The moment Vandiyathevan saw the boat hidden beneath the tree, his spirits soared, believing that the goddess of fortune had once again favored him. Though he himself did not know how to row a boat, Karuthiruman was a man whose very livelihood depended on ferrying boats. With his help, if they could push the boat into the Vadavaru and let it drift with the current, the river’s flood would carry them halfway to Kodikkarai before dawn.

“Do you see this, Karuthiruma? This boat has floated here without sinking, waiting just for us! If you show a little of your rowing skill, we can cover half the distance before daybreak. After that, even those who come on horseback won’t be able to catch us!” said Vandiyathevan.

Karuthiruman looked around with a trace of suspicion. Amidst the thick bushes that had grown wild along the riverbank beside the wall, something seemed to move. Karuthiruman picked up a small stone and threw it into the bushes. From there, a cat leapt out, sprang onto the boat, and settled itself.

Vandiyathevan laughed and said, “Boatman! Are you braver than I am?” With that, he picked up another small stone and tossed it into the boat.

The cat, startled, jumped out of the boat again, ran towards them, and darted between the two men before disappearing.

Now Vandiyathevan, startled, took two steps back. “You don’t seem any braver than I am!” Karuthiruman said mockingly.

“I’m afraid of cats; if one so much as touches me, my whole body breaks out in goosebumps. Thank goodness it’s gone! Come, let’s go!” said Vandiyathevan.

“If a cat falls on me, I’m not afraid at all; but if it crosses my path, then I fear the omen’s obstacle!” replied Karuthiruman.

“Omen, obstacle—what does it matter?” said Vandiyathevan, grabbing Karuthiruman’s hand and pulling him toward the boat.

Karuthiruman went to one end of the boat and tried to push it away from the tangle of tree roots. Whether the boat moved or not, in a flash, four men leapt, ran, and before he could even blink, they had climbed aboard. Two of them sprang upon Vandiyathevan, shoved him into the boat, and tied him fast to the crossbeams. The other two, holding spears, stood guard on either side of Karuthiruman.

Vandiyathevan realized that the leader of the four was the stout man who had followed them from the underground prison gate. He marveled at how the man had managed to reach the boat and wait near the entrance of the tunnel before them. He must not be an ordinary guard, Vandiyathevan decided, but a highly skilled spy. Who could he be? He seemed vaguely familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before. As these thoughts ran through his mind, the man’s voice fell upon his ears.

Looking at Karuthiruman, the guard said, “Old man! After spending so many years in prison, you have come out at last. Why did you try to run away, listening to the words of this reckless fellow? Let him go if he wishes. I have no heart to tie you up and send you back again. If you listen to what I say and do as I instruct, no harm will come to you!”

The boatman replied, “Yes, sir! The Chief Minister sent a man to grant me freedom. But I was ruined by listening to this fool’s words. From now on, I will do as you say. Only, please do not send me back to the underground prison!”

“Yes, yes! The Chief Minister wants to ask you a few questions. If you answer truthfully, he will not send you back to the dungeon. He will reward you with gold, jewels, and gifts, and set you free. Where were you planning to go?”

“We were setting out for Eezha Nadu (Sri Lanka),” replied Karuthiruman.

“How clever! Did you think you could deceive the Chief Minister, slip past the Velaar’s guards, and escape so far? But this wild youth is just the sort to hatch such a plan. Wasn’t he the one who once escaped from the guards of Chinna Pazhuvetarayar? Let it be. Now, we must row the boat against the current. Only one among those who came with me knows how to row. He learned it in haste, and since we came downstream with the current, we managed, though clumsily. Now, you must show your skill. Take the boat close to the opposite bank, and from there, row towards the northern fort gate. Let us see!”

“We could cross to the other bank and walk from there, sir! The current is flowing very swiftly. It’s difficult to row the boat upstream for such a long distance!”

“If we land on the other bank, this unruly youth will cause some new trouble. So we must go upstream along the river itself!” said the head guard.

The boatman and another man began to push the boat forward. The head guard came close to Vandiyathevan and said, “Boy! Don’t try to show your mischief again!”

“Sir! It seems you know a great deal about me!” replied Vandiyathevan.

“Why wouldn’t I? I saw you lock up the physician’s son in prison in your place and come out yourself! After that, you tried to deceive us and run away!”

Vandiyathevan, pretending to be greatly surprised, said, “Sir! You are even cleverer than I am! I thought no one noticed what happened in the underground prison!”

“Young man! There is no place in the Chola Empire where the eyes and ears of our Prime Minister do not reach. They are in Eezham too; in Kanchipuram; in the Kadambur palace; even in the underground prison. The Prime Minister knows well that the physician’s son, Pinagapani, is a complete fool. That’s why he sent me after him!”

“It seems the Prime Minister even knew I would escape by this route. His eyes and ears are truly astonishing. If that is so, he must also know that I am innocent, and that