I pray it for your own sakes, also for ours who need you." "We shall not wake him who sleeps in the cave," I answered enigmatically, as we departed rejoicing, for now we had learned that the Kendah did not yet know of the death of the serpent.
An hour's walk up the hill, guided by Hans, brought us to the mouth of the tunnel.

To tell the truth I could have wished it had been longer, for as we drew near all sorts of doubts assailed me.

What if Hans really had been drinking and invented this story to account for his absence?
What if the snake had recovered from a merely temporary indisposition?
What if it had a wife and family living in that cave, every one of them thirsting for vengeance?
Well, it was too late to hesitate now, but secretly I hoped that one of the others would prefer to lead the way.

We reached the place and listened.

It was silent as a tomb.