And day by day as the number of the besieged dwindled, bit after bit of the town fell into the besiegers' hands, until at last only the Bala Hissar remained.

But the Bala Hissar is a town in itself, and many a time has it withstood a siege successfully.
Now, however, it was near to the death.

There could be no more talk or thought of escape.

Kumran, ever half-hearted, tried it one night and failed, losing many followers in the attempt.
After that his face hardened.

He went about dreaming of revenge--revenge on Humayon, even revenge on Dearest-Lady, who had tied his hands.
"_Till I return!_" No! Dead folks can never return to the worldly.