“I have heard of this intended marriage,” said Sedai, “but I thought that Miss Enola must have given her consent.”
“Far from it,” said Mr. Graham, “she is most desirous of getting away immediately. Exert your thinking powers, Sedai, and try to devise some means by which we can leave the country. If you think of anything, come up to the Temple and give us the result.”
“I will do so,” said Sedai, as he walked away.
“Mr. Bruce,” said Mr. Graham, “our friends in the rear do not seem to be appointed as guards to ward off danger, but more as a guard of honor. This is probably what they are for, simply to announce to the people that we have marriageable children,” and Mr. Graham smiled.
“I think myself that they have no idea of danger befalling us, but it looks to me as if they had some suspicion of our intended escape. You know we mentioned the matter to the King a few evenings since,” said Mr. Bruce.
“That’s so; I wonder if that can have anything to do with it. It may be that he intends to keep us prisoners, at least, until he has Enola secure,” said Mr. Graham.
“It is hard to tell,” said Mr. Bruce.
They turned their zebras and headed for the Temple, and upon arriving there told their companions of how they had been followed.
Sedai came up in the afternoon, and, after talking with the guard for awhile, reported what he had learned. The guard was changed every four hours, and the old guard marched to the house used by them as headquarters. Here they reported, and a relief was sent to the Temple. From the time the old guard left until the relief arrived, fifteen minutes elapsed, and during this fifteen minutes escape must be made. This was their only chance. It was not allowing much time for accidents, but they might be some distance before their escape was discovered, and a guard sent after them. This might not take the right direction at first, and in this way some time might be gained.
It was decided to have Sedai carry the provisions to the cave, since he would not be watched; consequently, he left them to make preparations. No time was to be lost, and Sedai went directly to the provision storehouse and asked for four days’ provisions for himself, as he intended going to the large lake on a fishing excursion. The provisions were given him, but, to his surprise, when he came out of the storehouse and mounted his zebra, five mounted men, who were near and who were seen awaiting him, started just after he did and followed him. Straight on he went in the direction of the secret door, and upon arriving at the gate of the wall, his followers rode up and stopped him, saying, that as none of them had weapons they could not think of entering that wild part or of letting him do so. He made no objection, and leaving his bundle of provisions in a shady place near the gate, rode back to the city and went directly to the Temple to notify his friends.