She started on again and kept straight ahead till she reached the entrance to the main tunnel.
As her light shone on the wall directly in front of her she suddenly halted in surprise. There, a little to her right, was a recess in the wall with a long, solid-looking panel in the back.
“That’s strange!” she thought. “I wonder what that panel’s for.”
She flashed her light straight into the recess this time. In the circle of light a black metal ring stood out distinctly. Could this queer-looking panel be a door? If it were, then there was another room here only a few feet from her.
Timidly she caught hold of the metal ring the next moment and pulled; to her disappointment, the panel did not move.
“There must be a reason for this ring and this panel,” she told herself. “I’ll try again, harder.”
Putting her shoulder against the panel, she pushed with all her strength. There was a sudden, loud, grating noise; then the door swung open with such force that she lost her balance and fell full length on the floor.
Her first thought was about her flashlight. What a terrible plight she would be in if it were broken! Trembling with anxiety, she pressed the button of her light. Out flashed its rays as brightly as ever. Half curiously, half timidly she stared into the lighted area.
The next instant her eyes dilated in terror. What was that horrible-looking creature directly in front of her!
“O-o-oh!” she shrieked. “Jo! Jo!”