Now, Merodez, release the girl." "Ah, so you can stand alone, _senorita_; that is well.

Step in here, ahead of me, and follow the lantern--there is nothing to fear." She hesitated, and the smile on the Mexican's lips changed into a cruel grin.
"Shall I make you again ?" "No, _senor_." "Then you will do as I bid." "Yes, _senor_; I cannot resist." The passage was clean and dry, and seemed to lead directly back into the cliff.

The faint light revealed the side walls and low roof, and the girl, again partially mistress of herself, recognised the nature of the rock to be limestone.

Occasionally the floor exhibited evidences that human hands had been employed in levelling it, and there were marks along the side-walls to show where the passage had been widened; but the opening itself was originally a cave, through which water had run in long past ages--a cave wide enough to allow six men to walk abreast, but with an average height of about seven feet.

For twenty feet it ran almost straight in; then they came to a sharp turn to the right, and entered a much narrower passage.