Adventure Magazine Cover — page 183: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Temple of the Ten grating. When he had finished he inspected the work with a shrug of doubt. “Tt may—and it mayn’t,” he said, and smiled. He placed the broken stick of explosive; its fuse ready. With water and sand from the floor he tamped it in place as well as possible. Then he drew out his box of vestas and lighted one of the wax splinters. “Well,” he said, “here’s how!” He lighted the fuse, dropped the match, and ran to the far corner of the chamber. There he flung himself down, careful of the explosives in his shirt. The half-minute that he waited dragged into an eternity of suspense. Suddenly it came—a flash, a stunning roar, a blast that extinguished the lamps. Objects came hurtling, smashing, against the walls. Momentarily deafened, half- stunned, . Kilgore dragged himself erect, coughing the choking fumes from his lungs as he groped a way forward. He dared not strike a vesta, lest he be- hold failure. At length he came to the grating, and his hands ‘groped at it. A sobbing cry burst from-him as he found the iron wrenched - and twisted outward in a gaping hole large enough to admit his body. ation, he dropped and crawled through. When he rose, he was shaking with ex- citement. Had the entrance to the chamber been closed? He struck a vesta and held it up. - “Thank Heaven!” He started forward. Before the light burned his*fingers and died, he had reached the main passage outside. For a moment he stood there in darkness—then, at some little distance, he saw a dancing ray of light. “Kilgore!” cried a voice. “Kilgore!” “Here!’”’ Kilgore leaped forward toward the light. It struck upon his figure and came to a halt. Then it dropped to the floor, and by good luck continued to burn. Kilgore stared at Severn, a frightful shape. | The’ American staggered and clutched at him. “Out of this!’ cried Severn in a wild voice. “Out of this hell-hole——” “You're alone?” snapped Kilgore, won- dering. Ves,” “Day?” “Safe—get out, get out!” _ Hysteria ithout hesita- ‘said Kilgore kindly. shrilled in Severn’s tone. ‘“You’ve no idea what I’ve done—out of here, I tell you! Pick up the light——” Kilgore obeyed. He had no idea what Severn had done; that was true. Nothing, in fact, but to tie up a leprous woman—and yet this absurdly simple thing had unstrung and shaken Severn to the very soul. He was still nauseated. ‘The two men ran. When they gained the cavern entrance, Severn flung himself forward with an inarticulate cry of thanks- giving on his lips. He threw himself into the warm sand and lay there, clutching at it. Kilgore dropped the electric torch and looked about. He saw the boat there at the shore below, the blue sky above. He looked at Severn and perceived that the man was sick. 3 Then, with a queer smile twisting at his lips, Kilgore stepped back into the darkness. Five minutes afterward he _ rejoined Severn, who by this time was sitting up - The American glanced and looking about. up at his friend. “I’m a fool,” he said, his voice still un- certain. “It was a horrible thing—you can’t imagine how horrible! To any one else it might not have mattered a bit.” Kilgore touched him on the shoulder and. pointed to the boat. “Never mind talking about it. 9) Let’s go. Severn drew a deep breath and came to his feet. They got into the boat. Severn sat on the forward thwart. Kilgore took the paddle and urged the rude craft outward along the narrow water-way into the lake. Once or twice he glanced back at the black portal of the cavern. At length they emerged from the cleft in the rocks, ana were heading for the shore beyond. Kilgore saw the two horses there. At length Severn raised his head. “T want only to get out of here forever!” he said. “I’ve had enough. I’m done——” “Buck up, old chap, we’re on our way,” ““Where’s Day?” “Out there.” Severn waved his hand vaguely. “With the others. [-——’” A tremor passed through the boat—a shivering convulsion imparted from the - water. It was followed by a dull sound, a thudding smash. Severn leaped to his . feet in alarm, nearly overturning the craft.. (OAIC KOO KS 173 (E@)