Edward's elation vanished when he thought of his sister shut helplessly in the temple from which he had got free. He stood irresolute, unable to think. Then he realized that Nancy's safety depended upon him. But there was no vigorous response of energy because he knew, if he ran the whole distance home, Nancy might be ravished and murdered or carried far into the mountains before he could bring help. To go or to stay, the question daunted his powers of decision. But he felt, after a mental debate which seemed to protract minutes to hours, that he must know something more of what was threatening Nancy.
Warily he grasped his bow and tiptoed through the trees toward the monastery. He listened like a scout for every sound. The crackle of twigs beneath his own feet set his heart beating. He came at last to a place where he could survey the front of the temple. The gates were shut. Birds screeched in the trees above him but not a murmur issued from the building.
Edward was perplexed. The silence frightened him. He went cautiously round to the side. In this direction must lie the room into which he had seen Nancy disappear. But the temple was like a fortress; its tall vacant walls mocked scrutiny. There were a few windows at the back, but too high to be reached without a ladder. He dared not come close enough to stand beneath them and call for Nancy. There were the trees, however, and they suggested the expedient of climbing, a feat for which the boy was thoroughly adept. He scaled a smaller pine and swung himself, despite the entangling encumbrance of his bow and quiver, into one of the lower branches of a gigantic silver-barked tree which he realized, with a thrill of joy, must overlook the courtyards of the temple. Higher and higher he climbed, happy to be active; the strong boughs were like steps. But when he got far above the ground and could look down upon the walled buildings he saw nothing that could tell him what had become of Nancy. The courtyards were empty. They had the vacant look of a deserted place.
Perhaps the monks had run away, he thought; perhaps they had carried Nancy with them. They had not intended him to escape, that was certain. Their plans had been so sure that Edward hoped the accident of his slipping free from the trap, the knowledge that he would expose their knavery and was summoning help, might have driven the frustrated monks into flight. Edward decided on greater risks. He climbed back to the earth and walked softly across the open space till he stood beneath the first window.
"Nancy," he called carefully.
There was no answer.
He called again. Still no answer. The white paper which filled the tiny square panes gave blank response to his whispered cries.
He moved on to the second window and repeated his call. Just as he was on the point of trying the next, he heard a faint "Yes." He could hardly control himself for joy.
"Is that you, Nancy?" he whispered in English.
"Yes."