“It would be best not to keep you here any longer,” he said, “so renew your stain while I speak.  As soon as you learn the details of the plot, you will drop this out from the loophole on the right hand side of the door; that is to say, the one on your right, standing inside.  If the affair is not to come off at once, it were best for you to proceed as before.  Ahmet will be outside when you go out with your gang, and on your nodding to him we will make some excuse to take you away on your return.  I say this because if you see that the affair, whatever it is, is not imminent, you might think it better to remain with them longer, so as to learn their plans more fully, instead of having the thing put a stop to at once.”

“I understand, Sir John; but, as I have said, I do not think we should all be told until the blow is ready to be struck, as they would be afraid that some one might inform against them, if time and opportunity were granted them.”

“I think so too, Sir Gervaise.  This afternoon we will call upon the grand master, for we have no means of knowing how serious or how extended this plot may be; it may include only the crew of a single galley, and, on the other hand, the whole of the slaves may be implicated in it.  It is evident, therefore, that the matter is too serious to be kept any longer from his knowledge.”

Three more days passed.  On the third evening, after the allowance of broth and bread had been consumed, and the door was closed and locked upon them for the night, three or four of the galley slaves, after talking eagerly together, beckoned to the others to gather round them at the end of the room farthest from the door.  Two of them took up arms full of the bedding, and stuffed it into the side windows.  Gervaise saw, in the dim light, a look of intense excitement on the faces of the slaves.  It had been vaguely known among them that a plot was in hand, although but few had been admitted into the confidence of the leaders.  Hitherto all had feared that it concerned only a small number, but the preparations now made to insure that they should not be overheard, showed that, whatever the plan might be, all were to share in it.

“Thanks be to Allah, the All Powerful,” one of the men began, “my lips are unsealed, and I can tell you the great news that our hour for escape from bondage is at hand!  We need not fear the warder there,” he went on, as several eyes were turned apprehensively towards the guard, who, with his spear beside him, was leaning carelessly against the wall at the farther end, looking through the window into the courtyard; “he is with us.  You must know that for the last two months an agent from Constantinople has been on the Island, and has been engaged in arranging this affair.  Two of our taskmasters belonging to the Order have been bribed by large sums of money, and several of the overseers, who are half of our blood, have eagerly embraced