“Where are they taking the zebras?” asked Harry of Sedai, who stood near.
“To the great square,” answered Sedai. “These zebras are trained to do certain tricks, and are to give an exhibition to-night before the people.”
Harry almost broke down in despair. All hope of their escape on that night had fled, and all were thoroughly disturbed. Enola’s despair could be seen in her white face, but she said nothing. A resolve had taken shape in her mind, that if all else failed, before she would become the wife of the King of On she would end her life, for the thought now of marrying this man had become abhorrent to her, and the longer she brooded over it, the more hateful did it become to her, and hence this determination.
Slowly the night grew on, and all listened with bated breath for Sedai, for they still had a faint hope that the zebras might be returned in time for them to get away at the midnight relief; but midnight came and passed, and our friends knew that their last hope was gone. They separated for the night without a word, even Mr. Bruce, who was usually so hopeful, now not having a word to say.
The morrow was the Day of Resis, and after its mysterious ceremonies had been performed, the King of this strange people was to demand Enola for his wife.
CHAPTER XLIX.
THE DAY OF RESIS.
“The Day of Resis” had come, and long before the sun had shed its golden beams on the Temple of On, the people were astir. The tramp of many zebras and the rumbling of chariots could be faintly heard by the adventurers as they lay tossing on their couches, the night having brought them but little rest. They listened with bated breath to the sounds as they floated through the wide arches of the Temple, and wondered what the day would bring forth. That it would be fateful, was certain, for if they did not effect their escape, Enola would become the unwilling bride of the King of On; and what would be the subsequent events? Would they longer be held prisoners, or, would they be allowed to go and come as they saw fit?
But if they failed to get away before the eventful ceremony should take place, would there be any further inducement to leave this beautiful country? Would not Enola be the wife of Onrai, and would not the bonds be binding, having been welded by the laws of this country? Would she not still be the wife of Onrai, even if she should go back to civilization, and would it not be better for her to remain here with the man whom she had been forced to marry? It was a difficult question to answer, and puzzled and troubled, the small party of adventurers rose, and after the morning bath, the last, they hoped, in the Temple, they repaired to the dining hall.
“The night has been a disappointing one in every respect,” said Mr. Graham, as he took a seat by the side of Enola, “for I had hoped that after the suspense and failure of the early evening, we would at least forget for awhile in our sleep. But I see in the haggard faces about me traces of unrest, and I know that we have all spent the night in worrying and in wondering as to what the day would bring forth.”
“The night has been a fearful one to me,” said Enola; “but it has seemed all too short, for I could remember only that with its darkness went all hope of mine.”