Then about sundown one evening Tom Tripe galloped in a great hurry to Utirupa’s palace.  That was nothing to excite comment, because in his official capacity he was always supposed to be galloping all over the place on some errand or another.  But after dark Utirupa and Yasmini rode out of the palace unattended, which did cause comment, Yasmini in man’s clothes, as usual when she went on some adventure.  It was not seen which road they took, which was fortunate in the circumstances.

Tess was up at the fort before them, waiting with Dick outside the locked door leading to the ancient passages below.  They said nothing beyond the most perfunctory greetings, but, each taking a kerosene lantern, passed through the door in single file, Tom leading, and locked the door after them.  That was all that the fort guards ever knew about what happened.

“I’ve not been in,” said Dick’s voice from behind them.  “All I’ve done is force an entrance.”

From in front Tom Tripe took up the burden.

“And I wouldn’t have liked your job, sir!  It was bad enough to sit and guard the door.  After you’d gone o’ nights I’d sit for hours with my hair on end, listening; and the dog ’ud growl beside me as if he saw ghosts!”

“Maybe it was snakes,” Yasmini answered.  “They will flee from the lantern-light—­”

“No, Your Ladyship.  I’m not afraid of snakes—­except them Scotch plaid ones that come o’ brandy on top o’ royal durbars!  This was the sound o’ some one digging—­digging all night long down in the bowels of the earth!  Look out!”

They all jumped, but it proved to be only Tom’s own shadow that had frightened him.  His nerves were all to pieces, and Dick Blaine took the lead.  The dog was growling intermittently and keeping close to Tom’s heels.

They passed down a long spiral flight of stone steps into a sort of cavern that had been used for ammunition room.  The departing British troops had left a dozen ancient cannon balls, not all of which were in one place.  The smooth flags of the floor were broken, and at the far end one very heavy stone was lifted and laid back, disclosing a dark hole.

“I used the cannon balls,” said Dick, “to drop on the stones and listen for a hollow noise.  Once I found that, the game was simple.”

Leading down into the dark hole were twelve more steps, descending straight, but turning sharply at the bottom.  Dick led the way.

“The next sight’s gruesome!” he announced, his voice booming hollow among the shadows.

The passage turned into a lofty chamber in the rock, whose walls once had all been lined with dressed stone, but some of the lining had fallen.  In the shadows at one end an image of Jinendra smiled complacently, and there were some ancient brass lamps banging on chains from arches cut into the rock on every side.

“This is the grue,” said Dick, holding his lantern high.