We guessed that it was early morning when we heard from Leith.  A blazing torch illuminated a round hole about seventy feet above our heads, and Holman and I immediately remained quiet so that the big scoundrel would be in ignorance of the reunion.  There was no possibility of the torchlight making our presence known.  It would take a score of torches to enable him to see us.

Leith thrust his head over the edge of the hole while Soma held the torch, and, with a coarse laugh, the ruffian inquired if his victims had changed their minds.

“No, we have not,” replied the Professor, his thin, quavering voice sounding strangely weak after the deep-throated bellow of the bully on top.

“Well, you’ll change it soon,” cried Leith.  “I’ll leave you down there for another day or two, and then I’ll get you up to do some stunts.  Mind you, I mean a proper marriage with Miss Edith, Professor! The Waif will run us up to the German missionary station while you take charge here for your affectionate son-in-law.”

I opened my mouth to fling an answer at the taunting scoundrel, but Holman surmised my intention and begged me to hold my tongue.

“They’ll get no food if you cry out!” he whispered.  “Don’t speak to him, man!”

The Professor made no answer to the offensive remark, and after a few minutes’ silence Leith drew back, and Soma started to lower a bundle of food into the dark prison.

“That rope might prove useful,” whispered Holman.  “Feel around and see if you can get hold of it before he pulls it up.”

The light of the torch which Leith held only illuminated about six feet of the rope as the native passed it into the prison, so Holman and I, standing directly under the opening, felt around in the darkness as the bundle of food came toward the ground.

“I have it!” murmured Holman.  “Wait till he unhooks the bundle.”

We let the rope run through our hands till the package of food touched the rock floor.  The line had a small hook upon the end, and the moment Soma felt that the parcel had reached the bottom of the place, he dexterously unhooked it with a slight jerk and started to haul in.

“Now!” whispered the youngster.  “A big pull!  We might bring the nigger through the hole!”

We went very close to performing the feat.  The jolt took the native unawares; he fell forward on his knees and barely saved himself from dropping into the opening.  The rope came toward us with a run, but as we pulled furiously it stopped with a sudden jerk, and we knew that the other end was tied to some projection on the surface.

Leith laughed derisively, and the laugh maddened Holman.  He clutched the rope and started to climb rapidly upward.  I couldn’t see him, but I felt his shoes as he wriggled away into the darkness above me, and I held my breath, I gripped the rope and kept it taut so that Leith and Soma might not discover the ruse.