Alas for their hopes! They were at the temple entrance now, when there suddenly emerged one of the medicine men. He was the same one who had been given the lizard to destroy.
For a moment the Indian, after reaching the door, stared about him. He was evidently searching for the reptile he had carelessly laid down. Possibly he had been reproved for his hasty action, in throwing the reptile away, and been sent back to finish the work. But the flying lizard was not to be seen, and good reason, for, at that moment it was in the professor’s green box.
The medicine man, not seeing it, stepped from the threshold of the council house. His eyes roved over the ground, that was illuminated by distant blazes, which were brighter, now that the rain had somewhat ceased. Then the Indian looked up, and caught sight of the figures moving past the temple. At first he must have taken them for some of his fellows, but at that moment the lizard which the professor had placed alive in his specimen box, uttered a sort of curious squeak. There was no mistaking it, and the medicine man’s sharp ears told him from whence the sound came. He must have suspected something, for, though the captives, like the rescuers, were dressed in skin disguises, the Indian sprang at them, and caught hold of one—a woman.
Instantly there was confusion. The Indian set up a yell which at once stopped the weird chant inside the temple. Then the lone medicine man began to drag the escaping woman toward the big building. Jerry and Ned drew their revolvers.
“We’ve got to fight!” exclaimed the tall lad.
The Indian was dragging the woman from the restraining grasp of her companions. Jim Nestor stepped up to him.
“That will be about all from you!” exclaimed the miner. His fist shot out, and the Indian dropped like a log. Nor did he shout any longer. He had been knocked unconscious. “That’s better than using a gun,” explained Nestor. “Now scoot for it—everybody!”
They needed no urging. The pursuit would begin any moment. Already several of the Indians were running from the temple in response to the call from the medicine man, and the ceremonies had evidently been brought to an abrupt end.
“Come on!” cried Jerry. “I only hope we can stand them off until we reach the airship. Are all your friends here, Mr. Deering?”