him, even in those hurried, passing glances,
that this was the earliest and finest of the catacombs, containing such
a storehouse of Roman remains as had never before come at one time
under the observation of the student.

"What would happen if the light went out?" he asked, as they hurried
onwards.

"I have a spare candle and a box of matches in my pocket. By the way,
Kennedy, have you any matches?"

"No; you had better give me some."

"Oh, that is all right. There is no chance of our separating."

"How far are we going? It seems to me that we have walked at least a
quarter of a mile."

"More than that, I think. There is really no limit to the tombs--at
least, I have never been able to find any. This is a very difficult
place, so I think that I will use our ball of string."

He fastened one end of it to a projecting stone and he carried the coil
in the breast of his coat, paying it out as he advanced. Kennedy saw
that it was no unnecessary precaution, for the passages had become more
complex and tortuous than ever, with a perfect network of intersecting
corridors. But these all ended in one large circular hall with a
square pedestal of tufa topped with a slab of marble at one end of it.

"By Jove!" cried Kennedy in an ecstasy, as Burger swung his lantern
over the marble. "It is a Christian altar--probably the first one in
existence. Here is the little consecration cross cut upon the corner
of it. No doubt this circular space was used as a church."

"Precisely," said Burger. "If I had more time I should like to show
you all the bodies which are buried in these niches upon the walls, for
they are the early popes and bishops of the Church, with their mitres,
their croziers, and full canonicals. Go over to that one and look at
it!"

Kennedy went across, and stared at the ghastly head which lay loosely
on the shredded and mouldering mitre.

"This is most interesting," said he, and his voice seemed to boom
against the concave vault. "As far as my experience goes, it is
unique. Bring the lantern over, Burger, for I want to see them all."

But the German had strolled away, and was standing in the middle of a
yellow circle of light at the other side of the hall.

"Do you know how many wrong turnings there are between this and the
stairs?" he asked. "There are over two thousand. No doubt it was one
of the means of protection which the Christians adopted. The odds are
two thousand to one against a