And even then only dynamite or blasting-powder could have forced a path, and it would have been exceedingly difficult to handle such materials within the tunnel without blocking the approach completely, while leaving open the farther exit.

The chamber seemed at one time to have been prepared for such a contingency as had occurred, for there were wool rugs on the stone floor, though they had rotted and partly disintegrated from the dampness.

There were a table and wooden chairs, also partially decayed.  The mouldering fringes of some rugs protruded from a bundle wrapped in oil-paper.

Pierre Caribou opened this and shook them out on the ground.  Except where their edges had been exposed, they were in good condition, and were thick enough to lie upon without much discomfort.

The interior of the cave was pleasantly warm, though moist.

“M.  Duchaine, he make this place in case gov’ment come take him,” explained Pierre as he placed the rugs on the floor.  “No can find, no can break down stone door.  Other way Simon not know—­only m’sieur and me.  Old Caribou he come that way; he see you tied and know it time to come here.  Soon time to kill Simon come as well.”

“When in Heaven’s name will it come?” I cried.

“Come soon.  His diable tell me,” answered Pierre Caribou.

The chamber was as silent as the grave, except for the gurgling of a spring of water somewhere and the occasional pattering fall of a drop of moisture from the roof.  And truly this might prove our grave, I thought, and none would find our bones in this heart of the cliff through all the ages that would come.

The flight seemed to have exhausted the last flicker of vitality in the old man, for he sank down upon the blankets in a somnolent condition.  I could readily understand how his perpetual fear of discovery, intensified through many years of solitude, had grown to be an obsession, and how Leroux’s idle threats had stimulated his weakened will to one last effort to escape.

Jacqueline knelt by his side.  She paid no attention to me, except that once she asked for water.  Pierre brought her some from the spring in a tin cup, and when she raised her head I could see that her lip was swollen from the blow of Leroux’s fist.

The old man’s hands were moving restlessly.  Jacqueline bent over him and whispered, and he stirred and cried out petulantly.  He missed his roulette-wheel, his constant companion through those years, his coins, and paper.  In his way perhaps he was suffering the most of all.

“I go now,” Pierre announced.  “To-morrow I come for you, take all through tunnel.  You stay here till I come; all sleep till morning.”

“I will go with you, Pierre,” I said, still under my obsession.  But he laid his heavy hand upon my arm and pushed me away.

“You no kill Simon,” he answered.  “Why you no kill him again when you have sword?  Only diable can kill him.  When time come diable tell old Caribou.  You sleep now.  I not work for you now.  I go for take my woman and gal safe through tunnel to place I know.  When my woman and gal safe I come back to m’sieur and ma’m’selle.”