und with a vague premonition of
evil; but now it was Dolores's hand that took his; Dolores's rich voice
that lured him on; and he stepped after her, smothering a sob of
resurging terror as the great stone fell into its place behind.

CHAPTER XII.

SANCHO SETTLES HIS ACCOUNT.

In the rock passage the hush was complete. For the space of ten long
breaths Sancho stood quivering under the weird spell of the infernal red
radiance from the hidden lights, while almost invisible ahead of him
Dolores bent to listen to a last moment's communication from
Pascherette. With Milo behind him, and the great unknown ahead, the
pirate's usual fierce courage oozed out through his boots. Yet he was
hypnotized by the vague glitter that shone at the end of the tunnel--the
glitter, though he knew it not yet, of the great sliding door to the
inner mystery.

Suddenly the mighty rock reverberated and shook to a Titanic volley of
thunder, and Sancho shrieked with nervous terror. His shriek was echoed
by a rippling laugh from Dolores, and she came back swiftly toward him,
pushing Pascherette before her. She handed the little octoroon on to
Milo, and said, with a kindly pat on the girl's head: "Open, Milo, and
let thy sweetheart complete her good works. Now I shall have none but
faithful friends about me. Pascherette, thou'rt more than forgiven:
thou'rt my good friend. I shall reward thee fittingly when"--she smiled
dazzlingly at Sancho--"I have rewarded Sancho."

The rock door rolled aside, and Pascherette passed out into the storm.
Sancho's nerves gave way utterly now, and he rushed toward the opening,
screaming: "Let me out! I want air! I want none of the great chamber!
Let me pass!"

Milo again let fall the rock, pressed a huge hand on Sancho's breast,
and pushed him back, saying: "Peace, fool! Go with thy mistress. Thine
eye will never again witness the like. Go, I tell thee. Dost fear the
Sultana's justice?"

"Come, Sancho. Thou'lt be a marked man among thy fellows when I have
shown thee what they yearn to see."

Dolores again took his hand, bent her glorious eyes full upon him, and
Sancho followed her like a sheep, straight to the great door under the
jeweled yellow lantern, where he stood, stupefied with awe at the
barbaric splendors revealed.

His lips went dry, and he licked them feverishly; his single eye blazed
with avarice; the two fingers and mutilated thumb of his right hand
worked convulsively, as if he would tear