"She is lost for ever as it is," cried the iron-merchant despairingly. "No--she may yet be saved," rejoined the dwarf. "Come on--come on--they
are close behind us." And it was evident, from the increased clamour, that their pursuers were
upon them. Roused by the imminence of the danger, and by the hope of rescuing his
daughter, Mr. Thorneycroft exerted all his energies, and sprang forward. A little farther on, they were stopped by a door. It was closed; and
venting his disappointment in a scream, the dwarf searched for the
handle, but could not find it. "We are entrapped--we shall be caught," he cried, "and then woe to both
of us. Fool that I was to attempt your preservation. Better I had left
you to rot in a dungeon than have incurred Rougemont's displeasure." The iron-merchant replied by a groan. "It's all over with me," he said. "I give it up--I'll die here!" "No--we are saved," cried the dwarf, as the light, now flashing strongly
upon the door, revealed a small iron button within it,--"saved--saved!" As he spoke, he pressed against the button, which moved a spring, and
the door flew open. Just as they passed through it, the two masked
attendants came in sight. The dwarf instantly shut the door, and finding
a bolt on the side next him, shot it into the socket. Scarcely had he
accomplished this, when the pursuers came up, and dashed themselves
against the door; but finding it bolted, presently ceased their efforts,
and apparently withdrew. "They are gone by some other way to intercept us," cried Old Parr, who
had paused for a moment to listen; "come on, Mr. Thorneycroft." "I'll try," replied the iron-merchant, with a subdued groan, "but I'm
completely spent. Oh that I ever ventured into this place!" "It's too late to think of that now; besides, you came here to rescue
your daughter," rejoined Old Parr. "Take care and keep near me. I wonder
where this passage leads to?" "Don't you know?" inquired the iron-merchant. "Not in the least," returned the dwarf. "This is the first time I've
been here--and it shall be the last, if I'm allowed any choice in the
matter." "You haven't told me how you came here at all," observed Thorneycroft. "I hardly know myself," replied the dwarf; "but I find it more difficult
to get out than I did to get in. How this passage twists about! I
declare we seem to be returning to the point we started from." "I think we are turning round ourselves," cried Thorneycroft, in an
agony of fright. "My head is going. Oh dear! oh dear!" "Why, it does seem very strange, I must say," remarked the dwarf, coming
to a halt. "I could almost fancy that the solid stone walls were moving
around us." "They _are_ moving," cried Thorneycroft, stretching out his hand. "I
feel 'em. Lord have mercy upon us, and deliver us from the power of the
Evil One!" "The place seems on fire," cried the dwarf. "A thick smoke fills the
passage. Don't you perceive it, Mr. Thorneycroft?" "Don't I!--to be sure I do," cried the iron-merchant, coughing and
sneezing. "I feel as if I were in a room with a smoky chimney, and no
window open. Oh!--oh!--I'm choking!" "Don't mind it," cried the dwarf, who seemed quite at his ease. "We
shall soon be out of the smoke." "I can't stand it," cried Mr. Thorneycroft; "I shall die. Oh! poah--pish--puff!" "Come on, I tell you--you'll get some fresh air in a minute," rejoined
Old Parr. "Halloa! how's this? No outlet. We're come to a dead stop." "Dead stop, indeed!" echoed the iron-merchant. "We've come to that long
ago. But what new difficulty has arisen?" "Merely that the road's blocked up by a solid wall--that's all," replied
Old Parr. "Blocked up!" exclaimed Thorneycroft. "Then we're entombed alive." "_I_ am," said the dwarf, with affected nonchalance. "As to you, you've
the comfort of knowing it'll soon be over with you. But for me, nothing
can harm me." "Don't be too sure of that," cried a voice above them. "Did you speak, Mr. Thorneycroft?" asked the dwarf. "N-o-o--not I," gasped the iron-merchant. "I'm suffocating--help to drag
me out." "Get out if you can," cried the voice that had just spoken. "It's Rougemont himself," cried the dwarf in alarm. "Then there's no
escape." "None whatever, rascal," replied the unseen speaker. "I want you. I have
more work for you to do." "I won't leave Mr. Thorneycroft," cried the dwarf resolutely. "I've
promised to preserve him, and I'll keep my word." "Fool!" cried the other. "You must obey when I command." And as the words were uttered, a hand was thrust down from above, which,
grasping the dwarf by the nape of the neck, drew him upwards. "Lay hold of me, Mr. Thorneycroft," screamed Old Parr. "I'm going up
again--lay hold of me--pull me down." Well-nigh stifled by the thickening and pungent vapour, the poor
iron-merchant found compliance impossible. Before he could reach the
dwarf, the little fellow was carried off. Left to himself, Mr.
Thorneycroft staggered along the passage, expecting every moment to
drop, until at length a current of fresh air blew in his face, and
enabled him to breathe more freely. Somewhat revived, he went on, but
with great deliberation, and it was well he did so, for he suddenly
arrived at the brink of a pit about eight feet in depth, into which, if
he had approached it incautiously, he must infallibly have stumbled, and
in all probability have broken his neck. This pit evidently communicated
with a lower range of chambers, as was shown by a brazen lamp burning
under an archway. A ladder was planted at one side, and by this Mr.
Thorneycroft descended, but scarcely had he set foot on the ground, than
he felt himself rudely grasped by a man who stepped from under the
archway. The next moment, however, he was released, while the familiar
voice of the Tinker exclaimed--

"Vy, bless my 'art, if it ain't Mister Thorneycroft." "Yes, it's me, certainly, Mr. Tinker," replied the iron-merchant. "Who's
that you've got with you?" "Vy, who should it be but the Sandman," rejoined the other gruffly. "Ve've set ourselves free at last, and have made some nice diskiveries
into the bargin." "Yes, ve've found it all out," added the Tinker. "What have you discovered--what have you found out?" cried the
iron-merchant breathlessly. "Have you found my daughter? Where is she? Take me to her." "Not so fast, old gent, not so fast," rejoined the Tinker. "Ve ain't
sure as 'ow ve've found your darter, but ve've catched a peep of a nice
young 'ooman." "Oh! it must be her--no doubt of it," cried the iron-merchant. "Where is
she? Take me to her without a moment's delay." "But ve can't get to her, I tell 'ee," replied the Tinker. "Ve knows the
place vere she's a-shut up,--that's all." "Take me to it," cried Mr. Thorneycroft eagerly. "Vell, if you must go, step this vay, then," rejoined the Tinker,
proceeding towards the archway. "Halloa, Sandy, did you shut the door
arter you?" "Not I," replied the other; "open it." "Easily said," rejoined the Tinker, "but not quevite so easily done.