ugh which the ray of light
came. Ned turned his attention to the wall to the south.

Behind a luxuriant growth of vines he saw another glimmer of light, and in
a moment stood looking down a narrow stairway, at the distant end of which
were numerous lines of red flame. Jimmie, looking over Ned's shoulder,
uttered a muffled exclamation.

"Looks like a door made out of red-hot bars," he said.

"It is a board door," Ned whispered back, "with wide cracks between the
planks. There is an intense red fire in the room beyond."

Ned placed a foot on the top step of the stairway and slowly and
cautiously rested the weight of his body upon it, to make certain that no
trap for the protection of the place had been set there. The stone step
was solid and bore his weight firmly.

At the bottom of the stairway the boys stopped and looked about. Straight
ahead was the cracked door, to the south was a solid wall, to the north,
under the stone pavement they had crossed to gain the corner, was a dark
room, the door to which stood open. The room was close and hot.

"How are your matches, Jimmie?" whispered Ned.

"Got a pocketful," was the reply. "Want a light?"

"Not yet. We would better feel our way into the room. Keep close to me and
keep your gun handy."

The room was small, something like a vestibule to a larger one which ran
along parallel with the one from which the light came. It was very dark
there, and more than once the boys stumbled over obstructions on the
floor, which seemed to be of brick or stone. Once Ned heard Jimmie
laughing softly as he rolled on the floor.

"I'm thinkin' what the movin' picture men are missin'," the boy said, as
he moved forward on his hands and knees.

"This would look rather amusing--on a white canvas on the Bowery," Ned
said.

After reaching a wall, the stones of which felt damp and oozy to the
touch, Ned ventured to light a match. The underground room was long and
narrow, with rock walls in which there was no opening except the one by
way of which the boys had entered.

Ned, by the flaring light of the match, brushed away the mould which
flourished in that unwholesome place and seated himself on the stone
floor, his back against the wall. Jimmie, seeking physical companionship,
nestled close to him.

"Gee," the little fellow remarked, with a snicker, "you thinkin' of takin'
up a homestead here?"

"I'm going to remain in this room until the workers in the other chamber
go away," was