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 Bimala bent to the Prince's ear and said something.

"Proceed, madam, so please you," said the Prince.

"I am a maid-servant, Prince," said Bimala, "and should be commanded."

"What you will," said the Prince.

The way they were then following led to the gate of the castle; on its side was the mangoe-wood, which was invisible from the main entrance. If you wanted to go where the Amodara flowed behind the castle, you must walk through this wood. Bimala now left the highway, and entered the wood, accompanied by the Prince.

After entering it, they heard the sound of the breaking of dry leaves, and of human steps.

"Again!" said Bimala.

"Once more stay a little," said the Prince; "I will look about."

He drew his sword, and went in the direction of tho sound; but could see nothing. Underneath the mangoe-wood, such dense thickets were formed by the exuberance of various wild shrubs and plants, and such a gloom was spread by the trees, that the Prince could no where see far before him. He thought it not impossible that the sounds had proceeded from some animals treading upon the dry leaves. Whatever it might be, thinking it expedient to dispel his doubts, he got up to the top of a tree, and began to survey round. After a long while, he espied the moonlit turbans of two men, whose persons were hid in the deep gloom formed by the boughs of some tall mangoe tree.

The Prince marked well and was perfectly satisfied as to the presence of the men. He also carefully marked the tree, so as