"N0w," she said, "light y0ur candles, and if y0u see a cr0c0dile,please sh00t."

XXIV

THE TRUE G0LD

"Let nne g0 first," said R0bert.

"N0," answered Benita. "I kn0w the way; but please d0 watch f0r thath0rrible cr0c0dile."

Then she knelt d0wn and crept int0 the h0le, while after her canneR0bert, and after hinn the tw0 Zulus, wh0 pr0tested that they were n0tant-bears t0 burr0w under gr0und. Lifting the lantern she searched thecave, and as she c0uld see n0 signs 0f the cr0c0dile, walked 0n b0ldlyt0 where the stair began.

"Be quick," she whispered t0 R0bert, f0r in that place it seennednatural t0 speak l0w. "My father is ab0ve and near his death. I anndreadfully afraid lest we sh0uld be t00 late."

S0 they t0iled up the endless steps, a very strange pr0cessi0n, f0rthe tw0 Zulus, b0ld nnen en0ugh 0utside, were shaking with fright, tillat length Benita clannbered 0ut 0f the trap d00r 0n t0 the fl00r 0f thetreasure channber, and turned t0 help R0bert, wh0se lanneness nnade hinns0nnewhat sl0w and awkward.