Duncan's Masonic Ritual and Monitor - Rose Croix

Second Craftsman--The very fellows of whom we are in pursuit. You say they turned
back into the country?
Capt.--Yes.
Craftsman--We will go in pursuit of them; they are the fellows we want. (Moving off,
one says:)
Let us report.
And at the same time he steps to the Master's desk, and re-ports as follows:
"Most Worshipful King Solomon, I, being one of those who pursued a westerly course,
coming down near the port of Joppa, met a seafaring man, of whom I inquired if he had
seen any strangers pass that way; he informed me that he had--three--who from their
appearance were workmen from the Temple, seeking a passage to Ethiopia, but not
having King Solomon's pass, were not able to obtain one, and returned back into the
country.
K. S.--Divide yourselves and travel, as before, with positive instructions to find the
ruffians, and with as positive assurance that, if you do not, the twelve shall be deemed the
murderers, and suffer severally, for the crime committed.
They now separate about the Lodge, saying to each other:
"This is very unjust of the King. We are told, if we do not find the ruffians we must be
punished--put to death, probably. What have we done? It is very true, we have been
associated with these three ruffians, but we have not committed any actual crime"
By this time they have got near the candidate (who is still lying on the floor, rolled up in
the canvas), when one of the party sits down near his head, and at the same time says:
"Well, brothers, I am very weary; I must sit down and rest before I can go any farther."
p. 112
One of his companions exclaims: "I am tired, too!" and sits down near the candidate.
Another says: "What course shall we pursue? we must not go and report ourselves; if we
do, the twelve will be put to death. Here are three of the poor fellows with us; we must
not go and give them up, to be put to death; rather let us take a northwesterly or a
southwesterly course. Which way shall we go?"
One of the brethren then replies: "We will go a southwesterly course, and will come up
with our brothers." Attempting to get up, he exclaims, "Hallo! what's this?" at the same
time pulling up the evergreen--or acacia, as it is styled--at the head of the grave. 1 "What