1 Samuel 9:12
And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place: And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:
The maidens met by Saul and his servant outside the town told them the seer was just ahead inside the city and urged immediate haste because he had come that very day to conduct a public religious service culminating in a sacrifice on the high place. That sacrifice was offered on a high place because the ark still rested at Kirjath-jearim and the tabernacle was not then in use for its services, so cities of the priests and Levites had been selected as centers of worship and the elevated spots in them were designated high places.
This encounter belongs to the larger history that began when all the elders of Israel assembled before Samuel at Ramah, pleading his advanced age and the failure of his sons to follow his ways as grounds to demand a king to judge them after the manner of all the nations. Their grievance over unjust judges served as a pretext for a transformation long secretly wanted, driven by discontent and pride and settled intent, while against Samuel personally no charge was raised since his uprightness and wise administration were universally recognized.