It seemed as though he must hear Billie's breathing, but if he
heard anything he must have thought it his own echo, never
dreaming that he was not alone in the passage.
Now Billie could hear him ascending the stairs leading to
Santiago's house, and his hope rose high.
"He must know how to open the floor," thought Billie. "I'll be
right there when he does."
Silently as a cat Billie crept up the stairs behind his unknown
companion.
Near the top the man stopped and a minute later he flashed an
electric light against the stone overhead. Another minute and he
heaved with the top of his head and the slab slid back.
"And now," exclaimed Billie in a deep voice, "put your hands over
your head!"
Whether from fear or from the unparalleled surprise caused by
hearing a human voice at such a time and in such a place, instead
of obeying Billie's command, Strong's hands--for Strong it
was--fell limp at his side and his electric torch fell to the
stones beneath his feet.
"All right," continued Billy, "if that's the way you feel about
it; but just remember that a single false move and I'll cut this
automatic loose among your ribs. Now climb out a step at a time."
With face as white as marble at the shock he had just sustained,
Strong obeyed implicitly and Billie was soon standing on the
stone patio, looking Strong in the face.
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