"While we can pass, let us."
The passage curved to the right and they came into an oval room. Again
Dandtan shook his head but ventured no protest. Instead he flung open a
door and hurried down a short hall.
It seemed to Garin that there were strange rustlings and squeakings in
the dark corners. Then Dandtan stopped so short that the flyer ran into
him.
"Here is the guard room--and it is empty!"
Garin looked over his shoulder into a large room. Racks of strange
weapons hung on the walls and the sleeping pallets of the guards were
stacked evenly, but the men were nowhere to be seen.
They crossed the room and passed beneath an archway.
"Even the bars are not down," observed Dandtan. He pointed overhead.
There hung a portcullis of stone. Garin studied it apprehensively. But
Dandtan drew him on into a narrow corridor where were barred doors.
"The cells," he explained, and withdrew a bar across one door. The
portal swung back and they pushed within.
_CHAPTER SEVEN_
_Kepta's Trap_
Thrala arose to face them. Forgetting the disguise he wore, Garin drew
back, chilled by her icy demeanor. But Dandtan sprang forward and caught
her in his arms. She struggled madly until she saw the face beneath her
captor's hood, and then she gave a cry of delight and her arms were
about his neck.
"Dandtan!"