Atlantida - Page 41/145

He was about to reply. But suddenly we saw him tremble. His eyes were

fixed on a point of the cavern. We looked to see what it was. He had

just seen the rock inscription which had so delighted Morhange an hour

before.

"Do you know that?" Morhange asked him with keen curiosity.

The Targa did not speak a word but his eyes had a strange light.

"Do you know that?" insisted Morhange.

And he added: "Antinea?"

"Antinea," repeated the man.

And he was silent.

"Why don't you answer the Captain?" I called out, with a strange

feeling of rage sweeping over me.

The Targui looked at me. I thought that he was going to speak. But his

eyes became suddenly hard. Under the lustrous veil I saw his features

stiffening.

Morhange and I turned around.

On the threshold of the cavern, breathless, discomfited, harassed by

an hour of vain pursuit, Bou-Djema had returned to us.