In the still of night, Siddhartha and Channa quietly slipped away from the palace, riding Kanthaka. The palace guards had fallen asleep. Kanthaka jumped over the city wall, carrying Siddhartha and Channa on his back. Once out of the city, Siddhartha stopped for a last look at Kapilavatthu, the place he had spent so many happy years, now bathed in moonlight. His decision had been made.