It was there, and Billy could not now deny it.
“Remove stone and find iron ring in oak cover.”
But how were the boys to “remove” that stone? Reddy had a lightning thought. All his thoughts came that way.
Away he went, chasing the lantern ray ahead of him. In that heap of crumpled earth and stone, lately Fort Les Paroches, there was surely something in the way of iron or steel out of which to make a stone lifter.
Reddy was back in a few minutes dragging not only one but two steel bars which had been knocked like nine-pins from their fastenings.
“Here’s levers for you,” he announced gleefully.
Billy saw what he had, even if he did not understand what he said.
Henri and Billy with the bar-points punched holes at the side of the slab and got a purchase. Then they pried with all their strength. At first the slab did not budge an inch.
Reddy added his weight to one of the bars and the slab was loosened in its setting.
“Now another heave!” panted Billy.