“Come!” urged the little maid.
“Whither?” inquired the Prince.
Pushing aside the doors at the rear, she led Keiki into the garden. Passing through it, they came to a wall. The maid spoke.
“Climb this, turn to the west. Go along the road a bit until you come to a cross-path. Take that, and you will come out upon your southern route below the danger point. I—”
There was a movement in the bushes behind.
“Oh, all the gods!” she cried. “It is too late, I fear!”
“What do you there?” a voice, stern with threatening, demanded from the bushes. The maid responded:
“Peace to thee! I do but bid farewell to my lover.”
A laugh answered.
“Do not fear, maiden. We do not disturb cooing birds,” came from the bushes, and a drawn sword was shifted from hand to hand, carelessly.