“And what a gorgeous way of escape!” remarked Justice admiringly.
“But what need would there be of an underground way of escape?” asked Katherine wonderingly. “What were the people escaping from?”
“This house was built in the days of the Colonies,” replied Justice sagely, “and the Carvers were patriots. That probably put them in a pretty tight position once in a while. No doubt they concealed American soldiers in their home at times. This passage was probably built as a means of entrance and escape when things got too hot up above. British troops may have been quartered in the house, or watching the outside. What a peach of a way this was to evade them!” he exclaimed in a burst of admiration.
“I wish I’d lived in those times,” he went on, with envy in his tone. “They didn’t keep fellows out of the army on account of their throats then. What fun a soldier must have had, getting in and out of this house, right under the nose of the British! Suppose they suspected he was in the house and came in to search for him? He’d just turn the post on the stairs, and click! the landing would slide open and down the ladder he’d go and out through this passage. The enemy would never discover where he went in a million years.”
“Come on, let’s see where this passage comes out,” urged the Captain, and started ahead with the lantern.
The passage sloped steeply downward, with frequent turns and twists.
“We’re going down the hill,” said the Captain.
“Whoever heard of going down the inside of a hill,” said Sahwah.
“It’s like going through that passage under Niagara Falls,” said Slim, “only it’s not quite so wet.”
After another sharp turn and a steep drop they came out in a good-sized chamber whose walls, floor and ceiling were all of rock.