And yet I had done so on his account, had done so because I had learned that a young fellow answering his description was kept close prisoner in a place significantly called the "Black Hole."

Toward the guarded portal I went as rapidly as I could without an appearance of noisy haste.

I reached it at last.

Cap had not yet reached the spot where he expected to see me.

I had now just as long to fool the guard as it would take Cap to grow impatient at not seeing me, and bellow out some question as to where I was.

"Here's your lantern, my friend, and I'm much obliged for it," I said, as I drew near the guarded portal.

"See him?"

"Yes."

"All right?"

"Yes."