It was perfectly empty, but lights flashed in through the windows on the opposite side to that by which we had entered, and as we went cautiously forward, it was to see scores of armed men with torches, their task evidently being, as shown by their actions, to seek me out. I say me, because I felt that they must be in profound ignorance of the existence of Dost. The light which shone in was enough to show his anxious, eager face, and as his eyes met mine, he gave his head a nod in the direction of the window. "Not that way," he said, with a little laugh; "this." We hunted about some moments, with the cries of the men outside sounding wonderfully close to my ears, and then found the way to the upper floor, which, though well-furnished, was utterly deserted. Here we made at once for the end, to find a way on to the roof, but it was at the other end, and proved to be, as we reached it, exactly like that of the palace--flat, and with a parapet all round. Dost signed to me to stoop, for I was a striking object with my bright uniform, and the reflection from the lanthorns and torches down below was sufficient to make us visible to each other. Bending low, we approached the side whence the light came, and, taking off my helmet, I cautiously peered down, to see the great court beneath crowded with soldiers, all standing to their arms, as if expecting instant orders to join in the search. "No go down there, sahib," said Dost, softly. I shook my head, and followed him to the end, where a stronger light shone up, and on looking down there, we found that the officers were collected, as if waiting for orders. Dost shook his head again, and walked back along the roof, with the grounds on our left, the well-filled square on the right, and the dark end of the large summer-house before us. There everything was black, and we had no need for caution in looking over. I could not help shuddering as I drew back my head, on hearing a loud slapping noise below me, and a peculiar whishing, rushing sound. "No," said Dost. "No boat. Muggers. Can't go that way." For the swift river was gliding by just beneath the walls of the summer-house; whose windows looked down upon what by day would be doubtless a lovely scene, but which now was gloomy and repulsive in the extreme. "What shall we do, then?" I asked. "Wait," said Dost, quietly, and he unwound the rope from me, and carefully made it into a coil, which he passed over his left arm. "Wouldn't it be better to stop till later? They will not search this place again." "I don't know, sahib. They may come up here, and there is nowhere to hide." "Shall we go back into the garden, and try some other way." "There is no other way," he replied. "The river shuts off all one side, sahib, and the other is full of Ny Deen's soldiers." "Tell me," I whispered. "What about the fighting? Our people were not beaten?"