“Well, it’s a great pity, but I suppose we must leave the poor fellow to his fate.  Good-bye, Doemones; don’t forget my invitation.”

The Samian left the guard-room and went back directly to the two friends, who were waiting impatiently for him.

They listened eagerly to his tidings, and when he had finished his description of the prison, Darius exclaimed:  “I believe a little courage will save him.  He’s as nimble as a cat, and as strong as a bear.  I have thought of a plan.”

“Let us hear it,” said Syloson, “and let me give an opinion as to its practicability.”

“We will buy some rope-ladders, some cord, and a good bow, put all these into our boat, and row to the unguarded part of the temple-wall at dusk.  You must then help me to clamber over it.  I shall take the things over with me and give the eagle’s cry.  Zopyras will know at once, because, since we were children, we have been accustomed to use it when we were riding or hunting together.  Then I shall shoot an arrow, with the cord fastened to it, up into his window, (I never miss), tell him to fasten a weight to it and let it down again to me.  I shall then secure the rope-ladder to the cord, Zopyrus will draw the whole affair up again, and hang it on an iron nail,—­which, by the bye, I must not forget to send up with the ladder, for who knows whether he may have such a thing in his cell.  He will then come down on it, go quickly with me to the part of the wall where you will be waiting with the boat, and where there must be another rope-ladder, spring into the boat, and there he is-safe!”

“First-rate, first-rate!” cried Bartja.

“But very dangerous,” added Syloson.  “If we are caught in the sacred grove, we are certain to be severely punished.  The priests hold strange nightly festivals there, at which every one but the initiated is strictly forbidden to appear.  I believe, however, that these take place on the lake, and that is at some distance from Zopyrus’ prison.”

“So much the better,” cried Darius; “but now to the main point.  We must send at once, and ask Theopompus to hire a fast trireme for us, and have it put in sailing order at once.  The news of Cambyses’ preparations have already reached Egypt; they take us for spies, and will be sure not to let either Zopyrus or his deliverers escape, if they can help it.  It would be a criminal rashness to expose ourselves uselessly to danger.  Bartja, you must take this message yourself, and must marry Sappho this very day, for, come what may, we must leave Naukratis to-morrow.  Don’t contradict me, my friend, my brother!  You know our plan, and you must see that as only one can act in it, your part would be that of a mere looker-on.  As it was my own idea I am determined to carry it out myself.  We shall meet again to-morrow, for Auramazda protects the friendship of the pure.”

It was a long time before they could persuade Bartja to leave his friends in the lurch, but their entreaties and representations at last took effect, and he went down towards the river to take a boat for Naukratis, Darius and Syloson going at the same time to buy the necessary implements for their plan.