And so, as he approached the spot of his encounter with the superstitious soldier, Fred was able to tell that no visitation had been made to the hollow.

He marked the footsteps of the soldier; the man had evidently run from the place.
Looking around cautiously, he saw that everything was clear, and dropped down on hands and knees as he reached the gully.

Vladimir was waiting, and in less than a minute explained the secret of the door.
"All right," said Fred.

"Now you get back to the house, and either be near the entrance to the passage yourself, or keep someone stationed there.

I don't know what's going to happen, so I can't tell you, but I think that maybe I shall get Boris away from the parsonage." Vladimir's eyes gleamed.
"I am an old man," he said, "and I fear that I am useless.