“Quick, Juanna!” said Leonard, “sit in this noose and hold the line, we will let you down. Hurry, those doors cannot stand for long.”
Another minute and she was beside Otter, who stood beneath, a candle in his hand. Then Leonard came down.
“By the way, Otter,” he said, “have you seen anything of the jewels that are supposed to be here?”
“There is a bag yonder by the Water-Dweller’s bed, Baas,” answered the dwarf carelessly, “but I did not trouble to look into it. What is the use of the red stones to us now?”
“None, but they may be of use afterwards, if we get away.”
“Yes, Baas, if we get away,” answered Otter, bethinking himself of the ice-bridge. “Well, we can pick it up as we go along.”
Just then Nam arrived, having been let down by Olfan and the captains, and stood glaring round him, not without awe, for neither he nor any of his brethren had ever dared to visit the sacred home of the Snake-god. Then the captains descended, and last of all came Olfan.
“We have little time to spare, Deliverer,” said the king; “the door is falling,” and as he spoke they heard a great crash above. Otter jerked furiously at the rope, till by good luck one end of the stake slid over the edge of the hole and it fell among them.
“No need to leave this line for them to follow by,” he said; “besides it may be useful.” At that moment something appeared looking through the hole. It was the head of one of the pursuing priests. Nam saw it and took his opportunity.
“The false gods escape by the tunnel to the mountains,” he screamed, “and with them the false king. Follow and fear not, the Water-Dweller is dead. Think not of me, Nam, but slay them.”