“Hans,” I said, “where did you get that new hat?”

“They gave it me here, Baas,” he answered.  “The Baas will remember that the devil Jana ate the other.”

Then I did remember more or less, while Hans continued to twiddle the hat.  I begged him to put it on his head because it fidgeted me, and then inquired where we were.

“In the Town of the Child, Baas, where they carried you after you had seemed to die down yonder.  A very nice town, where there is plenty to eat, though, having been asleep for three days, you have had nothing except a little milk and soup, which was poured down your throat with a spoon whenever you seemed to half wake up for a while.”

“I was tired and wanted a long rest, Hans, and now I feel hungry.  Tell me, are the lord and Bena here also, or were they killed after all?”

“Yes, Baas, they are safe enough, and so are all our goods.  They were both with Harut when he saved us down by the village yonder, but you went to sleep and did not see them.  They have been nursing you ever since, Baas.”

Just then Savage himself entered, carrying some soup upon a wooden tray and looking almost as smart as he used to do at Ragnall Castle.

“Good day, sir,” he said in his best professional manner.  “Very glad to see you back with us, sir, and getting well, I trust, especially after we had given you and Mr. Hans up as dead.”

I thanked him and drank the soup, asking him to cook me something more substantial as I was starving, which he departed to do.  Then I sent Hans to find Lord Ragnall, who it appeared was out walking in the town.  No sooner had they gone than Harut entered looking more dignified than ever and, bowing gravely, seated himself upon the mat in the Eastern fashion.

“Some strong spirit must go with you, Lord Macumazana,” he said, “that you should live today, after we were sure that you had been slain.”

“That’s where you made a mistake.  Your magic was not of much service to you there, friend Harut.”

“Yet my magic, as you call it, though I have none, was of some service after all, Macumazana.  As it chanced I had no opportunity of breathing in the wisdom of the Child for two days from the hour of our arrival here, because I was hurt on the knee in the fight and so weary that I could not travel up the mountain and seek light from the eyes of the Child.  On the third day, however, I went and the Oracle told me all.  Then I descended swiftly, gathered men and reached those fools in time to keep you from harm.  They have paid for what they did, Lord.”

“I am sorry, Harut, for they knew no better; and, Harut, although I saved myself, or rather Hans saved me, we have left your brother behind, and with him the others.”

“I know.  Jana was too strong for them; you and your servant alone could prevail against him.”

“Not so, Harut.  He prevailed against us; all we could do was to injure his eye and the tip of his trunk and escape from him.”