“It’s gone out of the window,” the Guardian assured them.
Natalie was busily scanning the wall near the chimney. The girls stole to her side.
“Listen!” commanded Natalie in a whisper.
Faintly they heard a moan. It seemed to come from inside the big chimney. Natalie took a step toward it. Her eyes roved over the ancient paneling. One section seemed to be darker colored than the rest.
Natalie pressed on this, hardly knowing why, for it bore no semblance to a door. But she nearly stumbled and fell as the panel unexpectedly gave way, and there was disclosed the secret room they had been looking for.
CHAPTER XXXII
HADEE
Natalie grasped the edges of the doorway so unexpectedly opened before her, and clung there. The light shot into the secret room, revealing a figure huddled up in one corner—a timid, shrinking form, from which faint moans came.
“It’s a girl!” gasped Mrs. Bonnell. “The poor creature!”
The figure in the corner raised itself up, and stared at the intruders.