Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 167: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

158 ; THRICE WEDDED. performed at seven to-night, and in that case every one will be there to witness it.” | ‘‘Heavens! we have got to work with a will. I think your plan is excellent, though I know nothing of the inte- rior of this wonderful place; but I can solve the difficulty about the land entrance easily enough.” “Vou!” returned Ronald Edgerton, amazed. We must continue to know this man of triple character by that name, at least for the present. ‘““Yes, I, for strange though it may seem, I know of one — way to enter that place, and I believe itis the principal one too. I will tell you how it happened: ‘Several years ago I was straying about that ledge of rocks, hunting up geological specimens, when I saw strange maneuvering among some men at the base of them. I re- solved to know what was going on, and crept slyly toward the place, shielding myself as weil as I could from observa- tion by the rocks and bushes. Nearer and nearer I went, until I could hear their voices quite plainly, and at length I made a bold push, darted across an open space like the wind, and crouched panting and half frightened behind a rock so near them that I could see every face, and hear every word that was spoken. You can imagine that my alarm was somewhat increased when at something that was said I discovered them to be the smugglers that I had heard so much about. I was half tempted to retreat, but feared they would see me, and there was just danger enough in my situation to give spice to the adventure, so I resolved to remain in my hiding-place until they were gone, and learn all I could. cere «‘Presently I saw a little fellow go three paces forward alone, then stamp three time upon the ground. Suddenly it seemed as if a portion of the solid rock was swung back upon a pivot; the men entered, and the rock closed again. I thought I would just creep forward and examine this strange entrance into the solid granite, and accordingly went cautiously toward the place. I stood, as nearly as I could judge, upon the spot where I saw the boy stand. I then walked three paces forward, and carefully examined the sur- face of the rock before me. 7 | “It was some time before I could make out anything, Then I found a very fine crack, and tracing it, found it sur- rounded a nearly square block of stone, about five or six feet Eomicbooks.co