A tall reed fence cut off the southern end of this marketplace, outside of which we were ordered to dismount.  Passing through yet another gate we found within the fence a large hut or house built on the same model as the others in the town, which Marut whispered to me was that of the king.  Behind it were smaller houses in which lived his queen and women, good-looking females, who advanced to meet him with obsequious bows.  To the right and left were two more buildings of about equal size, one of which was occupied by the royal guard and the other was the guest-house whither we were conducted.

It proved to be a comfortable dwelling about thirty feet square but containing only one room, with various huts behind it that served for cooking and other purposes.  In one of these the three camelmen were placed.  Immediately on our arrival food was brought to us, a lamb or kid roasted whole upon a wooden platter, and some green mealie-cobs boiled upon another platter; also water to drink and wash with in earthenware jars of sun-dried clay.

I ate heartily, for I was starving.  Then, as it was useless to attempt precautions against murder, without any talk to my fellow prisoner, for which we were both too tired, I threw myself down on a mattress stuffed with corn husks in a corner of the hut, drew a skin rug over me and, having commended myself to the protection of the Power above, fell fast asleep.

CHAPTER XII

THE FIRST CURSE

The next thing I remember was feeling upon my face the sunlight that poured through a window-place which was protected by immovable wooden bars.  For a while I lay still, reflecting as memory returned to me upon all the events of the previous day and upon my present unhappy position.  Here I was a prisoner in the hands of a horde of fierce savages who had every reason to hate me, for though this was done in self-defence, had I not killed a number of their people against whom personally I had no quarrel?  It was true that their king had promised me safety, but what reliance could be put upon the word of such a man?  Unless something occurred to save me, without doubt my days were numbered.  In this way or in that I should be murdered, which served me right for ever entering upon such a business.

The only satisfactory point in the story was that, for the present at any rate, Ragnall and Savage had escaped, though doubtless sooner or later fate would overtake them also.  I was sure that they had escaped, since two of the camelmen with us had informed Marut that they saw them swept away surrounded by our people and quite unharmed.  Now they would be grieving over my death, since none survived who could tell them of our capture, unless the Black Kendah chose to do so, which was not likely.  I wondered what course they would take when Ragnall found that his quest was vain, as of course must happen.  Try to get out of the country, I suppose, as I prayed they might succeed in doing, though this was most improbable.