“But what of Enola?” asked Mr. Bruce.
“She must be taken too,” said Onrai, “but it is too late.”
The riders had now reached the terrace and dismounting, a number of them stepped forward and laid hands on the strangers. Others prepared to enter the villa, for the women. Onrai stood with bowed head, overcome with emotion. This then was to be the miserable end of the expedition.
CHAPTER XXIII.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRIEST.
The moment was a critical one and the three men realized it fully; what could they do? They were powerless against such a mob; their only hope seemed to lay in Onrai, but he had said that the men would no longer listen to him. Onrai stood with arms crossed and head bowed and it could be seen that he was fearfully agitated. But he made no move to stop the men, who were now entering the villa to take the women. But the thought of these men, laying their hands on Enola, on that poor bruised body, finally overcame Onrai, and rushing madly into the villa, he grabbed the two men who were about to enter the sick chamber and pushed them forcibly from the house.
“What would you do?” said he, beside himself with anguish. “Would you war against poor defenseless women, or worse, sick women? Men, have you forgotten your manhood; have you no longer any self-respect? Has your pride and honor all been killed by this horrible suspicion?”
The men stood quietly by as they had at the lake, listening, but not seeming to heed their King. Those who had laid hands on Mr. Bruce, Mr. Graham and Harry still stood guarding them, waiting for those who had been sent for the women to come from the villa, when they would carry out the rest of the miserable programme.
“Why do you look at me in that strange way?” continued Onrai, “do you not know that it is the King who is talking to you, that it is he who implores you, that it is Onrai who commands you; have you forgotten that it is I, Onrai, whom you yourselves chose for King, and whom you have sworn to love and obey, that now entreats you? How are you keeping that oath? Oh, that I should ever be chosen ruler of such cowards.”
The men did not move, but when Onrai ceased speaking the leader walked up, and again bowing to the King, that King, whom he still respected, but did not obey, said:
“King, we know of the great goodness of your heart; we know that that great goodness of heart would still be influenced by the love; no, not love, but unholy infatuation, which this woman has thrown about you, and we know that because of this, you will forget yourself, your future, your people, the holy laws and all, and would plead for the lives of these people. We knew this and we hardened our hearts against such pleadings before we came to you. It was decided that we would not be influenced by these pleadings, for we knew that it would not be our King, our great, noble Onrai, who would ask pardon for these people, but the evil one, which the woman Enola had possessed him with. We believe this with all our hearts and consequently we cannot listen to you. We are chosen by all the citizens of On to carry out this mission and we must do it or go back to our people traitors.”