Silent and studious, these vast ruins of a mysterious race made a great
appeal to Ned. He forgot the rough brigands for a moment, and stood
there looking at the walls and great columns, upon which the moon was
pouring a flood of beams. What were these outlaws to those mighty
builders whom the past had swallowed up so completely?
The brigands were already lighting a fire beside one of the huge
monoliths, and Carossa lay down on a serape. The fire blazed up, but it
did not detract from the weird effect of the Hall of Pillars. One of the
men warmed food which he brought from another of the ruined houses, and
Carossa told his prisoners to eat.
"What I give you to-night, and what I shall give you to-morrow morning
may be the last food that you will have for some time," he said, "so
enjoy it as best you may."
He smiled, his lips drawing back from his white teeth, and in some
singular way he made Ned think of the black jaguar and his black lips
writhing back from his great fangs. Why had Obed spoken of coming with
them? Better to have been stripped in the path, and to have gone on
alone. But he ate the food, as the long marching had made him hungry,
and lay down within the rim of the firelight.
The men also ate, and Ned saw that they were surly.
Pages:
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190