Tom, with outstretched hands, began to grope his way about in the dark cistern. He knew there were no holes in the floor, so he did not fear a fall, and there was nothing with which he could collide. From the length of time it took him to reach the wall, Tom judged that he had been lying about in the center of the old water-container. This proved his theory that Barsky had lowered him into it from the trap door above. Once Tom was in contact with the circular wall of the cistern, it was an easy matter to follow it around until he came to the tunnel opening. “This way out!” exclaimed the young inventor grimly. “I wonder what time it is and how long I’ve been in here. Maybe they’re looking for me up above. And yet, perhaps they think I’m just off on one of my trips.” Tom started into the black tunnel. It had been several years since it had been put to use, and the youth had not entered it during all that time. Consequently he proceeded a bit cautiously, for he did not know but what there might be holes here and there in the floor of it. After about five minutes of careful progress Tom felt on his face a cool current of air. “I’m coming to the boarded-up opening!” he exclaimed exultingly. The boards did not fit tightly, and through one of the larger cracks Tom caught a glint of light. “But it’s starlight!” he cried. “It’s night! I must have been in that cistern all day—maybe two days! Though I guess not two days or I’d feel hungrier and thirstier than I am.” Pushing on the boards, Tom felt them give a little, and he knew they must have rotted away from contact with the damp earth. He pushed harder and kicked on them, thus knocking down the barrier. In rushed the glorious fresh air, and the young inventor saw that he was looking out on a field some distance away from his home. It was night, and the stars were glittering. Also, not far away from the tunnel entrance another light was gleaming. It was the light of a lantern set on the ground. By the gleam of the lantern on the ground Tom could see a figure moving about and, seemingly, digging in the earth. “This is queer,” mused the lad. “I wonder who that is? If it’s Barsky, maybe he’s digging to try to get at some of my secrets. Or maybe he thinks I’m dead and he’s making a grave for me.” Tom dismissed this gruesome thought with a laugh, and walked forward a few paces, the better to see who was doing that queer midnight digging by lantern light. Some noise Tom made attracted the notice of the digger. He looked toward the tunnel opening, and then Tom exclaimed: “Good night! It’s Rad!” At that moment, the colored man, with a cry of fear, made a jump, knocking over and extinguishing the lantern while he shouted: “De ghost! De ghost! I’s a daid darkey! I’s done seen a h’ant! Oh, lawzy, lawzy! De ghost am after me!” CHAPTER XVIII TWO DISAPPEARANCES