“As I thought,” said Mr. Bruce, “we are prisoners.”
CHAPTER XLVIII.
NO HOPE OF ESCAPE.
At the usual morning gathering of the adventurers, on the following morning, Mr. Bruce said:
“It seems that we are prisoners, but why I cannot understand. It may be, though, that the Temple alone is to be guarded, and that when we desire to leave it for a walk or a ride, the guards may not follow us. Let us make the experiment, Mr. Graham, if we are accompanied by the guards we shall know that extra effort is needed.”
“I wonder,” said Mr. Graham, “if this custom of guarding a prospective bride, which this seems to be, applies to their courtiers as well. Anyway we can ascertain this, by ordering our zebras and taking a ride,” and stepping to the curtain which separated the apartment from the one which he occupied, Mr. Graham called one of his attendants, and told him they wanted their zebras at once. In a short time the zebras were awaiting them, and Mr. Bruce and he went to the entrance, and were not surprised to see ten mounted men standing near, seemingly waiting for them to start. Apparently unconcerned, our friends mounted and rode leisurely down the main avenue. And the ten men followed.
“As I supposed,” said Mr. Graham, “our escape is going to be a serious matter after all.”
“Yes,” answered Mr. Bruce, “we will undoubtedly be guarded by these men wherever we go, and it is hardly reasonable to believe that they will allow us to go to the cave, and make our escape without trying to stop us.”
“There is Sedai,” said Mr. Graham, “he may be able to offer some suggestion.”
They stopped their zebras and motioning to Sedai, he came up and asked what he could do for them.
“We are virtually prisoners, Sedai,” said Mr. Graham, “and we need your help. The King has announced his intention of marrying Enola on the Day of Resis, and to avoid this, we shall have to leave the city; but a guard has been placed about the Temple and a guard is now following us, and it may be hard for us to get away.”