"No, sah—old men no good, old women no good," said John. "All gone dead."
"But there are no dead bodies—no remains of any kind," said Challis with a shudder.
John confessed that he, too, was puzzled at this remarkable fact. Turning to Mogra, he demanded, with a sort of remonstrant anger, where all the young man's people were. And then Mogra told a little story.
"In the days of our fathers," he said, "long, long ago, the bad men came to this village even as they have done these few days past, and it is told that my people learnt beforehand of their coming, and went a day's journey to the east, and there took refuge in a cave. I have never been there, nor my father, nor any of the people of his age; but the cave is known to certain of the old men of the village, and it may be that they have led our people there."
John translated this in his own queer way.
"It sounds very romantic," remarked Challis musingly.
"Berry big lie, sah!" said John decisively.
"Come, now, you mustn't call Mogra a liar! Ask him if he can lead us there."
"Him say savvy way little bit, den him go lost," said John, after questioning the man.
"Well, let him try the little bit; there's no harm in that. If he comes to a check, we must trust to luck."