Page:Doughty--Mirrikh or A woman from Mars.djvu/188

 Still talking to the Doctor, in his slow, mild fashion, Padma drew from beneath his robe a huge bronze key which he proceeded to fit into a hole in the stone. Turning this he gave the wall a push and a narrow section of the stone  moved back revealing a dark opening behind. He caught up a lamp which he had placed behind him on the floor,  flashed it into the opening and I saw, extending down from  it, a broad sheet of polished brass, pitched at a sharp angle,  above which was a wheel and a rope. I could not imagine what all this meant until the Doctor began to explain.

“Padma says that this inclined plane leads into another cavern miles and miles away, Wylde,” he said hurriedly. “There is a car of some sort attached to the rope and we are to be let down in it, From the cavern to Lh’asa the  distance is short and the way easy. We are to leave at midnight, providing the water holds off that long. By that time they will have all the treasures of the lamasery safely  stored away. See! He is pulling the car up now.”

Padma had seized the rope and was pulling it over the wheel. I perceived at once that it was old and worn and many of the strands had parted. I looked at the priest’s face and saw the expression of calm serenity leave it and  something like fear assume its place. Suddenly he ceased to pull and began talking hurriedly with the Doctor who  gave one sharp exclamation and turned to me, his countenance as pale as death.

“Bad news, George! The rope is all worn out. It hasn’t been used in many years and can’t possibly take the car  down more than once or twice.”

“Then our fate depends upon the size of the car?”

“Precisely.”

“Ask him how big it is? Let us know the worst!”

He turned to Padma and put the question, but instead of replying the priest began tugging at the rope again. In a moment a rumbling sound was heard and I saw a small box-like arrangement come into view; it rested close down upon  the brass and seemed to run upon rollers which were invisible. I have neglected to mention that there was a bronze guard about six inches high on either side of the incline to  prevent the car from running off.

“By Jove! We’re fixed now!” cried the Doctor. “It’s barely big enough for two!”

We knew the worst in a moment.