“It begins to look very serious,” said Mr. Graham, “but we must go, provisions or no provisions. It may be that some of the dried food which we left along the way as we crossed the cave, may be in good condition still, and if so, this would sustain us for quite awhile.”
“I have an idea,” said Enola, “which is not pleasant to contemplate, but which may mean the saving of life. The opening into the mountain is large enough to admit the zebras, and if we can get them through it, our journey will be much easier and quicker; and if the worst comes, we can sacrifice them.”
“A splendid idea,” said Harry, “but we must be ready to start by to-morrow night. But five days remain for us before the Day of Resis, and we must not put off our first attempt until the last moment. It may be that we will make some miscalculation the first time and have to try again, so let us be ready by to-morrow night.”
During that day and the next they made as many preparations as they could without being observed. Each secreted some dried meats and a bottle of the exquisite wine and honey. Sedai had visited the guard frequently, and had learned when the changes were made. The stables, where the zebras were kept, was about three hundred yards to the rear of the Temple. They were guarded by one man, the attendants of our friends grooming and taking care of them during the day. This man would have to be overcome, or called from the stable on some pretense.
The day intended for their escape drew slowly to an end. The evening meal had been eaten, as usual, with the King, but Enola had declined to accompany him to the terrace. They had gathered in Mrs. Graham’s room, and were waiting anxiously for Sedai to announce that the time had come and all was in readiness. Sedai at last came, but the moment he entered they saw that some slip had been made in the arrangements, or that something had gone wrong.
“What is it, Sedai?” asked Mr. Bruce.
“This,” said Sedai. “The guard, as usual, had left for their headquarters, and I had sent the stableman on an errand which would take some time to carry out. I started to the Temple to notify you, when, to my surprise, twenty men came up to the stable, and when I asked their leader why they were there, he told me that the Day of Resis was but three days off, and that all zebras and elephants were sent into the country to carry into the city those working in the fields, quarries and mines, one day’s journey hence; and saying this, they took the zebras and elephants and went away with them.”
The friends looked from one to the other speechless. The zebras being away they could no longer calculate on their help, but something must be done. They could not think of walking to the cave, for their escape would soon be discovered, and the inhabitants, having found out their intentions, would guard against any further attempt.
“When will the zebras be returned,” asked Mr. Bruce.
“He said that the men who were to use them were one day’s journey from here,” answered Sedai. “If they come to this city immediately, they will be here the evening of the day after to-morrow.”