For some time he ruminated on his condition, puffing curls of smoke into the air, and watching them as they disappeared.
Once or twice he heard a scratching noise near the corner of the room, but it ceased almost as soon as he had noticed it.
At length, giving way to weariness, he composed himself to sleep, and before long, his loud snoring suggested to his guards that they might relax their vigilance.
They accordingly retired outside the door, after having assured themselves that his slumber was genuine.
There were still four of them, and they began chattering to each other, for a time forgetting their prisoner.
He was at length awakened by a gentle tug at his arm, which had to be repeated several times before it had the effect of arousing him.
In an instant he sat up.
“Eh? what? By the etarnal—”
An admonition of silence checked him, and he surveyed, with an astonished countenance, the cause of his disturbance.
In the darkest corner of the hut he perceived an opening, through which the face of a young girl was visible. He started on recognising her.