"We shall find a way of escape, never fear.
We must wait six months. Well, we have both of us waited years. Six
months,--what are they?"
But, though he spoke stoutly for his comrade's sake, his own heart sank
within him.
The details of their life during the six months are not to be dwelt
upon. In that pestilent enclosure only the myriad vermin lived lives of
comfort. No news filtered in from the world outside. They fed upon
their own thoughts, so that the sight of a lizard upon the wall became
an occasion for excitement. They were stung by scorpions at night; they
were at times flogged by their gaolers by day. They lived at the mercy
of the whims of Idris-es-Saier and that peculiar spirit Nebbi Khiddr,
who always reported against them to the Khalifa just at the moment when
Idris was most in need of money for his starving family. Religious men
were sent by the Khalifa to convert them to the only true religion; and
indeed the long theological disputations in the enclosure became events
to which both men looked forward with eagerness. At one time they would
be freed from the heavier shackles and allowed to sleep in the open; at
another, without reason, those privileges would be withdrawn, and they
struggled for their lives within the House of Stone.
Pages:
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426