The passage was not more than a couple of yards in length and gave on an open chamber which seemed, under the light of the electrics, to be somewhat larger than the one where the conveniences of living had been found. The faint illumination produced by the flashlights, of course revealed only a small portion of it at a time.
While the boys stood at the end of the narrow passage, studying the interior as best they might under the circumstances, a sound which came like the fall of a heavy footstep in the corridor outside reached their ears.
“There’s Sam!” Carl exclaimed. “We’ll leave him at the entrance and go in. There’s a strange smell here, eh?”
“Smells like a wild animal show!” declared Jimmie.
Other footsteps were now heard in the corridor, and Jimmie turned back to speak with Sam. Carl caught him by the shoulders.
“That’s Sam all right enough!” the latter exclaimed. “Don’t go away right now, anyhow.”
“What’s doing?” asked Jimmie.
“There’s a light back there!” was the reply, “and some one is moving around. Can’t you hear the footsteps on the hard stone floor?”
“Mighty soft footsteps!” suggested Jimmie.
“Well, I’m going to know exactly what they are!” declared Carl.