Yet there was so much before him that he soon forgot that hideous nightmare.
For where was he going? And who was this stranger? And why had he rescued him? And what did he mean to do to Clif?
Nothing could be learned in that dark corridor, for Clif could see no more there than inside of the room. But the stranger stumbled on and Clif followed.
They came to an iron ladder, leading up to the floor above. Up that the man went, the cadet following; that took them to another long stone passage, dark as ever.
On they went, turning and winding about, but still not hesitating. And then suddenly the man halted in front of a grated door.
The key was in the lock and the door opened promptly as he turned it.
"Enter," said he.
Clif went in, and he heard the door shut behind him. It flashed over him then that he had only been taken to another cell.
But when he whirled about he saw that the stranger had entered, too. The dark figure brushed past him and went across the room. A moment afterward Clif heard him in the act of striking a match.
And then the light of a lamp lit up the little room. By it the eager cadet could see his rescuer, and he stared anxiously.