This startled them, and looking up they saw before them the rocky cliffs in which the Egyptians long since, and now in later times the Christians, had hewn caves and tombs.

From the door of one of these, only a few paces beyond where they stood, light streamed out; and as they were about to pass it a large dog barked.

Immediately on this a man came out, and in a rough, deep voice asked them the pass-word.

Diodoros, seized with sudden terror of the dark figure, which he believed to be a risen ghost, took to his heels, dragging Melissa with him.

The dog flew after them, barking loudly; and when the youth stooped to pick up a stone to scare him off, the angry brute sprang on him and dragged him down.
Melissa screamed for help, but the gruff voice angrily bade her be silent.