"If they do, we'll have done some good in the world," said Challis. "But now, old man, I want to see Rabeh's hoard. What's going to happen to that?"
"Well, I suppose it is fair spoil of war, but I haven't given a thought to the question as to what we shall do with it. We'll have to get it up and that will take some time; there's such a lot of it. I'll take you down the well for a private view. Then we'll have the barrier removed from the entrance in the wood and get the men to bring the stuff into the open."
They walked up the hill and climbed into the fort, where Challis was interested to see the changes made during his absence.
"You ought to have been an officer in the Royal Engineers, Hugh," he said.
Royce grinned.
"Don't be an ass!" was all he said.
They reached the well-room.
"Just wait up here until I get the door open," said Royce, as he stepped over the coping and began to descend by the iron staples.
Challis leant over the edge, watching him. Below, the depths of the well were dark, and he could hear the slight gurgle of the spring at the bottom.
"I say," came Royce's voice, "the door's open! I left it shut. One of the men must have been prying, in spite of what John said about their horror."