"This is terrible!" groaned Andy.
"Dey is goin' to slaughter him!" wailed Washington. "He'll be sacrificed and burned up! See, de altar ob de sacrifice am just ahead. Oh! I wisht we wuz all dead!"
"We're likely to be, soon enough," muttered Andy. "But keep up your courage!"
At that instant the head of the procession was close to the ice altar. Behind it the mysterious lights played and flickered in streamers of red, green and gold. Up the steps went the two gigantic men, carrying the professor. They were about to sacrifice him in a horrible way!
"Oh! Oh! Oh!" screamed a woman's voice. At the sound of it Andy started.
"That was Dirola!" exclaimed the old hunter. "How did she get here?"
CHAPTER XXIV
SAVED BY DIROLA
Instantly the ice cavern was a scene of great uproar and confusion. The procession broke up as soon as Dirola cried out and the intruders at the sacrifice were observed. All, save those carrying the victim and those guarding Andy and Washington, rushed with their long bone knives at Jack and Mark and the two helpers from the airship.
"There are the boys!" cried Andy, trying to break away from those who held him.