on for so long a distance that, as he
peered down into it, he could see no end. This passage-way served
also to lessen the mystery of his late visitant. He now thought that
this visitant had been one of the Carlist band, who had come in,
while he was asleep, on a reconnoitring expedition. Yet, however this
may have been, it did not prevent him from searching for a place of
concealment in this passage-way. It might not be a good place, the
hidden documents might still be liable to discovery, yet it was the
only place, and so there was no choice in the matter.

As Harry looked along this passage-way he came to a huge projecting
stone, which seemed as though it had been dislodged in some way. So
large was this stone, and so peculiar was its dislocation, that Harry
could only think of an earthquake as an adequate cause. It was about
eight feet in length by four feet in height, and one end jutted
forth, while the other end was sunken in, behind the surface of the
wall, in a corresponding manner. At the end where the stone jutted
out there was a crevice a few inches in width, which seemed well
adapted for a place of concealment, and upon this he at once decided.
But to prevent the possibility of discovery it was necessary to
thrust the package far in, while at the same time it must be arranged
in such a way that it could be drawn forth again. This could be done
by means of the string with which it was bound up. This he took off,
and tying one end to the package, he thrust it into the crevice as
far as he could, quite out of sight, leaving the end of the string
hanging out about one inch, in such a way that it was discernible to
no one except himself.

[Illustration: "He Stooped Forward And Picked It Up."]

CHAPTER XVIII.

IN WHICH HARRY YIELDS TO AN UNCONTROLLABLE IMPULSE, AND RISKS HIS
LIFE IN A DARING ADVENTURE.

Harry now felt perfectly secure about the package. It seemed to him
to be safely hidden, beyond all possibility of discovery; for who
could ever venture into this passage-way? and if any one should, how
could that package be seen? Still, as to any one venturing here, he
had his doubts. There was that mysterious visit. What did that mean?
It was a female figure--a woman; young, too, light, active. Who could
it have been? It must have been some one familiar with the castle. He
now felt convinced that this figure was no apparition, that it was
some living person, that she had come down through this v