"No, but the place is guarded day and night by as many as six natives," explained Stoodles. "They sleep all around the curtained daïs that holds the royal throne. Lad, I must get to that throne."
"All right," said Bob. "And what am I to do?"
"Listen very carefully. You see that big rock in the center of the square yonder?"
"With a great bowl-like thing at the top of it?" asked Bob.
"Yes. That is the public tribune, or place where the king's messengers make announcements to the people. That big bowl is filled with a perfumed water once a year, and the people pass under it while the high priest of the tribe throws a few drops over each of them."
"Go ahead," said Bob, "this is kind of interesting."
"Now then," pursued Stoodles, "I have planned out just what I want to have you do. Don't make any miss, lad."
"I'll make no miss--you just instruct me," said Bob.
"You are to climb up into that bowl. It's perfectly dry now. It's deep enough to hold you and all your traps. In just an hour you fire off a revolver, its full round of charges. Get your balloon ready. I'll hand you up the phonnygraph. Start it up--that's all."
"But what's going to come of it all?"