The girls were not so thrilled, and were not much impressed when the three boys promised to take care of them.
“What could you do against a company of robbers?” asked Nora.
“Well, this isn’t the first time we’ve had adventures, and had to fight for safety,” said Mike, grandly.
“No, it’s true we’ve had some exciting times and very narrow escapes,” said Peggy. “But I don’t particularly want to be chased and caught by robbers, even if you boys rescue me in the end!”
“Perhaps it’s the stone men in the cave that come alive and rob people!” said Paul, with a grin.
“I’d like to go and have a look at those statues again,” said Jack. “Ranni, can we go tomorrow? It’s only about an hour’s ride.”
“I don’t want to go too far from the castle,” said Ranni. “Well — we’ll go as far as that old temple if you really want to. Though why you should want to see ancient statues, broken to pieces, when you’ve already seen them once is a puzzle to me!”
The children set off the next day to go to the old temple. They were on foot, as it really was not a great distance away, and Ranni said it would be good for them to walk. So up the mountain they trudged.
It was late afternoon when they started. They had their tea with them. The sun shone down warmly and the children panted and puffed when they went up the hillside, so steep and stony.
“There’s the old temple,” said Jack, at last, pointing to the ruined archway, hewn out of the mountain rock. “It really is a funny place. It seems to be made out of a big cave, and the entrance is carved out of the mountain itself. Come on — let’s go in and have another look. Nora, you come this time, and Peggy. You didn’t come last time.”