“Then we ought to be out now, sir,” replied the man, “for it ends quite sudden-like, and we ought to be well out of the place by now.”
“It’s just like the top of a well,” said Dick.
“Just, sir; but I can’t see how it goes next. Shall I try if I can feel the top?”
“Yes, of course.”
“No trying wanted; here it is, sir,” said the sergeant. “Can’t stand up in it. I can’t understand the place at all. Can you?”
“No,” said Dick; and after a brief examination Stubbs turned sharply.
“Better look sharp, sir, or the lamp will give out.”
“Back at once, then;” and they set off along the passage as fast as they could, the oil lasting exactly till they reached the ledge, when, in the jar that the sergeant gave in setting it in its old place, the wick dropped down.
“Some one’ll catch it for not having trimmed that lamp,” said Stubbs with a chuckle. “Whoever takes hold of it will be puzzled at finding it burnt out, for I don’t mean to tell them I have had it out of its place.”
Stubbs whispered to his companion not to speak now, and led the way cautiously to the entrance, and then slowly out into the gloomy back of the temple, where, as they made their way towards the entrance, Dick kept on glancing back through the gloom, where it seemed as if dark figures were following them, and creeping softly from pillar to pillar, and in and out among the many idols, startling him more than once into speaking in a whisper to his companion.