they had come, at the same time tapping his rifle significantly.

The man understood and started down the darksome tunnel as though he
were glad to go, Leonard holding his robe with one hand, while with the
other he pressed the muzzle of the loaded rifle against the back of his
neck. Francisco followed, leaning on Leonard's shoulder, for he could
not walk alone.

As they had come so they returned. They passed down the steps of stone
which were hollowed in the body of the colossus; they traversed the long
underground tunnel, and at length, to their intense relief, once more
they stood upon the solid ground and in the open air. Now that the moon
was up, and the mist which had darkened the night had melted, they could
see their whereabouts. They had emerged upon a platform of rock within
a bowshot of the great gates of the palace, from whence the secret
subterranean passage used by the priests was gained, its opening being
hidden cunningly among the stone-work of the temple.

"I wonder where the others are," asked Leonard anxiously of Francisco.

As he spoke, Juanna, wrapped in her dark cloak, appeared, apparently
out of the stones of the wall, and with her Otter, the Settlement men
bearing their dead companion, and a considerable company of priests,
among whom, however, Nam was not to be seen.

"Oh, is that you, Leonard?" said Juanna in English, and in a voice
broken with fear. "Thank Heaven that you are safe!"

"Thank Heaven that we are all safe," he answered. "Come, let us get on.
No, we can walk, thank you," and he waved away the priests, who produced