Then there came a crash, and from the roof of the old temple a dozen stones toppled off to one side, letting in a flood of colored light.

By this illumination could be seen, flapping through the big space overhead, an enormous bat, as large as three eagles.  And, as it flew about in a circle it gave utterance to shrill cries.

“Bang!” Andy’s gun spoke again, and the bat with a louder cry than before, darted through the hole in the roof made by the falling stones, which had been loosened by the concussion from the rifle.

“Come on!” cried the old hunter.  “That was the guardian of the treasure!  We are safe now!”

Then, in the light which streamed through the broken roof, the adventurers could see, heaped up on a great altar, behind which sat a horrible graven image, piles of yellow metal, and sparkling stones.  In little heaps they were, arranged as if offerings to the terrible god of the giants.  There were bars and rings of gold, dishes of odd shape, and even weapons.  As for the sparkling stones, they were of many colors, but the white ones were more plentiful than all the others.

“Gold and diamonds!  Diamonds and gold!” murmured the professor.  “There is the ransom of many kings in this ancient temple.”

“Wish I had a big bag!” exclaimed Washington, as he began filling all his pockets with the precious metal and gems.  “If I had a-thought I’d have brought a dress-suit case!”

“A dress-suit case full of diamonds!” exclaimed Mark.

Then he too, as did all the others, fell to filling his pockets with the wealth spread so lavishly before them.  There was the riches of a whole world in one place and no one but themselves to take it.

For several minutes no one spoke.  The only sound was the rattle of the stones and the clink of gold, and when some of the diamonds dropped on the floor they did not bother to gather them up.  There were too many on the altar.

“We will be rich for life!” gasped old Andy, who had been poor all his years.

“I can’t carry any more!” gasped Washington.  “I’m goin’ back for——­”

What he was going back for he never said, for, at that instant, happening to look up at the hole in the roof, he gave a startled try: 

“Here come the terrible bats!”

They all gazed upward.  Through the opening they could see a great flock of the awful birds, headed for the temple, and they were led by one which seemed to fly with difficulty.  It was the guardian of the treasure that Andy had wounded.

“Quick!  We must get out of here!” shouted the old hunter.  “They are big enough and strong enough to tear us all to pieces.  Hurry!”

Down the centre of the temple they rushed, and not a moment too soon, for, ere they had passed half way to the entrance, the opening in the roof was darkened by the coming of the bats, and soon the flapping of their wings awoke the thundering echoes in the ruined structure, while their shrill cries struck terror to the hearts of the travelers.