Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-06

At that moment Codd, who had
been away invesE eating on his owr
account, and had no idea of the OF h.
ers' quarrel. gave a shout of delight
lie was at the further end of the
courtyard, at spot where dense
mass of creeper had fallen, and now
lay trailing upon the stones. The eff.
feet upon his companions was in.
Simultaneous. They abandoned their
quarrel without another word, and
| picking up their crowbars hastened
to the spot where he was waiting for
them.
What have you found, little man ~
inquired Kitwater, as he approached
Mr.. Codd, however, said nothing in
reply, but beat with his bar upon the
stone beneath him. There could be
little or no doubt about the hollow
sound that rewarded his endeavors.
We've got it," cried Kitwatcr
Bring the pickax, Hayle, and well
soon see what iss underneath this
precious stone. We may be at the
heart of the mystery for all we
know"
In less time than IL takes to tell,
Hayle had complied with the Others
request, and was hard at work pick
ing out the earth which held the
enormous flagstone in its place. A
state of mad excitement had taken
hold of the men, and the veins stood
out like whipcord upon Hayle's fore
head. 1t was difficult to saw how
many feet separated them from the
treasure that was to make them lords
of all the earth. At last the stone
showed signs of moving, and it was
possible for Kitwater to insert his
bar beneath one corner. He did so.
pried it up, and leaned upon it wit
all his weight. 1t showed no sign of
moving, however. The seal of Time
was set upon it, and it was not to be
lightly disturbed.
Push your bar in here alongside
of mine. Coddy," said Kitwater at
last. Il fancy we shall get it then"
The little man did as he was di-
rected, kitwater and Hayle seconded
his efforts on the other side, and then,
under the strain of their united exer-
tions, the stone began to move slow
~ from its place. Little by little they
raised it. putting all the strength
they possessed into the operation, un.
til at last, with one great effort they
hurled it backwards. and il fell with
crash upon the pavement behind
them, revealing dark. narrow hole.
the bottom of which il was irnpossi-
BILE to see.
Now, then, Gideon, nv WORTHY
friend, what have you got to saw
about the business?" asked Kitwater.
as he wiped the perspration from his
brow. You pretended to doubt nv
story. Was there anything in the old
frenchman's yarn after all? We're
we wasting our time upon a fools err
RAND when we set off to explore Seng.
kor-Wat?
Hayle looked at him somewhat
sheepishly.
NO, no. he said, 81 am willing TO
admit that so Far you have won the
trick Let me down easily if YOU can.
l can neither pass nor follow suit. I
am right olt of my reckoning. Now
what do you propose to do?"
Get one Of those torches We hroucbt
with us, and find out what there is in
that hole" Kitwater answered.
They waited while the I.,ter on+
back to the camp. and whom bs rs,n
peared, and had lighted the torch. they
prepared 70 follow him down the stems
into the mysterious dep his below. Til.
former, they soon discovered. wcre a.
solidly built as the rest of the palace,
and were about 30 in number. They
were, moreover, wet and SHINY. and so
narrow that it was only possible for
one man TO descend them at once.
When they reached the bottom ,hey
found themselves standing in a mar
row passage, the walls of which were
composed of solid stone, in many
places finely carved, The air was close.
and from the fact that now and arain
bats dashed past them into the deeDer
darkness, they argued that there
must be some way of communicating
with the open air at the further end.
This is Just what the Frepchman
told me-" said Kitwater. and bis voic.
echoed away along the passag. like
distant thunder. "He said we should
find a narrow corridor at III. foot ~
the steps. and then III. traasur.
chamber at the further end So far II
looks all right. Let rs NOV. on INV
friends"
There was no need for him 10 issue