The dungeon was accidently discovered in 1835 and two iron cages, containing the skeletons of a man and woman, were found fastened to the wall.

“Poor creatures!  What a horror it must have been!” thought Alice, as she looked toward the narrow opening to the black dungeon.

“Ugh!  It’s getting on my nerves, staying here!” she exclaimed, for she was all alone.  “I’m going!”

As she rose she heard a noise near the doorway by which she had entered.  Turning quickly, expecting to see one of the company, she was horrified to see by the light which entered through a barred window, an aged colored man facing her.  He did not approach, but bowing before her exclaimed in quavering tones: 

“Den I find yo’, my Missie!  Old Jake look eberywhere fo’ you,’ but he find yo’!  I knowed I’d find yo’ some day, an’ now I has, but it’s been a pow’ful long time, honey!  A long time!” and with outstretched hands, as he took a battered hat from his head, he approached her.  Alice screamed and got behind the table.

CHAPTER X

THE MOTOR RACES

With wildly beating heart, Alice watched the approach of the colored man, and then, somehow or other, it came to her in a flash that she need not fear him.

His bearing was most deferential, as of some old slave toward a cherished mistress.  His manner was gentle and, after advancing a short distance toward her, he stopped, bowed again, placed his battered hat over his heart, and said: 

“I knowed I’d find yo’ some day, Missie, an’ now I has.  Yo’ ain’t gwine t’ send po’ ole Jake away; is yo’, Missie?”

Alice, having repressed the desire to scream, was now more calm and, as quietly as she could she said: 

“You must go out of here, Jake.  Go out, and I will come out, too.”

“Yes’m, Missie, dat’s what I’ll do,” he said.  “Ole Jake’ll do jest as his missis says.  Oh, but it’ pow’ful good t’ see you’ once mo’, Missie!”

“You must go now,” repeated Alice, firmly.

And, without another word, he turned and shuffled out.  But he had no sooner reached the entrance to the dungeon than Alice, who had remained behind the table, not knowing whether to go out or not, saw the old colored man seized by a soldier—­one of those detailed at the fort.

“Here now, Jake!” the soldier exclaimed, “haven’t I told you time and again to keep away from here?  You know you haven’t any right to come in this part of the fort!”

“Yais, sah, Cunnel, I knows it, sah,” replied the aged negro, with a low bow.  “But yo’ see, I done found mah li’l Missie what I’se been lookin’ fo’ so long!  Dat’s why I come heah!”

“Great Scott!  Have you been bothering some of the women visitors?” cried the soldier and, wheeling about on his heel, he hurried into the dungeon, which Alice had just decided to leave.  He met her coming out, and by her agitated manner must have guessed that something had happened.