He had reconnoitered as best he might from the window after he
had removed enough bars to permit him to pass his head through the
opening, so that he knew what lay immediately before him--a winding
and usually deserted alleyway leading in the direction of the outer
gate that opened from the palace grounds into the city.
The darkness would facilitate his escape. He might even pass out
of the palace and the city without detection. If he could elude the
guard at the palace gate the rest would be easy. He strode along
confidently, exhibiting no fear of detection, for he reasoned that
thus would he disarm suspicion. In the darkness he easily could pass
for a Ho-don and in truth, though he passed several after leaving
the deserted alley, no one accosted or detained him, and thus he
came at last to the guard of a half-dozen warriors before the palace
gate. These he attempted to pass in the same unconcerned fashion
and he might have succeeded had it not been for one who came running
rapidly from the direction of the temple shouting: "Let no one pass
the gates! The prisoner has escaped from the pal-ul-ja!"
Instantly a warrior barred his way and simultaneously the fellow
recognized him. "Xot tor!" he exclaimed: "Here he is now. Fall upon
him! Fall upon him! Back! Back before I kill you."
The others came forward.
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