CHAPTER XLI - MAPHIR INVESTIGATES

If humanitarian sympathy needed any reinforcement in such an extremity it found it in the sturdy friendship of Teresh and his co­workers. They were unable to refrain from tears at the emaciated and revolting state in which they had found their friend and master, but at the same time they rejoiced to know the worst, and be assured that, bad as it was, it was not too late. Assiduous attention, careful treatment, and such nursing as would be at his disposal now, would do much to restore if it could not redeem.

The time for consultation and formulation of plans, however, was not yet. The Prince's present comfort and the furnishing of such nourishment as was safe under the circumstances, was far more important than arranging details for the future, and while Teresh and Zachra performed the more personal duties, Maphir returned again and again to his rooms, which were emptied of everything that could be placed at such a welcome disposal.

After a time, when the change had been completed and the first nourishment was producing some signs if improvement, Glarces was carefully transferred to a hammock of skins and carried away into the labyrinth of caves, where a search would be necessary to discover him, when any visit on the part of his gaolers was attempted. Here Maphir had arranged a temporary abode, at about half the distance from his own, and also conveniently placed for contesting their possession of the prisoner if called upon to do so.

This successfully accomplished, the hunter, after arranging a signal of recall, should he be wanted, again disappeared, his object being to ascertain where the prison was situated and by what other means it had been reached. For this purpose he returned to the cave and carefully examined it. It told its own tale of a punishment too inhuman to narrate, of a fiendish determination to torture we will mercifully forbear to record. Maphir, however, noted with patience every peculiar feature it contained, careful to disturb nothing, for his mind was quietly anticipating a future service it might render. He had formulated a plan, over the details of which he occasionally smiled, but said nothing.

When satisfied with his observation of the cell he turned his attention to the corridor, assured that, where the arrangement of apartments was sufficiently intricate to confuse himself, there must be some guiding mark for others. He was not wrong. In such a place where none but the initiated could gain admission, or if admitted would have the hardihood to venture, there was little need for secrecy, and Maphir, with his eyes now open to find the clue, at once saw the white marks on the passage walls at short intervals, or at the outlet of a chamber indicating which way he had to take. This trail he followed, the torch well above him and Zhan close upon his heels, until presently he came to a sudden halt - he stood upon the verge of a chasm upon the other side of which lay the golden caves.

He had suspected it almost from the outset. His ears had early caught the sound of the rushing waters, but whoever had selected the prison of the Prince had been cautious to locate it where the sound was lost, that it might not render any possible assistance in escape.

The deep fissure at this point was little more than a fathom in width, spanned by a light and portable gangway which might easily be removed if necessary. Caution, however, was not needed in such a case, and, the means being at hand, Maphir crossed to confirm his conclusions. On returning his first thought was to draw the bridge to his own side, but he abandoned it at once - it would divulge a secret he desired to keep for the present.

This being all he wished to know of the place and its location, for the time being, he went back to acquaint his friends with his discovery, and, the Prince being in a doze, they withdrew for a hasty consultation.

The prostration of Glarces, even though there proved to be no further reasons, rendered it imperative that, for the time, he should remain in or near his present quarters, both for convenience of nursing and also guarding the secret. Zachra was the responsible steward of the golden caves, from the storehouses of which he could not only comfortably, but luxuriously, furnish a suite of apartments for the Prince's use, and thus avoid any danger of discovery from without. Then, when health and strength were sufficiently recovered, Glarces could go to a distance and perfect his plans for justice and the punishment of Lais.

The one difficulty they now had to face was the discovery when the morning visit was paid to the cell, and this occasioned Teresh and Zachra more uneasiness than they were willing to confess. Maphir, on the contrary, regarded the matter with perfect equanimity, asking for it to be left in his hands. Should any assistance be wanted he would call on Zhan, and whatever occurred he was sure they would be equal to the occasion.

So the conference ended, and present arrangements were satisfactorily completed.