Part 3 (1/2)

”Then you may have first try if you like. What do you say?”

”Nothing,” replied Fred. ”I feel as if I should like to, but all the same I don't like. Let's try with a stick. There may be something nasty there; perhaps rats.”

”They wouldn't have stopped; but you're right. Go down and fetch a stick.”

”You will not try till I come back?” said Fred, doubtingly.

”No, I shall not try. Make haste.”

Fred was not long running down to one corner of the hall, and obtaining a stout ashen cudgel, which he handed to his companion, who, after a moment's hesitation, thrust in the staff, and found that the opening was about half as deep again as the height of the step; but though he tapped the bottom, which seemed to be firm, and tried from side to side, there was nothing solid within, nothing but a fine, impalpable dust, which made its presence known, for both lads began to sneeze.

”I'm glad there are no bones in it,” said Scarlett. ”It was only meant to put something in; made on purpose, I suppose. Just a long box: nothing more, and--Halloa!”

”What have you found?”

”Nothing, only that it's all open at the back, and I can--yes, so I can!--reach right back; yes, as far as the stick will go.”

”That place wouldn't be made for nothing, Scar,” cried Fred. ”I know.

That's the way to somewhere.”

”Nonsense!”

”I don't care; I know it is, and you see if--”

”Some one coming,” whispered Scarlett, stooping down and dragging the board toward him, when there was a sharp crack, and the stair was once more firm, just as steps were heard coming along the corridor, and one of the servant-maids pa.s.sed along the gallery and entered a room at the end.

”Wait a bit,” whispered Scarlett, as soon as the maid had pa.s.sed out of hearing. ”We'll get a bit of candle and lock the end door, and then we'll see what this means; for, as you say, it must have been made for something. But it can't be a way anywhere, or they would have made it upright like a door.”

”If they could,” said Fred, thoughtfully. ”Perhaps it was meant for people to go through lying down.”

”Well, wait a bit,” said Scarlett, ”and we'll see.”

Unkind people say that girls have the b.u.mp of curiosity greatly developed, far more so than boys. This is a vulgar error, for the latter are quite as eager to know as their sisters, and from the moment that the heavy oak board was replaced, Fred Forrester and Scar Markham suffered from a fit of excitement which they could not allay. For, as is usually the case, the person they wanted to go seemed determined to stay. That person was the maid, who appeared to have found something very important to do in the room at the end of the corridor; and it was impossible to continue the examination till she had returned to the servants' quarters.

Scar fetched a candlestick with a short piece of candle burning therein, and shut it up in one of the great cupboards in the hall, so as to lose no time.

Then they fidgeted up and down, listening intently the while; examined some of the well-oiled, warlike weapons on the walls; crept upstairs and along the corridor to listen at the bedroom door; ran down again, and waited until the suspense seemed unbearable.

”I believe she has gone to bed and fallen asleep,” whispered Fred.

”Nonsense! She dare not in that best room.”

”Let's go out in the garden, then, and leave it till another day.”

”And when will that be? Why, everybody will be about then. No; we must examine the place to-day.”

”What's that?” cried Fred, suddenly. ”What's what?”

”I can smell fire.”