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A chuckle came from a boulder beside the track, and Holman's cheery voice set my pulses beating. "You frightened the dickens out of me, Verslun," he cried. "I thought you were one of the evil legion. Gee! I'm glad to see you." "How did you get out?" I gasped as we rushed on together. "I thought I left you in the cavern." "It was a good job you didn't," he retorted.
Holman paused at the end of a wearisome climb, and he drew himself upright. At that moment the cloud-harried moon dragged herself from beneath the pack, and the young fellow gave a cry of joy. "We can do it from here, Verslun," he cried. "I see a path to the top. Come along, man!" "What about Kaipi?" I gasped. "We'll never find our way back here." "Let him sit there," he snorted.
"By all that's holy, Verslun, I feel that I could fight a million if these ropes were off me." He endeavoured to get his face down to the bandages on my wrists, but we had been strapped in such a manner that it was impossible to reach any of the ropes with our teeth, so we lay quiet and reviewed the legion of tormenting thoughts that marched through our minds.
If it's a signal we might be able to reach the spot and see what is actually going on. If we leave things till to-morrow I'm afraid we'll be too late." "But the girls?" I cried. "We'll get back," he replied. "I told them how everything is, Verslun, and they're not afraid. Edith has an automatic pistol that she brought from the yacht, and she'll use it if she is forced to. Come on!"
"I was thinking of the stock of food," growled Leith, as if attempting to explain his evident displeasure. "I'll go on half measure and let Mr. Verslun have the other half," laughed Holman. "And he can have some of mine," cried Miss Barbara. "And mine," murmured Edith. Leith grinned as he noted the feeling of the party. It would not be diplomatic to go against the wishes of all, and he knew it.
His small head wagged backward and forward as he made the statement, and his evident inability to see that the reference concerned us irritated the youngster beyond measure. "You're the biggest baby of the five!" he roared. "You're a madman! Come away, Verslun; it's no use arguing with him!"
"Keep it up!" gasped Holman. "We've got him, Verslun! We've got him!" It looked like it. The red glow from the torch enabled us to catch an occasional glimpse of shoes moving up and down at such a rate that the limbs to which they were attached always remained outside the area that was faintly illuminated.
He fell on his face, and I helped him up, but once again he collapsed. The injured limb made it impossible for him to stand or even crawl. "You get ahead," he cried hoarsely. "Leave me, Verslun! Leave me here!" "But I'd never find you again," I protested. "Yes, you would! I'll crawl out after a few hours' rest. Run to the camp, and shoot shoot the devil the moment you put your eyes on him!"
After a minute of intense silence he put a question. "Did you hear anything?" "Did you?" I stammered. "Are we mad, Verslun?" he asked hoarsely. "I thought " He stopped and moved close to me. I heard his quick breathing as he groped to find me. "Verslun, did you hear?" he whispered, gripping my arm. "I heard her speak." "I thought I did," I breathed. "Perhaps perhaps it was an echo."
"I think it will be better if we remain together," said Edith. "If you and Mr. Verslun did discover an opening it would be exceedingly difficult to find your way back here, and if you got out of this place you might not be able to reach the opening through which we were lowered. Perhaps the way to it is known only to Leith." Edith's argument was sound.
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