I shivered at the sound, for it was fearful in that silence, also I thought that it would arouse the keepers.

But the Khan went to the bars and showed himself, whereon the brutes, which knew him, ceased their noise.
"Fear not," he said as he returned, "the huntsmen know that they are starved to-night, for to-morrow certain criminals will be thrown to them." Now we had reached the palace gates.

Here the Khan bade us hide in an archway and departed.

We looked at each other, for the same thought was in both our minds--that he had gone to fetch the murderers who were to make an end of us.

But in this we did him wrong, for presently we heard the sound of horses' hoofs upon the stones, and he returned leading the two white steeds that Atene had given us.
"I saddled them with my own hands," he whispered.