"Now, when Monella found that you had escaped, he divined whither you had gone, and sent messengers here to await your return; and I sent them back at once to tell him I expected you here ere long. And now another has arrived with instructions, in case you should return in time to put them into execution, as--the Great Spirit be praised!--you have. Monella has sent two or three of Coryon's own people to him with various messages to allay his suspicions; and Coryon quite believes that you are still a prisoner, and that Monella is still in Myrlanda, unable to get through the pass. Others of Monella's men, dressed in black tunics taken from the prisoners, are now placed at intervals on guard at all the approaches to Coryon's retreat; where already, by this time, nearly all his followers and his adherents amongst the people are assembling. There will be some hundreds altogether; all hostile to you and your friends. But, when they are all assembled, Monella will gather together also many hundreds from the people outside, and march them to the amphitheatre and so surprise Coryon and all with him." "But how," asked Templemore, "if Coryon gets to hear of it?" "He will not. No move will be made till all are gathered in the amphitheatre; after that, any stragglers going thither from the town, and any messengers sent thence by Coryon, will fall into the hands of Monella's disguised soldiers, and will be quietly seized and bound." "I see. And now what is to be done to make sure of the safety of our friends?" "The directions are these. You are to go quietly, through the forest, to the wood at the edge of the amphitheatre where----" "I understand," broke in Ergalon. "It is the place,"--turning to Templemore--"where we stood and looked down upon the great devil-tree that night. I can take you by a route that leads through the woods all the way, and thus we shall not be seen." "Yes, that is right," resumed Zonella. "When you get there, you are to remain concealed, and watch all that goes on, and, unless compelled, do nothing till the arrival of Monella and his friends. But, if it should be absolutely necessary to interfere before that to save our friends, why, then, of course, you must do the best you can." "I only hope we may be in time to save them," said Templemore, with a sigh. "I am terribly anxious. Let us be going; it is already getting light." The three then started--for Zonella insisted on accompanying them--and the messenger was sent back to inform Monella. When they approached the amphitheatre, four black-coated soldiers suddenly sprang up before them from among the bushes, where they had been lying concealed. Templemore drew a pistol, but Zonella stepped in front of him, and said something in a low tone to the soldiers, who at once gave way and let them pass. "What did you say to them?" asked Templemore. "I gave them the pass-word," she answered quietly. "And what is that, if I may inquire?"