Three minutes later the fugitives dashed into the enclosure, and slammed to the gate, glad of a few seconds’ respite.
Not long were they allowed to rest, however. Suddenly the gate was flung open, and Seymour hurled himself into the gap just in time to check the advance of the foremost savages who were about to pour through the gateway. At sight of his determined attitude the valour of the wolf-men cooled somewhat, and they drew up, each and all afraid to venture within the sweep of the axe which gleamed in Seymour’s hand.
But the priests, with many fiery words, urged them on to deliver Nordhu from the hands of the white dogs who had captured him.
Roused to action at length, a score of the brutes leapt forward and stabbed savagely at the baronet with their spears. The latter’s mail served him nobly. Not a spear got home; and his axe quickly taught the savages a terrible lesson.
“Quick!” he cried, turning to Chenobi as the wolf-men fell back; “to the ledge! I will hold the gate a while.”
Repeating his command in English for Wilson’s benefit, the baronet faced round once more, to receive another charge of the savages. It was as vain as the first. Seymour seemed perfectly invulnerable to the weapons of the wolf-men, and this fact created a fear in their superstitious minds. Yet, despite this, under the influence of the priests they again essayed to attack.
Scarce waiting for them to come to close quarters, the baronet hurled himself upon them with a ringing British cheer, that sounded strange indeed in that ghostly, subterranean temple. Wilson joined in it from the ledge above, and, at that Seymour knew that his task was ended, that he too might seek the comparative safety of the tunnel, could he but get an opportunity to climb. With this end in view, he fell upon his foes with redoubled fury, driving them back by his terrific onslaught; then, leaping backward, he closed the gate of the enclosure with a crash, and made for the wall.
As he did so the clank of the windlass broke upon his ears. He turned quickly. Determined to accomplish his destruction, the priests were releasing the great spider.
Just for a second Seymour was at a loss how to act. The brute would be out and upon him ere he could struggle up to the ledge, impeded as he was by his mail. Suddenly into his mind swept a brilliant idea. Why not turn the ferocity of Rahee to his own advantage?
Stepping backward to the gateway, he stood motionless while the spider emerged from his den. Chenobi, watching events keenly from the ledge, seemed about to descend to his assistance, but Seymour checked him by a gesture. Then, as Rahee leapt towards him, the baronet stepped swiftly aside, flinging open the gate as he did so. Carried on by the force of its spring, the spider hurtled through the gateway and crashed into the temple.