"Pull," she said, "for you are strong." And I pulled, and the stone came round on invisible hinges. In the opening there disclosed I felt rough-hewn steps that went down, and pushing myself through I descended. Three steps I counted, and then there were no more; and I lost my hand-hold and fell. I threw out my hands wildly in search of some support; my head swung forward and struck against a projection; and, insensible, I still fell--down, down....
When I came to myself I was lying on the ground, my head in the woman's lap; and her hair had torn loose and was swathing my temples; and as she bent to kiss me, I felt that her eyes were wet.
[Illustration: "HE DRAGGED ME ALONG AS EASILY AS A CHILD."]
But between her and me came the memory of Mary, and the promise the moon had seen at Rockhampton; and I did not kiss her back, but took her hand, and said, "My sister, my sister." And so she understood, and raised me up, and put something on my head that cured its aching; and the Second came to my side and held me, and we went on down the passage.
There was no light to guide us; but the walls shone with phosphorescent drawings, and all the vile gods of Buddha's Pantheon served us as horrid guides. We went on--the woman in tears, I in pain, and the Second in terror and dismay--till there came some rough-hewn steps, and these mounted, some stairs of wood; there the woman left us and bade us wait.
Presently she returned and led us still upward, and lifted a flap and let in a flood of light. And springing through, we were in the room of the grog-shop--all alone, save for the invisible eyes that I knew were watching us all around.
And we sat at the table; and I gave my hand to the woman, and said again, "My sister," and she fell to weeping afresh.
I looked towards the Second, and his brow was wet with sweat, and on his finger gleamed ominously the cursed stone.
I tried to get the ring off. It clung till with a wrench I had twisted it and had it off, and left his finger free; and then, before the woman could prevent me, had put it on my own. At that she shrank, shivering; but I knocked the table loudly in summons.
[Illustration: "I PULLED, AND THE STONE CAME ROUND ON INVISIBLE HINGES."]