Biff came up on the opposite side, ready to help break Kamuka's fall, but it proved unnecessary. A lithe brown form streaked feet first between the ready hands that Biff and Chandra extended and was gone as the water sprayed up from the well.
[Illustration: Chandra popped up from the surface and reached his arms wide]
"Gone!" exclaimed Chandra. "Like Jinnah Jad says when I do basket trick.
Now watch me bring him back!"
He waved his hands above the well, and Kamuka bobbed up grinning. Chandra and Biff grabbed his arms and hauled him out, anxious to get started on their way. Picking up their luggage, they cut off to a far corner of the courtyard where steps led down into another jungle path.
Minutes later, they were lost beneath a lattice of spreading green, descending a slope that was leading them away from danger instead of into it. Chandra began to chuckle happily and finally exploded into mirth.
"They will never guess where we have gone," the Indian boy said gleefully. "They will wait, those followers of Kali, thinking that we will come creeping back like the monkeys and the cobras. They will look for us and will think that we are hiding, waiting, somewhere in the ancient temple."
"Maybe," put in Kamuka, "they will look where we jumped."
"What then?" rejoined Chandra. "They will find nothing. Everything will be dry around the well by that time."
"I'll say it will," agreed Biff. "Our clothes are dry already. You certainly found the quick way out, Chandra."
"Like I did from the porthole in your cabin," reminded Chandra. "You said it was a good trick, so I showed you."