This, after all, was only what Stoddard had feared, but nevertheless they forced their way inside—and there, had Major Hendricks had any doubt of their story, it was dispelled.
As Stoddard had told them, it was furnished like an Oriental hunting-lodge, with evidences of the recent occupation of the Russians on all sides.
But where were they? Had they got away or were they hiding somewhere?
Proceeding from room to room until they had searched it thoroughly, the party paused baffled.
But not for long, for suddenly Stoddard discovered something that gave him a clue. It was a barred door, within a closet, covered over with clothes and uniforms so as to be fairly well concealed. On battering it in, they found that it led into a passage below.
s the party entered the passage, leaving further guards above, it became obvious that what they had found was the shaft of an old mine.
It led down abruptly, for a while, then more gradually, with many windings and twistings, and ending presently in another barred door.
This they in turn battered in—to be greeted suddenly by a volley of rifle-fire that dropped three of them in their tracks.