Page 74 - A Hero of Liége

In the fast-fading light they were just able to see a doorway on the right,
leading, as they knew from the miller's description, to the hoist and shoot.

In front of them was another door, now open, giving access to a passage
between the kitchen and the dining-room. Pariset slipped off his wet boots.

"Wait here," he whispered.

Stealing along the passage, he came to a door on the right. He put his ear
against it, and heard the clink of knives and forks mingled with guttural

conversation. Creeping back again, he whispered:

"They are feeding. Come along!"

They passed from the storeroom into the chamber which had formerly

contained the hoist. Here they noticed a tall heap of earth.

"They dug that out when continuing the underground passage to the

bridge," said Pariset.

"Here's the trap-door," returned Kenneth. "Look! There's a wire running
through it, connecting with the room behind."

"It's all very thorough, confound them!" said Pariset. "I hope the trap-door
won't creak."

They lifted it gently, and found that it moved on a central axis, well oiled.
Peering into the dark depths, Kenneth discovered a wooden ladder. They

crept down this, into a large underground chamber flagged with stone, and
ventilated by narrow gratings in the brick walls, above the level of the

stream.

"We had better not both go on," said Pariset. "I'll go up and keep watch.

You proceed, and cut the wires at the further end of the passage."

"Why not here?" said Kenneth. "It would save time."