k together, as it says in the Red-book
presented by the crown to warrant officers, but paid for out of their
deferred allowance. Take my arm, Doctor. Ah! I thought so, the more
haste the less speed. Look there," and he pointed to the flying shapes
ahead, now a long way off, and with only one lamp between them.

Next instant Maqueda turned round holding up this remaining lamp and
called to us. I saw the faint light gleam upon her beautiful face and
glitter down the silver ornaments of her dress. Very wild and strange
she looked in that huge vault, seen thus for a single moment, then seen
no more, for presently where the flame had been was but a red spark, and
then nothing at all.

"Stop still till we come back to you," cried Oliver, "and shout at
intervals."

"Yes, sir," said Quick, and instantly let off a fearful yell,
which echoed backward and forward across the vault till I was quite
bewildered.

"All right, coming," answered Oliver, and his voice sounded so far to
the left that Quick thought it wise to yell again.

To cut a long story short, we next heard him on our right and then
behind us.

"Can't trust sounds here, sir, echoes are too uncertain," said the
Sergeant; "but come on, I think I've placed them now," and calling
to _them_ not to move, we headed in what we were sure was the right
direction.

The end of that adventure was that presently I tripped up over a
skeleton and found myself lying half stunned amidst trays of treasure,
affectionately clasping a skull under the impression that it was Quick's
boot.

He hauled me up again somehow, and, as we did not know what to do, we
sat down amidst the dead and listened. By now the others were apparently
so far off that the sound of Oliver's calling only reached us in faint,
mysterious notes that came from we knew not whence.

"As, like idiots, we started in such a hurry that we forgot to bring any
matches with us, there is nothing to be done, except wait," I said. "No
doubt in due course those Abati will get over their fear of ghosts and
come to look for us."

"Wish I could do the same, sir. I didn't mind those deaders in the
light, but the dark's a different matter. Can't you hear them rattling
their shanks and talking all round us?"

"Certainly I do hear something," I answered, "but I think it must be the
echo of our own voices."

"Well, let us hold our jaw, sir, and perhaps they will hold theirs, for
this kind of conversation ain't nice."

So w