They had turned, and were about to withdraw from the place, Max leading the way, when suddenly he halted, for his quick ears caught some sound. It was a curious, low, whirring noise, followed almost instantly by a swift swish close to him, so near, indeed, that it caused a current of air in his face as some object passed him from above.
At the same moment the noise of mechanism ceased.
For a few seconds both intruders hesitated.
Charlie asked breathlessly what it could be, whereupon his friend turned on the light, and the truth stood revealed.
By an ace he had escaped with his life!
At the door, in order to prevent the egress of any intruder, a cunning but dastardly mechanical device had been placed. A long iron lever, to which was attached a keen-edged Japanese cutlass, had come forth from its hiding-place in the lintel of the door, and, descending with terrific force, had only just escaped cutting Max down.
Both men saw the means by which old Statham guarded the secret of that room, and shuddered. To enter was easy, but it was intended that he who entered might not emerge alive.
Apparently one of the floor boards just within the door was loose, and, being trodden upon, the weight released the spring or mechanism, and the razor-edged cutlass shot forth with murderous force.
“By Jove!” gasped Charlie. “I had no idea the old man set traps for the unwary. We’d better be careful!”
“Yes. That was indeed a narrow escape!” whispered Max. “It would have been certain death. Let’s get out of it.”