Gehari had paid a terrible penalty for his treachery! “Come,” cried Seymour, and the Yankee, sickened by the sight of the ghastly tragedy, followed him. “What brought you back here, anyway?” he inquired as they hurried on. “I missed the savage,” Seymour explained, “and guessed he was up to some mischief or other. He’s paid a fearful price for his little trick.” “I reckon it was a near thing for me,” Silas admitted. “I was just crawlin’ on to the ledge when the brute lashed out with his fist and tumbled me back into the den again. You fixed him proper.” Ere long the two reached the end of the tunnel, where Mervyn awaited them. “We’ll have to hustle considerable,” remarked Haverly, “if we’re to get through. I guess the wolf-men won’t lose any time in strikin’ our trail.” He started off down the gully as he spoke, and the others followed, pressing on as fast as the difficult nature of the ground would allow. “Which way?” asked Mervyn as they reached the mouth of the gorge. “To the left, and run like blazes,” cried Haverly, “or we’ll be seeing the inside of the temple again ’fore long.” Scarcely had he spoken ere from behind came the long-drawn howl they knew so well. The wolf-men were in pursuit! CHAPTER XVI. HOW HAVERLY CHECKED THE STAMPEDE. FOR half an hour the fugitives raced on, every muscle straining in a mad effort to outdistance their pitiless pursuers. Their feet seemed shod with lead as they turned and twisted among the boulders; their breath came and went in great, panting gasps that shook their bodies, yet for all their frenzied endeavours, their relentless enemies drew nearer. Foot by foot, yard by yard, the wolfish creatures gained upon them. Then, in the grim wall of cliffs upon their left, appeared the dark mouth of a canyon. “Quick!” gasped the Yankee; “in here with you!” Like a flash the fugitives turned, and--with what was almost their last effort--plunged into the great cleft that split the range of hills in twain. Six yards from the entrance they swung round and stood at bay, Seymour and the millionaire fingering the triggers of their rifles. Some time passed, but there came no sign of their pursuers; even their howls had ceased, and the three grew puzzled to account for the strange silence. It was not natural! They knew the character of the wolf-men too well by this time to think for a moment that they had given up the pursuit--had abandoned the chase! What could be the meaning of their sudden silence? “They’ve got some devil’s card up their sleeve,” Silas muttered. “I guess they ain’t gone dumb all of a sudden for nothing. Say, there’d be no harm in prospecting a bit further along this gully? If there’s no back entrance, we’ll be in a darned awkward position.” “You’re right,” assented the baronet. “Mervyn, if you’re in want of a feed, you can peck a bit as we go along.”