"It lacks a half hour of eight," said Avery, leaning forward so as to let the moonlight fall on the face of his watch.
"I believe we should use the way that has been so providentially opened."
It was while this conversation was going on that Ramsurun Duss and his Ghoojurs stationed themselves about the entrance to the temple.
Mr. Hildreth and Dr. Avery thought best to look further into the tunnel before making use of it.
While the elder held the door open, the younger ventured down, and groped his way for fifty feet or so from the building. He was amazed by the perfection of the structure. The passage way was about three feet wide and almost twice as high. Top, bottom and sides were lined with the same excellent cement that was so plentifully used throughout the temple itself. It was hard and smooth, and during this dry season everything was as free as powder from moisture.
No public building could have required a better hallway than that along which the surgeon traveled for some distance.
"If it is like this all the way, it is a more pleasant means of egress than across the plain in the moonlight."
Listening for a few seconds it seemed that he caught the flow of water at the further end, but it was probably the absence of all sound, such as often deceives us when a shell is held to the ear.
When Avery came back and reported his discovery to the others, it was almost eight o'clock. He walked to the front of the archway and looked out to see whether the coast was clear. All seemed favorable and there was no call for further delay.
How little did any of the party dream that, at that very moment, Ramsurun Duss and his six murderous Ghoojurs were crouching near the entrance, impatiently waiting for him and his companions to come within range of their guns!