The shrieks went on, interspersed with short intervals of silence, and with deep, heavy groans. There were words too, heard more or less distinctly, cries for mercy, agonized prayers. Then in a higher key, "I know nothing--nothing. You are killing me." And again, "Kill me, in the name of God. I implore of you to kill me!" Once more, as if flung out with all the remaining strength of dying lips, "No!--No!--No!--No!" "It is only," said the man who had spoken last, "some one who refuses to accuse his friends." "God help him!" Jack murmured feebly. For a little while the cries died away; then they began again, culminating in a shriek so appalling that Jack's senses failed him with the horror, and at last unconsciousness took him out of his misery. A waft of cooler air revived him. When he came to himself, he lay amongst a number of fallen or falling bodies. Then some one was dragging him along, as it seemed, through some passage towards the light. "Where am I?" he asked, trying mechanically to shake off the hand that held him. Then he saw that he was between two zaptiehs, who were laughing at his feeble efforts to get free. He thought it very likely they were going to kill him, and he did not care. Yet their intentions did not seem at the moment particularly cruel. One of them pointed to a place near the wall, and told him to sit down and rest; the other fetched him a cup of water, incomparably the most delicious draught he had ever tasted. Then they half led, half dragged him into an open court, where many other prisoners were waiting. He looked on dreamily while several of these were led up to the Kadi, who sat in state on the divan at the end of the room, and after a brief examination, sometimes a few words only, were led away again by the zaptiehs. At last his own turn came. He could manage to stand alone now, though he still felt confused and bewildered. He was asked his name, and he gave it in full. But here strength and memory seemed to fail him together. He knew there was _something_ he wanted to say, but he could not remember what it was. He looked around him blankly, helplessly--and the next moment would have fallen to the ground, if one of the zaptiehs had not caught him and held him up. The next thing he heard was the voice of the Kadi addressing him again. "Listen," said the zaptieh; "His Excellency condescends to enquire if you are a true Believer." "I am," said Jack. "Are you then of the creed of Islam?" He stood up straight, and looked the Kadi in the face. "No," he answered. "Will you become a convert to the creed of Islam?" "No," he said again. "Since we are inclined to mercy, we will give you a week to think the matter over. After that, if you refuse again, you must die." "I had rather you would kill me at once," Jack said. "It is not the will of Allah," the Kadi replied. "Guards, take the prisoner away."