"Yes."
"One, two, three!"
Crash! Both large stones hit the door with tremendous force. The barrier was split from end to end, but still held firm.
"Again!" cried Dick, and once more the stones were hurled in mad desperation. There was an-other crash, and the door tottered and came away from the lock. Then Tom threw his weight against it and it burst open fully.
A rush of hot air and smoke greeted them as they leaped into the passageway. Looking up, they saw that the flooring above was already burning.
"We can't go up through the trap-door," said Dick. "We have got to find some other way out."
"Is there another way?"
"I don't know. Come."
The passageway ran in both directions. They felt their way along for ten feet, to find themselves against another wall.
"The other way!" sang out Tom. "Phew! it's getting pretty warm down here, isn't it?"