"We will do whatever you command," said Raiden, without objecting that it was impossible. They had reached the edge of the woods, at the point where they had entered the camp. The sentinels were being changed, and the man who had let them in recognized them. "Going already!" he said. "Yes," said Raiden; "we carry orders." "Good luck to you!" said the soldier; and he signed to his substitute to let them pass. "Well! they almost drive us out," said Raiden, when they were in the plain. The Prince walked quickly; they soon reached the huts. All the sailors were awake, and in great dismay. They ran to meet the Prince. "Master, master!" they shouted, "our boats are burned. What is to become of us?" "It was that wretch of a Hieyas who did this," cried Loo; "but I will be revenged on him." "Have you your weapons?" asked Nagato. "Certainly; we have our swords and our guns." "Well, you must now show me that your courage is worthy of my confidence. We must perform an act of heroism which may cost us our lives. We must enter the camp of Hieyas, jump upon his horses, and ride towards Kioto. If we are not dead, we shall be in the sacred city before sunrise." "Very good!" said Loo; "let us enter Hieyas' camp. I have an idea of my own." "We will follow you," said the sailors; "our lives are yours." "The camp is but ill guarded," said the Prince; "the undertaking may succeed. Darkness will conceal us from the eyes of our enemies; the noise of the wind in the trees will prevent them from hearing the sound of our footsteps. One thing only distresses me; that is, that we have not time to steal away the head of the brave man who died for me, that we may bury it with the respect it deserves." "What head?" whispered Loo, to Raiden. "I'll tell you all I know about it," whispered back the sailor. "Let us divide," said the Prince; "we have more chance of passing unnoticed, singly. If we can meet again, it will be on the other side of the wood. May the Kamis protect us." The sailors dispersed. The darkness was profound, and they disappeared abruptly. Loo lingered behind with Raiden, to question him in regard to what he had seen in the camp. When he had heard enough, the lad escaped, and ran before. He had a plan,--indeed he had two, since he had learned the story of the severed head: he meant to carry off that head, and then to be avenged for the firing of the boats. It was child's play for him to slip into the camp unseen. He had the soft tread of a cat; he could leap, glide, and creep on all fours, without stirring a blade of grass; he would not have waked a watch-dog. The lights in the camp guided him; he ran straight towards the edge of the wood; he wanted to be the first to enter. He was almost upon the sentinel before he saw him; but he fell flat on his face. The man did not see him; as soon as the guard had gone, the boy passed on. "Here I am," said he, squeezing through a thicket; "the worst is over now."