I do not trust that insane brute
The hunt and the killWe reached our rooms, meeting no one in the passages, and there madeour preparations. First we changed our festal robes for those warmergarments in which we had travelled to the city of Kaloon. Then we ateand drank what we could of the victuals which stood in the antechamber, not knowing when we should find more food, and filled twosatchels such as these people sling about their shoulders, with the re-mains of the meat and liquor and a few necessaries.
Also we strappedshort spears that were made for the stabbing of game ed ourselves withour big hunting knives about our middles and armPerhaps he has laid a plot to murder us, and we may as well defendurselves while we can, suggested LeoI nodded, for the echoes of the Khan's last laugh still rang in my earsIt was a very evil laughLikely enough, " I said. " I do not trust that insane brute. Still, hewishes to be rid of usYes, but as he said live men may return whereas the dead do not.Atene thinks otherwise, " I commentedAnd yet she threatened us with death answered LeoA. Because her shame and passion make her mad, "I replied, after whichwere silentPresently the door opened, and through it came the Khan, muffled in agreat cloak as though to disguise himselfCome, he said, "If you are ready. " Then, catchingwe held, he added: You will not need those thingshuntingNo, I answered, but who can say-we might be hunted.
"If you believe that perhaps you had best stay where you are till theKhania wearies of Yellow-beard and opens the gates for you, he repliedeyeing me with his cunning glanceI think not, I said, and we started, the Khan leading the way and mo-ioning us to be silent.We passed through the empty rooms on to the verandah,ana from tneerandah down into the courtyard, where he whispered to us to keep inthe shadow. For the moon shone very clearly that night, so clearly, Ire-member, that I could see the grass which grew between the joints of thepavement, and the little shadows thrown by each separate blade uponthe won surface of its stones. Now i wondered how we should pass thegate, for there a guard was stationed, which had of late been doubled byorder of the Khania. But this gate we leftright, taking a paththat led into the great walled garden, where Rassen brought us to a doorhidden behind a clump of shrubs, which he unlocked with a key heNow we were outside the palace wall, and our road ran past the ken-nels. As we went by these, the great, sleepless death-hounds, thatwandered to and fro like prowling lions, caught our wind and burst intoa sudden chorus of terrific bavs. i shivered at the sound for it was fearfulin that silence, also I thought that it would arouse the keepers. But theKhan went to the bars and showed himself, whereon the brutes, whichknew him. ceased their noiseFear not, he said as he retuned, the huntsmen know that they arearved to-night, for to-morrow certain criminals will be thrown tothemNow we had reached the palace gates. Here the Khan bade us hide inan archway and departed. We looked at each other, for the same thoughtwas in both our minds-that he had gone to fetch the murderers whowere to make an end of us. But in this we did him wrong, for presentlywe heard the sound of horses hoofs upon the stones, and he returnedleading the two white steeds that Atene had given us.I saddled them with my own hands he whispered. Who can donore to speed the parting guest? Now mount, hide your faces in youcloaks as i do, and follow meSo we mounted, and he trotted before us like a running footman, suchas the great lords of Kaloon employed when they went about their busi-ness or their pleasure. Leaving the main street, he led us through aquarter of the town that had an evil reputation, and down its tortuousby-ways. Here we met a few revellers, while from time to time nightbirds flitted from the doorways and, throwing aside their vells, looked atus, but as we made no sign drew back again, thinking that we passed tosome assignation. We reached the deserted docks upon the river's edgeand came to a little quay, alongside of which a broad ferryboat wasfastened
" You must put your horses into it and row across, "Rassen said,"forthe bridges are guarded, and without discovering myself I cannot bld thesoldiers to let you passSo with some little trouble we urged the horses into the boat, where Iheld them by their bridles while Leo took the oars" Now go your ways, accursed wanderers, cried the Khan as he thrustus from the quay, and pray the Spirit of the Mountain that the old Ratyou in their magic glass. For if so we may meet again,"eand his pupil--your love, Yellow-beard, your love-are not watchingThen as the stream caught us, sweeping the boat out towards thecentre of the river, he began to laugh that horrible laugh of his, callingafter us-Ride fast, ride fast for safety strangers; there is death behind.Leo put out his strength and backed water, so that the punt hung upothe edge of the stream.I think that we should do well to land again and kill that man for heneans mischief. he saidHe spoke in English, but Rassen must have caught the ring of his voiceand guessed its meaning with the cunning of the mad. At least heshouted-" Too late, fools, and with a last laugh turned, ran so swiftly up thequay that his cloak flew out upon the air behind him, and vanished intothe shadows at its headRow on, "I said, and Leo bent himself to the oarsBut the ferry-boat was cumbersome and the current swift, so that wewere swept down a long way before we could cross it. At length wereached still water near the further shore, and seeing a landing- place,managed to beach the punt and to drag our horses to the bank. Thenleaving the craft to drift. for we had no time to scuttle her, we looked toour girths and bridles, and mounted, heading towards the far column ofglowing smoke which showed like a beacon above the summit of theHouse of fire
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