Cateras slammed the intervening door, and strode past.
What occurred was not clear to her mind; but suddenly what appeared to be an open fireplace seemed to swing aside, leaving revealed a great black opening in the rock.

To the lieutenant's snarl of command, one of the men released his grip of her arm, and lit a lantern which he took from a near-by shelf.

The dim flicker of light penetrated a few feet into the dark hole, only serving to render the opening more grim and sinister.

The girl shrank back, but the fellow still holding her tightened his grip.

Cateras seemed to have regained his good humour, although the red welt across his face stood forth ugly in the flare.
His thin lips smiled, and he bowed hat in hand, hatefully polite.
"Go ahead with the light, Silva; not too fast, my man; the room beyond the _senor's_.