kly by the sound
of a heavy blow, dealt, no doubt, by the priest or soldier in charge of
that individual. Evidently it was expected that all should be silent.
Presently Leonard became aware that they had left the open space across
which they were walking, for the air grew close and their footsteps rang
hollow on the rocky floor.

"I believe that we are in a tunnel," whispered Francisco.

"Silence, dog," hissed a priest in his ear. "Silence, this place is
holy."

They did not understand the meaning of the words at the moment, but the
tone in which they were spoken made their purport sufficiently clear.
Leonard took the hint, and at the same time clutched his rifle more
tightly. He began to be afraid for their safety. Whither were they being
led--to a dungeon? Well, they would soon know, and at the worst it was
not probable that these barbarians would harm Juanna. They followed
the tunnel or passage for about a hundred and fifty paces; at first it
sloped downwards, then the floor became level till at length they began
to ascend a stair. There were sixty-one stone steps in this stairway,
for Leonard counted them, each about ten inches high, and when all were
climbed they advanced eleven paces along a tunnel that echoed strangely
to their steps, and was so low that they must bend their heads to pass
it. Emerging from this tunnel through a narrow opening, they stood upon
a platform also of stone, and once more the chill night air fanned their
brows.

So dense was the gloom that Leonard could tell nothing of the place
where they might be, but from far beneath them rose a hissing sound
as of seething water, and combined with it another sound of faint
murmuring, as though thousands of people whispered each to each. Also
from time to time he heard a rustling like that of a forest when
a gentle wind stirs its leaves, or the rustling of the robes of
innumerable women.

This sense of the presence of hidden waters and of an unseen multitude
was strange and terrifying in the extreme. It was as though, without
perceiving them, their human faculties suddenly became aware of the
spirits of the unnumbered dead, thronging, watching, following--there,
but intangible; speaking without words, touching without hands.

Leonard was tempted to cry aloud, so great was the strain upon his
nerves, which usually were strong enough; nor was he alone in this
desire. Presently a sound arose from below him, as of some person in
hysterics, and he