“For the moment I’m afraid we are,” she admitted quietly. “But don’t give up hope. We’ll get out of here somehow.”
CHAPTER XIII
The Secret Stairs
Ten minutes of unrewarded search convinced Penny that they were only wasting their time in attempting to locate the hidden spring without a light.
“Let’s follow the steps down and see where they lead,” she suggested. “Surely there must be another exit.”
Rosanna permitted Penny to lead her down the steep flight of stairs. They presently reached the bottom. It was too dark to see very much but by feeling along the damp stone wall they discovered that they were in a narrow passageway. As they moved cautiously forward a breath of cold air struck Penny’s face.
“This must be the way to the exit,” she declared cheerfully. “We’ll soon be out of here now.”
“It can’t be too soon for me,” Rosanna chattered.
Hand in hand they groped their way along the subterranean passage. Soon they came to the end of it but instead of an exit they found another flight of steps leading downward at a steep angle.
“Careful or you’ll fall,” Penny warned as they began the treacherous descent. “Some of the stones are loose.”
“I wish we had a light,” Rosanna complained. “Where do you suppose we’re going anyway?”