This became irksome; besides,
twice I awoke to the fact that my thoughts had carried me so far
away from my surroundings that the stone could have been raised
to the roof and I would not have noticed it.
So, using my jacket for a cushion, I seated myself on the ground
in the threshold, leaning my back against the stone, and gave
myself up to meditation.
I had sat thus for three hours or more, and was thinking of
calling Harry to relieve me, when I felt a movement at my back. I
turned quickly and saw that the stone was moving upward.
Slowly it rose, by little frequent jerks, not more than an eighth
of an inch at a time. In fifteen minutes it was only about four
inches from the ground. There was no sound save a faint grating
noise from above.
I stood several feet away, holding one of the golden clubs in my
hand, thinking it unnecessary to rouse Harry until the space was
wide enough to cause apprehension. Or rather, because I had no
fear of an assault--I was convinced that our ruse had succeeded,
and that they were about to communicate with us by means of the
quipos.
The stone was raised a little over a foot, then became
stationary.
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