They were still conversing when a horn sounded thrice. The zamindar rose from his seat.
"That is the signal for returning below," he said. "The sun is setting. I hope that I may see you to-morrow, sahibs."
His visitors rose to leave the hut, and bowed to the young girl. The zamindar politely escorted them to the doorway. Forrester was a pace or two in the rear. He felt a touch on his arm, a small object was slipped into his hand, and the Indian girl whispered in Hindustani:--
"It saves from the Eye, sahib. The little black man gave it to me."
"It saves from the Eye, sahib."
She stole away behind the curtain, and Forrester, after a momentary pause, put the gift into his pocket and followed his friend into the open air.
"Shall we refuse to go down?" he said.
"We shall get no food if we do. Besides, we must find out what has become of Bob and Hamid. At present my brain is in a whirl; everything is so bewildering; maybe light will dawn by and by."
At the head of the stairway two priests were awaiting them. One signed to Mackenzie to descend, and followed him. When they were out of sight, the other indicated that Forrester was to go down. Singly they passed through the silent corridors, and were locked in their cells, each alone.