Suddenly the stairs shook violently and a door opened overhead.
A light was seen and it streamed over his face.
Broadbrim saw a man above him, and a glance told him that it was Old Danny.
The hump-backed demon was looking down to see if his scheme had succeeded.
There was a wolfish gleam in the little eyes and a demonic grin on the thin lips.
Danny held the light over his head and saw Broadbrim as he clung to the last step.
"You want Merle, eh?" he cried. "Well, you'll never see him. You will lie in the pit forever. It is bottomless!"
With that the light was swung over Danny's head, and he laughed derisively.
"Down you go!" he went on. "So you're the wolf on the scent, and it's a pretty game you're playing. Crossed the sea to play it, eh? Well, now it's all up with you, Scotland Yarder."
Something, till then unseen, was lifted above Old Danny's head, and came toward the detective like a weapon from a catapult.