“Bejabers!” he cried, “av this ain’t the place phwere they’ll set their idol. If iver——”
He did not finish his speech. In a twinkling a thrilling thing happened. The polished stone, owing to some mysterious and inexplicable agency, turned and Barney vanished like a flash.
CHAPTER V.
BATTLE WITH THE PIGMIES.
No sooner had Barney mounted the polished dais, than with a swift movement it turned and he vanished into a black aperture beneath.
He went out of sight so suddenly that nothing could have been done to prevent or save him.
For a moment Frank Reade, Jr., and Pomp stood aghast gazing at the treacherous slab of stone.
“Great heavens!” gasped Frank. “What does it mean? Barney! Where are you? Answer if you can.”
A long wail went up from Pomp’s lips.
“Lor’ sakes, Marse Frank, he am gwine gone to his death. Dat big stone hab jes’ crushed him to death fo’ suah.”
“It can’t be—it must not be so!” cried Frank, with horror, and half insane, he was about to spring upon the stone himself, when Pomp pulled him back.