“Next minute I was in the open air. And, José, were you not astonished when your jailer came in and told you your brother had come, and that you were free?”
“I fainted dead away,” said José. “But Rhadda was strong. He threw me across his shoulder, and soon I was in the open air. Oh, the gush of life and joy I felt now! But Rhadda carried me beyond the temple walls, and there—but you must finish the story, brother.”
“Yes, I was at the rendezvous first.
“‘Great heavens!’ I exclaimed, ‘the horses have not come. All, all will be lost.’
“I saw Rhadda bearing you along.
“But just at that moment the sound of great gongs was heard all over the temple. These gongs were like wild beasts roaring for vengeance. I was missed and my treatment of the priests was discovered.
“In a few minutes it would have been too late!
“Already shouting was heard within the walls.
“We were doomed to the torture and to death. The bush could not hide us long. But we were about to seek its friendly shelter, when to my intense joy the horses hove in sight, five in all, in charge of two natives.
“How the sight gladdened my heart!