About three hundred and fifty of the best men were to remain to defend the temple till all were slain.

The rest, to the number of over a thousand, were to withdraw through the second court and the gates beyond to the camp of the women and children.
These they were to conduct by secret paths that were known to them to where the camels were kraaled, and mounting as many as possible of them on the camels to fly whither they could.

Our hope was that the victorious Black Kendah would be too exhausted to follow them across the plain to the distant mountains.

It was a dreadful determination, but we had no choice.
"What of my wife ?" Ragnall asked hoarsely.
"While the temple stands she must remain in the temple," replied Harut.
"But when all is lost, if I have fallen, do you, White Lord, go to the sanctuary with those who remain and take her and the Ivory Child and flee after the others.

Only I lay this charge on you under pain of the curse of Heaven, that you do not suffer the Ivory Child to fall into the hands of the Black Kendah.