At the foot of the steps he found Bill.
“Something has gone wrong!” Bill whispered. “Nicky went up the steps five minutes since. He hasn’t come down. I haven’t heard from anybody. But I think I hear sounds in the tunnels. Don’t you?”
Tom listened.
“Yes, I do,” he said, under his breath. “Bill, I’ll slip up the stairs—and see what’s what!”
“Too late!” Bill whispered.
Far away down the passages came shouts. Once they saw a light flash. They were being cornered, surrounded. If there was no way from the temple they were helpless.
Tom told his story in hurried words.
Yet the news had come too late, it seemed. Unless quick thinking could get them out of the toils, they were doomed.
Up above, in the temple, the Inca was delivering his words of doom. “You can no longer be free!” he said sharply. “Escape is not possible. You have profaned our temples! You have deceived us! You shall go to the dungeons.”
Cliff looked from one to the other of his friends. If only Tom was there—he knew from Nicky where Bill was!—they could make one desperate effort! Perhaps they might use his remaining smoke pot. But Tom was not there!