“I can’t carry any more!” gasped Washington. “I’m goin’ back for——”
What he was going back for he never said, for, at that instant, happening to look up at the hole in the roof, he gave a startled cry:
“Here come the terrible bats!”
They all gazed upward. Through the opening they could see a great flock of the awful birds, headed for the temple, and they were led by one which seemed to fly with difficulty. It was the guardian of the treasure that Andy had wounded.
“Quick! We must get out of here!” shouted the old hunter. “They are big enough and strong enough to tear us all to pieces. Hurry!”
Down the centre of the temple they rushed, and not a moment too soon, for, ere they had passed half way to the entrance, the opening in the roof was darkened by the coming of the bats, and soon the flapping of their wings awoke the thundering echoes in the ruined structure, while their shrill cries struck terror to the hearts of the travelers.
Up to the altar circled the bats, and then wheeling they flapped down the dim aisles toward the adventurers.
“Hurry! Hurry!” shouted Andy, who was in the rear.
He raised his rifle and fired several shots into the midst of the terrible creatures.
A number of the bats were wounded, and the others were so frightened by the sound of the shots and the flashes of fire that they turned back. This enabled the fleeing ones to gain the entrance to the temple, and soon they were outside.