“Tell me what happened to the young men,” asked.
“They climbed the wall, and expected to slip through. Why, Senatra men rained on them! Len-tala got there as soon as she could with her private guard, but it was too late to save them from a terrible whipping. The guard had them bound and were taking them to the palace when Lentala arrived. She’s afraid now that the king will do what he has threatened,—either lock her up or give orders that will tie her hands so that she can’t do anything.”
I hesitated. “If she is powerless, Beelo, there will be no one to protect the man who will go out with Gato.”
His distress was poignant, and he dropped to the ground in a weary little heap.
“Lentala is equal to any task, lad,” I quietly said.
He looked up brightly. “Do you believe that much in her, Choseph?”
“She’s our one hope, lad, and she’ll never falter; and she has your wise little head and your bold heart to help her.”
He came strongly to his feet. “She can do anything if you think that of her, Choseph,” he gently said. Another moment found him his eager, active self. “A great deal will depend on the man you are to send out,” he said.
“Why? What awaits him?”
The answer was an appealing look. His remarks about the earthquakes and the storms had puzzled me, and while I knew that the subject was repugnant to him, I was forced to revive it. I repeated a remark by Captain Mason that a storm was brewing. Beelo straightened.