He accordingly seized a torch and hurried back to the foot of
the stone-steps; in the immediate vicinity of which he searched narrowly
for some object. At last he discovered the object of his
investigation--namely a large bell hanging in a niche, and from which a
strong wire ran up through the ground to the surface. This bell
Francisco set ringing, and then hurried back to rejoin his deliverers.
Scarcely was he again by the side of Demetrius, when he saw that his
stratagem had fully succeeded; for the iron door swung heavily round on
its hinges--and in another moment the cries of terror which the two
robber-sentinels raised on the inner side, were hushed forever by the
Turkish scimiters. Down another flight of steps the invaders then
precipitated themselves, another door, at the bottom, having been opened
in compliance with the same signal which had led to the unfolding of the
first--and now the alarm was given by the sentinels guarding the second
post--those sentinels flying madly on, having beholden the immolation of
their comrades. But Demetrius and Francisco speedily overtook them just
as they emerged from another long vaulted and paved cavern-passage, and
were about to cross a plank which connected the two sides of a deep
chasm in whose depths a rapid stream rushed gurgling on.

Into the turbid waters the two fugitive sentinels were cast: over the
bridge poured the invaders, and into another caverned corridor, hollowed
out of the solid rock, did they enter, the torch-bearers following
immediately behind the Greek and the young count. It was evident that
neither the cries of the surprised sentinels nor the tread of the
invaders had alarmed the main corps of the banditti; for, on reaching a
barrier formed by massive folding doors, and knocking thereat, the
portals instantly began to move on their hinges--and in rushed the
Ottoman soldiers, headed by their two gallant Christian leaders. The
robbers were in the midst of a deep carouse in their magnificent
cavern-hall, when their festivity was thus rudely interrupted.

"We are betrayed!" thundered Lomellino, the captain of the horde; "to
arms! to arms!"

But the invaders allowed them no time to concentrate themselves in a
serried phalanx, and tremendous carnage ensued. Surprised and taken
unaware as they were, the banditti fought as if a spell were upon them,
paralyzing their energies and warning them that their last hour was
come. The terrible scimiters of the Turks