Page:Augusta Seaman--Jacqueline of the carrier pigeons.djvu/131

Rh its presence from the inside of the  city, so well was it hidden by the little spreading lake.

“Now what ought I do next?” thought Gysbert when he had unravelled this mystery. “Without doubt this is Dirk’s secret doorway, and how he discovered it the Evil  One only knows! The question is, should I try to explore it before he is well out of the  way? I would hardly care to meet him in this black hole! On the other hand, I don’t believe he will remain in here a moment  longer than he has to, and I’m freezing hanging here. I ’ll risk it!”

So saying he plunged into the grim cave, and commenced his journey through the base  of the great wall of Leyden. To his disgust he found that the stream did not penetrate  straight from side to side, but turned and  pierced through the length of the wall for  many yards. The way was difficult enough, since he had to fight every inch of his progress against the swift current, and once the