Into this, carved in the virgin metal, both made their way. The torchlight flung strange, wavering gleams on smooth walls niched with dark embrasures. At the further end of the passage, the Olema stopped.
"Here is a new trophy, just added to all that Allah hath placed in our hands," said he, gravely. "There are some three-and-twenty places yet left, to fill. Wilt thou see the new trophy?"
The Master nodded silently. Raising the torch, the Olema thrust it into one of the embrasures. There the Master beheld a human skull.
The empty eye-sockets, peering out at him, seemed to hold a malevolent malice. That the skull had been but freshly cleaned, was obvious.
"Abd el Rahman?" asked the Master.
"Yea, the Apostate," answered Bara Miyan. "At last, Allah hath delivered him to us of El Barr."
"Thou hast used a heavy hand on the Apostate, O Sheik."
"We of Jannati Shahr do not anoint rats' heads with jasmine oil. Tell me, Frank, how many men hast thou?"
"Three-and-twenty, is it not so?"
"Yea, it is so. Tell me, Bara Miyan, this whole pyramid—"