On both sides there was evident uneasiness; and when Anitoo, in a tone that sounded disagreeably like a command, told the explorers that they could not continue their tour of the cave unattended by them, things seemed to come to a climax. Miranda expostulated, the others grumbled and talked of resistance. But Anitoo was inflexible, insisting, all the while, that there was nothing unfriendly in his attitude. He reminded them that they could not possibly find their way out of the cave without his guidance. Miranda jumped at this hint of a rescue, but was again unable to extract a definite promise from Anitoo. "We will first show the Senores some of the wonders of the Guatavita kingdom," said the smiling Indian. "We don't want to see any more," said Miranda emphatically. "We have seen enough." "No! No!" continued Anitoo. "Whoever comes so far as this must see our queen before he goes away." "A queen! A kingdom in a cave! But that is impossible!" "I like his offer," interposed Leighton, who understood enough to catch the meaning of this strange proposal. "Anitoo seems honest. We have lost our way. If he has a queen and a kingdom to show us, they may be worth seeing. We can be no worse off, certainly, for seeing them." "Once in the land of goblins and fairies," remarked Una, "queens and kingdoms are a matter of course." "It is some idle mummery, I suppose," added Leighton; "we are too near civilization for anything else. All the same, these lanterns--or whatever you call them--that they carry, are worth knowing more about." "What are they?" "I would give a good deal to know." "Well, Senor," said Anitoo impatiently, "you will come with us?" Without waiting for Miranda, who seemed reluctant to place himself in the Indian's power more than he could help, Leighton bowed assent. "And this Senor Arthur?" inquired Anitoo. "He has gone," replied Miranda promptly. "He will not come again." "Perhaps," said Anitoo vaguely. At his signal the Indians lifted the curved trumpets to their lips, the drums were beaten and, to the same curious spirited music that had heralded their approach--half march, half dance--they moved off, the explorers in their midst, down the path flanked by the forest of stalactites, to the great entrance chamber whence, after finishing their hasty meal, the "picknickers" had first started on their journey of discovery.