Part 26 (1/2)

To Tunnel Victor Appleton 25940K 2022-07-19

Toht which h a crack in the face of a sheer stone cliff that went straight down for a hundred feet orin a narrow cleft of rock--the sah which they had made their way And at the foot of the cliff was a little enca about the in the shade, were a score or more of Indians

”There , Tom saw some of the workers he knew One especially, was a laborer alked with a peculiar li inventor

”Bless my almanac!” cried Mr Damon ”Where?”

”Here,” answered Tom ”If you squeeze past me you can see theet here?” asked the oddones were sequestered

”That's e've got to find out,” Tom said ”At any rate here they are, and they see as to what had becoet here, Masni?”

”Me show you Come”

”Wait until I take another look,” said Tom

”Be careful they don't see you,” cautioned Mr Damon

”They can't very well The cleft is screened by bushes”

Toroup of men who had so mysteriously disappeared The little valley stretched out away froh which, by means of the crack, or cleft in it, Tom and the others had come Tom looked down the wall of rock It was as setting down or up

Doubtless there was an easier entrance to the valley on the other side

It was like looking down into soh an upperor fro, or been hidden here, ever since they disappeared froh they were detained by force,” To paid to stay away How did they get here, Masni?”

”Me show you Coh the split in the rock, until they had come to the place where the natural curtain of vines concealed the entrance Toain

Then Masni led them over thethe tunnel He recognized some places where he had taken sath of his explosive

Reaching a certain wild and desolate place, Masniintently Then, as if satisfied there was no danger, she parted so the others to follow

”Noonder what's up,” Tom mused

He and the others were soon informed

Masni stopped in front of a pile of brush With a few vigorous motions of her arms she swept it aside and revealed a smooth slab of rock In the centre hat seemed to be a block of metal Masni placed her foot on this and pressed heavily

And those watching saw a strange thing