Timokles hesitated, fearing he knew not what.

His eyes could not pierce the deep gloom.
Resolving to see whither the hall led, he groped on, wondering if this were the place in which the inhabitants of the oasis were wont to confine prisoners.

He came to a door.

It opened readily to his touch, and he passed into what had once been a large dwelling-room.
He stepped softly forward, noting the emptiness and desolation of the place.

The peculiar odor of the air was more noticeable than before, but it was not till he had reached the middle of the darkened room, and stood gazing about him, that he perceived at the farther end, in the shadows, a space of yellowish fawn color, and then saw manifold dark spots, also, that shaped themselves into a large, living form.
Timokles drew one quick breath.