Part 16 (2/2)

”It is,” said Captain Folso the label critically ”And it's the genuine stuff, too

Brought in frolish and Scotch whiskey”

Louder shouts overhead and the noise ofstairs warned theround floor, and that they were in er of discovery

”Those two doors won't hold long,” said Jack, anxiously ”If we can't find that tunnel entrance, we are out of luck I think myself, we had better look for a door to the outside and try to escape that way”

At thatwith excitement, came out of the darkness ahead

”Mister Jack, Mister Jack, coht”

The others had notthe cellar, he had gone exploring by the light of theJack for the flashlight

Hurriedly, the others now ht which went out before they reached it only to be succeeded by another, shohere To them When they reached his side, they found hi at a big barrel

”Lend a hand,” he panted ”The entrance is back here”

Almost over their heads on the floor above, an attack wasroom and pantry They could hear the shouts to surrender, to unlock the door, and the blows being rained upon the barrier

”Push It's a-movin'”

The barrel didbetween it and the wall, and in the rays of the flashlight appeared a s in the stone

”In with ye, every one,” said Tom ”I'll pile a couple o' these cases on top of each other to cover up the entrance, an' climb over it”

The door above, the first of the two i crash There was a shout of triu way to surprise when the pantry was found untenanted Captain Folso They could hear To climbed his barricade, he dropped to the cellar floor on the inside Then he joined theht into play, and all could see they stood in a narrow, brick-walled tunnel, with a vaulted roof above It was soht, and the walls were a yard apart The next ht flickered and died

”Gone,” said Jack ”Burned out Noe are ditched”

”Not yet,” said Captain Folsom, resolutely ”Barnum, how many matches have you?”

”About a dozen left in this packet,” answered Tos the cigar coive away Got 'eood”

”They're better than nothing,” answered the captain ”They were good enough to enable you to find this tunnel Coot soive the aainst the wall to per hiht behind me an' touchin' each other,” said Tom ”I can feel the wall on each side withI'll save the matches till we need them”

Without more ado, he set out, Jack, Bob, Frank and Captain Folsom at his heels in the order mentioned They found that, despite the pitchy-black darkness, they were able to ress, for the narrow confines of the tunnel per with strained attention for sounds of pursuit, but none caan to feel more hopeful Perhaps, their pursuers did not know of the secret passage No, that was unlikely, inaslers must have seen the tunnel mouth when he placed that barrel before it Faint shouts fro a search for thelers probably would look to see whether they were hidden a the barrels and cases, and not until that search had been thoroughly prosecuted would they investigate the tunnel

These reflections were exchanged a them as they proceeded

Suddenly the air, which had been re, beca an exit The next moment Tom Barnum stumbled and fell forward