The hallway of the ancient structure was curiously small in contrast with the big room the boys had just left. It was, indeed, little more than a box of an entry, with a winding stair in one corner, a plan of construction made necessary, no doubt, by the huge chimney in the middle of the house. In making the most of limited space, however, the designer had produced a crowded effect, even when the hall was bare of fittings, as it now was.
With the draft created by the fire and the open window, the air in the room the boys had just left had freshened considerably; but the hall was full of a stale and musty odor. The torch burned feebly. Once it seemed to be on the point of being extinguished, but the Shark by careful nursing saved the flame.
Sam laid hand on the old-fashioned rail of the stairway.
“One at a time,” he said. “If there are any weak spots, we don’t want to tumble through them in a crowd. Safety First!”
“Sure thing—Varley and I got enough of the other scheme!” quoth the Shark. “Go ahead, Sam!”
A bit gingerly Sam began the ascent of the flight. The old boards creaked and groaned under his weight, but there was no indication of serious weakness in them or their supports.
The flickering light from the torch left the top of the stairs in deep shadow. The explorer inferred rather than was certain that the upper hall was merely a landing by which one could reach the rooms on either side. Still holding the rail, he called out to the others to follow, one by one.
Orkney gave Varley a push, and thus settled the order of precedence; for the Shark elected to be No. 3, keeping the light in the midst of the party. Then Lon shoved Orkney ahead, much as Tom had encouraged Paul, and made himself the rear-guard. The stairs groaned and creaked more dolefully than ever, but held firm.
Sam, meanwhile, had edged across the landing and into one of the rooms, the door of which stood open. It happened to be directly above the apartment they had first entered, and, so far as he could make out, corresponded with it in size, though it was still lower of ceiling. A gleam from the smoking pine stick showed that, like the room below, it had a fireplace.
While the air was a trifle better than on the lower floor, Sam lost no time in getting at a window; and when the sash stuck, he promptly smashed a couple of the small panes. Incidentally, he made note that the rain was falling steadily.