Part 13 (1/2)
CHAPTER XX
Daimur directed the Captain to steer to the Island of Laurels, which lay nearest to them, and after two uneventful days of good weather the island came into view. Late in the afternoon, when they were within a couple of miles of the harbor they pa.s.sed a very large wars.h.i.+p, very new and s.h.i.+ning, which was flying the flag of Laurels.
”That must be a new s.h.i.+p that Sadna has built,” said Prince Redmond.
”He was always talking about a better navy.”
The large vessel paid no attention to them, but as they did not know whether it was coming back or not they drew off and did not enter the harbor until after dark. They cast anchor and decided not to leave the s.h.i.+p until morning.
They breakfasted at sunrise and went up on deck to view the city while the boats were being lowered.
It appeared to be a busy place. On the long wharves a great number of men were working loading and unloading vessels. Three big wars.h.i.+ps, all new, the prince declared, rode at anchor in the bay, but n.o.body seemed to pay any attention to the sudden appearance of a strange wars.h.i.+p in their harbor.
To the princes this seemed very queer, and thinking there might be some plan to attack them unexpectedly they took every man that could be spared from the s.h.i.+p, only leaving behind enough to man the guns and to guard the d.u.c.h.ess of Rose Petals, who preferred staying on board.
Forming in fours they marched up the street under great laurel trees, of such a size as Daimur had never seen anywhere before. Although the sun was already very hot every street was cool and shady. On they went, but n.o.body even turned around to look at them. No crowd collected, no faces appeared in the windows or doors, and what people they met looked stupid and sleepy.
”Why, this is most uncanny,” exclaimed Daimur, who was marching beside Prince Tasmir at the head of the marines. ”What's the matter with everybody?”
”I cannot imagine,” answered Prince Redmond. ”It is a shocking surprise to me; why they act as if they were all half asleep and do not seem to recognize us at all.”
They pa.s.sed through a beautiful park, and on the other side the palace, surrounded by laurel hedges and backed by a very high wooded hill, appeared to their view.
Two guards were stationed at the palace gates. They drew their swords in a dazed kind of way and refused to let anyone pa.s.s.
”I am your Crown Prince,” said Tasmir, ”and here is my brother Redmond.
You must let us pa.s.s instantly.”
The guards looked at them stupidly and shook their heads.
”We have no princes,” said one, ”our King is not married.”
”Where is he?” asked Redmond.
”Don't know,” answered the guard sleepily, as his head nodded forward a couple of times. ”Went away on the new s.h.i.+p.”
”But when will he return?” asked Tasmir, shaking the man to wake him up, for he was certainly going to sleep.
”Don' know, don' know,” returned the guard, shaking his head slowly.
He kept on shaking it, and although they asked him several other questions he did not seem to hear them at all.
The other guard was even worse, for all he could say was, ”Who goes there?” whenever they addressed him.
”Don't bother with them,” said Prince Redmond impatiently, ”let us go into the palace and see if father is still alive.”
Daimur ordered the marines to advance, and as the two guards did nothing but blink at them, and no other defenders appeared it only took them a few seconds to reach the palace door.
Prince Tasmir bounded up the steps, turned the big handle and dashed into the hall with Prince Redmond and Daimur close at his heels. They met with no opposition from the servants, who appeared to be as sleepy as the guards, and immediately began a search for the poor old King.
Upstairs and down they went and even into the dungeons, but could find no trace of him.