"
"Right you are!" said Frank. "When we do come back we may have to
come in a hurry for all we know, and we want to be able to lift
this up in a jiffy."
They hunted around until they found a small slab of stone which
they wedged under the door, after they had dropped down into the
space below. Then, with Frank in the van, with his flashlight
sending its rays ahead of them, they ventured slowly into the
unknown, feeling their way with the utmost caution.
The stone floor was uneven and damp, and at times they stepped
into pools of noisome water that was covered with green scum. The
sides of the narrow passages were covered with mold, and the air
was heavy and offensive.
Suddenly Frank stepped back with a sharp exclamation, and at the
same instant there was a squeal, and a gray form scurried away
into the darkness.
"A rat!" he murmured to his friends behind him. "I stepped fairly
on him. A mighty big fellow he was, too."
They went on a little further, keeping close together, for there
were several passages that branched off from what seemed to be the
main one, and if they became separated it might be difficult for
them to get together again, especially as Frank was the only one
of the trio who had a flashlight.
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