"would you risk
your life again to-night? Surely it is tempting the goodness of God."

"It would be tempting the goodness of God much more if I left my friend
to be eaten by lions, Lady," he answered.

Then followed much discussions. In the end it was agreed that we should
descend to the level of the den, if this were possible; that Oliver and
Quick should go down into the den with Japhet, who instantly volunteered
to accompany them, and that I, with some of the Mountaineers, should
stop in the mouth of the hole as a reserve to cover their retreat from
the lions. I pleaded to be allowed to take a more active part, but of
this they would not hear, saying with some truth, that I was by far the
best shot of the three, and could do much more to help them from above,
if, as was hoped, the moon should shine brightly.

But I knew they really meant that I was too old to be of service in such
an adventure as this. Also they desired to keep me out of risk.

Then came the question as to who should descend the last tunnel to the
place of operations. Oliver wished Maqueda to return to the top of the
cliff and wait there, but she said at once that she could not think of
attempting the ascent without our aid; also that she was determined to
see the end of the matter. Even Joshua would not go; I think, that being
an unpopular character among them, he distrusted the Mountaineers, whose
duty it would have been to escort him.

It was suggested that he should remain where he was until we returned,
if we did return, but this idea commended itself to him still less than
the other. Indeed he pointed out with much truth what we had overlooked,
namely, that now the Fung knew of the passage and were quite capable
of playing our own game, that is, of throwing a bridge across from the
sphinx's tail and attempting the storm of Mur.

"And then what should I do if they found me here alone?" he added
pathetically.

Maqueda answered that she was sure she did not know, but that meanwhile
it might be wise to block the mouth of the tunnel by which we had
reached the plateau in such a fashion that it could not easily be
forced.

"Yes," answered Oliver, "and if we ever get out of this, to blow the
shaft in and make sure that it cannot be used."

"That shaft might be useful, Captain," said Quick doubtfully.

"There is a better way, Sergeant, if we want to mine under the sphinx;
I mean through the Tomb of Kings. I took the levels roughly, and the