"Señores, take the bags off the horses, as they are no longer wanted, while I light a torch of ocote wood," Leo Carral then said.
The young men obeyed, for they tacitly recognized the majordomo as the leader of the expedition.
"Well, is it done?" the majordomo asked a moment after.
"Yes," the count answered, "but we cannot see anything; are you not going to light your torch?"
"It is lighted, but it would be too imprudent to show a light here; follow me, drawing your horses after you by the bridle."
He went in front again as guide, and they advanced once more, but this time on foot.
Ere long a light glistened in front of them, and illuminated them sufficiently to enable them to distinguish surrounding objects.
They were in a natural grotto; this grotto opened at the end of a passage, sufficiently winding for the light of the torch not to be seen from the outside.
"Where the deuce are we?" the count asked, in surprise.
"As you see, Excellency, in a grotto."