“But the treasure—ah!”
Buckden paused before a ring in the stone floor.
It was an iron ring firmly joined to a slab of stone. The New Yorker bent down and began to pull upon it.
The instant he did so a thrilling thing happened.
There was a strange whirring sound as of machinery buzzing, and then a grating noise.
Quick as a flash the stone dropped and Buckden went out of sight like a meteor.
Down into a black void went the young New Yorker.
He was swallowed up as literally as if engulfed in the sea.
For an instant Frank Reade, Jr., was so overcome with horror that he did not know what to do.
Then a wailing cry broke from his lips: