The tall Indian went out of the room—by the door at which Nick Carter and his companions had entered—and which was near the Buddha.
For a few moments there was stillness. Then, from somewhere came a deep, subdued voice, almost like the sighing of a strong wind.
“Come!” it said.
“What does all this mean?” whispered Chick to his chief.
“Hush!” was all Nick replied.
The girl was slowly rising from her chair. As she did so, the opera cloak dropped from her, revealing her white shoulders in the décolleté gown and the equally white arms, bare except for a jeweled bracelet on each wrist.
She stood perfectly still in front of the chair, her vacant gaze toward the brazen face of the great effigy.
“Come!” repeated the strange voice.
With measured steps she walked forward, and without hesitation went up the ladder which stood in front of the Buddha. She stood there, in about the same position that Nick Carter had seen her before. One hand rested on the idol’s shoulder, and she was looking into the large eye sockets as if held under a deep spell.
“Say, chief! Let’s get after this,” whispered Chick restively. “We can’t let this go on.”