g sour all over."

The sergeant did not overtake the party till they were close upon the
entrance to the cave, where a sentry was pacing up and down; and now a
sudden thought struck Roby.

"Here, sergeant," he cried angrily as the latter hurried up, rather
breathless with his exertions. "How are we to get into the place? You
haven't brought a crowbar to move the stone."

"No, sir. Left it hidden close by last night."

"Oh!" grunted Roby, halting the men; while the sergeant handed the coil
of rope to one of them, who slipped it on over head and one shoulder, to
wear it like a scarf; and James went on a few yards to a crack in the
side of the rocky wall, thrust in his arm, drew out the bar, and trotted
back to the opening, inserted the chisel, and raised the stone about an
inch, when it turned upon its pivot directly.

"Wonderfully well made," said Dickenson. "One might have passed it a
hundred times."

"Silence in the ranks!" cried Roby sternly; and the sergeant stepped
into the dark hole at once, placed his hands one on either side of his
lips, and gave a tremendous hail.

All listened to the shout, which went echoing through the passages and
chambers of the cavern; but there was no reply, nor yet to half-a-dozen
more hails.

"Tut, tut, tut!" ejaculated Roby. "I expected to find him waiting close
to the entrance. Lanterns."

The men were already inside lighting them, eight being rapidly got
ready; and once more the party began to traverse the weird place, but
under far more favourable circumstances, the line of golden dots formed
by the lanterns giving every one a far better opportunity of judging
what the place was like.

At every turn in the crooked way a halt was called, and a fresh series
of hails went echoing on before them; but not so much as a whisper of an
answer greeted their ears.

"The poor fellow must have become tired out with waiting," said Captain
Roby, "and dropped off to sleep."

"He sleeps pretty soundly, then," whispered Dickenson, who was in front
with Lennox, following the sergeant, who carried the first lantern.

"Ought to have been woke up by that last shout, though," said Lennox.
"What do you say, sergeant?"

"I'm afraid we shall come upon him soon regularly off his head,
gentlemen," said the sergeant, "He isn't the pluckiest chap in his
company."

"Don't talk like that, sergeant," said Lennox sharply. "It's enough to
drive any poor fellow crazy to find himself shut up