u. Hallo! did you hear anything
moving inside there, just then, Douglas?"

Jim listened intently for a few seconds, then replied: "Yes, I think I
_do_ hear something prowling about in there, but--upon my word, Montt,
it sounds more like a--a--well, an animal than a human being; and--what
a very curious smell there is; quite like--let me see--" here the young
officer sniffed several times--"yes," he continued after a pause, "it is
quite like the odour of a wild beast!"

"_Per Dios_! you are right," exclaimed the lieutenant, sniffing in turn.
"And I remember that last time I visited this place the old woman
certainly seemed to carry with her an uncanny, musty, animal odour.
Therefore it is probably she. I will knock again."

Montt thereupon drew from his jacket pocket a revolver, which he had
taken the precaution to bring with him, and tapped softly on the door
with its butt.

This time there followed a plainly perceptible "shuffle-shuffle" like
the soft padding of a heavy animal's paws, and both men started
violently when, directly afterward, and from the other side of the door,
a whining voice inquired--

"Who knocks at my door? Go away, whoever you are. I am a poor, lone
old woman, and if you dis--"

"Are you the Inca woman, Mama Huello?" broke in Montt; "for, if so, we
wish to consult you. We are two naval officers who have heard of your
wonderful powers of foretelling the future, and we should like to have a
demonstration of them."

There was a pause, and then the whining voice replied: "Yes, I am the
Mama Huello; wait ye there for a short time, while I prepare for your
reception."

Again that curious shuffling sound was heard, and Jim somehow felt a
shiver of fear run down his spine. It was only a disordered fancy, of
course; but to him it certainly seemed as though the voice proceeded
from an animal, rather than from a human being. Then Montt remarked:

"She must surely have a big dog, or some other pet animal with her, I
should think, for I distinctly heard the `pad-pad' of paws when the Mama
turned away. I hope the creature will not attempt to worry us, under
the impression that we mean harm to the old woman."

Jim did not reply. He felt instinctively that they would find no animal
there when they entered the house; but he had no further time for
reflection, for, at that moment, the door opened with startling
suddenness, and a voice invited them to enter.

Montt stepped inside, and Jim foll