“What shall we do?” asked Onrai.
“It is hardly safe to look forward, and it looks decidedly cowardly to retreat, and we will be an open mark if we stand still,” said Mr. Bruce.
“Let us move a little further forward,” said Mr. Graham, “and we may find a hiding place. If we find that these people are coming this way and are in great numbers, we can keep ahead of them until we reach the death chamber, when we can barricade the small entrance with the bodies and in this way hold off an army.”
They all agreed to this and moved a little further forward. The passage at this point made a slight turn to the south and as our friends rounded the corner they came in sight of a number of lights far down the passage. These were being carried by a number of beings, who looked, at this distance, to resemble the bodies in the death chamber. Our friends stopped, not knowing whether to turn and go back or keep on for a short distance.
“Look well down on the left,” said Harry, “don’t you see that hole in the wall?” They looked and all saw it, but it was fully half-way between the torchbearers and themselves. It would be almost suicidal to try and reach it, but Mr. Bruce, who was looked on as the ringleader of the party, said: “Come, keep close to the left wall and walk sideways and step as quickly as possible. I think we can reach the hole before they see us. They seem to be engrossed in something else at present and not expecting to find any strangers in this hole, which has never seen one before probably. We may escape them.”
And so saying, Mr. Bruce took the lead. They hurried forward, walking with their backs to the wall. The natives were coming towards them slowly and each moment brought them into better view. Their figures were perfectly nude and of a bluish-white color; looking as if they might have been black originally, but long absence from the light of day had faded them to the present color. They were not over five feet in height and their bodies were slender. They were chanting a strange dirge in a peculiar tone and this did not make the strangers’ position any brighter.
Slowly our friends moved toward them and the hole. They were still hid in the shadows, but they could not expect to be out of the light of the torches much longer, for the natives were now getting very near them. The hole was nearly reached when a shout went up from the natives, but instead of hurrying forward they crowded back, apparently afraid to encounter the strangers which they saw coming toward them.
“Keep on to the hole,” said Mr. Bruce.
They did so, and a moment later reached it and passed through. When they were all inside the new chamber or hall, they stopped; it being perfectly dark. The torchbearers, after running back for a short distance, stopped, and again resuming their chant, started forward. Our friends stood perfectly still, and threw themselves on the defensive. They could see the light through the doorway growing brighter and brighter, and could hear the voices growing louder. Had they seen them, or was the shout caused by something else? It might have been a part of the strange proceedings which they were now going through.
“Do nothing until they attempt to enter the opening,” said Mr. Bruce, “then use your weapons.”