They glanced
at each other out of the corners of their eyes. Brave as they were, they
did not altogether like the idea of a possible encounter with a
rattlesnake or a bear in the dark and narrow confines of a cave. And if
there should be another earthquake! However, they had not come to turn
back, and Roldan pushed boldly in, the others following close.
For a time their way lay along a narrow passage. They had made two
abrupt turns before they dared to light the lantern they had brought.
When Rafael did, it revealed nothing but earthy walls and the imprint of
feet on the ground. After a little, however, the passage suddenly
widened, and it was Adan who uttered the first exclamation of surprise.
It was, indeed, a hoarse gurgle. The walls were veined with what
appeared to be irregular bands of dirty crystal, pricked with glittering
yellow. There were, perhaps, a thousand of these little points bared
from the jealous earth, and they shone with a steady baleful glare,
magnetising six youthful eyes, stirring in three careless brains the
ghosts of ancient gold-lust, whose concrete substance lay in the marble
vaults of Spain. Immediately Roldan's sympathy went out to the priest;
and he knew that that commanding intelligence could teach him one thing
the less.
Pages:
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164