"May Marisiten guard you!"
The rain had stopped, but the wind still blew; it passed with a silky hiss over the grass, laid by the storm; heavy clouds drifted rapidly across the clear sky, covering and then revealing the slender crescent moon. The forest stood out on the horizon at the end of the plain.
"Have you no directions to give me, master?" asked Raiden, when they had nearly reached the wood.
"Be observant, and remember all you see," said the Prince. "I want to find out whether the enemy's camp is open to attack at any point; if so, I will summon Harounaga, who is still at Soumiossi, and we will try to beat Hieyas. At any rate, we will see if we can't discover some of his schemes."
The sentinels had already noted the arrivals, and shouted, "Who goes there?"
"Messengers!" answered Raiden.
"Where do you come from?"
"From Osaka; sent by General Attiska."
"Do you know the password?"
"Mikawa!" cried the sailor.