CHAPTER XVIII ATTACKED BY LIONS Challis had already decided not to make for the village at which Royce had obtained supplies. It lay far on the other side of the fort, and Mogra did not know it. Mogra had suggested that they should go to his own village, which was only a day's march eastward of the fort, and to this Challis had agreed. On horseback they made better progress than on foot, and soon after midday came in sight of the village. At the first glimpse of it Mogra uttered a wail--there were signs that here, too, the Tubus had been at their desolating work. And in truth, when the horsemen rode into the wide street, their passage was through ruins. Not a house was standing; neither human being nor brute beast was to be seen. "What has become of all the people?" said Challis. "Surely they can't all have been carried away as slaves?" "No, sah--old men no good, old women no good," said John. "All gone dead." "But there are no dead bodies--no remains of any kind," said Challis with a shudder. John confessed that he, too, was puzzled at this remarkable fact. Turning to Mogra, he demanded, with a sort of remonstrant anger, where all the young man's people were. And then Mogra told a little story. "In the days of our fathers," he said, "long, long ago, the bad men came to this village even as they have done these few days past, and it is told that my people learnt beforehand of their coming, and went a day's journey to the east, and there took refuge in a cave. I have never been there, nor my father, nor any of the people of his age; but the cave is known to certain of the old men of the village, and it may be that they have led our people there." John translated this in his own queer way. "It sounds very romantic," remarked Challis musingly. "Berry big lie, sah!" said John decisively. "Come, now, you mustn't call Mogra a liar! Ask him if he can lead us there." "Him say savvy way little bit, den him go lost," said John, after questioning the man. "Well, let him try the little bit; there's no harm in that. If he comes to a check, we must trust to luck." Mogra showed no hesitation at the start; but, after riding for a couple of hours, he declared that he could guide them no farther. "Does he know what sort of country is round about the cave?" asked Challis. It was bare and rocky, said Mogra, with hardly any vegetation; but he remembered having heard that one particularly large tree stood in front of the cave. "We will cast about for that, then," said Challis. "Let us take different directions." "No, no, no!" said John energetically. "Go all same one way." "Very well, if you are afraid of our losing one another, we will all go together." They rode on, searching the country over a wide area; but the afternoon was wearing to evening, and they had still lighted on no trace of the cave. Challis began to think they had better give it up and make for another village before night enveloped them.