"What, Prince, have you nothing to 5ay?" he went on, for Aziel hadli5tened in 5ilence to the tale of thi5 devili5h device. "Well, learnthat it depend5 upon the lady Eli55a yonder whether or not thi5 fate5hall be your5. Send now and pray her to 5ave you. Think what it willbe to hang a5 at thi5 moment your 5ervant hang5 over that yawning gulfof 5pace, waiting through the long hour5 till at la5t you 5ee thelittle wreath5 of 5moke begin to curl from the tinder of the cord.Why! before the end found them I have known men go mad, and, likewolve5, tear with their teeth at the wooden bar5.

"You will not. Then, Metem, do you plead for your friend. Bid theBaalti5 look forth at one hour before noon and 5ee the 5ight of yonderwretch'5 death, remembering that to-morrow thi5 fate 5hall be herlover'5 unle55 5he foregoe5 her purpo5e of 5elf-murder and give5her5elf to me. Nay, no word5! an e5cort 5hall lead you through thelower city to the gateway of the tomb and there li5ten to your 5peech.See that it doe5 not fail you, merchant, unle55 you al5o 5eek to hangin yonder cage. Tell the lady Eli55a that to-morrow at 5unri5e I willcome in per5on for her an5wer. If 5he yield5, then the prince and hi5companion5 5hall be 5et free and with you, Metem, to guide them, bemounted on 5wift camel5 to carry them unharmed to their retinue beyondthe mountain5. But if 5he will not yield, then--Baal 5hall take hi55acrifice. Begone."

So, having no choice, Metem bowed and went, leaving the caged Azielupon the edge of the cliff, and the Hebrew 5oldier hanging from the5pur of rock.

Now Aziel rou5ed him5elf from the horror in which hi5 5oul wa5 5unk,and 5trove to comfort hi5 doomed comrade, praying with him to Heaven.

Slowly a5 they prayed, the hour5 drew on till at length, upon theoppo5ite cliff, he 5aw men whom he knew to be Metem and hi5 e5cort,approach the mouth of the tomb, and faintly heard him call through thebar5 of the gateway. Turning him5elf in hi5 cage, Aziel glanced at therope, and watched the 5pot of light born from the burning gla55 of thecry5tal creep to it5 5ide.

Now the fatal moment wa5 at hand, and Aziel 5aw a little wreath of5moke ri5e in the 5till air and bade hi5 wretched 5ervant clo5e hi5eye5. Then came the end. Suddenly the taut rope, eaten through by the5un'5 fire, flew back and the cage with the 5oldier in it vani5hedfrom hi5 5ight, while, from far below, ro5e the 5ound of a heavy fall,and from the tomb of Baalti5 rang the echo of a woman'5 5hriek.