A sudden noise startled Harry. He looked back toward the entrance to the cellar. Two men were fleeing through the moonlight toward the woods. They were well away, close together. One of them appeared to be carrying something. Chefano and Frenchy were free!
"We cannot stop them," cried Major Weston. "One of them must have slipped the ropes and aided the other."
Harry watched the men as they vanished among the trees. He clambered back over the loose stones.
Reaching the steps, he entered the passage, with the major close behind.
"Where are you going?" asked the Englishman.
"To get the wooden box," replied Vincent. "It was intended as a coffin. It will do for the ape-man's body."
"Hush!" exclaimed the major, as they reached the end of the passage. "I hear something."
A moaning sound came from behind the door of the vault. They opened the barrier. Their flashlights showed a man lying on the floor, bound with ropes. They released him. The Englishman uttered a cry of recognition when he saw the man's face.
"It's Berchik!!" he exclaimed. "I remember him! Samanov's trusted servant. He is the messenger. They captured him! He must have come while we were in the torture chamber!"
"And now they are gone," muttered Vincent. "Chefano and Frenchy — gone — gone with the stolen wealth."