Crown and Sceptre | Page 8

thin,
white-looking strands and leaves hanging over and resting upon a heap
of crumbling, fungus-covered sticks.
"Why, it's quite a little chamber," Scarlett exclaimed; "and look at the
ivy. It has come in through that loop-hole."
"And look at that old jackdaw's nest. I say, Scar, can your father know
of this place?"
"No, nor any one else. But it is queer. A regular secret chamber."
"Yes, but what's it for?"
"I don't know. Must have been made when the house was built to keep
the plate in for fear of robbers."
"Look at the spiders! There's a big one!"

"Yes, but I'm trying to puzzle out where it is. I know. It must be
somewhere at the west corner, because that's where there is most ivy."
"But is it upstairs or downstairs?"
"Up, of course; and look here."
Scarlett pointed to what had at first escaped their sight--to wit, a second
door, ingeniously contrived in one angle of the little chamber, and in
the dim light shed by the candle hardly distinguishable from the
panelling.
"Where can that go?"
"Oh, it's only a cupboard. Stop a moment."
Scarlett went to the other side, crushing down the heap of rotten twigs
brought in by the birds, and thrust his hand amongst the mass of sickly
ivy strands, to find that the opening through which they came was
completely choked up, but after a little feeling about he was able to
announce that there was a narrow slit-like window, with an upright
rusty iron bar.
"Why, it will be glorious, Scar," cried Fred. "Let's clear the place out,
and cut away the ivy, and then we can keep it all a secret."
"Yes, and bring some furniture--chairs and table, and a carpet. Why, we
might have a bed too."
"How are you going to get them here?"
Scarlett gave his dark curls a vicious rub. "I never thought of that."
"Never mind; but we could bring some cushions, and store up fruit, and
make this our cave. You will not tell anybody?"
"I should think not."
"Not even Lil."

"No; she'd go and tell every one directly. Why, Fred, this will be
splendid. What a discovery!"
"When we've cleaned it up it will be a little palace."
"And we can keep our stores in the closet there, and--Think there'll be
any rats?"
"No signs of any. Can't smell 'em."
"They've never found their way here. Dare say there are some bats; but
we'll soon clear them out. Wish there were a fireplace. We could cook
the birds and fish we caught."
"Let's see what's in the cupboard."
Fred crossed the little chamber to the corner where the second door
stood ajar, and it was so similar to the panelling that but for its being
partly opened, it would not have been seen.
This, too, gave forth a dismal hollow groan as it was drawn inward
upon its concealed rusty hinges, and then, as Fred raised the light to see
what was inside, he exclaimed--
"Why, it isn't a cupboard. Here's another flight of steps!"
Scarlett pressed forward and stood beside him, peering beneath the
candle, and looking down the dusty stone stairs into utter darkness
beyond the faint light shed by the candle.
Then he turned to Fred as he grasped his arm and looked inquiringly
into his face.
"I will if you will," said Fred, as if his companion had asked him a
question.
"Come along, then," cried Scarlett, excitedly. "Only let's keep
together."

"Of course. Shall I go first?"
"No, I'll go," said Scarlett, after a momentary hesitation.
He snatched the candle from his friend's hand, and took a step forward
on to the little square landing.
"Mind the door doesn't blow to. Push it wide open."
Fred did as he was told, the rusty hinges giving forth another dismal
groan, which seemed to echo hollowly and then to die away.
"Come along," said Scarlett, in a low voice; and, holding the candle
well before him, he began to descend the narrow steps, the distance
from side to side being precisely the same as before.
"Smells cold and damp," whispered Fred, when they had descended
about twenty steps; "just like a wine cellar."
"Perhaps it is one when we get to the bottom, and full of old wine."
"Are there many more steps?"
"Can't see. Shall we go any farther?"
"Oh yes; we'll go to the bottom, as we are here."
"Stop a moment. What was that?"
"I didn't hear anything."
"Yes; there it is again."
"Sounded like a drip of water in a pool."
"Perhaps it's a well."
"They wouldn't make a well here. Let's go to the bottom, and then be
satisfied for one day."

"Take hold of hands then, in case."
"In case of what?"
"There may be foul air