“I’ll go with you willingly,” said the girl, catching on to the idea that Lacy was somewhere in that direction.
Away they went, the faithful dog leading, and ever and anon turning around to see if Azurma was still following.
In this manner they soon reached the identical place Lacy had entered several hours previously.
Azurma was very much puzzled at her surroundings. She, nor none of her people, had ever been in that portion of the underground country before, but she could plainly see the tracks made by Lacy, and concluded to follow as far as Jupiter chose to lead her.
Along through the lighted passage they went until they arrived at the point where Lacy had been pounced upon and captured by the Naztecs when in the act of hurling the bowlder down upon the defenseless form of his enemy.
Azurma’s quick eye told her that a struggle had taken place here, for she found the shred of a garment, evidently a piece of the shirt Lacy wore, while upon the ground was a clot of blood.
But as she could find no more of the latter, she rightly judged that it had come from the dog.
A strange light shone in the girl’s eyes as she surveyed her surroundings.
“Is it possible that the last words I addressed to the women of Hez will come true?” she asked herself. “I have escaped death, and am now in the limits of another country, where people must certainly live, for they were not animals who carried off the dog’s master and left the poor creature lying here for dead. I will go down there where it is so light; Jupiter seems anxious to go, and I will follow.”
Without any further hesitation she started down the descent, and at length stood in the cave in which Owens had been lying bound hand and foot.