Page 75 - A Hero of Liége

"But if the word should come to fire the mine, and they find the apparatus
doesn't work, they'd soon discover the cut here and repair it. Much better do

the damage at the other end."

"Very well. You'll use your revolver if they come before I get back?"

"Yes. I'll take my chance. They probably won't guess that there's any one

below, if I shut down the trap-door. You know what to do: cut the wire, or
disconnect the terminals."

With the trap-door closed, it was pitch dark in the chamber. Kenneth struck
a match, and making his way carefully over the flagstones found himself in

a narrow passage, which led into another large chamber like the first. This
again was connected with a third by a short passage. The floor of the third

was heaped with newly excavated earth, and the sole outlet from it was a
low tunnel, which a man could enter only by bending low.

Kenneth crept into it, breathing with difficulty in the stuffy atmosphere
impregnated with the smell of earth. It seemed endless, and must have cost

prodigious labour. On and on he went, his back and legs aching, his
breathing more and more oppressed. The thought came to him, what if the
tunnel were obstructed at the further end? When the wire had once been

laid, the Germans would have no interest in keeping the passage clear.
What if the roof fell upon him? What if--direst possibility of all!--the mine

were fired while he was still in the tunnel? At this thought he felt a
momentary "sinking," and dropped his match-box. Taking a grip upon
himself he waited a few moments until his nerves were steadied, groped for

the match-box, struck another match, and went on.

A few yards more brought him to an enlargement of the tunnel, where he
could stand upright. And here he found that the wire, laid along the floor,
ended in a metal case, which he guessed to contain a detonating apparatus,

like the floating mines employed at sea. It was the work of a moment to
sever the wire. Then, turning his back on this terrible agent of destruction,

Kenneth hurried along as fast as possible towards the open end of the
tunnel.