“God be praised!” “I have found you.” “My prayers are answered.” “But I fear we are in as bad a position as you,” said Frank. “How so?” asked Montaine. “We are alone and unaided here. We escaped into this place from an old shaft near here into which we had been cast to die.” “Heaven is with you!” cried Montaine, feverishly. “The Almighty has sent you to effect my rescue. Oh, Frank, I cannot tell you what I have suffered in the last month.” “You have my sympathy,” replied Frank, warmly. “And if it lies within my power I mean to wrest you from the power of Miguel Costello.” “Then you got my message asking for succor?” “I did.” “I knew that you would answer it.” “Of course I would. I can imagine what you have suffered, dear friend. But this fiend--Costello--what was his purpose?” “Partly revenge, and partly a scheme to defraud me of my legal claim to the mine.” “Is this the mine?” “Oh, no; the claim is a richer one and a full two miles from here. This is an old, disused Spanish mine, worked by the early Spaniards.” “Ah! then this is simply a rendezvous for the greasers?” “Exactly.” “But Costello--does he spend most of his time here?” “I think he is sinking a shaft at my mine. He comes here only to taunt and deride me in my helplessness.” “The scoundrel!” exclaimed Frank; “but how are we to get you out of there?” “Oh, Heaven help you to succeed!” exclaimed the prisoner. “These bars are too strong to break. But I think it is a simple matter to raise the barriers which are below. There is no lock, and no key is used. Simply steel bars are shot into their sockets. They should be easily opened from the outside.” “Of course,” replied Frank, eagerly. “It is as you say. Have patience for a brief moment, and you shall come out of your cell.” It required but a few moments’ work for Frank to lift the bars, and then the cell door swung back. Montaine came staggering out. He was a tall, finely formed man with an intelligent cast of features. He was but a trifle older than Frank, and much after his type. The two friends embraced warmly. “Oh, God, you cannot know what a joy it is to be relieved from that cursed cell,” said Montaine, fervidly. “It is like entering upon an entirely new life.” “I can imagine it well,” replied Frank, “but the danger is not over. We are still in the lion’s den.” “Right, my friend,” said Montaine. “But we must find a way out.” He went to the railing of the gallery and looked over. There was a light of despair in his fine eyes as he turned back. “Ah, I fear that we will never see daylight again,” he whispered, hopelessly. “There is but one entrance to this place that I know of and that is securely guarded as you see.” “But we must find a way to escape,” said Frank. The words, however, had barely left his lips when a thrilling thing occurred. Up the stone steps came the sound of feet.