THE FIRST CURSE The next thing I remember was feeling upon my face the sunlight that poured through a window-place which was protected by immovable wooden bars.

For a while I lay still, reflecting as memory returned to me upon all the events of the previous day and upon my present unhappy position.
Here I was a prisoner in the hands of a horde of fierce savages who had every reason to hate me, for though this was done in self-defence, had I not killed a number of their people against whom personally I had no quarrel?
It was true that their king had promised me safety, but what reliance could be put upon the word of such a man?
Unless something occurred to save me, without doubt my days were numbered.

In this way or in that I should be murdered, which served me right for ever entering upon such a business.
The only satisfactory point in the story was that, for the present at any rate, Ragnall and Savage had escaped, though doubtless sooner or later fate would overtake them also.

I was sure that they had escaped, since two of the camelmen with us had informed Marut that they saw them swept away surrounded by our people and quite unharmed.

Now they would be grieving over my death, since none survived who could tell them of our capture, unless the Black Kendah chose to do so, which was not likely.