Even these men do not much like going there; but I told them that no evil spirits would come, where white men were." "It is rather far off, Meinik; but as you say the country is cultivated, for some distance round the town, we shall certainly have to leave our horses some six or seven miles away; and two or three miles will not make much difference.

We can put on our disguises there.
"You had better take a couple of boys to look after the horses, while we are away." "They would not sleep there, at night," Meinik said, doubtfully.

"I don't think the men would, either, if you were not there." "That would not matter, Meinik, if as you say, there is no fear of anyone else going there." "Certainly, no one else will go there at night, master." "At any rate, if you can get two boys to go, we may as well take them.

They might go there in the day, and feed and water the horses; and sleep some distance away, at night." Meinik found two boys, sixteen years old, who said that they would go with them and, at the hour agreed on, Stanley and Meinik started on horseback.

They descended the hill to the plain at its foot and, turning to the right, rode for some ten or twelve miles; when they struck into the road and, following this at an easy pace they came, in the course of another hour, upon the party of villagers sitting by the roadside.
The sun was just rising, and they travelled for three hours without meeting anyone; then they drew off into the wood, at a point where a small stream crossed the road and, after eating a meal, and giving a good feed to the horses, lay down to sleep till the heat of the day abated--the natives, who were all armed with spears and swords, keeping watch by turns.
At four o'clock they started again and, at ten, approached the spot where, in the depth of the wood, lay the temple.