Growing out from a crevice in the rock, some three feet above the top of the cave, was a young tree; and round this, close to the root, Nessus fastened one end of his rope, the other he formed into a slip-knot and let the noose fall in front of the cave, keeping it open with two twigs placed across it.

Then he gathered some brushwood and placed it at the entrance, put a bunch of dried twigs and dead leaves among it, and, striking a light with his flint and steel on some dried fungus, placed this in the middle of the sticks and blew upon it.

In a minute a flame leaped up.

"Now, my lord," he said, "be ready with your sword and spear.

The beast will be out in a minute; she cannot stand the smoke." Malchus ran to the corner and looked round.