Suddenly the chant ceased, and all the Indians bowed down. Jerry and his friends did the same. When they rose they saw that the medicine men stood in a half circle about the altar. One Indian, evidently the leader, began a strange, high-pitched song, and, at the close, he rushed to the golden stone, and struck it a blow with a stick he carried. Instantly the stone opened and from the interior the medicine man drew out a curious object.
By the start of the professor, whose eyes lighted on it, Jerry and the others knew what it was--the flying lizard. High up over his head the medicine man held the odd creature, a crawling reptile, about a foot long, which, as it was elevated, spread out four green wings. It was a strange and fearsome creature, but the professor fairly trembled with eagerness as he beheld it.
After holding it in the air a moment the chief medicine man cried out what was evidently a question. It was answered by a shout from all the people. Then he made a motion as if about to kill the flying lizard, but, instead, handed it to one of the medicine men surrounding him. The Indian, carrying the reptile, started to leave the temple. At the same time, from some source which the rescuers could not detect, another flying lizard was produced. It was held up as the first had been. Again came the question from the chief medicine man, and again the answer, in a shouted chorus. This was evidently the new lizard, for it was placed inside the gold stone, which was closed up again.
Then the medicine men took up their chant once more, and began to march around the altar, while the whole concourse of people, in their strange costumes, prostrated themselves flat on their faces on the floor of the temple.
“Now’s our chance!” whispered Nestor to the others. “We can slip out now, and none of them will see us. We’ll go to the hut, get the eight prisoners and escape! The feasting will begin in a little while, and the Indians will be too interested to notice anything.”
“All right,” answered Jerry in a whisper. They turned quickly, and left the temple. The people were still on their faces. The Indian who had been given the old lizard to dispose of was seen hurrying back up the middle aisle. Evidently he wanted to join in the rites.