"Don't shoot! It is I Torres! I have just come back from the entrance. Something has happened. The way is blocked. The water is over one's head and higher than the entrance, and rocks are falling."
"And your way is blocked in this direction," Francis said, aiming the revolver at him.
"This is no time for quarreling," Torres replied. "We must save all our lives, and, afterwards, if quarrel we must, then quarrel we will."
Francis hesitated.
"What is happening to Leoncia?" Torres demanded slyly. "I saw her run back. May she not be in danger by herself?"
Letting Torres live and dragging the old man by the arm, Francis waded back to the chamber of the idols, followed by Torres. Here, at sight of him, Leoncia screamed her horror again.
"It's only Torres," Francis reassured her. "He gave me a devil of a fright myself when I first saw him. But he's real flesh. He'll bleed if a knife is stuck into him. Come, old man! We don't want to drown here like rats in a trap. This is not all of the Maya mysteries. Eead the tale of the knots and get us out of this!"
"The way is not out but in," the priest quavered.
"And we're not particular so long as we get away. But how can we get in?"
"From the mouth of Chia to the ear of Hzatzl, was the answer.