Their guide swiftly crossed the room and opened another forbidding
looking door. The second room was like the first, but was filled with
casks and huge barrels. Beyond this again they entered a narrow
passage, so very narrow that their garments brushed the walls at either
side. The stones underfoot were rough and uneven.

Professor Morris walked carefully, picking his steps by the aid of the
flashlight. Evelyn and Jack, more careless, stumbled frequently, but
still the girl, light as a feather, flitted on, swift and sure footed.

Once more the flash revealed a wall ahead. As she approached it the
girl turned and smiled. Evelyn stared. There was no sign of any
opening in the rough wall and the great stones seemed fast in their
cement, but the girl, stooping, pressed a corner of one of the paving
stones. To their amazement it slid from its place, revealing another
very narrow flight of steps. The girl descended, and when they were
all down, pressed another spring, and the stone slid in place. Another
flight of steps exactly like the ones they had just descended rose
against the flooring; and when the girl had led the way, they one by
one stepped into a large and brightly lighted room.

Professor Morris blinked; Jack turned red; Evelyn gasped with
surprise.





CHAPTER VIII