Above he could hear the sounds of footsteps, and directly a
door, which he judged to be the door into the cellar from above, opened.
The head of Duval appeared in the doorway. In his hand he held a
flashlight, and Hal could make him out plainly. A second face peered over
his shoulder, and Hal recognized it instantly as that of the Apache's
chief lieutenant, who had accosted them in the den.
"What was it?" asked the lieutenant.
"I don't see anything," was the reply.
At that moment a furry shape calmly ascended the stairs and stopped at
Duval's feet. It was a black cat, which stopped to lick his right paw.
Duval stooped down and examined him. Then he arose with a laugh.
"_Mon Dieu_!" he exclaimed. "It was the cat. He must have upset the jars
of jelly and preserves. See, he is covered with it."
"By Jove! This is luck," muttered Hal to himself. "The cat must have been
sleeping among them when I knocked them down."
He made no move, and directly the two men and the cat disappeared and the
door closed with a bang.
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