Roy Norton

“ But that point was decided for us unexpectedly; for when we descended and climbed out of the hole like jacks in a box, we found the doctor there waiting, and vastly pleased with himself.
“I was right! I was right! The reading was characteristic of an adroit and ingenious as well as superstitious people,” he declared. And then before I could ask if he had the directions to find the treasure he went on: “It puts the curse of the sun god on any who walk across this pavement save those of the higher priesthood. ”

“ Always there was the acute knowledge that if we fell, we must certainly be dashed to pieces in the well-like hollow below. Although we judged that the image was about eighty feet in height from the floor of the temple, it seemed hundreds before we began to approach the top and then we came to a little opening, climbed through, panting with exertion, dripping from the tropical heat without intensified by the confinement of the interior shaft, and found ourselves in a tiny cell and surrounded by strange mechanical appliances. ”

“ Doubtless the eyes could be made to glare only when the sun was at its meridian. Once it passed the effect diminished until, in late afternoon, those fearsome eyes would never have responded to the priestly touch beneath. ”

“ I interrupted, hot and wearied by physical effort, and in no mood to listen to one of his interminable lectures. “All we have found is the machinery by which this image was given a pretense of life, and a lot of carvings that were undoubtedly directions how it is to be kept oiled, and in working condition, and cautioning the hands about paying attention to time and secrecy.”
“Carvings?” blandly inquired the doctor. “Carvings? Where are they?” And then I saw that I had made a mistake.
“They are up in a top chamber,” said Wardy, “but you will find them difficult and dangerous to reach. ”