The passage I now followed rose with a sharp pitch, evidently inclining toward the surface, the opening not far distant.  It was like mounting a hill, so marked was the incline, yet I covered a distance fully equalling that of my previous descent before becoming aware of a steadily increasing gray tingeing the side walls.  Halting in this faint illumination I was suddenly startled by the sound of vigorous English speech.  I advanced cautiously.  The words were so confused by the echoes that little could be made of them until I reached a coarsely matted curtain, through which dimly sifted the welcome daylight.  Here I paused, listening intently, striving to discover what mystery lay hidden beyond.

For some moments nothing reached me, excepting a low, dull murmur, as if voices chanted in muffled monotone, the sound commingling with a sharp crackling of flames, and an occasional doleful beating upon some surface resembling the taut parchment of a drum.  Suddenly a deep voice close at hand roared out hoarsely, and my heart leaped in excitement, although I at once recognized it.

“You black-faced son of Belial,” came a savage snort, “do you give all that food unto a dumb idol, when a Christian man, a ministering servant of the Most High, lies groaning with a stomach which has n’t tasted food for four and twenty hours?  Possess you no bowels of compassion for the long sufferings of a fellow-man?  Come now, give me just a bite of the white meat, and yonder grinning wooden image will never miss it.  You won’t, you spawn of Baal, yet I marked plain enough how you filled your own lean belly with the best there was.”

The straining of cords, together with sound of struggle, bore evidence that the Reverend Mr. Cairnes was making heroic effort to attain unto that food offered before idols.  That such strenuous effort was vain was soon proven by the bursting forth of his voice once more.

“Oh, gracious Lord,” he cried, in a tone evidencing more anger than spiritual exaltation, “surely thy ancient servant Job never bowed before greater affliction than this now visited upon me.  Verily ’t is even as the experiences of the Apostle Paul, yet without his reward in the flesh.  I beseech Thee from the depth of humiliation—­even as did Daniel from the lions’ den—­loosen my arms that I may smite as with Thy wrath this profaner of Thy most holy name, thus bringing peace unto the smitten heart of Thy faithful servant.  O Lord, what have I done to be deserted in this hour of extremity?  As Elijah called down fire from Heaven, so I call upon Thee to smite with the terror of Thy might the ranks of these foul idolaters.  He who hath boldly proclaimed Thy truth in the wilderness, who hath proven a faithful witness unto these savages, through many years of trial and tribulation, doth now call upon Thee in dire distress.  Shall it be in vain, that he thus uplifts his voice supplicating in the wilderness?”