But she was not effusive. Somehow she
wasn't just like his old shepherd. She glanced at him, and then
out at the concourse below, and lolled her tongue expectantly.
Then she settled back into her place and resumed watch--exactly as
any of her kind would have held guard over a band of sheep.
The dog was serious. Afterward, Wendel said he had a dim notion
that she was no longer a dog at all, but a mere instrument in the
hand of Fate.
"What's the matter, old girl?" he asked. "Don't you like 'em?"
For answer she gave a low whine. She looked up again, and out into
the throng; she repeated the whine, with a little whimper at the
end.
Harry returned to the others. Nothing was said of what he had
done. At once the Geos led the group through a small, half-hidden
door, beyond which was a narrow, winding stairway of chocolate-
coloured stone. The Geos halted.
"Dost wish the building emptied, O Jarados?"
"I do. When we come back from under the Spot of Life, we should
have the place to ourselves."
Accompanied by the two queens the Rhamda returned to the main body
of the temple. Dr. Holcomb, Harry and Chick were left to
themselves.
The professor took out a notebook. In it was traced a map, or
chart, together with several notations.
"The three of us," said he, "are going to take a look at the under
side of the Blind Spot. This stairway leads into a secret chamber
inside the foundations of the great stair; and according to this
data I found in the palace, together with some calculations of my
own, we ought to find some of the secrets of the Spot.
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