It was as well that we did so, since about twelve o'clock by the light of the moon I saw the door in the wall open gently and the heads of some of the albino women appear through the aperture.

Doubtless, they had come to steal away the holy plant they worshipped.

I sat up, coughed, and lifted the rifle, whereon they fled and returned no more.
Long before dawn Brother John, his wife and daughter were up and making preparations for the march, packing a supply of food and so forth.
Indeed, we breakfasted by moonlight, and at the first break of day, after Brother John had first offered up a prayer for protection, departed on our journey.
It was a strange out-setting, and I noted that both Mrs.Eversley and her daughter seemed sad at bidding good-bye to the spot where they had dwelt in utter solitude and peace for so many years; where one of them, indeed, had been born and grown up to womanhood.

However, I kept on talking to distract their thoughts, and at last we were off.
I arranged that, although it was heavy for them, the two ladies, whose white robes were covered with curious cloaks made of soft prepared bark, should carry the plant as far as the canoe, thinking it was better that the Holy Flower should appear to depart in charge of its consecrated guardians.

I went ahead with the rifle, then came the stretcher and the flower, while Brother John and Stephen, carrying the paddles, brought up the rear.