onry.

Bill was despatched to the boat for candles--which you may remember
were part of the "pruel" that Yaspard hid in the chimney; but the
impatience of his companions to learn more would not allow them to wait
on his return before descending into the chamber. They could see that
there was solid ground some seven or eight feet beneath the opening,
and Harry swung down, and soon reported himself as standing on a
"decently paved floor;" but he was too cautious to explore farther
until some light was thrown on the subject. Not so Tom Holtum. He did
not see the fun in waiting for candles, and down he jumped beside Harry.

"There's an awful draught here," he exclaimed. "There must be passages
and perhaps other rooms knocking around. I vote we explore," and
without listening a moment to Harry's warning, Tom made for a part of
the vault from whence the current of air proceeded.

"You are extremely foolish, Tom," said Harry.

"You are a timid ca----" Tom began to reply, but was cut short. With
an exclamation he suddenly disappeared; and next moment a fall and a
groan told, not only Harry but those above ground, that an accident had
taken place.

By that time Bill was back with the candles, and Yaspard hastened to
join Harry. After him came the others, as fast as they could, and all
gathered around Harry, who by that time stood with a lighted candle in
his hand over the mouth of a dark hole, peering down and calling, "Tom!
old chap." But "Tom! old chap" made no response, and all attempts to
hold the light over the opening proved futile, as a current of air
rushing upward put it out.

The lads gazed into each other's white, terror-stricken faces with mute
fear. The darkness and silence were enough to appal any one; but the
courage of our Viking-boy rose to the occasion.

"He must be awfully hurt, poor chap," he said, "and we must do our best
to find and help him. What do you suggest, Harry? _I'll_ do anything."

"Some one must be lowered with a rope," answered the wise head of the
party.

"That some one is me," was Yaspard's prompt reply. "Get your rope,
boys."

They always carried ropes with them. "We can do nothing without a
rope," they would say. But the ropes had been dropped, of course, on
the turf above, and the emergency which had made all hurry into the
vault had caused them to neglect providing for an easy ascent again.
The only thing to do was for two to hoist a third on their shoulders so
t