“See, Mr. Bruce, they are returning; their movements are very strange; can anything be wrong?”
“Nothing, I assure you, Mrs. Graham,” said Mr. Bruce, “I will see what it is,” and saying this he again went on to the terrace.
The leader was just pulling up his zebra, and raising his voice, said:
“Oh King, we cannot heed your command or words. Our duty is plain and we must do it. Men do your duty.” Again the men placed their hands on the shoulders of the three men and two again entered the villa for the women. Onrai stood motionless as if turned to stone. The men came from the house, one leading Mrs. Graham and Nellie, and the other with the still sleeping figure of Enola in his arms.
A zebra’s gallop was heard on the hard pavement of the avenue. Whoever it was, was keeping up a most fearful pace, for the sound of falling hoofs came and quick. The men turned to see who this rapid rider could be and just then Sedai hove in sight, his zebra fairly flying over the ground. He turned into the park and the body of men parted to allow his panting zebra to pass between them.
“Hold!” he cried. “A message from the high priest!”
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE CRISIS PASSED.
The noise of the zebra galloping madly over the avenue, had so surprised the men that for the moment all else had been forgotten, and those holding the strangers had let go their hold, and stood with necks craned to catch the first glimpse of the mad rider. Mrs. Graham and Nelly had stood where their guard had stopped when the first sound of the zebra’s hoofs had reached them. They had been so surprised by the entrance of the men into the sick chamber, and by their command to follow them, that they could not at first realize what the men meant. But when one of them attempted to raise Enola from the couch, Mrs. Graham rushed forward, and would have tried to stop him, but for the retaining hand of the other man.
“What does this mean?” indignantly asked Mrs. Graham.
But the man did not understand English, and simply stared at Mrs. Graham.