Another of
these odd slits in the rock was visible here, and the girl was able to
perceive more clearly its nature--beyond question it was an artificial
opening, leading into a space on the farther side of the wall. Cateras
pushed past her, his body interfering with her view, and bent down,
fumbling along the rock surface.
"Hold the light closer," he demanded. "Aye, that's it. 'Tis some
trick to find the thing---- Ah! now I have it."
It seemed like a bit of wood, so resembling the colour of the rock as
to be practically imperceptible to the eye in that dim light--a bit of
wood which slid back to reveal a heavy iron bolt, shot firmly into the
stone. This the Mexican forced back, and an opening yawned in the side
wall, the rays of the lantern revealing the interior of a black cave.
Cateras stepped within.
"Bring the woman," he commanded shortly, "and you, Merodez, see first
to the light."
Silva thrust her forward, his grip no light one, while the other struck
a match and applied it to the wick of a lamp occupying a bracket beside
the doorway.
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