nd time; there was no sign of knob or handle; he
could find no clue to its working.

"It's no use, Rex," said Norah feebly. "You will have to give it up."
But the lad's indomitable will would not permit him to agree in any such
conclusion.

"I will never give it up!" he cried loudly. "I brought you into this
place, and I'll get you out of it, if I have to break every bar with my
own hands--if I have to pick the stones out of the wall! Move along a
few yards; I'm going to lie down on my back, and try what kicking will
do."

No sooner said than done. Rex stretched himself at full length on the
ground, moved up and down to get at the right distance, and began to
assail the grating with a series of such violent kicks as woke a babel
of subterranean echoes. Not in vain he had been the crack "kick" of the
football team at school; not in vain had he exercised his muscles ever
since childhood in scrambling over mountain heights, and taking part in
vigorous out-of-door sports. Norah clasped her hands in a tremor of
excitement. It seemed to her that no fastenings in the world could long
withstand such a battery, and when Rex suddenly sprang to his feet and
charged at the door, she fairly shrieked with exultation.

"Go on! Go on! It shakes! I'm sure it shakes! Oh, Rex, kick! kick
for your life!" It was a superfluous entreaty. The strength of ten men
seemed to be concentrated in the lad for the next ten minutes, as he
fought the iron grating, changing from one position to another, as signs
of increasing weakness appeared in different parts of the framework.
Norah gasped out encouragement in the background, until at last, with a
crash and bang, the old springs gave way, and the grating fell to the
ground.

"Now--come!" shouted Rex. He did not waste a moment in rejoicing; now
that the barrier was removed both he and Norah were possessed with but
one longing--to get out of the passage as quickly as possible into
light, and air, and safety. Two minutes later they were seated side by
side on one of the beams of timber on the cellar floor, gazing into each
other's face with distended eyes. Rex was purple with the strain of his
late efforts--his breath came pantingly, his hair lay in damp rings on
his forehead. Norah's face was ghastly white; she was trembling from
head to foot.

"Thank God!" said Rex solemnly. They were his first words, and Norah
bent her head with a little sob of agitation.

"Oh, thank God! W