Part 46 (1/2)

d.i.c.k lit what was left of the candle-wick as he spoke and placed it on the bench. Then he took up the other stone.

”Now, aim for the lock of the door,” he went on, ”and both throw together. Ready?”

”Yes.”

”One, two, three!”

Cras.h.!.+ Both large stones. .h.i.t the door with tremendous force. The barrier was split from end to end, but still held firm.

”Again!” cried d.i.c.k, and once more the stones were hurled in mad desperation. There was an-other crash, and the door tottered and came away from the lock. Then Tom threw his weight against it and it burst open fully.

A rush of hot air and smoke greeted them as they leaped into the pa.s.sageway. Looking up, they saw that the flooring above was already burning.

”We can't go up through the trap-door,” said d.i.c.k. ”We have got to find some other way out.”

”Is there another way?”

”I don't know. Come.”

The pa.s.sageway ran in both directions. They felt their way along for ten feet, to find themselves against another wall.

”The other way!” sang out Tom. ”Phew! it's getting pretty warm down here, isn't it?”

”And smoky,” answered his brother, beginning to cough.

They pa.s.sed the cell again and started down the pa.s.sageway in the opposite direction. Twenty feet further on they reached a wooden door, bolted on the other side.

”Stumped again,” muttered Tom. ”d.i.c.k, what shall we do now?”

”Try to break it down. Now, then, with all your might, Tom!”

It was their only hope, and with increased energy they hurled themselves at the door, which bent and creaked. Then, at the fourth onslaught, the door flew open and they went sprawling into the underground chamber beyond.

Here the light from the blazing building could be plainly seen, and by this they made out that they were in a regular printing office.

Three foot-power presses were there, also a quant.i.ty of variously colored inks and packages of odd-colored paper.

But they could waste no time in investigating. The burning brands were dropping around them, and they leaped across the printing room to where they saw another pa.s.sageway. This had a door, but the barrier stood wide open.

”In you go!” sang out d.i.c.k. ”It must lead somewhere--and, anyway, we can't stay here.”

They rushed into the pa.s.sageway, not an instant too soon, for a second later there came another crash and the printing room was filled with sparks and bits of burning timber. Then a cloud of smoke all but choked them.

Half-blinded, and scarcely knowing what they were doing, the two Rover boys ran on and on, down the pa.s.sageway. It had several crooks and turns, and more than once they brought up against some stones and dirt in anything but an agreeable fas.h.i.+on. But they felt that they were getting away from the fire and smoke, and that just then meant everything to them.

At last, the danger from the conflagration seemed to be pa.s.sed, and they slackened their pace, and finally came to a halt. Both were out of breath.

”Whe--where does this lead to?” gasped Tom.

”That's a riddle, Tom. But I know it has taken us away from the fire, which is a blessing.”