ing formed of thick
bars of the same metal. This door being opened, the party descended a
flight of stone steps, and entered an apartment of great extent where
the damp, chill air was so charged with noxious vapours, that the light
of the lantern was almost extinguished. The stone walls and floor of
this dungeon were covered with green damp; and from the ceiling in many
places dripped a foul moisture. The further extremity of the place was
involved in a profound darkness which could not be dissipated by feeble
rays of the lamp.

'Here,' said the Dead Man, addressing his prisoner--'you will be kept in
confinement for the rest of your life--a confinement varied only by
different modes of torture which I shall apply to you, from time to
time. This dungeon is called the Chamber of Death--for what reason you
will ere long find out. It is built directly under the sewers of the
city, which accounts for the liquid filth that oozes through the
ceiling. Many persons have been shut up in this place, for offences
against our band and against me; and not one of them has ever got out,
either alive or dead! To-morrow I shall visit you, and bring you
food--for I do not wish you to die of hunger; I will endeavor to
protract, not shorten your life, so that I may longer enjoy the pleasure
of torturing you. To-morrow, perhaps, you shall receive your first
lesson in my methods of torture. Adieu--come, comrades, let's leave him
the lamp, that he may contemplate the horrors of the place--for darkness
here is bliss.'

The three villains ascended the steps and left the dungeon, having first
carefully locked the door.

Poor Sydney fell upon his knees on the cold, damp floor, and prayed
earnestly for either a safe deliverance from that awful place, or a
speedy death. Somewhat comforted by the appeal to a Supreme Being, whose
existence all men acknowledge in times of peril, he arose, and taking
the lamp resolved to explore the dungeon. He had not proceeded far
before a spectacle met his gaze which caused him to pause in horror and
affright.

Seated around a vast table, was a row of figures fantastically dressed
and in every extravagant attitude. At first, Frank thought that they
were living creatures; but observing that they did not move, he
approached nearer, and discovered that they were skeletons. Some were
dressed as males, others as females; and many of them, in fearful
mockery of death, had been placed in attitudes the most obscene and