not know what
might be here. Try to laugh it off as he would, there was a curious,
creeping sensation of dread came over him. He knew that this was a
chapel, and what more likely than that the vault beneath might be the
abiding place of the dead--of those who had occupied this old place in
the past; and, mingled with this, Adela's words would come back about
the place being haunted.

"Bah!" he exclaimed at last. "What a fool you are, Hil!"

As he spoke he gave himself a tremendous blow in the chest with his
doubled fist, hurting himself a great deal more than he intended, and
this roused him once more to action.

He was not going to lower himself down this time without trying for
bottom; and pulling out his cord, he tied it to the hilt of the cutlass,
lowered it into the hole, and began to fish, as he expressed it.

Clang! Jingle!

Steel upon stone, as far as he could judge, just over six feet below
where he was leaning over.

He tried again, here, there, and everywhere within his reach, and the
result was always the same, and there could be no mistake this time; he
might drop down in safety.

He could not help hesitation, for the hole was black and forbidding.
But it was for liberty, and after pausing for a few moments while he
leaned down and felt about as far as he could reach, he prepared to
descend.

His examination had taught him that the vault below was arched, for,
close by him, he could feel the thickness of the floor, while at the
other side of the square opening he could not reach down to the edge of
the arch, try how he would. In fact, his plan of sounding the floor had
answered admirably, and he had raised a stone just in the right place.

Hesitating no longer he thrust the cutlass into his waistband and
proceeded to lower himself down. His acts were very cautiously carried
out, for his former experience had taught him care, and holding on
tightly by the edge he gradually slid down, till at the full extent of
his arms he felt firm footing.

Still he did not leave hold, but passing himself along first one edge
and then another of his hole till he had gone along all four sides, and
always with the same result, he let go, and stood in safety upon a stone
floor.

Drawing his cutlass, he felt overhead the opening where the stone had
been removed, and wondered what he was to do to find it again in the
intense darkness; but he was obliged to own that he could do nothing.

A thrust to right t