But the pressure was sufficient to cause a huge slab of stone several feet square to move out of place, leaving an aperture.
This was large enough to admit the body of a man. Barney flashed his lantern rays into it.
The sight which he beheld gave him a chill.
A small apartment hewed out of the solid rock was seen. Its walls were damp and moldy, but what transfixed the two explorers with horror was the fact that the place was a literal charnel house.
There, exposed to their view, were four human skeletons. They were in various positions against the crumbling wall.
For an instant Barney thought that the apartment might be a tomb.
But second thought told him better than this. The position of the skeletons disproved the theory.
“Mither presarve us!” gasped the Celt in horror. “Phwat do yez say to that?”
“Golly fo’ glory!” echoed Pomp, “dey shut dem po’ chaps in dar to die!”
“Be me sowl, that was a hard fate fer thim!” cried Barney. “An’ Hiven rist their sowls! Shure, whoiver do yez suppose they cud av been?”