slight radius illumined by the lantern, and
even within that small area, her own shadow, and those of the three
men, helped render everything indistinct. The side walls appeared to
be of solid rock; she perceived no evidence of entrances into any side
chamber, only that her eyes twice caught glimpses of what seemed like
narrow slits at about the level of her head. She could not be certain
as to their purpose, or ascertain exactly what they were, only they
bore resemblance to an opening cleft in the rock, either for
ventilation, or to permit of observation from without of some interior
cell. Near each of these was a strangely shaped bracket of wood
fastened in some manner to the side wall, apparently intended for the
support of a light, as the ceiling above exhibited marks of smoke.

They had turned the sharp corner, and advanced a few feet beyond when
the man with the lantern stopped suddenly, and held it up to permit the
light to stream full on the exposed wall to the right. Another of
these odd slits in the rock was visible here, and the girl was able to
perceive more clearly its nature--beyond question it was an artificial
opening, leading into a space on the farther side of the wall. Cateras
pushed past her, his body interfering with her view, and bent down,
fumbling along the rock surface.

"Hold the light closer," he demanded. "Aye, that's it. 'Tis some
trick to find the thing---- Ah! now I have it."

It seemed like a bit of wood, so resembling the colour of the rock as
to be practically imperceptible to the eye in that dim light--a bit of
wood which slid back to reveal a heavy iron bolt, shot firmly into the
stone. This the Mexican forced back, and an opening yawned in the side
wall, the rays of the lantern revealing the interior of a black cave.
Cateras stepped within.

"Bring the woman," he commanded shortly, "and you, Merodez, see first
to the light."

Silva thrust her forward, his grip no light one, while the other struck
a match and applied it to the wick of a lamp occupying a bracket beside
the doorway. As this caught the full interior was revealed beneath the
sickly glow, a cell-like place, although of a fair size, unfurnished
except for a rude bench, and one three-legged stool, the floor of
stone, and the sides and roof apparently of the same solid structure.
It was gloomy, bare, horrible in its dreariness--a veritable grave.
The girl covered her face with her hands, appalled at the sight,