It was Archie who had presence of mind to throw the catch in place that secured the grating, and so protect us from Fo-Chu, who raged and beat upon the bars in his desire to reach us.
In the darkness I struggled to my feet, while Bry lighted a match and recovered the lamp, which, being metal, was not broken. Not much oil had been spilled, and when the flame from the wick flared up we looked at each other to see what damage had been done. The blood was streaming from a cut in my cheek and Joe had a bump upon his forehead as big as a goose-egg; but when we glanced at the horrible visage of the Sacred Ape, who clung fast to the outside of the grating and regarded us with evil eyes and vicious bared teeth, we were thankful enough that we had escaped so lightly.
“Here is another item of account against Mai Lo,” growled Archie, staring at the beast.
“Yes,” said I, while Bry bound up my cut with a handkerchief; “it’s easy enough to explain this little surprise. The governor is keeper of the Sacred Apes, and discovering that we knew a way to enter the vaults he loosed the old man-killer in them, expecting the ape to make an end of us all.”
“He nearly succeeded,” said Joe, tenderly feeling of his bruise. “I thought when old Fo-Chu struck me that my game was up.”
“Well, what’s to do now?” demanded Archie.
“Let’s take what is in this alcove and be satisfied,” I suggested, shuddering as I glanced at the ape and met its cruel gaze.
Silently we began to gather up the scattered gems that littered the floor. Bryonia had brought along a strip of tapestry from our rooms, and we spread this upon the tiles and placed the gems upon it in a glittering heap.
We took such pearls, rubies and emeralds as seemed of good size and color, but the jade and golden ornaments were too clumsy and big to be utilized. When we had emptied the jars and vases we had a princely fortune piled upon the cloth, yet it did not satisfy us.
“You see, Prince Kai had robbed this alcove already,” remarked Joe, “and there is so much to be had in the other places that I hate to go back and call this a night’s work.”