Their greatest distress was the loss of Jack Harkaway.
That he was not with them soon became evident.
And that being shut outside would be certain death to him, seemed equally so.
Thyra could by no means be consoled.
Her grief at this separation from Jack took the form of intense and violent lamentations.
She declared that had she known that Jack would thus be left outside, no consideration would have induced her to enter the vaults.
In her frenzy of despair and her love for him, she resolved to go back and perish with him.
But all her efforts were inadequate to raise the stone which had already resisted the greater strength of Harry Girdwood.
As soon as the Greek girl could be in the least degree pacified, the party proceeded through the vaults, Harry reminding them that they were by no means out of all danger, but that further on some other outlet, or at least more secure retreat might be discovered.
It was a great drawback that they had no lamp or candle, but Tinker had a box of matches, and by lighting one of these at every few yards, they were enabled to gain some idea of the place they were in.