"The brickwork is just about six feet below the surface," he thought. "I'll measure the same distance here."
At a little more than his own height below the ground he scrutinised the masonry carefully. There were slight clefts where the separate stones met, but nothing unusual in their appearance. He pushed and strained at the stonework, without effect.
Then he noticed, just within arm's reach to his right, a staple quite out of line with the rest. It seemed to have been fixed in the wall without purpose. Leaning over, he pulled at it, at first cautiously, then more and more vigorously.
GAMBARU IS AMAZED
Suddenly he felt a shock of surprise. Was the staple moving, or was he himself? He planted his foot firmly on the staple on which he was standing, and still pulled. There was no doubt about it; he was slowly swinging round. The huge slab of stone against which he was supporting himself had moved inwards on his right, outwards on his left, and he was turning with it.
Now thoroughly excited, he tugged steadily, and in a few moments found himself looking into a dark aperture in the wall.
"Eureka!" he exclaimed joyfully, and Gambaru, leaning over the brink of the well above, gasped with terrified amazement as he saw his master disappearing.
"A candle!" shouted Royce.