a few more friendly, and, as I believed, false words, Master
Lord ascended the ladder; the trap-door was shut and bolted, and while
this was being done Hiram clambered upon the table softly that he might
approach his ear to the aperture made in the floor, motioning me to take
my former station, while Archie clambered up on a stool to hear what he
might from the other crevice.

Between us all we contrived to make out with reasonably certainty when
our host, having moved about the room a few minutes as if searching for
something, left the building, locking the door behind him, and after
mayhap five minutes had passed in silence, Hiram said in a low tone as
he came down from his perch:

"I'm allowing the worthy Master Lord will remain abroad, striving
earnestly to aid the Cause, for at least an hour, and during such time,
if you lads are so disposed, we will see what may be done with that
rubbish hole, which, as I believe, points out to us the fairest road we
could have for the thwarting of treacherous schemes."

You can fancy with what eagerness I set about removing the casks,
believing we might speedily effect our purpose; but it was not in
Hiram's mind that we should be rash.

"Fair and softly, lad, else by too much haste you spoil the whole broth.
That which chokes the passage must be disposed of if we would count on
opening it, and where do you reckon we may put what is taken out, so
that when our host visits us again he shall see no signs of our labor?"

I had shown myself thick-headed many a time before; but never so dull as
now when I would have begun pulling out the rubbish without means of
hiding it, and I stepped back in despair, not understanding how we might
at the same time remove and keep it hidden from view.

It seems that Hiram had already been making plans to such end, for he at
once began taking out some of the larger stones, and stowing them in two
of the casks from which the heads had been removed.

"We can get rid of considerable in this way, and after that much has
been done it may be possible to pack the earth down so closely that we
can drive a tunnel through," he said, working energetically, and we
three lads, understanding what was in his mind, lost no time in bearing
a hand.

CHAPTER XIV

THE SECRET PASSAGE

Fortunately for us all the casks save two were unheaded, and these we
filled in short order, for it can well be supposed that every one worked
with utmost speed, not kno