look for it, anyway." And so
saying he approached one of the doors that opened onto the skull-paved
shelf.

They found the corridor easily, for it paralleled the river, separated
from it only by a single wall. It took them beneath the gardens and
the city, always through inky darkness. After they had reached the
other side of the gardens, Bradley counted his steps until he had
retraced as many as he had taken coming down the stream; but though
they had to grope their way along, it was a much more rapid trip than
the former.

When he thought he was about opposite the point at which he had
descended from the Blue Place of Seven Skulls, he sought and found a
doorway leading out onto the river; and then, still in the blackest
darkness, he lowered himself into the stream and felt up and down upon
the opposite side for the little shelf and the ladder. Ten yards from
where he had emerged he found them, while the girl waited upon the
opposite side.

To ascend to the secret panel was the work of but a minute. Here he
paused and listened lest a Wieroo might be visiting the prison in
search of him or the other inmate; but no sound came from the gloomy
interior. Bradley could not but muse upon the joy of the man on the
opposite side when he should drop down to him with food and a new hope
for escape. Then he opened the panel and looked into the room. The
faint light from the grating above revealed the pile of rags in one
corner; but the man lay beneath them, he made no response to Bradley's
low greeting.

The Englishman lowered himself to the floor of the room and approached
the rags. Stooping he lifted a corner of them. Yes, there was the man
asleep. Bradley shook him--there was no response. He stooped lower
and in the dim light examined An-Tak; then he stood up with a sigh. A
rat leaped from beneath the coverings and scurried away. "Poor devil!"
muttered Bradley.

He crossed the room to swing himself to the perch preparatory to
quitting the Blue Place of Seven Skulls forever. Beneath the perch he
paused. "I'll not give them the satisfaction," he growled. "Let them
believe that he escaped."

Returning to the pile of rags he gathered the man into his arms. It
was difficult work raising him to the high perch and dragging him
through the small opening and thus down the ladder; but presently it
was done, and Bradley had lowered the body into the river and cast it
off. "Good-bye, old top!" he whispered.

A