“I suppose we were awful fools to come here alone,” Josephine remarked, jumping nervously at the sound of her own voice; it sounded strange and hollow to her in the long cellar. “Now that we’re here we’ll see it through. I remember Sir Jack telling that there was a button or knot that he pushed, and lo! a door opened into the secret passage. I suppose they have the passage sealed up, but I am going to see for myself just the same. Here, Percy, let me take that light, your face is white as a sheet and your hand is trembling. Brace up, man.”
Josephine took the light and led the way, the others following cautiously. They had not proceeded far when Josephine stopped short in a listening attitude.
For the first time, Ethel saw that she was carrying a revolver in one hand.
“What is it?” Ethel whispered anxiously, and her knees shook in spite of her.
“I thought that I heard a sound like an engine motor,” Josephine answered joyously.
Distinctly the sound of a motor came to their ears, each moment growing louder until the sound developed into a continuous roar.
“Hurrah,” Josephine cried, unable to suppress her delight. “Sir Jack is coming.”
The next instant a heavy hand was clasped over her mouth and a voice hissed in her ear:
“Keep silent, or you die!”
Josephine screamed and discharged her revolver. She heard a shout and an answering shot and she was sure that if it was Mason, he had heard her fire the shot and was coming to their assistance.