The rest was plain, for it soon became clear that, though the black was afraid to do anything towards opening the trap himself, he was quite ready to use the hands of another party for the purpose.
“Oh, that’s it, is it, Caesar?” cried Murray, who now submitted himself entirely to the slave’s direction and let him press his hands down with a thrusting movement upon one of the floor-boards, with the result that the square trap glided away smoothly as if running upon rollers, while a dark opening appeared, showing a flight of ladder stairs running down into what seemed to be total darkness.
“A subterranean passage leading somewhere or another.”
“It is the way out by which Mr Allen went,” said Murray excitedly.
“Escaped, you mean,” cried the lieutenant.
“Perhaps so, sir; but mayn’t it be that he has been taken away by his enemies?” suggested Murray.
“Well, that we have to see,” replied the lieutenant.
“Look here, Caesar,” said Murray, addressing the black, “has Mr Allen gone this way?”
The black took a step or two towards the opening, listened, looked round cautiously, and then took hold of the lad’s arm and drew him away, to whisper in his ear—
“Massa Huggin come and fesh him away.”