Certainly no remembrance
of my dream influenced me in any way, and in the wild whirl of
excitement I had not given a second thought to Charley Simmonds'
exclamation. As we rode up to the ruins only a hundred yards ahead
of us, May said:
"'Blow out my brains, Edward; don't let me fall alive into their
hands.'
"A shock of remembrance shot across me. The chase, her pale face,
the words, the temple--all my dream rushed into my mind.
"'We are saved,' I cried, to her amazement, as we rode into the
courtyard, in whose center a great figure was sitting.
"I leapt from the horse, snatched the mussuk of water from the
saddle, and then hurried May round the idol, between which and the
rock behind there was but just room to get along.
"Not a doubt entered my mind but that I should find the spring as
I had dreamed. Sure enough there was the carving, fresh upon my
memory as if I had seen it but the day before. I placed my hand on
the leaflet without hesitation, a solid stone moved back, I hurried
my amazed companion in, and shut to the stone. I found, and shot to
a massive bolt, evidently placed to prevent the door being opened
by accident or design when anyone was in the idol.
"At first it seemed quite dark, but a faint light streamed in from
above; we made our way up the stairs, and found that the light came
through a number of small holes pierced in the upper part of the
head, and through still smaller holes lower down, not much larger
than a good sized knitting needle could pass through.
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