Halima took it. "This is for Buonaparte," she said exultantly. "By the help of these I shall achieve my end. Was there anything more where you found this?"
"Nothing whatever. Now let us go; we have been too long already."
"Here, Mahmoud," said Halima; "carry this for me, and see that you lose it not, as you prize your life. And, further, say not a word concerning it to any one."
"Mahmoud is faithful," the boy replied reproachfully, taking the box from her. He placed it inside his loose garment, next his breast.
"Come, let us join the others,"' said St. Just, "and see what progress they have made."
The words had hardly left his lips when a deep, rumbling sound was heard. It grew louder and louder; there was a resounding blow, and then, with a crash, a large portion of the left wall of the temple fell in, and a volume of water poured in after it.
"Merciful Heavens!" cried Halima, "what has happened?"
"The lake overhead must have burst in," exclaimed St. Just. "We must fly; follow me."
And he made for the upper end of the temple, towards the right hand corner, keeping close to Halima's side and suiting his pace to hers. It would have been useless to attempt to gain the entrance, for the flooring of the temple inclined that way, and all the water was flowing towards it; and, such were its force and volume, that it would have swept them off their feet and carried them over the roadway into the abyss in which stood the ruined city.
They rushed on side by side, without uttering a word. Mahmoud, who had been behind them at the start, soon overtook and headed them.