He forgot the rough brigands for a moment, and stood there looking at the walls and great columns, upon which the moon was pouring a flood of beams.

What were these outlaws to those mighty builders whom the past had swallowed up so completely?
The brigands were already lighting a fire beside one of the huge monoliths, and Carossa lay down on a serape.

The fire blazed up, but it did not detract from the weird effect of the Hall of Pillars.

One of the men warmed food which he brought from another of the ruined houses, and Carossa told his prisoners to eat.
"What I give you to-night, and what I shall give you to-morrow morning may be the last food that you will have for some time," he said, "so enjoy it as best you may." He smiled, his lips drawing back from his white teeth, and in some singular way he made Ned think of the black jaguar and his black lips writhing back from his great fangs.

Why had Obed spoken of coming with them?
Better to have been stripped in the path, and to have gone on alone.