Draw Swords! Part 62

"Then come along, sir; I'm a regular guide now."

"Only don't lose the way, Stubbs," said d.i.c.k, smiling; "I've an appointment to meet the Rajah this afternoon."

"That's all right, you trust me."

It was a change from the rather monotonous round, of barrack duties, and, after a visit to the sergeant's room, d.i.c.k followed him across the temple into the half-darkness of the great building behind the monstrous elephant-headed figure, in and out among a perfect labyrinth of grotesque carvings--ill.u.s.trating, apparently, pa.s.sages in the Hindu mythology--till all at once Stubbs paused opposite a flat pillar, and turned as if to speak to his companion.

"You get a good view backward from here, sir," he said in his ordinary tone of voice; and d.i.c.k looked back, to see how the pale light struck in from one side at the bottom of an irregular vista while they stood almost in darkness. "See that stone figure squatting down?"

"I can just make out the shape, but it is not worth seeing," said d.i.c.k.

"No, sir," replied Stubbs; "makes a good seat, though. Only grim darkness and mystery as these priests keep up to frighten the n.i.g.g.e.rs.

There isn't one of 'em as would dare to come along here among these hundreds of ugly idols after the tales the priests tell them. But it's all right; I don't want for us to be followed. Now then, give me your hand; it's a bit of a squeeze through a narrow crack, and then you have to go down twenty steps, but if you hold on to me I'll guide you."

d.i.c.k grasped the sergeant's hand, and felt himself drawn through a narrow opening just behind the flat pillar; then they turned at right angles to the left and went on a dozen feet or so, when they again turned at right angles and went sideways some forty or fifty feet between stone walls, the opening being barely sufficient to allow the sergeant to get along, while the darkness was now profound.

"Rather a tight fit for me, sir," said Stubbs; "easy enough for you.

Now wait a bit while I get a light."

He pa.s.sed in front of d.i.c.k, and, taking out the materials, he struck a light, blew up the match, and applied it to the wick of a curiously-shaped lamp standing upon a ledge above their heads, till the lamp burned with a clear, white flame.

"They keep it there on purpose," said the sergeant, "just at the head of some steps. They're a bit wider, but they don't give you much room to get down."

"But how in the world did you find this out?"

"Just by accident, like, sir. I was wandering about here in the dark one day, in and out among the figures, wondering where the Rajah's treasures that we were set to guard could be stored. But I didn't find anything out, for I couldn't bring a lantern and look. So I came again and again, playing at hide-and-seek, like, for it seemed so stupid to be taking care of something and not to know where it was. And so I went on for days, not making any show, like, till one day, after a bit of a hunt, I sat down in the lap of one of the small idols, to think that I must be quite on the wrong scent. And it being very quiet, and me being a bit tired, and the idol's lap making a nice, cool, comf'table arm-chair, I goes off to sleep in the darkness; and I don't know how long I was asleep, of course, but I was woke up by something, and sat listening and wondering where I was, till it came again--a queer sort of sneeze--and then I knew. 'Why, it's the old Brahmin,' I said to myself.

'What's he doing here?' Then I felt that I knew, and that he must be looking after me. But he wasn't, for he went by me and on for a few yards, me hearing big loose petticoats rustling quite loudly for a bit and then leaving off, like, all at once. The next moment he sneezed again, but it sounded smothered and stilled like, as if he was behind a door; and I just rubbed my hands together softly, for I felt sure that there must be a doorway. So, 'Success to snuff!' I says."

"What for?" said d.i.c.k, laughing, and his mirth sounded weird and strange as it seemed to go whispering away.

"Because the old chap had opened his snuff-box and let out the cat, sir."

"Then you felt that he had gone into the place you wanted to find?"

"That's it, sir; and I sat there and waited a good two hours before I heard the roosh, roosh of his clothes again, just like a woman's, and he pa.s.sed me and went away. Of course I did nothing then; but a few days afterwards I came with a tinder-box and a bit of candle in case they were wanted, and, my word! what a while I did have to hunt for the way in here! It was all so simple that it humbugged me, sir. I got trying to lift idols and turn 'em round or lay 'em down, and to find trap-doors, till at last I stood leaning against that flat pillar wondering how it could be, and then I smelt it."

"Smelt it?"

"That's it, sir; I smelt it--a curious, stuffy, damp smell that seemed to come out of a cellar; and next minute I had squeezed myself through that crack, and crept cautiously a little way into the darkness before striking a light. Then I saw I had got it, and crept along, holding up my candle, which I needn't have brought, for there was the lamp on the ledge, and just before me these steps.--Come on down, sir. I'll go first."

d.i.c.k followed down a steep flight of stone stairs, whose edges were as sharp as if newly cut, and the next minute, as the sergeant held up the lamp, d.i.c.k could see that they were in a huge, far-stretching vault, all dwarf pillars and arches.

"Rum place, sir, isn't it?" said the sergeant, holding up the light.

"Something like the crypt of a cathedral," replied d.i.c.k.

"Is it, though, sir? Never saw one. Have they got sort of cells to put people in?"

"Yes," said d.i.c.k meaningly.

"Same here, sir; reg'lar prison, like, all down one side;" and he led the way to a series of stone doors at the head of a low, square pa.s.sage.

"Is this where you think the Rajah's treasures are?"

"Oh, no, sir. I think they're on the other side, through a big, square doorway with an idol sitting in front.--Look here; this place is open and ready for a prisoner--stone bed, stone stool, and a place to chain him up to. There'd be no getting out of here."

d.i.c.k shuddered as he followed the sergeant into the gloomy place, and then they examined the door--a huge slab of stone which ran in a groove, with a long stone to fall down behind it when it was closed.

"Queer places, sir," said the sergeant. "That's where they shut the wicked Brahmins up to make 'em good. Like to see where I think the treasure is put away."

"Yes; I may as well see as I am here."

The sergeant held his lamp higher so that they might be aware of the presence of stumbling-blocks, and led the way to the far side of the vast, vaulted place, where just before them sat a little, six-armed figure, armed with swords, clubs, and twining serpents.

"It's a she, sir; and she has six weapons to keep off thieves. I believe the people think that if they attempted to move the stone which closes that doorway the idol would come to life and attack them."

"Then you think that's the treasure-house, Stubbs?" said d.i.c.k.

"That's it for certain, sir."

"Well, the people believe in all these things, and it makes the treasure safe. There, we won't try to make the image come to life and show fight, for we don't want to meddle."

"Not we, sir," replied Stubbs. "Which way shall we go back?"

"Round by the other side."

"Then we'll keep a sharp lookout, sir, for I haven't been there. We don't want to tumble down any wells or flights of stairs. It's rather awkward going along a place you don't know."

Stubbs led the way with the light, once more crossing diagonally from side to side, and then leading the way along a black wall completely covered with grotesque carvings from floor to ceiling.

"Hullo!" he said, suddenly stopping.

"What is it?"

"Another opening, sir. I never saw this before."

"What does it look like?"

"Long pa.s.sage, sir."

"Well, let's go down it and see where it leads to."

The sergeant turned down the dark opening, and led the way along it with his gleaming light for a good ten minutes, and then he stopped.

"Well," said d.i.c.k, "why don't you go on?"

"Don't seem to lead anywhere, sir, as I see."