e about carrying it out the better. Now it is
quite evident that there is no place of concealment in this room, so
there is nothing to be gained by dawdling here. Also, we know that it
is useless to retrace our steps; and yonder is obviously the kitchen,
and must therefore be avoided. That leaves us with no resource but to
try the big door; so come along and let us see how far our luck will
hold good."

Without further ado the pair advanced cautiously to the door which Phil
had indicated, and the latter laid his hand upon the handle, which he
turned gradually and noiselessly as far as it would go; then, having
noticed that the door opened inward, he drew it toward him the fraction
of an inch and glanced through the slit thus created. Phil now found
that he was looking into a long and wide corridor, or passage,
imperfectly lighted by two small windows, one at each end. There was no
one to be seen in that part of the corridor which came within his
somewhat limited range of vision, so, emboldened thereby, he opened the
door widely enough to enable him to peer out and take a hasty glance
along the full length of the corridor. That glance assured him that,
for the moment at least, the passage was empty; and at the same moment
he became conscious of the low, sweet notes of an organ being played
somewhat toward the far end of the building.

"Good!" he whispered excitedly to Dick. "Do you hear that, lad? It is
an organ; which means that the chapel is not very far away; and if we
can but gain its interior we shall be reasonably safe; for there is sure
to be a dark nook somewhere in it where we may be able to lie concealed
for a few hours. Since the coast seems to be clear just now we may as
well proceed upon our hunt at once; all hands are probably now engaged
upon their regular morning's business, and, if so, we may be lucky
enough to go a good way without meeting anybody, whereas later on the
whole place will probably be alive with people. So, come along, lad; no
time like the present."

Silently as ghosts the pair slid through the open doorway into the
corridor, drawing the door to and closing it behind them in the very
nick of time; for as Phil released his hold upon the handle he heard the
door leading from the kitchen to the refectory open, the hitherto
subdued sounds of activity in the kitchen suddenly became greatly
intensified, while voices and the sound of shuffling sandals on the
stone floor of the refect