"Well, I suppose it is fair spoil of war, but I haven't given a thought to the question as to what we shall do with it. We'll have to get it up and that will take some time; there's such a lot of it. I'll take you down the well for a private view. Then we'll have the barrier removed from the entrance in the wood and get the men to bring the stuff into the open." They walked up the hill and climbed into the fort, where Challis was interested to see the changes made during his absence. "You ought to have been an officer in the Royal Engineers, Hugh," he said. Royce grinned. "Don't be an ass!" was all he said. They reached the well-room. "Just wait up here until I get the door open," said Royce, as he stepped over the coping and began to descend by the iron staples. Challis leant over the edge, watching him. Below, the depths of the well were dark, and he could hear the slight gurgle of the spring at the bottom. "I say," came Royce's voice, "the door's open! I left it shut. One of the men must have been prying, in spite of what John said about their horror." "You'll have to make an example of him! Shall I come down?" "Wait a bit. My electric torch has given out. Have you got a match?" "Not one. There's a box among our stores, though. I'll get it and bring it down to you." He went to the room where the stores were kept. Meanwhile Royce, always impatient, passed through the opening in the wall and began to creep slowly along the tunnel. Challis, having found a box of matches, was returning to the well when he was amazed to see a black, fuzzy head appear over the coping. For a moment he imagined that it belonged to one of Royce's own men whom he had routed out of the tunnel, but at a second glance he realised his mistake. The man's black cheeks bore Rabeh's telltale scars. It was Goruba. [Illustration: GORUBA CLIMBS THE WELL] With a shout, Challis dashed forward. Goruba's shoulders were now above the coping. In his right hand he bore a knife, and his eyes gleamed with rage. Challis was unarmed. His only chance was to deal with the negro before he had fully emerged from the well. Shooting out his right arm, he brought his fist with sledge-hammer force upon Goruba's brow, between the eyes, just as the man was about to launch himself over the coping. The negro staggered back, lost his balance, and fell head over heels into the well. There was a thud, then a splash--and then Royce's voice from the opening: "What's the row, Tom? When are you coming down with those matches?" CHAPTER XXXIV THE GREAT REWARD Challis shuddered with horror as he realised how narrow Royce's escape had been. A moment later, and Royce must have been dashed from his footing on the staple by the massive form of Goruba, and have fallen, like him, to the bottom of the well. "Hurry up, Tom! What are you so long about, man?" Royce asked. Challis leant over the coping.