You may be sure we breathed easier when we were safe within our own quarters, for day was just breaking and our return had been timed none too soon.
Nux and Bryonia, whom we had left to guard our rooms from possible intrusion while we were absent, were mighty glad to see us back again, and their eyes opened wide with astonishment when Archie displayed his pearls as proof that we had found the treasure.
But the night of excitement had wearied us greatly, so we all turned in and slept like dead men until our faithful blacks called us to breakfast.
It was while we were at this meal that Joe uttered an exclamation, and glancing up I saw his face go white and frightened.
“What is it, old man?” I asked quickly.
“My handkerchief!” he replied. “I left it tied to the grating of the alcove!”
We looked at one another in stupid bewilderment for a moment, trying hard to think how to remedy such a blunder. But nothing could be done for that day, anyhow, and if Mai Lo happened to visit the Ancestral Halls during that time he would have ample proof that we had been there.
“Of course he may not notice it,” said Archie, comfortingly.
“Why, it’s a regular flag—white against all those dark hues of tapestries and black spots of alcoves. Of course he’ll notice it,” retorted Joe with a groan.
“Not any more than he’ll notice the absence of the pearls,” I suggested. “Mai Lo is evidently busy assorting the treasure he means to run away with, and his first visit there will assure him someone else has been in the vaults.”