Page:Doughty--Mirrikh or A woman from Mars.djvu/190

 died away did the Doctor deign to answer me, although I had twice addressed him, begging to know what the priest  had said.

“Do you want to know?” he exclaimed, turning suddenly upon me, and speaking very rapidly. “He tells me that this other way lies through the cavern beneath the temple,  where the fatal gas is stored. He says that it was built ages ago before the gas came and abandoned because it came;  he says all we’ve got to do is to inhale the gas, and go at  lightning speed by way of the spirit world, sending our  bodies down through the cavern and taking them up again  at the other end of the route. I tell you, Wylde, it’s all balderdash. The fellow is a sly old rascal. He is trying to throw us off the scent and means to go by the car himself, leaving us to be drowned out here when the water comes. Now then, here’s the last call. Will you go with me, or will you not?”

“Not without Maurice.”

“Fool!”

“Put it as you will.”

“I put it as it is. Think twice.”

“No! Doctor beware! No good can come of so selfish a proceeding. Remember that the rope may hold out. Would you deprive these other poor wretches of their chance of life?”

“Rubbish! What are they to me? Let them go the other way if they want to, I—hark! What was that? A cry above! By the eternal! I believe the water has come.”

We hurried up into the temple, for the Doctor suddenly ceased his argument.

It was as he had feared.

When we reached the courtyard we found the lamas standing in the pouring rain, huddled together beneath the  big tree, their eyes fixed upon the wall surrounding the lamasery, over which the water was beginning to come in little  splashes here and there.

“Better get your grip, George!” cried the Doctor. “If we do escape we shall need it. Go now and I will have a look over the wall. I shall do nothing until you return.”

There was reason in his suggestion, and relying upon his promise I hurried into the lamasery. Not only did I want to save something of my belongings if possible, but I was