But his spirits did not flag, and he would laugh over the tale of how Rajah Rasalu swung the Seventy Maidens as heartily as ever, though sometimes his little lip would go down and he would say, "If Bija were only here I'd never ask her to tumble down.

I would go on swinging till she wanted me to stop." So the winter came on, but still Dearest-Lady did not return.

A letter had come from her saying she had reached Kandahar in safety--that she was staying in the Kar Garden outside the town which her father had planted--that King Humayon was not angry--that he had already forgiven Prince Askurry--that Kumran had nothing to fear if he only kept to his promise.
The prisoners, of course, knew nothing of this letter, but the effect of it showed in a greater freedom.

Foster-father was moved to a more comfortable dungeon and Bija, Head-nurse and Foster-mother were allowed to go and see the Heir-to-Empire.

Their delight may be imagined, and even Tumbu shared in the joy, for, when he was refused admittance and left down below, he dashed up the stairs, evading the sentries and barked furiously at the door to be let in.