“How much does it weigh?” said Juanna, as they sped onwards.
“Some seven or eight pounds, I should say,” he answered, still exultantly. “Seven or eight solid pounds of gems, the finest in the world.”
“Then give it to me,” she said; “I have nothing else to carry. You may have to use both your hands presently.”
“True,” he answered, and passed the string of the bag over her head.
Now they went on up the smooth sloping bed of the stream, suffering little inconvenience, except from the cold of the water that flowed about their ankles.
“The stream has risen a little, Baas, since I passed it this morning,” said Otter. “Doubtless this day’s sun has melted some snow at its source. To-morrow we might not have been able to travel this road.”
“Very likely,” answered Leonard. “I told you that our luck had turned at last.”
Twenty minutes more and they reached the mouth of the tunnel, and passing between the blocks of ice, found themselves upon the mountain side. But, as it chanced, the face of the moon was hidden by clouds, which is often the case in this country at the beginning of the spring season, for whereas in winter the days are almost invariably misty and the nights clear, in spring and summer these atmospheric conditions are frequently reversed. So dark was it indeed, that it proved impossible to attempt the ascent of the mountain until the day broke, since to do so would be to run the risk of losing themselves, and very possibly of breaking their necks among its numerous clefts and precipices.
After a minute’s hasty discussion they set to work to fill up the mouth of the tunnel, or rather the cracks between the blocks of ice that already encumbered it, with such material as lay to hand, namely lumps of frozen snow, gravel, and a few large stones which they were fortunate enough to find in the immediate vicinity, for the darkness rendered it impossible to search for these at a distance. While they were thus engaged they heard the voices of priests speaking on the further side of their somewhat inefficient barrier, and worked harder than ever, thinking that the moment of attack had come.
To their astonishment, however, the sound of talking died away.