174 
THE RED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. 
officer heartily wished that his niece had found other 
employment for her little feet than uncovering this un- 
canny aperture gaping below. 
Well," said he, at length, trying to throw off his ner- 
vousness, which he felt to be unmanly, " shall we enter? " 
The uncertain flame of the candle threw a fitful light 
into the opening, and at first disclosed nothing. When 
Dick kneeled by the side of the hole, and held his little 
lantern as far down into it as possible, there could only 
be made out a small, square apartment, like a dungeon, 
rudely walled in with imcut rocks, and ceiled with tim- 
ber. The two halves of the stone slab lay where they 
had fallen, just beneath the opening, on the earthen 
floor. 
"It's quite empty ! " annoimced the lieutenant, in a tone 
of relief. " We had all our trouble for nothing." 
" But, uncle," interposed Florence, who had been 
screening her eyes from the flame of the lantern, " what 
do you call that dark place over in that corner ? Isn't 
that another opening in the wall ? A doorway to some 
place beyond ? " 
Dick scrutinized the spot, and wished the young lady 
with sunny hair was in — Sheldon. 
Beyond a doubt, it ivas a door. Beyond a doubt, Dick 
Dutton was called upon, under the circumstances, to pass 
through it, and explore the shadowy vault beyond. 
He tried to temporize. 
" Why not wait till to-morrow ? " he suggested, weakly. 
