CHAPTER XXXIX. AN UNPLEASANT INTERVIEW.
There was nothing to do but to obey. Judging by his own interpretation of the discovery our hero was not surprised that his captor should be incensed. He retraced his steps, and found himself once more in the subterranean chamber facing an angry man.
"What took you in there?" demanded Colonel Johnson.
"Curiosity, I suppose," answered Grit composedly. He felt that he was in a scrape, but he was not a boy to show fear or confusion.
"How did you happen to discover the entrance?"
"It was quite accidental. I was pacing the floor to see how wide the room was, when my hand touched the spring."
"Why did you want to know the width of the room?" asked Johnson suspiciously.
"I didn't care much to know, but the time hung heavily on my hands, and that was one way of filling it up."
Colonel Johnson eyed the boy attentively. He was at a loss to know whether Grit really suspected the nature and meaning of his discovery, or not. If not, he didn't wish to excite suspicion in the boy's mind. He decided to insinuate an explanation.