He staggered back as he drew the trap open. A dense volume of smoke issued from below, while the crackling of burning wood and a ruddy glare told that the careless tramp had precipitated a catastrophe.
“Oh, Will! what shall we do?”
“Keep cool and get out of this,” replied Will, bravely. “Stay where you are for a minute.”
He flung the trap shut and groped his way to the window.
It was now an open aperture, but, as he well knew, looked down upon a deep pit by the side of the structure.
“There used to be some ladder steps nailed to the side of the building,” he said, as he leaned out of the window.
He peered searchingly forth, and with his hand felt for the means of escape he had described.
A murmur of concern swept his lips as he made a thrilling discovery.
The ladder steps were gone!