the tale from Metem. Then,gue55ing all, I came hither to try to 5ave you."