There was no moon, only the great stars palpitated in the sky. I listened; I peered into the obscurity. The tents formed little dark hillocks, undulating away, as far as the eye could reach. No sound, but the intermittent call of distant sentinels, who could not be seen. Before the tent where my Master was imprisoned two soldiers in white tunics marched slowly with guns on their shoulders. I could see clearly their long white robes, and their muslin turbans. Sometimes the barrel of their gun sparkled, reflecting the ray of a star.
Kill these two men? Deliver my Master? and escape with him? Would such a thing be possible?...
The sentinels marched slowly around the prisoner's tent, walking in opposite directions from each other, so that all sides of the tent were constantly under observation.
How to seize them without their being able to give the alarm?... Standing motionless in the darkness, I followed them with my eyes, striving to understand their movements, and the different positions they occupied while coming and going.
I observed that one soldier in crossing his companion turned his back to me, and then disappeared behind the tent, and at the same instant the other soldier also had his back to me, while making the circuit. A short moment only elapsed before the first one would reappear and be facing me.
I could not strike the two guards at one time; and if one saw me attack the other he would have time to give the alarm, and awaken the whole camp.
It was, then, during this one brief moment that I must act.
About twenty paces separated me from the tent, and this was an added difficulty—shortening still more the available time during which I would be unseen; but the attempt must be made.
I tried to undo the rope that tethered my foot. I could not succeed; but with a single jerk I pulled up the stake to which I was attached.
I was free.