Pylotte already had opened it, and Nick was quickly forced through a dark cellar.
"All right," cried Kilgore. "Let us in."
Instantly the secret stone door was thrown open, and Nick was nearly blinded by the flood of light in the room into which he was abruptly thrust.
He stood in the subterranean chamber of the diamond plant.
And there, erect on the floor, with her evil countenance a picture of malicious triumph, stood his crafty combatant of the previous night—Sanetta Cervera.
"Caramba!" she cried, shrilly, with a vicious laugh. "So you've got him! Well done, Dave! Well done!"
"Yes, and we'll presently have the other," cried Kilgore, panting hard after his exertions.
"Good for you, Dave," screamed Cervera, exultingly. "But this is the one I want most—this is the one!"
"Look lively, Matt. Lend a hand here, and we'll bind him to yonder chair."
"And leave Cervera to guard him, eh?"