Secretly the warriors of Pal-ul-don held the emasculated priesthood
in contempt and so instead of immediately taking up the offensive
as they would have had the two men been warriors from A-lur instead
of priests, they waited to question them.
At sight of the warriors the priests made the sign of peace and
upon being asked if they were alone they answered in the affirmative.
The leader of Mo-sar's warriors permitted them to approach. "What
do you here," he asked, "in the country of Mo-sar, so far from your
own city?"
"We carry a message from Lu-don, the high priest, to Mo-sar,"
explained one.
"Is it a message of peace or of war?" asked the warrior.
"It is an offer of peace," replied the priest.
"And Lu-don is sending no warriors behind you?" queried the fighting
man.
"We are alone," the priest assured him. "None in A-lur save Lu-don
knows that we have come upon this errand."
"Then go your way," said the warrior.
"Who is that?" asked one of the priests suddenly, pointing toward
the upper end of the lake at the point where the river from
Jad-bal-lul entered it.
All eyes turned in the direction that he had indicated to see
a lone warrior paddling rapidly into Jad-in-lul, the prow of his
canoe pointing toward Tu-lur. The warriors and the priests drew
into the concealment of the bushes on either side of the portage.
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