hich seemed to echo hollowly and then to die away.

"Come along," said Scarlett, in a low voice; and, holding the candle
well before him, he began to descend the narrow steps, the distance from
side to side being precisely the same as before.

"Smells cold and damp," whispered Fred, when they had descended about
twenty steps; "just like a wine cellar."

"Perhaps it is one when we get to the bottom, and full of old wine."

"Are there many more steps?"

"Can't see. Shall we go any farther?"

"Oh yes; we'll go to the bottom, as we are here."

"Stop a moment. What was that?"

"I didn't hear anything."

"Yes; there it is again."

"Sounded like a drip of water in a pool."

"Perhaps it's a well."

"They wouldn't make a well here. Let's go to the bottom, and then be
satisfied for one day."

"Take hold of hands then, in case."

"In case of what?"

"There may be foul air at the bottom, same as there was in the Manor
well."

"You are saying that to frighten me."

"No."

"Well, it sounded like it. Let's go on."

The two explorers of this hidden way went on down and down, with the
sounds made by their feet echoing strangely; but still there were fresh
steps, and the distance seemed in their excited state to be tremendous.
Scarlett, however, persevered, though his movements were slower and
slower; and more than once he turned back to hold the light as high as
possible, so as to gaze up at the way they had come, looking over his
shoulder, and still holding tightly by Fred's hand.

"We must be right down ever so much below the house," he said at last.
"Shall we go any farther?"

"Oh yes, I'd go on," replied Fred, quietly; and once more the two lads
gazed in each other's eyes as if looking for signs of fear.

"Come along then," cried Scarlett, manfully; and he went down and down
more steps to stand at last on level stones, a narrow passage stretching
out before him, while the stone walls and ceiling gleamed as if slightly
damp.

"Hold the light up a little higher, Scar," whispered Fred.

Scarlett raised his left hand to the full length of his arm; there was a
soft _dab_, and Fred uttered a subdued "Oh!" as his companion's right
hand grasped his with spasmodic violence.

For Scarlett had pressed the candle up against the stone ceding, and the
arched surface thoroughly performed the duty of extinguisher, leaving
them in total darkness.

Half a minute must have passed, during which they were stunned b