“I know you too well to believe any such story,” said Mr. Graham.
The attendants had now gotten their meal ready and a hungry party it was who sat down to it. They had eaten nothing since morning and their fatigue of the day but added to their hunger.
“What are we to do to-morrow,” asked Mr. Graham, as they all sat down on rocks which had been placed for them, holding their platters of food in their laps.
“I know of no reason why we should remain here any longer,” said Mr. Bruce. “I think the negroes are done for, for awhile at least. This band, which has been entering the land of On, are wiped out; they cannot return and there is hardly a chance now of other bands or tribes knowing of the new passage-way through the cliff.”
“But it is only a matter of time until they will know it,” said Mr. Graham.
“True,” said Mr. Bruce, “but before that time the crevice might be filled and the Land of On made impregnable again.”
They all looked up in astonishment at this.
“Do you think this possible?” asked Onrai.
“Possible, yes,” said Mr. Bruce. “It would be a stupendous work and would take a long time to carry it out, but it can be done, and this fair land will be forever free from intruders, unless of course some such like occurrence as the one, which has made this fissure in the rock, should cause a like one.”
“Then you would commence on this work immediately?” asked Onrai.