At the
bottom there was still nothing but darkness. Here their guide was
waiting for them and allowed them to pass. A moment and there came to
the ears of the lads a dull clang, as if a heavy iron door had been
closed behind them.
And this, in truth, was the case.
Ahead of them in the dark hall their guide had opened the door without
their knowledge that such a thing existed, and now that they had passed
through he closed it again. The lads waited until he again brushed by
them and took the lead. Then they followed.
It seemed to Hal and Chester that the passageway wound about
considerably, for they were conscious of making several sharp turns.
Then, from ahead, a faint glow of light pierced the darkness and they
could make out their surroundings. In the rear it was perfectly dark and
on each side of the narrow passageway the dark, grimy walls rose sheer
for perhaps twenty-five feet. The place reeked with the smell of foul
air and tobacco smoke.
Now that the light shattered the blackness the little man, who had
advanced as soft-footed and as sure-footed as a cat in spite of the
darkness, increased his stride and made toward the light.
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