[AS THE OLD MAN WAS LED FORWARD, THE NAGAS POINTED TO HIM WITH WILD EXCITEMENT, CONTINUALLY EXCLAIMING, "THE EYE! THE EYE!"]

[THE FLAME GLINTED FOR A MOMENT ON A DARK FACE PEERING DOWN UPON THEM OVER THE TOP OF THE SHUTTER]

[A FEW YARDS AWAY, THEY CAME UPON HAMID GUL, LYING WITH RELAXED LIMBS ON THE GROUND]

[HIS LIPS MOVED, AND IN SPITE OF THEMSELVES THEY STARTED AS THEY HEARD HIS FIRST WORDS: "WHAT BRINGS YOU STRIPLINGS HERE?"]

["IT SAVES FROM THE EYE, SAHIB"]

[THE MUTE IMMOBILE FIGURE MERELY RAISED AN ARM AND POINTED DOWNWARDS AT THE STAIRWAY]

[A SHAFT OF PALE GREEN LIGHT, BLINDING IN ITS BRILLIANCE, SHOT UP TO THE ROOF]

[FORRESTER MET HIM AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE CAVE]

[HE SHOOK IT: SOME OF THE POWDERY CONTENTS FELL TO THE FLOOR]

[MACKENZIE MET HAMID IN THE ENCLOSURE WHERE HE WAS DIGGING TRUFFLES]