ay still be seen in
many an old castle or palace in the north of Europe, though less
frequent in the castles of Spain. This one was deep and wide and
high, and our friend Russell could easily enter it without stooping.

He entered thus the great fireplace and looked around, holding his
torch so as to light up the interior. Below, there was the pavement
of stone, which seemed solid and immovable. Above, the chimney arose
far on high, and through the wide opening the sky overhead was
plainly visible, with its glittering stars.

Now, as Russell stood peering about, he noticed something in the
construction of the chimney which struck him as rather peculiar, and
this was several stones on the left side, which projected from the
wall and were placed one above another. The arrangement was so
singular that it at once arrested his attention, and being in search
of a hiding-place for his treasure, he could not avoid examining it
further with keener interest. This arrangement of the stones one
above another was suggestive of climbing. They seemed intended for
steps, and he therefore peered upward more curiously, to see how far
these steps continued and what was the end. Looking thus upward, he
noticed on one side what seemed like a niche in the chimney wall. It
was so formed that it was not visible unless one were standing deep
inside the chimney and looking up for it, and it seemed to be deep
and spacious. No sooner had he caught sight of this niche than he
determined to investigate it farther. For a few moments he paused to
see whether Harry was still asleep or not, and then, being satisfied
on this point, he began to climb up. So nicely were the stones
adjusted that this was easy even to an inactive and heavy man like
him, and after ascending three steps ho stood and peered into the
niche. It seemed quite deep. He could not see any end to it or any
terminating wall. What the design of it was he could not imagine. He
saw, however, that it afforded an admirable place of concealment for
his treasure, and he determined at once to avail himself of it. Here
he thought it would be secure from discovery, and it might remain
here undetected and unharmed for any length of time. As for fire, it
was not likely that the chimney was ever used; but even if it were,
there was scarcely any possibility that the flames could affect
anything in this deep niche.

Russell now took from his pocket a bulky parcel, and leaning far
inside the niche,