So slowly did the hours pass, indeed, that he began at last to fear that something must have happened —­ perhaps that Nessus had been in some way recognized, and was now in the dungeons below the temple of Moloch.  At last, however, to his joy Malchus saw the distant light; it burned steadily, and he at once set out to paddle towards it.  He did not light his torch —­ it would have taken time, and he knew that, quietly as he paddled, the sound would be borne along the surface of the water to Nessus.  At last he arrived at the steps.  Nessus was there alone; beside him was a basket of fresh provisions.

“Well, Nessus, what news?”

“All is well, my lord; but Hanno is moving heaven and earth to find you.  The gates of the citadel were kept closed all day yesterday; and although today they have again been opened, the examination of those who pass out is so strict that no disguise would avail to deceive the scrutiny of the searchers.  One or other of the men who attended you in the prison is always at the gate.  The barracks have been searched from end to end, the troops occupying them being all turned out while the agents of the law searched them from top to bottom.  The same has been done with the stables; and it is well that we did not attempt to hide you above ground, for assuredly if we had done so they would have found you, however cunningly we had stowed you away.  Of course the name of the prisoner who has escaped is known to none, but the report that an important prisoner had escaped from the state prisons beneath the temple has created quite an excitement in the city, for it is said that such an event never took place before.  At present I can hit on no plan whatever for getting you free.”

“Then I must be content to wait for a while, Nessus.  After a time their vigilance is sure to relax, as they will think that I must have got beyond the walls.”

“Are there any to whom you would wish me to bear news that you are here?”

This was a question which Malchus had debated with himself over and over again.  It appeared to him, however, that Hanno’s power was so great that it would be dangerous for anyone to come forward and accuse him.  No doubt every one of the leading men of the Barcine party was strictly watched; and did Hanno suspect that any of them were in communication with the escaped prisoner, he would take instant steps against them.  He thought it better, therefore, that none should be acquainted with the secret until he was free.  He therefore replied in the negative to the question of Nessus.

“I must wait till I am free.  Any action now might bring down the vengeance of Hanno upon others.  He would find no difficulty in inventing some excuse for dealing a blow at them.  You think here is no possibility of escape at present?”

“I can think on no plan, my lord.  So strict is the search that when the elephants went down today to the fountains for water every howdah was examined to see that no one was hidden within it.”