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door to the treasure room； his weight pushed it open
and his body rolled inward upon the floor。
In the great apartment where the treasure lay less
damage was wrought by the earthquake。 A few ingots
toppled from the higher tiers； a single piece of the
rocky ceiling splintered off and crashed downward to
the floor； and the walls cracked； though they did not
collapse。
There was but the single shock； no other followed to
complete the damage undertaken by the first。 Werper；
thrown to his length by the suddenness and violence of
the disturbance； staggered to his feet when he found
himself unhurt。 Groping his way toward the far end of
the chamber； he sought the candle which Tarzan had left
stuck in its own wax upon the protruding end of an
ingot。
By striking numerous matches the Belgian at last found
what he sought； and when； a moment later； the sickly
rays relieved the Stygian darkness about him； he
breathed a nervous sigh of relief； for the impenetrable
gloom had accentuated the terrors of his situation。
As they became accustomed to the light the man turned
his eyes toward the doorhis one thought now was of
escape from this frightful tomband as he did so he
saw the body of the naked giant lying stretched upon
the floor just within the doorway。 Werper drew back in
sudden fear of detection； but a second glance convinced
him that the Englishman was dead。 From a great gash in
the man's head a pool of blood had collected upon the
concrete floor。
Quickly； the Belgian leaped over the prostrate form of
his erstwhile host； and without a thought of succor for
the man in whom； for aught he knew； life still
remained； he bolted for the passageway and safety。
But his renewed hopes were soon dashed。 Just beyond
the doorway he found the passage completely clogged and
choked by impenetrable masses of shattered rock。
Once more he turned and re…entered the treasure vault。
Taking the candle from its place he commenced a
systematic search of the apartment； nor had he gone far
before he discovered another door in the opposite end
of the room； a door which gave upon creaking hinges to
the weight of his body。 Beyond the door lay another
narrow passageway。 Along this Werper made his way；
ascending a flight of stone steps to another corridor
twenty feet above the level of the first。 The
flickering candle lighted the way before him； and a
moment later he was thankful for the possession of this
crude and antiquated luminant； which； a few hours
before he might have looked upon with contempt； for it
showed him； just in time； a yawning pit； apparently
terminating the tunnel he was traversing。
Before him was a circular shaft。 He held the candle
above it and peered downward。 Below him； at a great
distance； he saw the light reflected back from the
surface of a pool of water。 He had come upon a well。
He raised the candle above his head and peered across
the black void； and there upon the opposite side he saw
the continuation of the tunnel； but how was he to span
the gulf？
As he stood there measuring the distance to the
opposite side and wondering if he dared venture so
great a leap； there broke suddenly upon his startled
ears a piercing scream which diminished gradually until
it ended in a series of dismal moans。 The voice seemed
partly human； yet so hideous that it might well have
emanated from the tortured throat of a lost soul；
writhing in the fires of hell。
The Belgian shuddered and looked fearfully upward；
for the scream had seemed to come from above him。
As he looked he saw an opening far overhead； and a
patch of sky pinked with brilliant stars。
His half…formed intention to call for help was expunged
by the terrifying crywhere such a voice lived； no
human creatures could dwell。 He dared not reveal
himself to whatever inhabitants dwelt in the place
above him。 He cursed himself for a fool that he had
ever embarked upon such a mission。 He wished himself
safely back in the camp of Achmet Zek； and would almost
have embraced an opportunity to give himself up to the
military authorities of the Congo if by so doing he
might be rescued from the frightful predicament in
which he now was。
He listened fearfully； but the cry was not repeated；
and at last spurred to desperate means； he gathered
himself for the leap across the chasm。 Going back
twenty paces； he took a running start； and at the edge
of the well； leaped upward and outward in an attempt to
gain the opposite side。
In his hand he clutched the sputtering candle；
and as he took the leap the rush of air extinguished it。
In utter darkness he flew through space； clutching outward
for a hold should his feet miss the invisible ledge。
He struck the edge of the door of the opposite terminus
of the rocky tunnel with his knees； slipped backward；
clutched desperately for a moment； and at last hung
half within and half without the opening； but he was safe。
For several minutes he dared not move； but
clung； weak and sweating； where he lay。 At last；
cautiously； he drew himself well within the tunnel；
and again he lay at full length upon the floor；
fighting to regain control of his shattered nerves。
When his knees struck the edge of the tunnel he had
dropped the candle。 Presently； hoping against hope
that it had fallen upon the floor of the passageway；
rather than back into the depths of the well； he rose
upon all fours and commenced a diligent search for the
little tallow cylinder； which now seemed infinitely
more precious to him than all the fabulous wealth of
the hoarded ingots of Opar。
And when； at last； he found it； he clasped it to him
and sank back sobbing and exhausted。 For many minutes
he lay trembling and broken； but finally he drew
himself to a sitting posture； and taking a match from
his pocket； lighted the stump of the candle which
remained to him。 With the light he found it easier to
regain control of his nerves； and presently he was
again making his way along the tunnel in search of an
avenue of escape。 The horrid cry that had come down to
him from above through the ancient well…shaft still
haunted him； so that he trembled in terror at even the
sounds of his own cautious advance。
He had gone forward but a short distance； when； to his
chagrin； a wall of masonry barred his farther progress；
closing the tunnel completely from top to bottom and
from side to side。 What could it mean？ Werper was an
educated and intelligent man。 His military training
had taught him to use his mind for the purpose for
which it was intended。 A blind tunnel such as this was
senseless。 It must continue beyond the wall。 Someone；
at some time in the past； had had it blocked for an
unknown purpose of his own。 The man fell to examining
the masonry by the light of his candle。 To his delight
he discovered that the thin blocks of hewn stone of
which it was constructed were fitted in loosely without
mortar or cement。 He tugged upon one of them； and to
his joy found that it was easily removable。 One after
another he pulled out the blocks until he had opened an
aperture large enough to admit his body； then he
crawled through into a large； low chamber。 Across this
another door barred his way； but this； too； gave before
his efforts； for it was not barred。 A long； dark
corridor showed before him； but before he had followed
it far； his candle burned down until it scorched his
fingers。 With an oath he dropped it to the floor；
where it sputtered for a moment and went out。
Now he was in total darkness； and again terror rode
heavily astride his neck。 What further pitfalls and
dangers lay ahead he could not guess； but that he was
as far as ever from liberty he was quite willing to
believe； so depressing is utter absence of light to one
in unfamiliar surroundings。
Slowly he groped his way along； feeling with his ha