“Any one there?”
Samson had followed close to him, and he listened to his master’s voice as it seemed to go in a hollow whisper echoing along under the earth.
“Well, it do stun me,” he said, taking off his morion for a fresh scratch.
“Is any one there?” cried Fred again, as loudly as he dared; and there was no response. “Scar! Nat! Sir Godfrey!” he cried again; and after pausing to listen each time for a reply which did not come, he turned at last to encounter Samson’s dubious face.
“Hope you’re right, sir!” he said.
“Yes, man, certain. You see? You can hear?”
“Yes, sir, I can hear; and I suppose there’s a sort of drain there.”
“Drain, man? I tell you it’s a secret passage.”
“Maybe, sir; but that don’t prove they are hiding in it.”
“But they must be,” cried Fred, excitedly. “Scar knew of it. They were cut off by the fire. They took refuge there, and I am sure they are hiding now; and, thank Heaven, safe.”