I made no reply, but strolled back to the wide opening in front of my tent, passed it, and found myself face to face with another sentry, to whom I paid not the slightest heed, but bore off to the right, to find another and another.
After this, pretty well satisfied that I was well guarded, and seeing here the reason why I had had no visitor again, I returned to my tent, encountering Salaman on the way.
“Why, Salaman,” I said, “you keep pretty good guard.”
“It is his highness’s orders, my lord.”
“How many men have you on sentry?”
“Twenty, my lord; and there are forty in the guard-tent, waiting to go on duty in turn.”
“What?” I cried. “I thought you only had about six men here.”
“Only six by day, my lord; these others march over every night to go on duty.”
“Then there is no one on guard in the day?”
“Oh yes, my lord; but they are mounted men with lances; they watch the roads here for a mile round.”