"I have only to give orders, my lord, and messengers bring everything I want; but it is all in vain, the sun will sink directly, and his highness has given up coming to-day." Almost as he spoke, my heart beat, for in the distance there was the sound of a horse galloping. "A messenger," cried Salaman, excitedly, "to say his highness cannot come." I felt that he must be right, for, though I listened, I could hear no more. It was evidently only one horse. He was not coming that day. I uttered a sigh of relief, and strained my eyes to watch the opening between the trees, through which directly after a handsomely dressed horseman cantered, sprang from his steed, and threw the rein to an attendant, after which he marched up to me, and bowed low as he approached, to say only two words, which drove away all the hopes I had been nursing. "His highness!" he said, and I knew then that he was the avant-courier who had galloped on to announce his lord's coming. After which he stepped on one side and drew his sword, to stand on guard waiting for the rajah's entry. For a time, as I strove hard to be firm and ready to meet the greatest enemy I had, I listened vainly for some sign of his drawing near, but for a long space there was nothing but the customary bird-cries from the forest. At last, though, there was the unmistakable sound of approaching cavalry, and feeling firmer, I still sat with my eyes fixed upon the narrow opening, schooling my lips to utter the final word, "No," when he should come and repeat his offer. "He will not kill me," I said to myself, "only put me in prison to make me weary and glad to accept his offer; but he does not know how obstinate I can be." The open space surrounded by trees was now flooded with the rich orange light of sundown, and as I listened to the approach of horse, and saw a troop of showily dressed men ride in, I could not help a lingering sensation coming over me, and the temptation would, I felt, be a hard one to battle. But first one and then another party rode in, till quite a hundred men had formed up, with their dress looking brilliant in the sun's horizontal rays. But there was no rajah, and I had begun to wonder at his non-appearance on his favourite Arab.