at my heels, and I 'll
promise a swift diversion to your thoughts."

Thus cautiously we crept toward the distant flickering of the torch,
the unsteady light from which already began to yellow the packed earth
about us, until we finally emerged into its full glare. I had crawled
forth, perhaps half my length beyond the concealment of the wooden
pillar, and, knife in hand, was stealthily drawing in toward the
motionless form of the still slumbering priest, when the roving eyes of
Cairnes encountered the idol, with its flashing gems and widely
outspread wings, towering above like an avenging demon. I doubt not
the sight was startling to the fellow, terrorized by the underground
gloom, and he gave utterance to one gruff cry:

"'T is Beelzebub!"

The sleeping priest leaped to his feet, glaring about in bewilderment.
Where I lay outstretched it required an instant to gather myself for
action, and, before I could place restraining grip upon him, the fellow
saw us both, and, with echoing scream of terror, fled frantically up
the dark entry to the right. I made desperate effort to halt him, but
my swift-flung knife found bloodless sheath within the soft earth of
the wall.

"Zounds! are you a screeching woman with no control over your tongue?"
I exclaimed angrily, panting for breath. "'T is likely that priest
will rouse the tribe, and we shall have a run for it. What caused you
to make such an uproar?"

"Saints of Israel!" he said, repentantly enough, his glinting eyes
still roving over the silent, leering image, "never before did I behold
such monster as that. For the moment, I believed it Satan himself.
But, for the love of the prophets, what is this?" He began eagerly
sniffing the air with his great nose like a pointer dog. "'T is food I
scent; that which will stay a famished stomach. I beg you, friend,
pause shortly while I satisfy in some measure the yearnings of the
body. Then shall I be better fitted to withstand the temptations of
the world."

"Odds, man, I hope so," I responded gloomily, watching his eager attack
upon the supply outspread before the idol. "So far you have acted like
a lunkhead, and I begin to regret making you comrade in this adventure.
If a full stomach inspires to a man's duty, it would be policy always
to bear food about with you."

"Ay, 'tis strange, indeed," he mumbled, his mouth too full for clear
speech, "that one who ever strives to live in spiritual exercise should
be so co