tiveness, the dust had settled heavily over
everything. They had noticed it down below, and on the stairs as well,
as they came along. It was up here, too, on the floor of the main hall,
as well as those in various passages leading into unknown depths of the
great building.

Tom was selecting that passage which he could see from the multitude of
footprints had been most generally used. It was indeed a clever idea of
the air service boy's, and one that promised to be crowned with success.

"We'll go this way, and try it out," he told Jack, commencing to move
along as he spoke.

Jack, for a wonder, was silent. Truth to tell, he found himself lost in
admiration of the cleverness shown by his chum, and of the plan which he
felt certain would never have occurred to him.

When the light became dim Tom was provided with a supply of matches,
which fact further surprised and humiliated Jack, because on
investigating his own pockets he could produce only two matches.

They went down several steps, only to mount again to the same level a
few minutes later. Jack could easily believe they must have reached the
extremity of that extensive right wing. He caught the sound of heavy
voices in discussion, coming from exactly below; which told him the
dining-hall must be in that quarter.

So far they had fortunately met no one. Jack wondered what would happen
if they should come upon a sentry standing guard, perhaps over the
apartment where the general slept when he could tear himself away from
his pleasures and his work. But his confidence in Tom had mounted to
such heights by now that he expected his pilot would be equal to even
that occasion.

Then Tom stopped short.

He seemed to be examining something at his feet, for he had struck one
more of his matches. Jack, seeing him look at a closed door, fancied
that their search was in a fair way of coming to a successful end.

No sooner had the match expired than Tom gently tried the door. He did
not seem very much surprised to find it locked. Bending down he next
proceeded to examine the lock, for it seemed to be provided with one,
though many of the other doors were not, such things not being in
general use in the centuries back, when this ancient pile of stone was
built.

He turned to his companion and whispered encouragingly.

"She must be in that room, for many feet have passed in and out. Among
the footprints close by here are several small, childish ones. We are
surely o