In fact, we could hear them passing to and
fro among the huts, making inquiries, and at last Chal-az thought
it best to go to the doorway of his dwelling, which consisted of
many huts joined together, lest they enter and search.
Chal-az was absent for a long time--several hours which seemed an
eternity to me. All sounds of pursuit had long since ceased, and
I was becoming uneasy because of his protracted absence when I
heard him returning through the other apartments of his dwelling.
He was perturbed when he entered that in which I awaited him, and
I saw a worried expression upon his face.
"What is wrong?" I asked. "Have they found Ajor?"
"No," he replied; "but Ajor has gone. She learned that you had
escaped them and was told that you had left the village, believing
that she had escaped too. So-al could not detain her. She made her
way out over the top of the palisade, armed with only her knife."
"Then I must go," I said, rising. Nobs rose and shook himself.
He had been dead asleep when I spoke.
"Yes," agreed Chal-az, "you must go at once. It is almost dawn.
Du-seen leaves at daylight to search for her." He leaned close
to my ear and whispered: "There are many to follow and help you.
Al-tan has agreed to aid Du-seen against the Galus of Jor; but
there are many of us who have combined to rise against Al-tan and
prevent this ruthless desecration of the laws and customs of the
Kro-lu and of Caspak.
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