The flickering light of the candles showed where rubbish had been thrown aside to provide a clear way, and following this, the boys at length came upon an angle in the foundation where the new masonry joined what had once been the wall of the old cellar. Turning this corner, they found themselves stopped by a low door of solid oak plank and evidently of recent construction. Taking a cautious step forward, Ned seized the iron handle, and bracing his foot against the wall, threw his weight backward. The door yielded and swinging open on its heavy hinges revealed a steep flight of steps extending downward into the darkness.
“By jiminy! It’s a way into the old mine!” muttered Dick Somers, as he shaded the candle and peered into the black pit.
“Who’s afraid!” growled Dave Wilbur, as the group hesitated on the brink of the steep descent. “Go ahead, Ned! We’ll follow!”
Thus urged, Ned felt his way carefully down the slippery stairs followed closely by the other four. They reached the bottom of the short flight when suddenly a scurrying sound filled the air. Vague shapes rushed upon them. The candles were knocked from their hands, and as the lights flickered out, a pitchy blackness covered them like a blanket.
“Quick! Up the stairs!” shouted Ned.
In this his companions needed no urging, and he followed at their heels slamming the door behind him. Stumbling blindly against piles of rubbish in an effort to keep in the narrow lane, the boys reached the cleared area just inside the opening through which the reflected light of the moon shone dimly. Crouching there in the faint light, the five stared at each other for a moment, until Ned Blake broke into shamefaced laugh.
“We’re a brave bunch to be scared out of our wits by a few crazy bats!” he exclaimed.
“Bats!” echoed Dick Somers and Charlie Rogers together. “Well, can you beat it!”
“All the same it was a darn scary place!” grumbled Tommy Beals, as he wiped the sweat and grime from his face. “I was pretty well keyed up with all that I’d been through and then, when I got a wallop in the eye and had my candle knocked out of my hand, I wasn’t so sure but what Coleson’s ghost was on the job after all!”
“It’s a sure bet that whoever has been using this place didn’t try to light it with candles,” argued Ned. “There must be a lantern or something of the kind around here.”