is party continued their journey, but they had
considerable difficulty in discovering the temple of which the trader
had told Buxsoo. At length, as evening was drawing on, they caught
sight of a tall tower rising above the trees on the top of the hill. It
being of the greatest importance not to be discovered by any of the
rebel garrison, they waited till dark to approach the building, as they
could not take that careful survey of it at a distance which was so
necessary before commencing operations. They had provided themselves
with a supply of rope at a distant village, where their object was not
likely to be suspected, and had carried it as Dick had suggested.
Reginald and Dick were well armed, and felt themselves able to engage a
dozen natives; but Buxsoo and Sambro carried no weapons,--for the former
professed not to be a fighter, though the slave was active and powerful,
and would not have feared a combat on equal terms with two or even three
brown-skinned natives.

Concealed among the trees, they got close enough to the temple to
ascertain whether any person entered or left it, as also to see the top
of the tower. With anxious eyes Reginald looked out for the appearance
of Nuna, convinced as he was that she must have been the female seen by
the trader. He watched, however, in vain, and darkness came on without
any human being having been seen, or any sign being discernible that the
building was inhabited. Reginald, in his eagerness, would at once have
approached the walls; but Buxsoo advised him to wait, in the hope that
those within might have a lamp burning, the light from which, streaming
through any window or crevice, might betray the part of the building
they were occupying.

"Depend upon it, also, that some cunning officer commands the party, and
he will be on the watch for the approach of enemies," observed Buxsoo.
"My advice is that we wait till later in the night, when the sentries
are likely to be drowsy, and we may then make our survey with less risk
of being discovered."

Reginald agreeing to this proposal, the party lay down to rest,--he and
Dick with their arms ready for instant use,--while they kept their eyes
turned towards the building. Before long a ray of light shone forth
from the dark walls. It proceeded, judging from its height, from a
small window in an upper storey, and in a part of the edifice at a
considerable distance from the tower. Though they watched carefully, no
light app