Then suddenly I knew that it was not all a dream.
Teeth had sunk into my shoulder. I struggled madly, but the jaws only closed the harder. And, horror of horrors, the spot in which I had lain down was now in utter blackness.
Then I was wide awake: the teeth were Rhodes' fingers, and I heard his voice above me in the darkness:
"Not a word, Bill—unless guarded."
"What is it?" I whispered, sitting up. "And where are our phosphorus-lamps?"
"In their cylinders," was Rhodes' low answer. "We want to see without being seen, that is why. I can turn on the electric, of course, at any instant. Wish the Dromans had been nearer, on this side of that rock-mass; I would have darkened theirs too."
"Without being seen?" I queried. "In Heaven's name, Milton, what does it mean?"
"I don't know. Got your revolver handy?"
"Yes."
"Good! Keep it so!"