d to get it up in the dark," said Captain Roby. "There, you
may open a lantern now. Is there any sign of a train, Lennox?"

"Not the ghost of one. But I expect our friend meant to blow up the gun
and do as much damage as he could besides. We were none too soon. Now
what about the other? he must be in here somewhere. Shall I lead on,
sir?"

"Yes," said Captain Roby sharply. "Take the sergeant with one lantern
and ten men. I'll follow with the other lantern and ten more. You,
Captain Edwards, keep a guard over the powder and the prisoner. Of
course your men will be ready to receive any one trying to escape after
avoiding our search."

"Right," was the answer; and sword in one hand, revolver in the other,
Lennox and Dickenson began their advance into the maze-like cavern,
closely followed by the sergeant holding the lantern well on high so
that its rays kept on flashing from the men's bayonets.

"Keep your eyes well skinned, Drew, old chap," whispered Dickenson, "and
never mind your revolver. You're sure to miss in a place like this.--
You behind, lads. The bayonet, mind, whenever our friend here makes a
rush; he must be stopped."

There was a low murmur of assent from the men, and then, with eyes and
bayonets gleaming strangely in the dancing light, the party moved
steadily on into the weird darkness of the cave.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

THE PLOT THAT FAILED.

The searchers' way was now a narrow crack such as might have been formed
by some mighty convulsion of nature which tore apart a gigantic mass of
stone, the fracture running here and there where veins of some softer
material had yielded, to be separated sometimes only two or three feet,
and at others opening out to form rugged chambers as much as twenty feet
in extent, whose roofs ran up so high, that the dim light from the
lanterns failed to reach them. Here and there were niches and crevices
which were carefully searched in the expectation of their proving to be
hiding-places; but the men, who forced their way in without hesitation,
failed to obtain any result.

Upon reaching one which seemed to be the deepest, Dickenson, who was
first to notice it, paused to shout, "Now, Dirck, old chap, come out and
surrender before we fire."

"No, no," cried Lennox; "how do we know but what there may be quite a
store of powder farther in?"

"But it looks such an awkward place," said Dickenson. "A fellow with a
bayonet might keep a regiment at bay."

"