CHAPTER XVI.
REVOLT OF THE EXILES.
The noonday heat was oppressive in the open, and the faces of the two Athensians glistened with perspiration as they sat their horses in the sun. Mr. Hampton noting this, suggested they enter the shade of the grove on the plateau pending the return of their comrades, and Amonasis and Jepthah willingly spurred their horses up the sloping terrace. Eager to be of service, Jack hastened to the rear of the plateau, returning presently with a bucket of clear cold spring water which proved very refreshing to the travellers.
“You found an admirable place for an ambush,” remarked Jepthah, looking about approvingly. “I have not been here before. Korakum is a considerable distance up the Great Road, and we seldom have come down here as it was unnecessary, we thought, to keep watch on the desert. Only as we passed through, in order to gain the other trail and labor on repairing it, have we gone up and down.”
“Then you did not know of the passage of the raiding party?” asked Jack, surprised. “Does that mean they left Athensi over the other road of which you speak?”
“I don’t know,” confessed Jepthah, frankly. “We have been questioning ourselves as to whether the spies among our number betrayed our work on that trail to the authorities. The men who captured your friend may have gone into the Great Desert over that trail. Again, however, they may have passed down this road without our being aware of it. As you may see for yourselves some day, the valley in which Korakum lies is of great extent, and the ruined city where we dwell lies some distance from the subterranean river by which men are accustomed to come and go from Athensi. This party may have passed to the outside quite easily without being seen.”
“Have you been living long at Korakum?” asked Mr. Hampton. “Your friend, Amrath,” he explained, “told me that in retaliation for sheltering and speeding the departure of my friend, Professor Souchard, a number of years ago, the kindly exiles of Korakum were slain by the Athensian authorities.”
Jepthah threw up his hands in a gesture of anger.
“That happened before our arrival, before the arrival of any of us in this band,” he said. “Every year a new levy of youth of the priest clan is sent into the world to gain knowledge. Each man is bound by the most solemn of oaths not to betray knowledge of his country and to return on a certain day.
“I have heard the story of your friend, and of the exiles who were punished with death for permitting his escape. It was horrible. I and my friends were among those who returned home since that occurrence, and because of our criticism of the practises of our people, we were exiled to Korakum.”
“But I saw some middle-aged men in the troop of Captain Amanassar,” protested Frank, taking a voice in the discussion.