course to take, when he heard the sound of an approaching caravan; and he hid himself in the fosse of the fortress to watch it.  He then saw that it was driven forward by a large body of men, and that the merchants were bound on their mules.  When they arrived at the castle, they knocked at the gate; and when the troop entered, Wakhs El Fellat entered with them; and they unloaded the goods and bound the prisoners without noticing him.  When the armed men had finished their work, they ascended to the castle, but he remained below.  After a time, he wished to follow them, but when he trod on the first step, it gave way under him, and a dagger flew out, which struck him in the groin.  Upon this his eyes filled with tears, and he already looked upon his destruction as certain, when a form came towards him from the entrance of the castle, to deliver him; and as it drew nearer, he perceived that it was Shama.  He was filled with astonishment, and cried out, “God has heard your prayer!  How did you come here?” “I followed your traces,” she replied, “till you entered the castle, when I imitated your example, and mingled with the troops.  I have now saved your life, although you have refused to take me with you; but if you wish to advance further, do not neglect to try whether each step is fixed, with the point of your sword.”  He now again began to ascend, feeling the way before him, and Shama followed, till they arrived at the last stair, when they saw that the staircase ended in a revolving wheel.  “Spring higher,” advised Shama, “for I see a javelin which magic art has placed here.”  They sprang over it, and pursued their way till they reached a large anteroom, lighted by a high cupola.  They stopped here awhile, and examined everything carefully.  At last they approached the door of a room, and on looking through the crevices, they saw about a hundred armed negroes, among whom was a black slave who looked as savage as a lion.  The room was lighted by wax candles, placed on gold and silver candlesticks.  At this moment, the black said, “Slaves, what have you done with the prisoners belonging to the caravan?” “We have chained them in the prison below, and left them in the safest place,” was the reply.  But he continued, “If one of them was carelessly bound, he might be able to release himself and the others, and to gain possession of the stairs.  Let one of you therefore go down, examine them carefully, and tighten their bonds.”  One of them therefore came out, and the two strangers hid themselves in the anteroom.  When he had passed them, Wakhs El Fellat stepped forward and pierced him through with his sword; Shama dragged his body aside, and they both remained quiet for a time.  But as the slave remained away from his companions too long, Sudun exclaimed, “Go and see why he does not return, for I have been in great alarm ever since we entered the castle to-day.”  A second then rose and took his sword, and as he came into the anteroom, Wakhs El Fellat clove him in twain at one blow and