“Hold the lantern lower, Bill.”
The other quickly obeyed, when the one who had made the request gave expression to a low cry of dismay.
The one holding the light now looked sharper down into the ground, when he exclaimed:
“Great heavens! it is a human skeleton! What does this mean, Jed?”
Then the trembling man called by this name glanced downward, to start back with a wild cry of fear.
“I made a mistake, boys. I—I——”
He started to flee without finishing his sentence.
CHAPTER XXIX.
“I AM GIDEON BAYNE.”
Before Joe could realize just what was taking place, and the terrified man had not taken his second step, a section of the big chimney which had been built from the bottom of the cellar was torn down, and from out of the midst of flying brick and débris stood the figure of a man.
Seen by the dim lantern light he appeared like a giant in stature, while in either hand he held a cocked revolver, one weapon leveled at the fleeing miscreant, while the other was pointed toward his confederates, and his stentorian voice, sounding uncommonly loud and clear in that underground room, commanded: